Jeff (Mustang 414) is the really cool guy I mentioned in my last post. He's a great guy to chat with if you want to take him up on his offer Poboys94.
There is probably some comfort in comparing notes and commiserating with someone whom has dealt with the same issues you have (and are) going through (that would obviously include the any of the other guys on here whom have lost digits or more, as well as Jeff). He's there to talk with if you need him though.
my girlfriends half cousin (or something like that) lost three fingers on both hands at a table saw. he was out of work for almost a year (hardware flooring installer) before he got back in the saddle. He also had problems with his workmans comp, but in the end after he got a lawyer, they paid him. He's actually back at work laying panels.
Thanks to all for the words and prayers, you folks are great, I really do appreciate it. I at first felt sorry for myself and I did rationalize that it coud have been worse, my brother is going to Iraq and I thought of him and all the young guys coming home with no limbs, and Im only loosing 1 finger? What happened, and what bothers me the most for NOW: Is that this DID happen at work, and it was not something that would manifest itself right away, and the state of Mo. allows only 30 days to report it, I mean I dont run to the ER for every little cut or scrape, I thought it would go away and heal itself like all the other times I banged myself up, but not this time. After a few weeks my finger went numb,after another week it started to turn bluish and a week or so after that it looked like it belonged on a dead man. I compressed it and it left a ridge and squashed my vein forever. I even had an emergency Angiogram( which was not fun BTW) and I saw as they injected the dye in my right chest, arm and hand where the blood stopped.They prescribed Plavix to try to thin things out but didnt work, so they took the finger. Something I considered so minor turned into all of this. Oh yeah, good news is I got an interview in with a parts company and it seemed to go well,just waiting for the call,desk job, using the phone and computer as tools, but I"ll take it!!
I have a friend that suffered a severe spinal injury about 50 years ago. He is confined to a wheelchair and has about 20% use of his hands. For many years he worked as a bicycle mechanic and has been a car guy all his life. He's now retired and spends his time working on his 39 Pontiac street rod. If he can reach it, he works on it. Life dealt him a bum deal and he's still lived his life his way. The guy's my hero.
BTW, I've been a parts guy for years. If you can, after you've been in the business a while, get into a dealership. That's where the money is.