Reloading Kaboom Yesterday - Please Learn From This

[grant22]

Did the surgeon give you a follow up appointment?

Yes, in two weeks I'll go back so he can not do anything again. The worse part of this for now is having to unwrap, clean, and redress the wounds twice a day.

[Brian1979]

Yes, in two weeks I'll go back so he can not do anything again. The worse part of this for now is having to unwrap, clean, and redress the wounds twice a day.

I am a physical therapist assistant and just wanted to give you some advice.

Please be sure to bug like hell to get a CHT which means Certified Hand Therapist. Dont settle for OT which is occupational therapy. Be sure they are dual certified and you have an actual CHT. Typically they are an OT or PT but have the extra certification of CHT.

My prediction is that when the skin heals you will have contractures in your fingers and loose ROM (range of motion). Your fingers seem to be slightly flexed and when the skin heals they will become more flexed and once scabs form you wont want to extend them. This prolonged period of time will lead to loss of finger extension.

Be sure to demand a CHT and they are very hard to come by but they are the only ones who really know what they are doing. If they give you someone like me we have a general understanding of things but not what you need for something like this. Just the same your GP sent you to a specialist which was the right thing to do. Be sure to do this and good luck with your recovery.

[grant22]

Thanks Brian.

I don't know if he's a CHT, but he's one of a few plastic surgeons in the area and the only plast surgeon that specializes in hands......so I'll research him some more, but figured he knows what's up.

He said one thing I really need to do is flex and extend my fingers (especially the middle) to keep the joints from stiffening up. He said the #1 complication he sees with injuries like this is fear of movement then some loss of movement at the joints as a result.

One of reasons for his hands off approach is the fact it was a blast wound, not a lac. He said as long as I have decent pulse, motor, sensory distal of the injuries, he thinks more harm than good can come out of him digging in there.

Let me know if that sounds good to you and thx for the tips!

[elmontemike]

Man. I'm Glad you weren't hurt very seriously . I'm just getting into reloading and I have learned a valuable lesson. That's what I like about CALGUNS, everyone is willing to share for the better of the CALGUNS family. I too hope you have a very quick recovery.

[Brian1979]

Thanks Brian.

I don't know if he's a CHT, but he's one of a few plastic surgeons in the area and the only plast surgeon that specializes in hands......so I'll research him some more, but figured he knows what's up.

He said one thing I really need to do is flex and extend my fingers (especially the middle) to keep the joints from stiffening up. He said the #1 complication he sees with injuries like this is fear of movement then some loss of movement at the joints as a result.

One of reasons for his hands off approach is the fact it was a blast wound, not a lac. He said as long as I have decent pulse, motor, sensory distal of the injuries, he thinks more harm than good can come out of him digging in there.

Let me know if that sounds good to you and thx for the tips!

To be more clear your surgeon is way above a CHT. For your therapy sometime when you are more healed up you want a CHT certified therapist. Typically they are Occupation Theapists that carry that extra certification.

Your doctor is spot on with what you say. Basically I am telling you the same thing. Contractures will result from your fingers always being in a flexed position so be sure to move them. Of course you dont want to be pulling stitches and degrade healing by extending your finger to the point you create more tears. Scar tissue is nasty stuff and very tight so you need to work with it as it forms because once its been too long its too late and you wont be able to work with it.

Try to flex and extend your fingers often to promote movement but once skin is healed be aggressive and find a CHT.

[Fyathyrio]

Thanks Brian.

I don't know if he's a CHT, but he's one of a few plastic surgeons in the area and the only plast surgeon that specializes in hands....

He's talking about what most of us generalize as physical therapy, this is a specialty separate from the doctor and surgeon. They will have you do exercises and heat treatments and whatever it takes to help prevent the scar tissue from causing problems and minimize or prevent the loss of range of motion and muscle atrophy from lack of use. They did wonders for me after a motorcycle accident.

[Packy14]

I read all the posts, I'm glad the OP is not more seriously injured than he is
I've been on the fence about reloading, but I think I will remain there for a good long time now, as I was only going to do rifle rounds and between the startup cost, room requirements, potential cross contamination with lead, my time value of $, and now this... I don't think its worth doing for me.

[grant22]

To be more clear your surgeon is way above a CHT. For your therapy sometime when you are more healed up you want a CHT certified therapist. Typically they are Occupation Theapists that carry that extra certification.

Your doctor is spot on with what you say. Basically I am telling you the same thing. Contractures will result from your fingers always being in a flexed position so be sure to move them. Of course you dont want to be pulling stitches and degrade healing by extending your finger to the point you create more tears. Scar tissue is nasty stuff and very tight so you need to work with it as it forms because once its been too long its too late and you wont be able to work with it.

Try to flex and extend your fingers often to promote movement but once skin is healed be aggressive and find a CHT.

Ohhhh, roger that......thanks Brian.

I'm trying to flex and extend but it hurts pretty bad especially with the fractures. Both fingers apparently resulted in many mini-fractures (I forgot to mention as part of the diagnosis) which are really adding to the pain.

I will do my best to start flexing and extending. What you guys are saying makes perfect sense.

OUCH!

[Brian1979]

If you have fractures double check with the Surgeon if he will clear that. Sounds like he mentioned to you to start lightly moving your fingers so all should be good. My concern is they cant splint your fingers because of the skin break down. Trying to splint a finger that has wounds on it may impede healing so this is not an option but movement might also stress those fractures. My guess is you wont be moving them very much anyway because of the pain so I am sure its fine but double check first.

