Can't tie anything!

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agill786

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Hi guys,
I know this is a really weird subject and I am probably the only person on here with this problem. However, I am unable to tie a proper knot out of anything (I wear flip flops all the time to avoid tying shoes...can't tie a bag together, etc.) It is truly aggravating. I don't have a learning disability or anything as I have seen a neurologist regarding this as well. My question is how much of an affect will this impediment have on my ability to perform in medical school. I would like to go into a primary care field but even that involves minor surgeries which require knots. Will the knot-tying process be easier in medical school when they teach it to you?

Also, on a completely different side note, any recommendations as to comfy shoes during med school that half velcro?

Thanks and I'm being completely serious with this thread---luckily I can hide behind a computer and ask for advice annoymously!
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I think being able to tie a knot is on a lot of schools technical standards list...

AKA performing basic life saving procedures.

I'm intrigued about your not being able to tie a knot. What did the neuro say?
 
So is it a matter of memory, dexterity, or some type of mental block?
 
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You're knot serious, are you?

Hehe, I kid. I, too, am intrigued.
 
I'd be careful then to not pick a worthless major like basketweaving 🙂
 
attachment.php
 
Did you have a bad childhood which involved being violated by a Boy Scout leader?
 
Start practicing now. I don't know how well your fellow peers will take it whenever you ask them to tie and knot your face mask before you enter the OR every day during clinical rotations.
 
How the what?

Seriously?

Anyway, surgical knot tying is very methodical and involves using instruments like hemostats to hold parts of the thread. It's a very different process than a normal shoe tie.

I still have no clue how it is impossible for you to learn how to tie a knot though. Not even a basic granny knot? You need to be at least able to tie those.
 
The neurologist said everything looks normal and I should just be able to learn. However, I just don't have the dexterity. During the first two years, will I encounter any problems?
 
I'm truly being serious here btw. Not trolling, I'm just really worried.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ3_Nf_4EOc

I watched the above video and I can do a granny knot with the laces around my pajamas I just practiced.

I'm really worried as this could mean I might have a motor handicap!
 
There are essential standards (i.e. basic skills) schools require students to be able to perform. Motor tactile/function (including fine and gross muscular movements) is one of them so you may be running into some problems.

I really don't know what to tell you other than just keep practicing tying knots.
 
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How did they let you pass kindergarden?
 
If you can take the granny knot to the next level and tie a square (or reef) knot (which is basically just a double granny knot with the ends swapped on the second half) then you should be fine for surgery. You won't be making bows in sutures any time soon.
 
If it makes you feel better, I can't tie a tie
 
Tapepsi said:
Start practicing now. I don't know how well your fellow peers will take it whenever you ask them to tie and knot your face mask before you enter the OR every day during clinical rotations.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the face masks were made of elastic.

I guess I'll just have to keep on trying by practicing. I know that some schools do have workshops/some patient exposure during the first two years so I hope I will be okay on that end.
 
NightGod said:
If you can take the granny knot to the next level and tie a square (or reef) knot (which is basically just a double granny knot with the ends swapped on the second half) then you should be fine for surgery. You won't be making bows in sutures any time soon.
Click to expand...

I just practiced that and I did good with two cloth belts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuNwp_Pi33s

The above link also helped. I'm going to practice my shoes tomorrow as well.
THank you for the advice on how to get me started. I swear if it comes to becoming a Physician, I will win an Olympic medal for tying!
 
agill786 said:
Hi guys,
I know this is a really weird subject and I am probably the only person on here with this problem. However, I am unable to tie a proper knot out of anything (I wear flip flops all the time to avoid tying shoes...can't tie a bag together, etc.) It is truly aggravating. I don't have a learning disability or anything as I have seen a neurologist regarding this as well. My question is how much of an affect will this impediment have on my ability to perform in medical school. I would like to go into a primary care field but even that involves minor surgeries which require knots. Will the knot-tying process be easier in medical school when they teach it to you?

