Text 8824, 164 rader
Skriven 2008-06-12 11:49:22 av Ruth Haffly (1:396/45.28)
     Kommentar till en text av Sean Dennis
Ärende: Ugh!                                                     [1]
====================================================================
Hi Sean,


 RH> Boo, hiss!  Any chance of possibly geting together maybe in August?

 SD> I dunno.  Depends on if I can get time off, money situation, et al.
 SD> Things are kinda fluid still in that department.  However, if you and
 SD> Steve come to Atlanta, I'm sure we can arrange a meeting.

I know the feeling. We're not anticipating any travel (other than to
Fort Stewart) before we take off for New York next month. OTOH, things
can change; we took off for Dalonega on a couple of day's notice last
fall.  Don't know what our post trip plans look like for free time right
now.


 RH> Sounds like therapy is needed. I know mine was a different situation
 SD> 8< snip >8

 SD> As a matter of fact, I saw my surgeon a few days ago and he did send
 SD> me to physical therapy.  I need to call and work out a payment plan
 SD> third-party billing, I have to work out some sort of payment plan with
 SD> the therapist as I did with the doctor to keep me getting fed to the
 SD> collectors while I wait to collect my settlement.  I do speak to my
 SD> lawyer next week though to see what's going on with my case.

Let's hope the settlement comes thru quickly. I am not looking forward
to having to deal with Tri-carer more often for medical work after Steve
retires. We've not had any major problems with them but enough hiccups
to let us know that the system isn't as smooth as it could be. But, at
least we didn't get billed for Steve's $6,500. helicopter ride to Tucson
a few years ago. (G)

 RH> the cast came off, did the doctor give you a wrist brace? If not, why
 RH> not?  I still pull one out from time to time for the left wrist; it's

 SD> I haven't actually had time to look for the treatment and yes, he did
 SD> give me a brace.  It's not the best, but it does work.  I also found

Any brace is probably better than no brace at this point.

 SD> out that the surgeon did clip my carpul tunnel ligament and he did
 SD> clip the tissue he found around my nerves; it's a wonderful feeling to
 SD> be able to do something
 SD> hand-intensive (like making network cables) and not have my right hand
 SD> completely fall asleep.

Good. I'm somewhat limited in what I can do. I think there's a touch of
CTS in my left wrist but it's not confirmed.


 SD> I asked my surgeon if I was able to get enough in my settlement if he
 SD> would fix my other hand without going to another doctor...and he said
 SD> he would do it as he believed me that I had CTS in the other hand too
 SD> (you rarely get CTS in one hand, evidently, as it shows up in both).
 SD> So that's a good thing to know.

A very good thing to know.

 RH> The protracter you used to rough measure your Range of Motion is
 SD> 8< snip >8

 SD> The doc didn't actually use anything when he looked at my hand.  I
 SD> stuck out my arms straight and moved my wrists.  I also told him about

OK, the therapist will be using one.

 SD> the aching in my hand and I think that's what prompted him to send me
 SD> to therapy.  He did say that I shouldn't have to go very long-just a
 SD> "few times"-but he did also say that my hand is healing very well and
 SD> that if it keeps healing this well, I shouldn't be in pain for too
 SD> much longer.

That's a good thing to know. You may not be in acute pain but there will
be a "dull roar" as I call it. Damp weather will accentuate it, as will
hours of use. (G)


 RH> One thing you will not be able to do for a while, if ever again, is
 RH> kneading bread. I tried it a few times after my 2nd reconstruction on

 SD> I actually haven't done that since I was a kid; that's why I have a
 SD> bread machine. :)  With my CTS, I couldn't knead bread since I was

OK, we got a bread machine for the first time 14 years ago. I used to
knead 8 loaves worth at a time but now it hurts to do one.

 SD> about 10 (I started developing symptoms when I was 13, but it wasn't
 SD> in "full force" for another 10 years).

Interesting to have it start developing so relatively young.

 RH> Your wrist will be feeling better in time--it will take more time than
 RH> you anticipate however.  It will never be the same as it was before the
 RH> break but you will be able to use it. I'm glad that I got a 2nd opinion
 RH> fuse the bones.  The doctors at Beaumont Army Medical Center said
 RH> otherwise so I've had the use of it the last 15 years that I wouldn't
 RH> have had if they'd been fused.

 SD> My surgeon said he rarely fuses the bones.  He said that that is
 SD> considered an older, last-resort treatment.  I can feel the plate in

I broke my wrists 16 years ago; the ortho dr. that made the suggestion
did it 15 years ago.  Still, he was well into his practice vs the ones I
saw at BAMC.

 SD> my wrist now that the swelling has subsided quite a bit.  It's still
 SD> numb above the plate somewhat, but it's about an inch long by about a
 SD> half-inch wide.  Very small, but I can definitely feel the difference.

I know, mine are about the same size. The elbow one is bigger tho.


 SD>  As for it not being the same, so far, except for the inability to do
 SD> push-ups (which I haven't cared about since the Army), I've so far
 SD> been able to do quite a bit.

 SD> The most important things, such as typing, dressing myself and
 SD> driving, are all thankfully covered now.  I am still very careful on

I agree, I don't care about push ups but being able to do the basic
things is important. Stirring a pot of sauce, chopping vegetables, etc
are covered--as long as I watch how much I do.


 SD> what I lift and move with my hand.  I'm now able to lift a gallon of
 SD> milk from the fridge to the table (about two feet) with less problems,
 SD> but the wrist does fatigue easily, so I am just conscious about what I
 SD> do with it.

You will be aware of it--far longer han you realise. Then one day you
will do something and realise that you didn't feel the pain you had
before.  Don't lift too many gallon jugs at a time. (G) I generally grab
the handle with one hand and put the other under the jug (or pitcher)
for support.  Even half gallon containers are usually lifted this way,
especially if I'm using my left hand.


 SD> Then again, I'd rather live with limited use of my wrist than residing
 SD> six feet under, so I'm not complaining too loudly.


I hear you loud and clear on that one!


 SD>       Title: Chinese Pizza
 SD>  Categories: Chinese, Ceideburg, Sausage
 SD>       Yield: 1 Servings

That's definately a different take on pizza! (G) I'm not sure if I'd try
making it but if it were made, I'd probably try a piece of it.


---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly@earthlink.net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... ... Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans-J.
Lennon

--- PPoint 3.01
 * Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)