Implications of a career that relies on your hands?

[DeadCactus]

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Maybe a silly question, but I'm curious if you've found being a surgeon impacting the hobbies and leisurely pursuits you enjoy outside of the hospital? Do you find yourself being more cautious about doing things like skiing or martial arts for fear of hurting a hand and being unable to operate?

 

[SocialistMD]

I think it is rare to find a real daredevil in surgical specialties; that is more for EM. 😉 The daredevils of surgery tend to live it out in the form of doing an aggressive or extreme operation. Most surgeons tend, in my experience, to be rather boring in terms of their out of hospital, extra-curricular lives. Sure, we mountain-bike and do martial arts, but we aren't super competitve with it and generally do "watch our hands," but no more than we watch our feet or our eyes or any other body part we don't really want to lose, no different than anyone else.

 

[Buzz Me]

See this thread: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=718505

 

[45408]

Funny, I just saw a patient 5 minutes ago who had a lawnmower accident involving the fingers, and I was just thinking about this. I know a surgeon who injured his hand while working on a truck, and it did threaten his career (but seems to have resolved).

I just try to be careful with my table saw. I had a mishap with it once and caught a piece of wood going 50mph right where it hurts most (fortunately, my fertility wasn't affected). I was just glad it wasn't my hand.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Agree with the others above. I'm cautious (and suitably boring like most surgeons, except when it comes to travel - deciding on Borneo vs Komodo Islands next) but not overly so.

About the only concessions I make are to wear gloves when I dive and snorkel (but really only to protect me from cuts) and gloves in the gym/when rowing (to protect me from calluses).

I'm not really a MMA/circular saw using/motorcycle driving type anyway.

 

[SocialistMD]

...had a lawnmower accident involving the fingers, and I was just thinking about this.

There is a very famous Kiwi surgeon who had this happen to him.

 

[OtoHNS]

Anyone have disability insurance that specifically insures your hands/ability to do surgery? I'm looking to upgrade my disability coverage in the next few months. Has anybody gone through that process recently or semi-recently?

 

[45408]

Anyone have disability insurance that specifically insures your hands/ability to do surgery? I'm looking to upgrade my disability coverage in the next few months. Has anybody gone through that process recently or semi-recently?

If my insurance agent would ever get back to me about this...

 

[SLUser11]

I just try to be careful with my table saw. I had a mishap with it once and caught a piece of wood going 50mph right where it hurts most (fortunately, my fertility wasn't affected). I was just glad it wasn't my hand.

While I'm sure we all know of surgeons who continue to practice after hand/finger accidents, I still think we should be careful to protect our precious instruments.

I had an attending who was big into wood work, and used a table saw frequently, even commenting on how dangerous and unpredictable it can be. His philosophy was, "that's why you need to have good disability insurance." I personally just don't think it's worth it.

Anyone have disability insurance that specifically insures your hands/ability to do surgery? I'm looking to upgrade my disability coverage in the next few months. Has anybody gone through that process recently or semi-recently?

I have specialty-specific disability insurance, so if my hands go away, I'm not forced to learn radiology or become an internist.


I believe I've gotten more selective with my activities over the years. I am in semi-retirement from skiing, and I play basketball/soccer with much more restraint, and only with people I know and trust. I haven't gotten to the point of bubble wrapping my hands in public yet, but who knows what the future holds.

 

[45408]

I don't really view skiing as that dangerous for your hands. Driving is still probably the most dangerous thing most of us do every day.

 

[kitsunepixie]

Anyone have disability insurance that specifically insures your hands/ability to do surgery? I'm looking to upgrade my disability coverage in the next few months. Has anybody gone through that process recently or semi-recently?

I got mine as an intern. Our attendings/residents all use the same company and they get to us early.

I don't really view skiing as that dangerous for your hands. Driving is still probably the most dangerous thing most of us do every day.

All the traumas that I see makes me very frightened to drive anywhere anymore. If it's not the drunks, it's the deer that will get you around here!

 

[DrDISpecialist]

Anyone have disability insurance that specifically insures your hands/ability to do surgery? I'm looking to upgrade my disability coverage in the next few months. Has anybody gone through that process recently or semi-recently?

What kind of disability coverage do you have right now? Instead of insuring the instruments, insure the duties that you perform. A lot of things other than your hands can prevent you from doing surgery (a good friend of mine had shoulder issues and ended his career in plastics early).

True own occupation coverage will do that for you. Depending on the surgical specialty, 5 companies will offer true own occupation for the length of the benefit period (to age 65 or higher). Principal, Guardian, MetLife, Union Central, Standard.

If you don't know who to talk to or what your real options are, just let me know and I can coach you through it. I live and breathe this stuff.