Also, on a completely different side note, any recommendations as to comfy shoes during med school that half velcro?

Thanks and I'm being completely serious with this thread---luckily I can hide behind a computer and ask for advice annoymously!
Click to expand...

If you were a chick i would totally date you
(<------cant tie shoes)
 
Try Ian's fast shoelace knot; it doesn't get any simpler than that:
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm

Also, just out of curiosity, when you're sitting in a room quietly by yourself, does it look like the walls/ceiling are swelling, bulging, pulsing, and/or sliding?
 
agill786 said:
I just practiced that and I did good with two cloth belts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuNwp_Pi33s

The above link also helped. I'm going to practice my shoes tomorrow as well.
THank you for the advice on how to get me started. I swear if it comes to becoming a Physician, I will win an Olympic medal for tying!
Click to expand...

If you're feeling really ambitious, you can check out
[youtube]XHk_191uYP4[/youtube]
and you can see the modifications to the typical square knot tying style that is used by surgeons. Same basic concept, just some different hand placement to account for the need to keep tension on the suture material and to account for the thinness of it.
 
Finger dexterity exercises. Google them or practice an instrument.
 
I agree with practicing with an instrument and youtube videos like the one posted above. if the neurologist say you are fine, then its less likely dexterity and more likely an inability to remember the steps. Have you done neuropsych testing to test your memory? break knot tying into 5-6 steps, write the steps down down, and practice each step until you can master it, then go to step 2 and do step 1&2 until you master that, then step 1,2,&3, etc. Like playing an instrument and any other technical skill. It all comes down to practice. It's also possible this is likely in your head and you need to just start believing that you can tie a knot. Maybe your spacial orientation is a bit off too, but not sure.
 
I am really having trouble understanding why you're unable to tie a knot but can clearly do things like typing which requires a decent amount of finger dexterity.
 
If you don't know how to tie your shoes you will end up wearing those beige colored Rockport shoes withe the two velcro tabs.

...not sexy.
 
agill786 said:
My question is how much of an affect will this impediment have on my ability to perform in medical school. I would like to go into a primary care field but even that involves minor surgeries which require knots. Will the knot-tying process be easier in medical school when they teach it to you?
Click to expand...

Suturing isn't that hard. The technique I was taught involved looping the thread around a hemostat, grasping the other end, and pulling the other end through the loop your just made with the hemostat.

It's easier than it sounds.

Also, maybe you should see an Occupational Therapist about this if it aggravates you so much?
 
I think not being able to tie a knot means you're ******ed on some level. That's what I heard.
 
agill786 said:
I was under the impression that the face masks were made of elastic.

I guess I'll just have to keep on trying by practicing. I know that some schools do have workshops/some patient exposure during the first two years so I hope I will be okay on that end.
Click to expand...

'Fraid not.🙁
 
Actually, shoes are the least of the OP's problems.

You can buy several pairs of Danskos
http://www.dansko.com/At Work/

Sure, you might look like a gunner if you show up on day one with these. But there is no tying involved, and the come in a variety of colors now - so you can probably get away with these in many (but not all) settings in the hospital.
 
Why don't you start practicing now? You're not going to get out of med school without being able to suture.

I got a beef heart from the butcher to learn cardiac anatomy. After I was done, I practiced suturing the incisions I had made. I'm sure my attempts were amateurish, but isn't that hard, you can find videos online that describe how to do it.
 
artsciencelove said:
Why don't you start practicing now? You're not going to get out of med school without being able to suture.

I got a beef heart from the butcher to learn cardiac anatomy. After I was done, I practiced suturing the incisions I had made. I'm sure my attempts were amateurish, but isn't that hard, you can find videos online that describe how to do it.
Click to expand...

LOL. Das uber gunner. I must admit I have used beef for other purposes than consumption...namely "experimenting" with how different bullets behave vs tissue (gun enthusiast here/hunter).
 
willen101383 said:
LOL. Das uber gunner. I must admit I have used beef for other purposes than consumption...namely "experimenting" with how different bullets behave vs tissue (gun enthusiast here/hunter).
Click to expand...

