Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

I done gone and broke it

#1

Welp, I did it. I broke my darn thumb. Well, actually Penny broke it. It was all her fault when she landed on it while I was throwing her into the pool.

I didn’t know if it was broken so I decided to tough it out for a couple weeks. The swelling and pain never reduced, so I went for an xray this week, then on to a hand specialist because, you know, I like to use my thumb for a living.

Another xray revealed the reason why it broke (or one reason). The bone has a tumor in it and that weakened the bone. He didn’t seem too alarmed, but ordered an MRI and I will have another consult with him soon. Meanwhile, he said no playing because the break is clean and I could bend/displace my thumb without even knowing it. They gave me a splint and orders to take it easy. (Now I know why the Lord didn’t allow me to hook up with a 100 pound tarpon last week!)

If y’all will excuse me, I’m gonna take a couple weeks off of lesson creation. But the timing is actually good because I am in the deep jungle of migrating content to the new site, plus I’m traveling to ROMP next week in Owensboro…where I was supposed to do a banjo workshop…that Katy will now do for me as I give her orders :wink:

Thanks for the prayers of swift recovery and I’ll keep you posted on the tumor diagnosis…odds are really good that it’s a benign tumor though I may still have to have it removed.

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#4

Prayers for a complete and easy recovery, a benign tumor, and peace and comfort until this is behind you!

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#5

Definitely take care of that thumb @BanjoBen. You will definitely be in our prayers!

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#6

May you have a “non-interesting” full recovery in timely manner Ben!

So blessed you’re not a road musician right now eh?

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#7

“Something good will come from this.”

—my Mother

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#8

Wow, so sorry to hear about the cause for the break…but I’ve always know you to have good timing where your thumb is concerned…

Thanks for keeping us posted, and you will definitely be in our prayers!

P.S. Glad to hear the website migration process is underway.

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#9

Hope your thumb heals quickly, Ben.

Where were you fishing?

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#10

@BanjoBen so sorry about your thumb! That sounds like no fun, but maybe you’ll be able to enjoy the extra time off. :slightly_frowning_face: I’m praying for an easy and quick recovery, as well as a good diagnosis about the tumor and that it wouldn’t be any issue!

Don’t imagine the worst - believe the best! :heart:
“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:36, 38‬

A couple months ago @Timothy_L (our banjo picker) sliced off a good chunk of his right middle finger using a kitchen mandoline slicer without the safety tool! :tired_face: For several shows he had to play second guitar while Luke played banjo. We stumbled along, but it actually made for funny memories and made us extra thankful when he could play again! Not sure if you can still play guitar…? Maybe now you’ll take up a singing career?

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#11

My prayers for healing and prayers the tumor is benign.

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#12

The Skyway bridge, Tampa Bay

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#13

So sorry that happened. I do have one question though… How did Penny fall on it if you’re the one that threw her? :thinking: :joy:

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#14

Prayers for fast and safe recovery!! :pray:

…see look at it this way. Maybe it’ll heal in such a fashion that you’ll be able to do that thumb-index-finger bend thing like Tony.

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#15

Because she’s my little sister!

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#16

Sorry to hear about your thumb Ben. Praying all heals well and you get a good report.

I love fishing there. Caught my first salt fish right there.

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#17

That sounds like tons of fun. Did you catch any?

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#18

I hooked up on about an 80 pounder, he ran with me for a while then jumped and spit it. Tons of boats on the water that day.

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#19

Back to the doc this morn with an update. It’s either a cartilage or fibrous tumor, likely benign. X-ray in one month to see fracture healing progress and decide if removal of tumor is best. Until then, no playing or pressure because the thumb is likely to bend at the fracture. Thanks for your concern and prayers!

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#20

Prayers for a quick recovery!

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#21

Oh no! Will certainly add to my prayer list. I cut down a pecan tree about 3 weeks ago, got my right hand between the rope and something, pinched it pretty bad. Like you, I’ve put off going to the Dr., it seems to be getting better, swelling is gone, just pain in index finger now. I’ve switched to guitar since then, pick is much easier than a three finger roll :slight_smile: Actually, kind of enjoying it… I’m sure Penny didn’t go to do it…

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#22

Well Ben, you may have to thank baby sis… If she hadn’t done it you might not have found it this early. Better to “nip it in the bud” . Prayers for a good outcome and speedy recovery.

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