[grant22]

If you have fractures double check with the Surgeon if he will clear that. Sounds like he mentioned to you to start lightly moving your fingers so all should be good. My concern is they cant splint your fingers because of the skin break down. Trying to splint a finger that has wounds on it may impede healing so this is not an option but movement might also stress those fractures. My guess is you wont be moving them very much anyway because of the pain so I am sure its fine but double check first.

Yes, we discussed that, and he said no to the splinting.

When he and I discussed all the options, I asked him "what would you choose if these were your fingers?"

So that's the road I'm headed down for now. I'm hoping once the flesh wounds heal, I'll be ready to go back to work and not waiting for the g-damn bones to heal.

I actually like my job and start going nuts when I get injured cuz I miss going to work. Besides, the biggest challenge now is making sure the gf and I don't get on each other's nerves.

[Brian1979]

More vicodinn to deal with the woman and the rest is all time to fix.


Ps

Got the new RF 100 today and its amazing. Pluged it in and it filled the primer tube in 30 secs or so. No upside down primers so far and I have run it 4 times.

The protective tube is thick enough and houses the little primer tube with ton of room to spare. The tube is 1 inch in diameter so that should tell you how much free space is arond the primer tube. I would imagine this thing holding together just fine even during a ruptured tube.

Today I have been shocked getting in and out of my car so I now need to remember and touch my grounded press before handling primers.
I think under some conditions which wont be the same for everyone some dangers exist.

My advice is to get the RF 100 for ultimate protection and limited handling of primers. The other option is to buy just the tubes from the machine and they can be used just the same as the cheap pick up tubes but with a protectice shield. The point was made as to why Dillon protects the primer tube in the press and on the new RF 100 but nit the pick up tubes. I have to agree and its obvious there are dangers present under the right conditions to where the need to protect the tubes in these applications was choosen.

[grant22]

More vicodinn to deal with the woman and the rest is all time to fix.


Ps

Got the new RF 100 today and its amazing. Pluged it in and it filled the primer tube in 30 secs or so. No upside down primers so far and I have run it 4 times.

The protective tube is thick enough and houses the little primer tube with ton of room to spare. The tube is 1 inch in diameter so that should tell you how much free space is arond the primer tube. I would imagine this thing holding together just fine even during a ruptured tube.

Today I have been shocked getting in and out of my car so I now need to remember and touch my grounded press before handling primers.
I think under some conditions which wont be the same for everyone some dangers exist.

My advice is to get the RF 100 for ultimate protection and limited handling of primers. The other option is to buy just the tubes from the machine and they can be used just the same as the cheap pick up tubes but with a protectice shield. The point was made as to why Dillon protects the primer tube in the press and on the new RF 100 but nit the pick up tubes. I have to agree and its obvious there are dangers present under the right conditions to where the need to protect the tubes in these applications was choosen.

I agree to all the above and will probably just suck it up and buy an RF. Thanks for the input on that.

[rmblaster]

I also got my rf100 in today it was a lot bigger and heavier than i thought it would be the tubes have a nice encasement around them and like Brian1979 says it sure fills them tubes fast after playing with it I can honestly say i like it

[grant22]

Today I disassembled some of my 550. I realized the primer magazine tube has had EVERY primer go through it) as opposed to my 4 pickup tubes that were alternated. The point is, the tube in the magazine should have the maximum amount of primer dust for my usage.

So, for poops and giggles, I ran a q-tip through it, came out black, and chose to light it off to see it if acted as an accelerant to potentially light off some primers (trying to see how the primer dust theory looks). No, I didn't try to ignite primers.

It didn't do anything......it burned at the same rate as a normal q-tip.......so I'm thinking that the primer dust theory is out.

I'll try to post up the vid tomorrow

[Wrangler John]

Ouch! I really sympathize with you.

There is the possibility that primer residue (as a fine dust) collected in the tube over time and detonated. Slim chance but possible. Keep the primer reservoir tube clean internally. Most likely static electricity as mentioned was the cause. A primer with a damaged or missing lacquered foil seal under the anvil will have its explosive pellet exposed, not something we look for. I know my Hornady progressive came with a nonferrous blast shield tube covering the primer reservoir tube, must be a reason.

A loading area must never contain carpeting. Not just for the static problem, but because carpet collects loose powder kernels shed in the process. These are extremely difficult to clean up without a vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaners must not be used for powder.

In loading for fifty years I've never had a single primer detonate during the loading process. However, I no longer prime on the press, or use a priming tool that features a tubular feed, not even with the progressive presses. I find that the press mounted feeds are notoriously unreliable, prone to errors (upside down primers for example) jamming, primers flipping sideways crushing when seated, and general mechanical mayhem. When I do prime on the progressive, it is an RCBS that uses the plastic strip primer feed - primers are not stacked up on one another, and the strips can be added to as needed without stopping to replenish a tube. Easy to see an upside primer, and each is held in place until it is lifted into the pocket. They are also electrically insulated from one another.

Yeah, it's an extra step to fill empty strips with various sizes and brands of primers, but quicker than making repairs, correcting an error or running to the ER.

Most of the priming I do is with an RCBS hand priming tool that also uses the plastic strips. This allows me a better feel and ensures good control of seating depth. All cases are sized, primer pockets cleaned, tumbled and then primed before loading on the progressive. Also, I prime in a different location from where powder and primers are stored.

These are just a few ideas to stay safe, but fortunately these incidents are rare, although that's not much consolation when your fingers are throbbing beneath a layer of gauze.