Update on my hand(s)

If you're new to the blog, I had my right hand carpal tunnel operated on at the end of November 2011, for the second time and my left hand carpal tunnel operated on in February of 2012.  My right hand hasn't been right since and was aggravated a lot in November when we held 'R' baby shower.  It seems that me doing all the cooking for 55 wasn't a good thing!!!

The hand surgeon told me at the follow up appointments, that it may take up to a year for my hand (s) to heal properly.  So after the baby shower I decided to visit our family doctor and get appointments to have all the testing done again before going to see the surgeon.

I saw the surgeon last Thursday and here is what is wrong.  Oh, I should have warned you to get a cup of tea before reading this!!

I have basically abused and over used my right hand/arm.  I have done something with the tendons and have something similar to tennis elbow.  There is a problem with the carpal tunnel nerve again.  I have arthritis in my thumb joint and pinky/baby finger.  I have weakness in my right hand.  All the scans and tests though show my left hand is worse, but other than the thumb joint I don't feel a thing in my left hand.  I also have a fatty deposit/lump on the base of my middle finger so every time I grip something it squishes it and it hurts like crazy.  My fingers fall asleep and I experience tingling in them.  The wrists also ache like crazy.

She can give me a cortisone shot in my wrist to ease the pain and can put a needle in the lump to try  and drain it.  I wasn't happy about either things, as both gross me out and as I said to our doctor; he never has to fear I may slit my wrists as that is icky.  No one including me wants to operate on my right hand, with me being the major opponent to that idea.  I am right handed so do not want to lose the use of my hand. So for the next six weeks I have to baby it and no heavy lifting and to wear my splint on a night.

Now in theory that sounds like a fine plan, but that's easier said than done.  Dh has been working super long hours, we have had a bit of snow and last Friday the wind blew the snow over the driveway and blocked us in.  Dh didn't finish work until 10:30 pm; he left the house at 4:30 am so I didn't expect him to dig out the driveway, so I did it.  We needed logs for the fire so I brought them in.  I am trying though not to lift as much as it is so sore.

However the one thing I was so grateful for was that someone actually believed there was a problem with my hand and it's flipping sore.  As unlike a broken leg or arm, you can't really see anything wrong with it.

The bone scan also showed that I have arthritis in my shoulders, knees and feet, which wasn't all together surprising.  I got a referral from our doctor to see a registered massage therapist, as my poor shoulders are killing me, so they might be able to knead out the knots in them.  Dh's insurance will pay for $500, so I am hoping to go half a dozen times to see if it will help.

So there you go, sore hands especially your dominant one is not a good thing!