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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / January 2005Plug them ears, Im gonna whine.
Just got home from the hand specialist. He worked on my son in the past and I adore this doc. I went to him because I was having range-of-motion issues and OA pain and my monkey thumbs have several issues. I explained that I really wanted my hands to work well...or at the very least not get worse. He conducted a few test and x-rays. My OA is severe...moreso than we thought. I have nerve damage or possibly a severed nerve in my index finger...the first joint after the tip wont bend at all. I got an injection in this finger and I can now bend it to about a 30 degree angle...which is something. My monkey thumbs need a special splint that I get fitted for tomorrow. It hyperextends and gets stuck...looks creepy, doesn't hurt that bad. He said surgery will eventually have to be done, but I will lose all motion in that joint. He offered OT and the splint for now...I took that offer readily. Most surprising...and I never thought about it....clueless again....I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to an astonishing degree. My right hand is really bad and my left hand is moderate. I have some scary looking splints to wear to bed. Has anyone else missed something like this? I just thought it was all OA. He did the nerve test and strength test...I flunked! I get an EMG next week and back to see him afterward. He sees surgery for that in my future...he is afraid of permanent nerve damage. I explained how often I use my hands...and he REALLY listened to me and said we would preserve as much function as possible. Janet R Oh Janet, As the testing goes on I hope you get better results. I hope they can do something about it without the surgery. I know how much your hands mean to you. You are in my thoughts and heart. I feel for you.  SignatureLove and hugs to all Good thoughts coming your way too. Squirrely Jo > Just got home from the hand specialist. He worked on my son in the > past and I adore this doc. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Janet R Thanks Jo...I feel better hearing from all of ya'll. Janet R : Oh Janet, : [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] : > : > Janet R The carpal tunnel was, after my cataract removal, the easiest and most beneficial procedure I've had done. The pain relief was amazing. Jo > Just got home from the hand specialist. He worked on my son in the > past and I adore this doc. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Janet R I have heard that before...I'm starting to think that all my pain may not be all OA. I wake up and shake my hands due to numbness...I thought it was because my shoulder hurt. I really need to pay more attention. Janet R : The carpal tunnel was, after my cataract removal, the easiest and most : beneficial procedure I've had done. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] : > : > Janet R {{{{{{Janet}}}}}} Sounds like you are walking around with my hands. Let him take care of you. And I would believe the splints you wear to bed -- I have some of those too. Duckie > Just got home from the hand specialist. He worked on my son in the > past and I adore this doc. [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > Janet R Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) > Has anyone else missed something like this? I think when things come on gradually over time, it's so easy to not realize the full extent of what's happening. Heck, we get used to pain and numbness and begin to block it out. Plus, you learn ways to take pressure off of certain places in order to function in the best way possible. I think most of us have probably been shocked to hear that certain body parts are in worse shape than we thought. Afterall, if they're still working, we think the problems must only be mild. I just about crapped when my hand surgeon told me what I needed to have done to my arm. I couldn't even focus on what he was saying after that because I had thought from previous appointments that he thought things were not that bad. I even thought possibly he would not even recommend an arthroscopy!! And now I have a plate and 8 screws in my arm!! The thing that should have been a sign to me was when I had my nerve conduction tests and EMG, the neurologist said that I had severe loss of strength in my hand and arm. I hope the splints help, Janet!! And if you have to have surgery and lose some of the movement in your hand, remember....where there's a will, there's way to get things done! People told me that I would not be able to put my bra on by myself....well, I have figured out a way to do it!! Take care! Carol I think you are absolutely correct. I got a little worried when on Saturday night I was cleaning up my studio and grabbed the "Inferno, hotter-n-hell, molten lead" hot end of a glass rod. I didn't notice it was scorching right away and by time it dawned on me...my fingers locked up and I had to shake my entire hand and the glass rod flew on the floor. Fortunately I keep cold water in my studio and I dunked my hand immediately. It is quite red, but no blister! That little incident really woke me up...but I still didn't think of Carpal Tunnel. Maybe all this pain isn't all OA after all. My doc said we would do all we could to preserve function. He is a keeper! Janet R : > Has anyone else missed something like this? : [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] : Take care! : Carol In that case, here's my favorite "incident" thanks to kinda numb fingers. Although my carpal tunnel surgeries were successful, 5 years later I busted up my right wrist in a bicycle tumble and it brought back all kinds of nerve problems going to that hand. That trouble continues to this day. So..... one winter night I decided to have some hot sake. Mike was busy so rather than ask him what he'd learned about nuking sake, I decided to experiment on my own. I'd nuke for a few seconds, then test with my finger, and so on until it seemed the right temp. Tossed back a glass and burned my throat all the way down! *THEN* I remembered that my right index finger is always a bit numb thanks to the nerve damage. A little late in remembering that fact! LOL Then it got really fun when I had to keep explaining why I couldn't talk above a whisper for several days - and this was when I was working at the hospital so I was telling the tale to all these interns and residents. heehee SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare > I think you are absolutely correct. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Janet R > I think you are absolutely correct. > > I got a little worried when on Saturday night I was cleaning up my > studio and grabbed the "Inferno, hotter-n-hell, molten lead" hot end > of a glass rod. Eek. Don't DO that. It hurts! Hope you see some improvement soon. Sounds like your doc is on the ball. Janet n. >I think you are absolutely correct. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Janet R I'm also putting off the carpal tunnel surgery. Wake up w/numb hands. Drop things all the time. Hand occasionally seizes. Can pick up things that are hotter than most people can... My surgeon advises doing the surgery arthroscopically if at all possible. Says the result is often superior because there is less damage to surrounding structures. He had done his secretary's hand, so I asked her about her experience. She was back at work in a few days, and two handed typing in just over a week. "good" story? - In college, I'd gone to a bagel breakfast at one of the campus' organizations. While cutting the bagel, the knife went into my thumb. I turned to my friend, calmly saying, I just cut myself. She looked at my hand, blanched and said, "Let's take the knife OUT of your finger and see how it looks." Then after looking, proceeded to drag me across campus (interconnected buildings) to where her friend, an EMT was studying in a lounge. He said it needed stitches, which I declined. Used micropore tape as a butterfly bandage. Adelle My hand surgery wasn't arthroscopic, but far be it from me to tell a surgeon which version to use. Best is what he is comfortable with. The scars on my hands are virtually invisible, And as I recall I had full function back in each hand within two weeks. When I went in for the next day post op on the first hand the doc asked if I had any questions. Only how soon can we schedule the other one. The biggest reason I went for the surgery rather than splints, meds is that I was starting to show nerve damage and it is both cumulative and irreversible. I'm quite clumsy enough without losing my sense of touch in my hands. Jo >>I think you are absolutely correct. >> [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Adelle Yikes...all that clumsiness I am having with my fingers may be the CTS? Crimeny, I am clueless. I get the EMG next week...then we decide what to do further. I got a special thumb/volar (sp?)plate splint today...it does so much to improve my sexiness factor! LOL Janet R : My hand surgery wasn't arthroscopic, but far be it from me to tell a surgeon : which version to use. Best is what he is comfortable with. [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] : > : > Adelle Where was your surgery done? Thnx. Barb > My hand surgery wasn't arthroscopic, but far be it from me to tell a > surgeon which version to use. Best is what he is comfortable with. [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] >> >> Adelle > I'm also putting off the carpal tunnel surgery. Wake up w/numb hands. Drop > things all the time. Hand occasionally seizes. Can pick up things that are > hotter than most people can... Just be careful about putting it off TOO long. We knew someone who did and she had permanent nerve damage by the time it was done. Never completely regained sensation in her hands afterwards. And the surgery and recovery are simple and quite routine these days. Done under a nerve block, it can also give you funny stories about the things your hand and arm did without your knowledge! LOL SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare >> I'm also putting off the carpal tunnel surgery. Wake up w/numb hands. >> Drop [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > your > hand and arm did without your knowledge! LOL Since it usually involved hitting myself in the face, I usually knew. LOL Speaking of smacking ones own face.... I'm still getting used to these splints I wear at nighttime. They have a heavy metal bar in them...under my palm. It sticks out slightly further than my hand.... I have danged near knocked myself out a couple times so far. When I scratch my forehead I ding my face! Its an ugly 3 a.m. wake up call! Janet R : >> I'm also putting off the carpal tunnel surgery. Wake up w/numb hands. : >> Drop [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] : : Since it usually involved hitting myself in the face, I usually knew. LOL > Speaking of smacking ones own face.... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Janet R It takes time. I was very good at taking mine off in my sleep. I'd go to sleep with them on and wake up with the splints on the floor beside the bed. My RD at the time chuckled and told me to just keep trying. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare >It takes time. I was very good at taking mine off in my sleep. I'd go to >sleep with them on and wake up with the splints on the floor beside the bed. >My RD at the time chuckled and told me to just keep trying. It took me nearly a year to quit taking mine off and chucking them under the bed in the middle of the night. And over ten years later, I found that when George and I were sleeping in a small hotel bed about the size of the one we had when we first got married...right, I did it again. We thought it was weirdly appropriate since we were celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary a couple weeks ago. Decided the small bed and sleeping squashed up together is what made me go back to yanking the braces off and tossing them under the bed. After I smacked myself on the head a couple times rolling over, off they went. These days I wear wrist braces with a thumb spica, which makes for even more fun. I nearly put my eye out when I first went to the thumb splint braces. I'd gotten good at being able to scratch my nose without braining myself until I had to worry about my thumb sticking out there. *stab!* SignatureLee M.Thompson-Herbert lee@retro.com KoX 1995, SP4 Head Muso, White Rats Morris, Faultline Morris See my CafePress Shops: http://www.retro.com/employees/lee/CafePress.html "A head-on collision between Morticia Adams and Martha Stewart" >> And the surgery and recovery are simple and quite routine these days. >> Done [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Since it usually involved hitting myself in the face, I usually knew. LOL LOL In my case, my arm just kept disappearing. I'd lay it safely on my tummy, then it wouldn't be there and I'd find it sticking straight out to the side, hanging off the bed altogether! I laughed so hard that day and I'm still grinning now just thinking about it! LOL SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare OUCH! My gosh Janet, you definitely have numb hands!! I hope the hand is still ok today. Carol > I think you are absolutely correct. > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > : Take care! > : Carol Only time I have not been able to put on my own bra is when I am in the first cast. After that you figure out ways. I still let John put it on me if he is home. Let's me save that energy for something else. :) Yesterday when having my Remicade, another lady several chairs down was headed to day surgery. Doctor asked her how she was doing and she said she was panicked and was there another choice. He said of course but the option was not a good one for the long haul. Both were laughing so she was not really going to back out. Then she said -- besides, I have shaved my legs for you, I can't back out now. That woman has my kind of logic. lol Duckie ..... And if you have to have surgery and > lose some of the movement in your hand, remember....where there's a > will, there's way to get things done! People told me that I would not > be able to put my bra on by myself....well, I have figured out a way > to do it!! > Take care! > Carol Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a circle. Then step into it, pull it up over your hips with your good arm. Put your bad arm in the strap and squirm around til you get it up onto the upper part of the bad arm. Then put your good arm in the other strap....and it's on!! You kinda have to wiggle around a bit, but it works! You have to make sure you don't have latched so that it's inside out, but you can figure that out after doing it a couple of times. Carol > Only time I have not been able to put on my own bra is > when I am in the first cast. After that you figure out [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Take care! > > Carol > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks > with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Carol You know, as interesting a visual as that is, there is no way that my bra would go over my hips. I'm 36 around at the top and significantly more voluptuous at the bottom.:oP I'd be more inclined to go braless and wear big, loose tops and a coat all the time.lol Kelly C.;o) Kelly, that's what I'm doing now. Can't stand a strap on my shoulder yet. I have a big blue sweater that I put on my right arm and keep it pulled to the center when I go out. The other side just hangs over the left shoulder. Gwen > > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks > > with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Kelly C.;o) > Kelly, that's what I'm doing now. Can't stand a strap on my shoulder yet. > I have a big blue sweater that I put on my right arm and keep it pulled to > the center when I go out. The other side just hangs over the left shoulder. > Gwen Good for you, Gwen! Comfort is what it's all about and as long as nobody is getting flashed, it's a good thing. Kelly C.;o) Carol wrote: > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the > hooks with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor > spread out in a circle. Then step into it, pull it up over your > hips with your good arm. ...... That's how professionals decorate Christmas trees. Lights are laid out in a circle on the floor, the tree is placed in the center, and the lights are raised by the crew using step stools and ladders as they go up. > That's