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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
30 weeks, or 212 days later - I'm a PT graduate!
I was officially released from PT today! Let's check the progress:
Elbow extension: 8 degrees
Elbow flexion: 133 degrees *
*back to the range of motion I had after my severe injury at age 13
Wrist flexion: 72 degree
Wrist extension: 80 degrees
I came home with a fresh container of green putty to help me continue to strengthen my grip and the coveted C.O.R.E t-shirt that I will wear proudly. I can not thank my therapist enough for all of her help and support. This injury is really difficult to explain and can be utterly frustrating at times. I am so grateful for the amazing team that I had getting me through this!
Elbow extension: 8 degrees
Elbow flexion: 133 degrees *
*back to the range of motion I had after my severe injury at age 13
Wrist flexion: 72 degree
Wrist extension: 80 degrees
I came home with a fresh container of green putty to help me continue to strengthen my grip and the coveted C.O.R.E t-shirt that I will wear proudly. I can not thank my therapist enough for all of her help and support. This injury is really difficult to explain and can be utterly frustrating at times. I am so grateful for the amazing team that I had getting me through this!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
And the magic number is ...
I wondered what the magic number would be with regards to the months waiting to see if my thumb starts working like the rest of my fingers. The answer? 7. For seven months I have been watching in amazement as my radial nerve heals itself. I say in amazement because it is truly fascinating. There have been odd tinges, moderate and severe pain, discoloration, swelling and too many other odd things to count. I know that each and every thing that is happening is for a reason. The biggest thing that I notice now is that my arm is starting to feel like it is mine. I have spent months feeling like the arm attached to my body belonged to someone else. I don't really know how to explain it, but my brain just didn't treat it the same. I imagine that since the nerve is now healed at least 7" down my arm, at each major milestone the communications from the brain get better.
My thumb is starting to wake up and feel like it belongs, too. I still have a good bit of numbness on the surface of my hand and I'm not sure if that will ever go away, but I can move the thumbs in ways that I have not been able to in the past. It still feels like the tendons were replaced with tight rubber bands. I can't quite extend completely, and although I can make a fist, it is very tight and stiff.
I know that there are still several months of healing left and perhaps the tightness will ease up and I won't have to think so hard when trying to move my thumb. Until then, I will sit back in awe of the human body and it's magical healing powers and dream of the day I muster up the courage to get back on my bike.
My thumb is starting to wake up and feel like it belongs, too. I still have a good bit of numbness on the surface of my hand and I'm not sure if that will ever go away, but I can move the thumbs in ways that I have not been able to in the past. It still feels like the tendons were replaced with tight rubber bands. I can't quite extend completely, and although I can make a fist, it is very tight and stiff.
I know that there are still several months of healing left and perhaps the tightness will ease up and I won't have to think so hard when trying to move my thumb. Until then, I will sit back in awe of the human body and it's magical healing powers and dream of the day I muster up the courage to get back on my bike.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Fractured humerus .. the gift that keeps on giving!
What a lovely shade of blue, don't you think? Just when I thought that my hand was healing and I was getting back to "normal" I started having some pain and then my hand started to turn blue. I must admit that I was quite discouraged because it feels like a set back and I was enjoying moving forward. The poor color hasn't been a problem for weeks so it was not what I wanted to see.
I called the surgeon and he put my mind at ease. I emailed the photo for him to look at because when I told him during my last office visit the color was great. I guess I wanted him to see what I was referring to. He isn't concerned. He still believes it is a problem with the vessels, a possible side effect of certain type of nerve injuries. There is nothing to be done about it and nothing to worry about. I certainly wasn't expecting anything to be done about it, but I just thought it may be the sign of something that wasn't good since it has been so good for at least a month. "Nothing to worry about." Whew! I'll take that.
This time I did notice something that I don't remember from before. When the pain eased up, the color returned to normal. In the past when my hand started turning blue it was when I was running and I don't remember any specific pain, but then again - it was all hurting! The pain was a burning sensation under my incision area, above the elbow and the entire arm just felt really strange. Interesting ... Weird.
Every day is a learning experience!
I called the surgeon and he put my mind at ease. I emailed the photo for him to look at because when I told him during my last office visit the color was great. I guess I wanted him to see what I was referring to. He isn't concerned. He still believes it is a problem with the vessels, a possible side effect of certain type of nerve injuries. There is nothing to be done about it and nothing to worry about. I certainly wasn't expecting anything to be done about it, but I just thought it may be the sign of something that wasn't good since it has been so good for at least a month. "Nothing to worry about." Whew! I'll take that.
This time I did notice something that I don't remember from before. When the pain eased up, the color returned to normal. In the past when my hand started turning blue it was when I was running and I don't remember any specific pain, but then again - it was all hurting! The pain was a burning sensation under my incision area, above the elbow and the entire arm just felt really strange. Interesting ... Weird.
Every day is a learning experience!
Friday, December 10, 2010
7 months and counting ....
It's been about a month since I last documented my progress. Things have been going well. So well, in fact, that I actually feel like I've made my way out the other side. As I type this post tonight it is with two hands typing. I wasn't sure that would ever happen just a couple of months ago. My hand remains swollen and stiff but it works ... it really works!
I continue to have trouble with my thumb and elbow. The thumb is patiently waiting for the radial nerve to heal itself and the elbow is just very stiff and sore. It's not painful, it's just achy ... all the time. I suspect that it is the severe osteoarthritis rearing it's ugly face and I just try to keep it moving as much as possible in hopes that I keep the blood flowing. My hope is that the arthritis will settle down but if not, it's okay. I can use my arm!
The rotation that I have been diligently working to restore has not improved at all. I won't stop working, but I suspect that I will not regain that range of motion. The flexion and extension at the elbow are about the same, too. I secretly hoped that by spending time 7 days a week for 7 months doing PT with my elbow, I could beat the odds given to me from the surgeon. I was told that I should expect to lose 10-15 degrees range of motion both directions due to the plate placement and that is where I seem to be.
I continue to have trouble with my thumb and elbow. The thumb is patiently waiting for the radial nerve to heal itself and the elbow is just very stiff and sore. It's not painful, it's just achy ... all the time. I suspect that it is the severe osteoarthritis rearing it's ugly face and I just try to keep it moving as much as possible in hopes that I keep the blood flowing. My hope is that the arthritis will settle down but if not, it's okay. I can use my arm!
The rotation that I have been diligently working to restore has not improved at all. I won't stop working, but I suspect that I will not regain that range of motion. The flexion and extension at the elbow are about the same, too. I secretly hoped that by spending time 7 days a week for 7 months doing PT with my elbow, I could beat the odds given to me from the surgeon. I was told that I should expect to lose 10-15 degrees range of motion both directions due to the plate placement and that is where I seem to be.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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