I very much doubt that there's anything in this tale that's transferable, but nonetheless >>>>>>  'Way back when I was a B.P.E. student a classmate who was playing U. football broke some bones in his thumb/wrist.  The first cast incorporated traction on his thumb, but the second one was a more normal-looking (?) one.  He kept the second one when it was removed; enlarged the thumb hole and taped it back together.  Then he could slide it on-off as the mood called for ... "on" so he could sit-out activity classes that weren't his favorites [gymnastics, swimming, etc.] and "off" for stuff he liked [basketball, hockey, etc.].  But, but, but, he didn't overly abuse the ruse .... a couple of weeks max, IIRC. 

I talked to a guitarist once who practiced making chord shapes with his left hand while keeping his thumb away from the back on the neck, just using his finger/hand and some of his arm muscles. He claimed it helped with strength-building and fretting accuracy.

Perhaps you could put the banjo on your lap & play with a slide.

thanks Chuck, I was wondering if there had been a thought process out there like that.
ken

In college when I broke my left wrist and had a cast for several weeks, I put my banjo on my lap and fretted with my finger tips much in the manner of a mountain dulcimer.

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Originally posted by Eric A

In college when I broke my left wrist and had a cast for several weeks, I put my banjo on my lap and fretted with my finger tips much in the manner of a mountain dulcimer.

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Thanks Eric. 

ken

The topic has just now got me thinking about the idea of  " a one-legged man in an azz kicking contest." 

Regardless Ken, I hope you can make the best of it and heal quickly/uneventfully ....... as we all wait patiently for the back story. 

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Originally posted by Owen

The topic has just now got me thinking about the idea of  " a one-legged man in an azz kicking contest." 

Regardless Ken, I hope you can make the best of it and heal quickly/uneventfully ....... as we all wait patiently for the back story. 

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Back story: tightening a radiator clamp that I was holding in my hand with an electric drill. it slipped, radiator clamp went over thumb, drill sped up. broke thumb and severed abductor tendon in thumb (if not fixed thumb would stay curled into palm). Great dr (Dale Delacqua) operated the next morn at 8am and did it under a local. Get bandages changed tomorrow and see how it is. Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb. 

Missing the banjo, but have only missed one hour of work. 

Ouch!! ^^ sounds kinda painful.   

From the Unsolicited Advice Dept.: In the future be more careful.  

Check with Barry Abernathy, he probably has an insight to your issue.

About 40 years ago a suicidal deer struck my car and the spinning steering wheel broke my thumb. After the x-ray the doctor said, "It's not bad, we'll just put a splint on it." I insisted on a hard cast with as little plaster on the thumb as possible.

When I got home I took a wood rasp to the cast and put some padding on to protect the neck where the cast would make contact eith the neck.

With modern fiberglass casts you probably won't need the rasp.

Good luck my friend.

Heavythumb

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Originally posted by heavythumb

Check with Barry Abernathy, he probably has an insight to your issue.

About 40 years ago a suicidal deer struck my car and the spinning steering wheel broke my thumb. After the x-ray the doctor said, "It's not bad, we'll just put a splint on it." I insisted on a hard cast with as little plaster on the thumb as possible.

When I got home I took a wood rasp to the cast and put some padding on to protect the neck where the cast would make contact eith the neck.

With modern fiberglass casts you probably won't need the rasp.

Good luck my friend.

Heavythumb

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Barry is amazing isn't he. You showed great perseverance.  Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

Ken