Just injured my 3rd finger real bad. Get rid of your rings.

OryCheyne · Sep 11, 2015

Too gory to post photos but just had the misfortune of partially degloving my left (ring) finger thanks to my wedding ring. 8hours ago. Just out of Hospital emergency department.
I'd heard stories and now I've learned the hard way. Very scary. I see a specialists at a Hand surgery clinic first thing tomorrow.
Will be guitars down for me at least for a few months, fight off infection and deal a cracked bon. So sad and pissed at the moment but lucky not to have lost my finger completely.

I truly hope this never happens to anyone else. Get rid of your rings guys and girls.

Markedman · Sep 11, 2015

Ouch! I feel for you man, I hope for a quick recovery.

OryCheyne · Sep 13, 2015

Thanks for your sentiments Markedman.
Looks likely to be a 6 week layoff due to the bone being damaged and missing skin, otherwise tendons and joints' survived fairly well and I still have good sensitivity at the tip.
The specialist said this type of incident is not uncommon and that people sometimes lose their whole finger due to ring degloving.
I caught mine on a bad weld on my trucks roof rack as I was stepping off the rear bumper. Had done so thousands of times with out any issues. Only takes one time to screw things up. Get rid of your rings they are a hazard.
My wedding ring will be staying off for good and my wife is leaving hers at home from now on also.

YellowJacket · Sep 13, 2015

Terrible! I had heard about this happening and I had stopped deadlifting with a ring on as a result. It sounds like rings are a day to day hazard as well =-(

I hope you recover 100% 6 week layoff is a long time but with guitar, you should be able to recover fairly quickly, provided the finger works. (Some instruments are terrible to build back once you take an extended break) So you advocate never wearing a ring if you are a musician?

Markedman · Sep 13, 2015

I'm always amazed when I watch Jeff Beck playing with rings on his fingers and a monster watch on his arm. http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/58/5839/TH7SG00Z/posters/jeff-beck-group-david-slania-1975.jpg

OryCheyne · Sep 14, 2015

I guess I have an obvious opinion on whether rings are a hazard, I'd been up and down on my truck the same way thousands of times without an issue. IMO day to day, yes rings are a hazard.
That said, while I only did the damage a few days ago I already think I'll get my ring bent back into shape (no puns, it looks like a tear drop) for wearing on special occasions.
Rings do look good I can't deny, just be careful and take em off if you're climbing, carrying, or working around machines etc.
I think what caught me out was that I thought the sentimental meaning of wearing my wedding ring was more important than risk it presented. I had heard the stories but chose to ignore them. Only in the last few days since have I learned how many close people I know haven't worn theirs for years for this very reason.

Would be interested in any other safety wisdom from the Board members, i.e. anybody ever get an electric shock from their gear?
I can actually share on that one as well. (trust me I'm only a danger to myself).
One time at practice my studio 22 fell off stage while turned on, both el84 shattered. Being only young at the time, I still knew to disconnect the power before touching anything. However I didn't expect it when I got shocked later. When grabbing the metal parts of the broken tubes to remove what was left of them, I found out these are directly connected to the caps. So there's another safety thing for yall. You don't need to have the amp open to get a kick out of the caps, lucky this was only a baby Boogie, hate to feel the kick those big suckers could offer.

Ory