how professionals decorate Christmas trees. > > Lights are laid out in a circle on the floor, the tree is > placed in the center, and the lights are raised by the > crew using step stools and ladders as they go up. So let me be straight on this. You are suggesting Carol pretend to be a Christmas tree and get the professionals to come in and decorate her? <hiding> :-) --- Joan > So let me be straight on this. You are suggesting Carol > pretend to be a Christmas tree and get the professionals > to come in and decorate her? > <hiding> :-) I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers. > > So let me be straight on this. You are suggesting Carol > > pretend to be a Christmas tree and get the professionals > > to come in and decorate her? > > <hiding> :-) > > I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers. I wouldn't be too sure about that Chief! My cup size is not exactly something worth volunteering to decorate! LOL Carol, sounds as if you have as hard a time with your bra as I do changing slings every AM & PM. I still have to sleep in the great big thick one but wear the smaller one during the day. Maybe by the time I can also sleep in the smaller one , I'll have learned how to change them! Gwen > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks > with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > > Take care! > > > Carol rofl That would assume that my hips were not 12 inches bigger around than my under bra carriage. I can't even take a dress off that way. Always has to go over the head. lol Thanks for the laugh. Glad that works for you. Duckie > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks > with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >>>Take care! >>>Carol Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Ahhh! I finally have a good reason to be happy about my concave chest. Since I haven't bought new bras since I was still nursing and before I lost more weight, I don't actually have bras that fit. (I also can't find any small enough.) I've now reached the point where I rarely bother, even with tighter tshirts. Let's hear it for the Tint T*ttie Team!! SignatureRebecca Ford > Duckie, I have found the way to put a bra on!! I attach the hooks > with my good hand. Then lie the bra on the floor spread out in a [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >> > Take care! >> > Carol Oopa. Meant the Tiny T*tty Team. Spelling ability seems to go out the window with 2 kids fighting in my ear. SignatureRebecca Ford " the Tint T*ttie Team!! I don't know... tinted t*tties might be interesting, too!LOL Kelly C.;o) > Oopa. Meant the Tiny T*tty Team. Spelling ability seems to go out the window > with 2 kids fighting in my ear. > I don't know... tinted t*tties might be interesting, too!LOL Florescent or phosphorescent tinting? Glow in the dark?? quack >>I don't know... tinted t*tties might be interesting, too!LOL > > Florescent or phosphorescent tinting? Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Could be an interesting sight! Put my ear-Bluetooth in my blouse pocket and when I received an incoming call my boob became a "blue light special"! (do not try this in restaurants or K-Mart!) Joan > Glow in the dark?? > quack > > >>I don't know... tinted t*tties might be interesting, too!LOL > > > > Florescent or phosphorescent tinting? > Only time I have not been able to put on my own bra is > when I am in the first cast. After that you figure out [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > can't back out now. That woman has my kind of logic. lol > Duckie The leg-shaving thing reminds me of being in labor with Rachel. I labored at home all day and at one point was in the shower, letting the hot water work on the back labor and I noticed that I had really hairy legs. It suddenly occurred to me that a lot of people would soon be seeing them and I would not like that. I plopped down into the tub and started shaving...no mean feat while laboring and with a belly the size and dimension of a VW bug. Brett came in to check on me and couldn't believe his eyes. He had to help me out when I was done and shortly after, we left for the hospital. I felt much better prepared. Of course, in the end, Rachel came via C-section anyway...so there ya go! Kelly C.;o) Too funny. I did the same thing with both kids. At least I got the satisfaction of having them both naturally so everyone could appreciate my silky smooth legs! SignatureRebecca Ford > The leg-shaving thing reminds me of being in labor with Rachel. I labored > at [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Kelly C.;o) > Has anyone else missed something like this? I just thought it was all > OA. He did the nerve test and strength test...I flunked! I get an [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Janet R I couldn't really miss my carpal tunnel as it came on fairly suddenly. Things would go really numb on me about 2/3 of the way through my shift at work. The surgeries for them were a total delight though and it's even easier now than it was 16 years ago. Within a few days I had much improved sensation in my hands. Everyone was much amused as I kept touching things with texture for the joy of feeling them again. Sounds like you found a keeper of an ortho. Oh, and my thumbs have been like yours. I used to dislocate them playing my clarinet, but my dislocations were painful. I finally trained myself to use them differently when playing! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare |
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