LOL, future trauma surgeon here. That's actually pretty interesting, though not something you would put in your personal statement. I hope the beef was not alive when you did it. 🙂 I have done a lot of things that will help me once I get to med school. The stuff you learn there isn't magic or secret, I actually have 10GB of videos that describe various medical procedures. The school provides expert instruction and confers your degree, but educating yourself is ultimately your own responsibility.
 
vc7777 said:
Actually, shoes are the least of the OP's problems.

You can buy several pairs of Danskos
http://www.dansko.com/At Work/

Sure, you might look like a gunner if you show up on day one with these. But there is no tying involved, and the come in a variety of colors now - so you can probably get away with these in many (but not all) settings in the hospital.
Click to expand...

Just saw a PA intern at the ED I volunteer at wearing those. Was wondering WTF they were.
 
All I can say is buy cheap, comfortable, and non-porous shoes in dark colors. They will get covered with p*ss, ****, blood, puke, etc. It is easier just to toss them out when they get nasty. When I get home, I always change my clothes and bag them outside the house. Always keep an extra change of clothes, including shoes, in your car.
 
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artsciencelove said:
LOL, future trauma surgeon here. That's actually pretty interesting, though not something you would put in your personal statement. I hope the beef was not alive when you did it. 🙂 I have done a lot of things that will help me once I get to med school. The stuff you learn there isn't magic or secret, I actually have 10GB of videos that describe various medical procedures. The school provides expert instruction and confers your degree, but educating yourself is ultimately your own responsibility.
Click to expand...

Get into school first before proclaiming yourself a future trauma surgeon, lest your bovine surgical gunner hobby pre-studying becomes that creepy guy in his basement/garage doing bovine experiments and finding his way onto a terror watch list.
 
artsciencelove said:
LOL, future trauma surgeon here. That's actually pretty interesting, though not something you would put in your personal statement. I hope the beef was not alive when you did it. 🙂 I have done a lot of things that will help me once I get to med school. The stuff you learn there isn't magic or secret, I actually have 10GB of videos that describe various medical procedures. The school provides expert instruction and confers your degree, but educating yourself is ultimately your own responsibility.
Click to expand...

Yessir. I self studied all last year and plan on it again this year and I was more than happy with my grades to say the least.
 
Longshanks said:
Get into school first before proclaiming yourself a future trauma surgeon, lest your bovine surgical gunner hobby pre-studying becomes that creepy guy in his basement/garage doing bovine experiments and finding his way onto a terror watch list.
Click to expand...

qft.

Ya never know how you are going to do in med school so its best not to get your heart set on something when there is a pretty significant chance you wont make it.
 
willen101383 said:
qft.

Ya never know how you are going to do in med school so its best not to get your heart set on something when there is a pretty significant chance you wont make it.
Click to expand...

That said, there's also nothing wrong with having an idea of what you want to do, as long as you are realistic in understanding that it is likely to change once you start doing clinicals and experience the reality of the specialties (not to mention the reality of being able to match into a top-end specialty).

It's always kind of bothered me when I see these sort of posts. I don't see people berating people who are interested in being a PCP. Nothing wrong with dreaming big.
 
Just keep watching knot tying videos and practice a lot until it becomes second nature.
 
This is ******ed. OP can tie knots. Otherwise he would've lost the hook with the bait on it he cast into this thread
 
Recognize the Granny knot. Never use it.
 
Guys I never learned the names of colors and how to count to 10, will this be required in medical school?
 
If you don't know the names of colors, aren't you really just seeing one color?
 
willen101383 said:
qft.

Ya never know how you are going to do in med school so its best not to get your heart set on something when there is a pretty significant chance you wont make it.
Click to expand...

Um, I was calling HIM a future trauma surgeon due to his EC of blasting holes in dead animals with a firearm. It was meant to be humorous, sorry if that didn't come across.
 
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I have a similar problem; I can't turn left.
 
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