Fingers of Doom

[lydy]

So, I've been doing my exercises. They hurt. The finger generally doesn't hurt except when I'm doing the exercises, except for weird, localized areas which are very tender. There's a small patch that feels like raw skin, even though it looks completely healed over. The finger is slightly more flexible than it was when I started, but not very, and it feels like all the progress was made in the first couple of days, and that I'm just maintaining that progress, not making further progress. Mind you, I could be mistaken, I'm not taking careful measurements and documenting stuff. So, this could just be impatient Lydy being impatient.

I did that email thing, and it worked a treat. The nice nurse gave me a referral to a Occupational Therapist, and said that the discoloration was due to increased blood flow. She said not to worry, but that if it seemed swollen, I could elevate after exercise and that might help. The discoloration is less often, now and less severe.

I have an appointment on the 20th for the Occupational Therapist. The appointment says "60 minutes, hand evaluation." Which makes sense. It took forever to get through, and due to my work schedule, there are limited days in which I can go, so this was the soonest available. I guess I'll keep on doing my exercises until then.

Am contemplating amputation as plan B.

Comments

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

For people over forty, major soft tissue injuries have full recovery times in the months or years.

Even if you're just maintaining the progress, you really need to, because normal isn't set yet.

The weird, localized sensations are entirely consistent with some nerves having been re-arranged and yet busy re-wiring themselves. This, too, takes time.

Improvements in flexibility almost certainly hurt to achieve; how much hurt is appropriate is what the OT is there to tell you. "Range and motion repatterning" is a lot of why there's a "physical terrorist" joke.

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

Oh, and seeing as it's the winter and you're trying to make connective tissue work better, getting some extra vitamin D is likely to be a good plan.

[lydy.livejournal.com]

So, patience, diligence, and vitamin D is the order of the day. I might be able to manage the vitamin D.

I'm a little surprised at how completely irritating I find this.

Thank you for the information, it's very helpful. Sorry I use it as an occasion to kvetch more.

[graydon saunders (from livejournal.com)]

Kvetching is a customary response to injury for a reason, what with nigh-everyone doing it.

(Also, do keep in mind that doing the exercises generally does work, it's not instant, but it gets you a lot more than not doing the exercises does.)

[lydy.livejournal.com]

I do think I'm starting to see some real progress from the exercise. I also think, based on what I've been seeing, that four times a day is not nearly often enough. I've been experimenting with doing the exercise considerably more often today, and it seems to make a difference. Sigh. I do so hate exercise. But I probably want the use of my hand back. It's gotten good enough that I sometimes forget that it's compromised, and try to do something as if I have a normal hand. This never works.

I'm making little marks on my palm with a sharpie to track my progress. I've only been doing it for a day and a half, so I don't really have much of a trend line, yet. Mostly, I'm working on fallible memory.