Splitting wood accident

Well I guess I learn the hard way most of the time and I should have a shirt that says “Warning I do stupid things”

So I was splitting some wood yesterday with a maul, splitting wedge and a 3 lb sledge. Well I guess you should not use the sledge on the maul because as soon as I nailed it good a pee sized piece fractured off the maul and I immediately felt a sharp pain in my leg…yup it imbedded itself in my leg…F#@K!!!!!!!!!! that hurt. I have a small hole in my leg and a mound the size of a soft ball with a piece somewhere in my leg. Clened it up took some meds and called it a day.

I decided to see what it looked like today and see if I could get it out with no luck...just a lot of blood. I ended up going to the ER and it was way too deep, right against the bone. I already got a tetanus shot about 2 years ago so I was good there. Doctor gave me some meds to prevent infection and some pain pills too. Suppose to call a surgeon on Monday to see if they are going to remove it.

 

Ouch!! You should have went to the hospital right away buddy.

 

wow! i guess we won't be doing that again. hope you heal well on that one because that sounds painful.

 

Thanks for the heads up on what not to do.
Hope ya heal up soon man.

 

ouch. pretty crazy. hope everything heals up quick for ya.

 

At least it wasn't your eye!

 

ouch! good luck!

 

I've done something dumber. My and the wife were burnin weeds and I threw a few rocks in the pile. One of them broke apart like a firecracker and hit my wife in the leg. No bleeding but we was lucky.

 

X2

 

sorry, but i saw the title and had to post my familys last experience with cutting wood. This is one of those things that i never in a million years would have thought would happen, but as soon as i lay out the scenario, you'll know exactly where the story is going.

My dad was out splitting wood about 3 months ago. My brother was home for the summer from college, and we're really glad he was. My bro walked out of the house and looked over at my dad just long enough to see him go limp and fall face first into a pile of chopped wood. didn't put his arms our or anything. So obviously my brother freaked and ran over to him calling my mom. when he got there, my dad was lying in a pool of blood the size of a large pizza. he was starting to try to get himself up by the time my bro got there. here's what happened. Like alot of families in our neighborhood, my parents have a clothes line. Of course my dad rarely does things like everyone else, so he made his out of thick nylon cord so he wouldn't have to replace it ever. for those that don't know, a nylon cord is basically a big rubber band. all my dad remembers is taking a swing, then seeing black. on his downstroke, he caught the cord with the maul. since he was swinging hard and the maul was heavy, the cord gave very little resistance while it was being stretched out. but as soon as that downward force went away, the cord snapped back and shot the maul back into my dads face. the back of the maul hit him hard enough to knock him out, and crack part of his sinus cavity, and actually compress his skull a little. he was lucky that a pocket of fluid formed and acted as a "cushion" for his sinus area. the doctor told him not to lift anything heavier than a coffee mug for 2 months. if he did, that pocket may drain and he would have to go in for emergency surgery and have his forhead peeled away to fix the problem. needless to say, my dad took it easy for a few weeks.

anyway, sorry for the long post, but its relevant (kinda) so i thought i'd share. FYI, my dad is back to normal and you can barely even see any scars.

 

Dude, that sucks! I'm glad it hit you in the leg and not the head, that would leave a mark.

 

Ouch, not quite sure what a maul is, but don't worry I will google it right after I get done posting. Either way, sounds painful, hope you heal up fine; sorry to hear about your dad ND, hope he is all better now too.

 

Okay, I'm back. I know what a maul is now. I see the piece next to your bone, but can you explain what the little jagged straight thing leading down your bone to the piece is?

 

Hey OP. Whats going on? Get in to surgery?

 

Just wanted to warn everyone to be safe when cutting or splitting wood. I would not want this to happen to anyone. I have been hit by ricochets while shooting and this felt more like getting shot.

Going to see the surgeon in the morning to see what they are going to do.

jjew18, The line is a measurement line from my knee so they can tell exactly where it was in my leg.

I had a few friends over when I had the chainsaw cutting up the trees but didn't think about having someone around while I split, guess I will in the future. At the time I was alone and almost passed out from the pain.

Glad you dad is OK ND.

Here is what is left of the maul...missing a 9mmX6mm piece

 

Glad your ok and chris should read this. ND, glad your old man is recovering well.

 

DAMN! here i was thinking it was a piece of the handle the shattered.

 

Surgen said it was too deep to remove unless it was giving me problems. He said to take all of the anti-infection meds and keep an eye on it.


Yes, Chris should read this I have read some of his stories on here and he could use the warning.

 

for real? i'd want them to take that shit out. Now you're gonna have to be molested at the airport! haha.