Do Something

She went down....hard.

When she was finally up, it seemed like everything was wrong. She'd gone down on a leg machine and she'd been pale as a sheet from across the room. By the time I got over there she was breathing hard, her face was beet red, and she was very clearly in pain. Oddly enough, I was the only med staff in the weight room.

As soon as I got over there she was brushing everyone off though clearly in distress. Instead of initially asking her what was wrong, I immediately checked her carotid which I suspected to be fine but from what I've seen athletes like you doing something not saying something. That's when I saw it.

Her hand.

Somehow she'd caught it on the machine and smashed it pretty good. I grabbed it gently and she almost yanked it away but I'd grabbed her wrist and she wasn't getting away that easily.

I looked at her dead in her face and she looked back at me with all this fear.

Finally I just said "I know. Let me check it."

She's a keeper. She needs her hand to be okay.

I start doing a hand exam a la my sports med training when the ATC walks up. They watch for a minute, I guess because 1. they don't know who I am and 2. I do look like I know what I'm doing.

Its a pretty signifiant bruise but nothing palpates as broken. No issues with MCP, PIP, DIP or any MCL/LCL ligaments. No wrist issues. She literally smashed her hand like a sandwich on the machine because she wasn't paying attention.

By this time the crowd had dissipated and I said they should take her for x-ray today with which the HAT agreed. I said "if its hairline, you won't see it today but you will see it in a week so she's going to need another one in a week and no practice on that hand." They agreed there too and then she was off to the sports med doc's office.

She took one look back at me and said "thanks" as she walked away.

That was my first injury dream for sports med.

I'm hoping for a "no injuries" report for tonight's game!