Fingering hand injury so bad you had to switch

Have you heard of anyone injuring their fingering hand so severely and they successfully switching to the other for fretting. I'm bringing this topic up because I sustained an injury to my index finger first joint on my fretting hand. I tried to play left but sounded like a total beginner.(I have 35 years experience) My question is: can one switch hands to fret and how long will it take to be competent again?
and no...I do not wish to play slide!!!
Thanks Ed

Tony Iommi lost the tips of some of his fingers, but he didn't switch hands. Are you sure thats what its come to?

Quit jacking off so much! When I first started, I wanted to play left handed because I am left handed. But my grandad told me to play right handed. It felt awkward at first but now it feels awkward to try to play left hand. I don't think it would be like starting over but it would take some major getting used to.
P.S. I just turned my ax around and tried to fret chords. Maybe you should try to work with it somemore.

Django Rhinehart (don't know if i spelled it right) had most of his fingers missing and was one of the best jazz guitarist of his era. He learned to make do with what he had.

You needn't change anything but your point of view. I have lost the use of two fingers in my right hand from gout.
I've lost the use of my middle finger (for the time being and from a really freak accident) on my left hand. Playing helps the brain and the muscles. If you don't move the brain forward nothing moves. My bender still works great.