I thought it was broken!

Connor and I took our dog, a 100lb Newfie, who we just got about 2 months ago, to the dog park at Mt. Trashmore. Normally he does very well there. The first time there was an incident with an aggressive boxer but nothing since and he always looks forward to going. We hadn't gone for a couple weeks due to the holidays. When he figured out that's where we were going, he was whining and pulling and prancing the whole way. Pathetic really...but I can't say I blame him. He loves the snow, unlike me, and loves to play esp. with other dogs and people that will pay any attention to him at all as if he doesn't get enough attention at our crazy house! And he's so strong and fast! It really is breathtaking to watch him romp around. He doesn't know his own strength though with other dogs and big humans. And this has gotten him into trouble. We got to the gate of the dog park and the people that went in before us neglected, unknown to me, to close the inner gate properly. I had the leash around my hand reaching down to take it of Koda and another dog came up, nuzzled the gate just enough to make Koda aware of it being open and off he bolted like a streak of lightening! With my hand still in the leash handle and me caught on the other side of the gate. The leash got caught on my glove and got ripped right out of my hand. I thought it was broken, I could hear the joints popping. It was cold so I put my hand in a snow bank and it went numb. That evening I couldn't make a fist and my pinky and ring finger were still tingly/throbbing. I took some Tylenol and went to bed and when I woke up this morning, the swelling was gone and I could make a fist. It still hurts and is bruised a bit so I think it was probably sprained or internally bruised but nothing appears damaged beyond that. (sorry about the bad picture) Lesson learned. From now on when entering the dog park I will hold him by his gentle leader collar and not his leash. I have better control of him like that! He is lucky he is cute!