Printable View
Just seen the physio.
Without x-ray eyes she thinks the alignment looks fine, and the range of joint movement very good given the extent of damage that was done.
She's given me the name of an orthopod who specialises in hand injuries so I can get a 2nd opinion on the need for further surgery.
:2tsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
.....
All sounds like the best news in a while :2tsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Yep.
Thanks guys.
No cost to all of this is a big plus, given the Vic no-fault road accident insurance scheme. We pay a hefty levy as part of the annual vehicle reg'n.
Sheet.
Have had a few days of no pain and good nights' sleep, and that's now over due to the new exercise regime.
OK, whatever it takes.
But I snapped at my partner yesterday and am now in the pooh.
Kicking myself, so pls excuse the dumping. No replies nec.
Seems another 6 weeks of bone formation is to be expected - so lots more wearing of the plastic handcuff - and all up recovery can take 6 to 12 months. Bugger!
B&%$ P&%% F^&% and other 4 letter words.:CQuote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Quote:
Originally Posted by tea lady
:wss:
.....
Ern, you are old and wiser enough to know better. :wink: The other half is not always right, but be attentive to her / his needs. (Just being politically correct there).Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Again - and I say this to all my friends with BIKES - sell 'em. Surely, there must be more scary things on the lathe that 200kms per hour on a bike....... :rolleyes:
Probably not, but the wind and wasps / bees in the hair / helmet thing cannot (surely) last forever. :D:D:D
Behave, Ern. Rest and rest.
And get rid of that damn bike. Lost too many friends from the habit.
Poss reply no 1: 'That's the nicest thing you've said to me TL' :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by tea lady
No 2: 'Gee, you have a way with words!' :D
3. Yeah, it's a turkey alright.
Done some reading and despite the good things the physio has said, the odds on full recovery aren't all that good.
Sorry, feeling down ATM.
Full use of both hands are key to my sense of purpose in this phase of my life.
Will have to get some help to deal with this; a 2nd domestic 'snap' wld be shameful and unforgivable.
I don't know about shameful and unforgivable. Understandable might be closer to the mark. Maybe go and do something together that doesn't involve wood, bikes, or computers? :shrug: And get some help. Maybe GP.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
(Kinda agree with Jefferson on the "sell the bike" thing. I worked with ABI people for a while. There is worse things than dying. That's all I can say.:C)
I recommend tai chi. It always gets my mind off things. And when you are a beginner there is so much stuff to go in the brain that you haven't got room in there to cogitate. It is also good for the rest of the body and balance and fitness and all that. :cool:
Yeah, exercise is a good idea; thanks TL.
Usually I work out several times a week and need to get back to that.
As for the bike, if I'd been walking or cycling down that road at that time I would've been cleaned up by the other guy just the same. It's that narrow.
But of course it's sensible to reflect on your appetite for risk when you've been bitten.
I vote for offloading the bike too, but that's your call Ern, and in your own time. There are risks in life and you take some and not others... up to you which ones! My wife isn't happy with me poking bits of metal into a lump of wood spinning at 2000 rpm :whatonearth:
Don't worry about being down. it would happen in this situation. take it easy on yourself and talking to professionals in the area is certainly a good way of gtetting things back into perspective and feeling like you're coping again.
Cheers,
Dave
....and stop reading up about it on the internet. There's being informed and there's being obsessive.:C
:console:
Ern, I can identify with some of what you are going through.
A decade ago I came down with a chronic illness. Spent the first year almost completely bedridden and losing 15kg off an already lean physique; the next three or four years I was very limited in my physical activity, shuffling around with walking stick; and over the last five years I have gradually improved to plateau at about 60% of my former capacity. I don't expect to improve any further.
Must admit that I had my moments, particularly in the earlier years, which tested the patience of my family. In retrospect, very understandable. It's not easy to be stay positive, particularly with persistent pain.
I have had first rate medical care on all aspects of my illness. I hope that you can find the same.
If I read your family situation correctly, your family will be more forgiving of any indiscretions than you will be of yourself. I'm sure any recent events will be out of character and taken in context.
I do wish the fullest possible recovery for you. However, if this is not going to be the case, and not wishing to be patronising, in my experience the letting go of things that I had to let go has been easier that I expected and in their place I have found other equally engaging things to get me out of bed in the morning.
Having got a little heavy with the above, I'll refrain from any gratuitous comments about your motor bike riding.... :U
.....
Thanks Neil, and thanks for sharing yr story.
I got down because the thing was no longer looking like the routine recovery I'd been assuming. Yes, letting go may be needed and I hope it is easier than I fear it will be.
