Should surgeons do manual labor?

[Mecidimes]

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Hello, I am a first-year medical student interested in surgery. I also enjoy a good day's work outdoors doing everything from gardening to metalworking, but I'm concerned about the risk that manual labor may or may not pose to a job that relies so much on one's hands.

I would like to ask the surgeons of this forum: does manual labor have the potential to limit a surgeon's dexterity? I'm concerned that the long hours of gripping and using heavy tools in manual labor may diminish the dexterity of my hands over time, and wanted to ask you all if that is indeed a legitimate concern.

Of course, I am also aware of manual labor's risk of broken or amputated fingers, and I can imagine that would be a serious setback for any surgeon. If you have experience with that, how bad of a setback is it really?

Thank you for your time!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Moving to Allo forum.

 

[clausewitz2]

I am not a surgeon, but a neurosurgery attending of my acquaintance spends most of his free time training in fairly brutal martial arts. He seems to have had lots of issues with his knees as a result (5+ surgeries) but no issues with his hands, certainly none that have kept him out of the OR. Not exactly manual labor, but the concerns are similar.

 

[onceawolverine]

I know (of, not personally) 4-5 neurosurgery residents who go rock climbing on weekends and have some pretty gnarly calluses on their hands and dirt under their fingertips. No loss of dexterity there!

An attending surgeon I know enjoys home improvement projects that require jigsaw power tools, table saws, miter saws, blow torches, etc. His projects tend to take years to complete, but he certainly hasn't lost any of his nimbleness from it.

I do know a surgeon who lost three digits during a strenuous outdoor activity (think backpacking, mountaineering, etc). Fortunately, she was with some friends who quickly recovered the appendages and took her to an see an expert hand surgeon (perks of working in the biz is that you know who the best of the best are!). While the recovery process was scary and mind-numbingly painful, she was back to operating a few months later. Her only regret is that her absence forced her colleagues to pick up all the work couldn't do. In that vein, the largest concern* that I've heard surgeons express in regards to these kinds of activities is the fear that their potential injuries might hurt their colleagues, rather than wreak long-lasting damage that could irrevocably ruin their ability to operate.

*That's not to say your concerns are any less valid. I just haven't heard them expressed as often, or with as much trepidation, as the ones I mentioned.

 

[baxt1412]

you will have disability insurance and hopefully you will get good insurance that will cover the activities you participate in.

you can't not do the other things you love because of your career. maybe you won't do them as often, or in as risky of a manner, but you should still be able to do them.

 

[MrChance2]

A surgeon told me once that in terms of dexterity surgery is more similar to being a tailor than a pianist. From the little I've seen in the OR that seems about right. Regularly working with chainsaws might be a little bit hazardous. Not planting trees or mowing the lawn if those are things you prefer to do is ridiculous.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

I do a lot of woodworking/furniture making, and I see no reason to give it up. And as I've found out, this seems to be a fairly common hobby for surgeons. I take the appropriate precautions, and don't think about the "what ifs". I also have a pretty good disability policy. Doing things you enjoy, and that help you relax, will be important. Feeling like you shouldn't do them because something might happen is a quick way to burning out.

 

[baxt1412]

all the more reason to ensure you share your hobbies truthfully with your disability insurance agent so that you can ensure you'll be covered (or at the very least, know you WON'T be covered which could lead you to quit the hobby if it isn't too important to you or seek out a more inclusive policy, etc)

 

[Mad Jack]

Step 1: Don't end up on the business end of a chainsaw, band saw, or anything else with "saw" in the name.

There is no step 2.

Long hours of using your hands will strengthen them, and won't affect your dexterity unless you end up doing something fairly stupid in the process. It isn't like life is an RPG where you have to choose between strength and dexterity, and the dexterity required of surgery is more muscle memory than anything from what I hear. If anything, long hours of using your hands will allow you to build up the stamina (a la rock climbing, mentioned above) that will allow you to operate for hours without your fingers and hands getting shaky or tired. If you're not working with lathes, table saws, or band saws, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Mecidimes]

Thank you all very much! You have set my mind at ease. I am very glad to hear that doing the outdoor activities I enjoy may actually help should I ultimately go into surgery as a specialty.

 

[qkrwndo]

our med director/transplant surgeon manages his own 10 acre farm, raises horses, and builds buildings on that land by himself...how he finds the time to do so, we don't know...but there you go.