Injured...

[NINZOMBIE]

I am very sad right now.

Unfortunately, I was in an accident (I was not at any fault), that resulted in my right wrist being broken in 3 places, and completely dislocated.

Thankfully I did not need surgery, but it IS my dominant hand and wrist. I am unable to perform any of my magic or cardistry.

I am worried that once the cast comes off, I am going to have a major setback retraining my dominant hand and wrist.

Has anyone else ever had something similar happen? If so, how.did you overcome the injury?

Thanks in advance, gang. You are the best...

Paul

 

[Maaz Hasan]

First off, Get better soon!

When you do get back, Don't take it too fast. As someone who is and has been injured a lot (I'm a 16 year old male, and thus stupid by definition ), I have learned that if you get back from an injury too soon, you aggravated it, and it's the worst thing, because you are no longer fully inhibited, but the injury is there (probably even worse than before without you realizing). Since the doctor will probably put you on some Phys. Therapy, you should complete a few full sessions with them and then ask if you can start back up with the stuff.

I recently posted a thread about my hands being hurt, and though it wasn't really an injury, it is a consistent (and painful) annoyance. I decided to put down my cards and stuff and just step away from the whole magic scene for a bit. It didn't work, as I found the loop hole to quickly lol:

I started doing some self working tricks, and some tricks without any slights (including a bit of mentalism). This really allowed me to work on my presentation, as well as showing me how powerful self workers really are.

So while you recover, and when you are feeling better and getting the hang of it again, try working on less exhaustive tricks.

Don't Worry about your hand needing to be retrained. You might have to work through the motions once or twice, but sleights are all muscle memory. You wont just forget how to do them. It's like riding a bike. It may take longer for your hand to get adjusted to super pressure-based moves (things like a pressure fan, muscle pass (for coins), maybe even a one handed top palm with multiple cards), but that is more so your hand being idle for so long, and just needing to be "broken in", so to speak. You may have trouble with stuff you had just learned or were practicing, but if you just re-learn it, not only will you have a better understanding of the move, but it will also be a lot easier to do.

Good luck!

 

[010rusty]

I am also 16 and Male and can confirm Maaz's statement. I remember when i broke both my arms on a bicycle (long story) and sat down that summer trying to shuffle a deck of cards with 2 enormous green cast and failing miserably.....
That is when I created my signature linking rubber bands effect. I couldn't do complicated slights therefore like Maaz said I focused on easy almost self working effect.


I broke another arm like 9 months later......
Once again it helped me. I stopped trying to do complicated stuff and did simple stuff. I'm not a doctor, so IDK. I would be lying if I said I did not have the broken arms, that my slights would be better, but at the same time my non complicated tricks may be worse.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Timewise64]

Hope you heal up fast...and recover all the speed and strength you had before the accident.

But, sometimes things happen for a reason. Many good magicians learn to do many of the same moves with both hands....just imagine if you learn to do some of the things you do with your right hand with your left hand! Wouldn't that be something... Maybe this cloud has a silver lining....

Good Luck

 

[RealityOne]

You most likely will regain full range of motion and full coordination... in time.

In the meantime, get some self working books. Scarne on Card Tricks is the best. Also check out Tamariz's Verbal Magic.

Take some time to get some good books and read them. Darwin Ortiz's Designing Miracles is a great read on constructing magic performances. Strong Magic is a great book if you have a couple of years of performance experience. If you are looking to perform for groups for money, read Ken Webber's Maximum Entertainment - the most practical book on performing magic and mentalism there is. I love the approach taken by Larry Haas in his book Transformations. Anything by Eugene Burger is amazing. Guy Hollingsworth's Drawing Room Deceptions, the Aretology of Vanni Bossi, and Handsome Jack are all great books.

 

[DisasterTheory]

I have to agree with what has been said here. As a skateboarder and martial artist, I have broken many bones. Since magic is not my job, I was able to afford to take time from it to heal. There is a bit of a curve when it comes to getting full motion back but it does happen. Just take the time needed and don't get frustrated.

 

[Justin.Morris]

Oh man, so sorry to hear that. That must be really difficult. I hope your recovery process goes well.

 

[Al e Cat Dabra]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I wish you a speedy recovery. I agree with what other members have suggested on this thread about learning some self-working tricks (Yes, Scarne on Card Tricks is wonderful) and reading up on presentation, with books like Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz. Some of the strongest and most baffling tricks require no sleight of hand. Remember to take it slow as you are healing so that you do not do any permanent damage.