AMAZING! I'M STILL HERE

In case you missed what has been the cause for my absence, just go down to this, or this and read.  Then, if you are in the mood for more YUCK factor, hit this one as well.

Still, I persist.

But, it's been rough.  That's why I've been absent for so long.

At the beginning of the wrist ordeal, it seemed like I had more time on my hand (pun intended).  I couldn't do much of anything, and the little I could do, wore me out pretty quickly.  But with the time (and boredom...mixed with drug muffled pain) that I had, I managed to get some posts up right after the start of things.

However, that was up until the first two weeks were over.  When the post-surgery wrappings came off (yes I have pics of that), then the real (not) fun started; PT.

When I started the physical therapy, the littlest movement was enough to bring tears.  If ANYONE had told me how much wiggling my fingers would hurt, oxygen would have been needed after I got over my laughing fit.  They HAD to be kidding.

They weren't.  In fact, if anyone HAD told me about it, they would have been first on my list to punch after I got started.  Cause there was no way they could have told me just how much it would hurt.  And I would have felt like I was lied to.

When I first started, I told "N" the therapist, "Two things you need to know.  The first, I REALLY, dislike pain."

N looked up at me, "And the second...?"

"I dislike not having a functional hand even more."  I gave that a second for it to soak in.  "So, do what you have to do and don't hold back."

We've developed a great professional therapy relationship.  It's became almost a game for us.  N pushes me to try and get me to say "Uncle" (without doing me harm of course).  And I try to hold off giving in.  I am not to proud to say N usually wins.  But not because I actually say "Uncle", because I don't.  But N can tell where I'm at, my body language gives me away.

The therapy sessions usually have a group of us doing different therapies at the same time.  It's been the same core group since I started.  Strangely enough, OUR group tends to have fun while being tortured.  We have to be there, we know what we are in for, we know it isn't going to feel good, so why not make the best of it?  It is hard to hurt when you are laughing.  And though I won't swear to it, I think real money is being put down on whether or not N can actually make me say "Uncle".

Now that I've said that, here is the rest of the story.  When therapy started, I had zero (0) range of motion.  There was no up, down, side to side, or "roll over" of my hand.  To get any idea of what I'm talking about, hang your hand over the edge of a flat table.  Now, try bending it all the way down, then up.  Now make windshield wiper motions side to side.  Couldn't do it.  Hold out your hand like you were collecting change, you know, palm up.  Not there either.

I do therapy three times a week with N pushing, pulling and bending my hand.  I do three sets of exercises daily that take up to an hour each time.  When I started doing the exercises (above and beyond the therapy), I took my meds an hour ahead of time to block a lot of the pain.  By the time I was done each set, I would be ill from the pain and strain.  I would have to sit or lay down.  It was hours before I was anything that resembled functional.

Though the doc said typing would be good therapy for me, I wasn't in any mood to hit the computer.  I'd come home and do my second set of exercises and be shot.  By the time I was feeling human again, it was time for the last set.  A lot of you may have noticed, I didn't even visit or skulk my favorite bloggers until recently.  Once in a while I'd feel up to running through some of them, but even then, not all got hit.

And, the job I've been doing since the accident is data input.  So, as I progressed in my therapy, I found that after staring at a computer screen all day, I wasn't in the mood for doing it when I got home.  Especially after doing the exercises.

I am doing much better now though.  N saw my X-rays after I'd been going in for a while.  N told me the other day that considering the extent of the damage, and the hardware I am sporting, I was making fantastic progress.  And I have been approved for weight training in the therapy.  I never knew a one pound weight could be so heavy.

Posting will resume once again though I will have to warn everyone that it will be a bit sporadic at first, depending on how rough the day has been and how I am feeling.  But you can expect to see me more and more as time goes on.

(oh, the stories I could have told if I had been feeling more up to it.  too bad most are gone in a haze of pain and drugs...well, maybe not drugs...dammit.  just if I don't focus, I tend to forget.  oh, well.)

Healing happens. (slowly sometimes)

Comments

[bod]

ah, welcome back dude!

[Bogie]

Glad your range of motion is coming back, although the pain part sucks.

Keep up the good work!

[martie]

Welcome home (blog-land home that is)! You were missed!!!!!

[Chelle]

It's about time, I've really missed you. Can't wait to chat soon! Give D lots of love for me!