Foo - Medical advice needed: contact sports with stitches

So I got a nice little set of stitches (6 over the left eye, 5 on the chin) from a rugby game this past Friday night. I'm leaving for a tournament tomorrow but still have them in. I know the smart thing to do would be not to play, but this is potentially the last rugby tournament of my career (graduating and, depending on job, may not get to play anymore), so figured I can't miss it.

The question is, what is the best way to prepare for contact? Just leave stitches in and cover with a bandaid? Leave in AND super-glue? Remove stitches and super-glue? Any other option? Don't know if anyone has any experience with this or heard of any nifty tricks. Thanks...

It's Rugby. Giving blood is part of the game.

Seriously though, I have no idea. What position do you play?

I would advise you to call your doctor's office and ask.

a true rugby player doesn't worry about it...

Well, if you're willing to have the stitches rip out as the wound is bashed open, go for it. If not, maybe you should consider not playing. I don't know if rugby is like wrestling, but if it is, stitches or a band-aid will make you a bit of a target. That said, I'd go with super glue (watch our eyes) and leave the stitches in. I've sliced my finger tip pretty deep, super glued it, waited a couple days, super glued it again, and then gone to a rock climbing competition.

a true rugby player doesn't worry about it...

Yeah but anyone with half an ounce of brain matter in thier head would worry about it. I've got pretty ugly scars on a few parts of my body 'cause I thought I was a bad ass when I was young, glad none of those scars are on my face. ;)

You all give much better rugby advice than medical advice :lol:

Cbad, excluded...

i would advise you to call your doctor's office and ask.

+1

I think I'll give a doctor a ring then.. If I could sit out, I would, but this is the last hoorah (at least for a while) for me to do what has been my passion for the past 6 years. Plus, you're only young once, and a good scar means a good story.

I've been worried about the opponents scouting out the bandaids, too, but there's not much I can do about it. Maybe they'll just think i gotta sweet new eye-brow ring...?

BTW, Snickle, I typically play outside center or fullback, depending on the particular set of players we have available and the ability of our opponent to kick. And fly-half if the first guy goes down. You have any experience with the game??

Hope you fare better than the fellow on the North Shore in Hawaii about 30 years ago. Some of the Tongans and Samoans were are all about the game, and they tended towards the gigantic. Someone had the misfortune to sustain a fatal injury during a game - which resumed soon after the ambulance left. :eek:

[snip]

BTW, Snickle, I typically play outside center or fullback, depending on the particular set of players we have available and the ability of our opponent to kick. And fly-half if the first guy goes down. You have any experience with the game??

I played right-wing when I was in college and was president of the team for a while. Tried hooker once and never did it again. :eek:

When I started grad school I quit playing because rugby wasn't compatible with classical piano. I can still remember playing rugby games in the snow and praying that the ball wouldn't come near me because I was afraid my fingers would snap off it I tried to catch it.

However, the nice part is I now know how to knock down people much bigger than me. :rolleyes:

I might try something like Tegaderm to cover them up?

Is there a Holiday Inn Express near you? If so, I would just go hang out in the lobby tomorrow morning and asks quests what they would do.

I'd cover the stitches with Steri-Strips that are super glued down. If you pull the strips a bit tight to take as much pressure off the stitches and onto the strips it should hopefully prevent the stitches from ripping on contact. That is, if you choose to play.

I bet Cuda has never stayed in a Holiday Inn Express, just so you know. But he has had more than his share of stitches, so there MIGHT be some truth in what he says.

I've been worried about the opponents scouting out the bandaids, too, but there's not much I can do about it. Maybe they'll just think i gotta sweet new eye-brow ring...?

So instead of targeting the stitches they target the fresh hole and chunk of metal they think is under the band aid. Same difference.

I personally would super glue them and have at it.

But this is foo, not a medical doctors advice column. ;)

I would advise you to call your doctor's office and ask.

That is what I'd advise. Second to that ask the Props and locks on hte team how to tape up such an injury. Best would to have the doctor look at it, a lot depends on how well healed.

My personal preference is vasoline directly over the recently sown up area and tape over that. I've seen quite a few players back in a match as soon as they are stiched up.

BTW why do you think you have to quit? No gap for me or my stockbroker. You might not be able to put in the training to play at the top level, but there are clubs all over the country and these days they are easy to find.

Walk onto field, cut stitches out and let it flow...do this in front of the other players

very good affect :)

Walk onto field, cut stitches out and let it flow...do this in front of the other players

very good affect :)

This, while mumbling "Hepatitis... AIDS..."

Pushaw...only soccer players fear those...:p

Yeah but anyone with half an ounce of brain matter in thier head would worry about it. I've got pretty ugly scars on a few parts of my body 'cause I thought I was a bad ass when I was young, glad none of those scars are on my face. ;)

A real Rugby player asks the doctor as the stiches go in if he can play next weekend. Or with my friends they instruct the paramedic on the team to put in enough so they can be backon the pitch as soon as the thread is cut.

I don't get cut. My question has always been can I play or close to it. For a broken finger it was 'What do I do about it for this weekends game, which got me a reply like 'Tape it to the one next to it, why didn't you tell us you are one of those?'.

There are enough backs that wear scrumcaps these days that it woul dnot be that obvious, unless of course the team you are playing against knows you well. And that includes no small number of Southern hemisphere internationals.

There are enough backs that wear scrumcaps these days that it woul dnot be that obvious, unless of course the team you are playing against knows you well. And that includes no small number of Southern hemisphere internationals.

Why can't the british come up with a game that uses normal sounding names for things?? Scrum cap?? That's almost as bad as the sticky wicket!

Oh yeah, the stitches... really not a good idea, every time your noggin is opened up you increase the chances of infection. Why would you risk that for one game?

Why can't the british come up with a game that uses normal sounding names for things?? Scrum cap?? That's almost as bad as the sticky wicket!

Oh yeah, the stitches... really not a good idea, every time your noggin is opened up you increase the chances of infection. Why would you risk that for one game?

Whaa...one game, it could be the last game. Unless he goes onto some league, this could be the last game...Injury or not, I wouldn't give up the last time to play a good sport. There is no "weekend" league football or rugby that compares. Nothing...

Welp, last three games done, no open stitches. I kinda got lazy and just said f-it and played with no dressing. The wounds healed very well, and although some of the ideas were applicable, the chance of people targeting it was high (you really don't notice it unless you are close and looking for it).

A scrum cap would not have protected anything since the cut is below where the cap comes down to. I asked my doctor when I got my stitches what I could do to play a week later, and he pretty much just said 'don't'. But it was a good weekend, and a helluva way to end it (potentially).

It may have been my last because although there are clubs all around the country, they're by no means in every town. And the way the economy is going (for me), I can't be picky about what job I take. Though I'm sure I'll play games now and then, it won't be as competitive as a season tournament with a team I've been playing with all year. But hopefully that won't be the case, and I'll pickup on a team for 7's next summer and just continue on with them...

Thanks for the advice, I will be making note for future reference..