As for my behaviour: for 6 weeks now my partner and daughter have had to do almost all of the cooking - we normally share equally - all the shopping (which was my job) and most of the driving me round, while working full-time or nearly so. And put up with a less than sparkling partner/Dad. Least I can do is mind my manners.
LOL. Thanks Anne-mariaQuote:
Originally Posted by tea lady
With an academic as partner surely you'd know an apprenticeship in scholarly work means obsession.
In my case, being given Hobson's choice by a surgeon drove me to find the means of coming up with an informed answer (which I still don't have but at least I'm learning some of 'their' language, so I can ask the pointed questions and poss'y understand the answers.)
Another part of that apprenticeship which I've done myself is critical reflection, and looking over the last page or two, I can see that I'm feeling that I'm incompetent and a burden on the family. And to look at how I can contribute domestically in other ways, following Neil's wise advice on adapting.
It can be really hard accepting help graciously. It seems that is the biggest fear of growing old- being a burden on people. And people will so often say "No no I'm alright" when help is offered. It is quite an intimate act to let someone help you and be vulnerable to them. And a hard position to find yourself in all of a sudden. Forget the measuring and keeping score for now. It will all come out in the wash. I'm sure your wife is not worried that you aren't "pulling your weight". (Even for a skinny bloke.:p ) Your job is to heal. And be helped if need be. :cool: (And for an Academic, your brain is your worth isn't it? :U)
What you say has force Anne-Maria.
Yes, my partner hasn't been keeping a score card and couldn't have been more supportive.
I'm committed to gender equity and will find other ways of making my domestic contribution cp to the usual.
Depression can be contagious and I'll get some counselling.
Thanks for your nudge about exercise. Worked out this a.m. and feel better for it. Skinnier too :p
PS I used to do Tai Chi years ago. Took 3 years to learn a simplified form and it set me up nicely to begin XC skiing as a late starter.
Good idea as it can creep up on you without you realising it, often others can see it but you can't.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Nearly happened to me during my illness, except for my wife telling me to snap out of it and get busy doing the things I could at the time.
Keep at it Ern.
Peter.
My approach too, Peter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sturdee
From what I can see, Ern has been doing just that. But the black dog can still creep up on you. Spotting it before it gets too firm a hold and taking early preventative action has got to see it off sooner. Seems to me that you are on the right track there, Ern.
.....
Ern, Tai Chi is good :2tsup: I used to do it for about 10 years (after a similar time of TaeKwondo), but stopped about ten years ago (mmm.... there's a pattern there...).Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
I've been thinking of starting up again also..
Cheers
Yeah, I started with Yoga but found it boring.
...
After 2 good night's sleep now (using the heavy duty pain killers) things don't look so bleak.
I must say this forum is a life saver. It's very helpful to be able to dump and then reflect on yr responses. My partner is a worrier and I don't like to give her the full blast of my misery, at least not every time there's a set-back.
Have had off-line emails from folk sharing their stories of injury and surgery, so that I've felt my worries were minor (but of course they're still immediate, difficult, and mine.)
Have been able to think my way thru several things I want to do when back on deck, using the excellent advice of other members.
Have done enuff online shopping to blow the partial refund from the Japan trip :- and am excited by the prospect of using the new tools.
Have even flattened and polished the backs of two handplane blades - not v. well really but cld still get a scratched reflection of my mug from both :wink:
That said, day times are still hard. some feeling is returning to the palm of the hand and it burns under the pressure of the light compression 'sock' that goes under the splint. Pain killers don't touch it short of putting me to sleep so it's ciggies and grog for the time being. Not the best way but it'll do for the moment.
:2tsup: Shopping! :D
Yeah, it's a great distraction :- and I should be asking for VIP rates from Ebay, Paypal and USPS!
I forgot to acknowledge in the last post the supportive phone calls I've received from a forumite. Won't mention his name for fear of embarrassing him but for a guy with hand probs of his own he's a real gent :wink:
Dear ErnQuote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Having read this the thread it seems that your surgeon is being conservative. As a medico this is usually a sign that he/she knows what they are talking about. This is often better than a cowboy promising miracles and ignoring the complication rate. Investigate on the web as needed but unfortunately 100% return to function might not be possible and it can be slow.
You physio will be your friend.:D (even if you hate her at the time)
Good luck with it and I hope you get back to the lathe as soon as you can.
Terry, thanks for the advice, appreciate it.
Yes, conservative assessment is good, and if the 2nd opinion supports it, that's the way I'll go. Much as the prospect of another op is nauseating.
My physio is a gem, and I've been following her advice as well as I can. Pain was not part of her prescription, and what I've had wld be due in all likelihood to my being over-keen with the new set of exercises; I've cranked back and the pain has as well, mostly.
Upside is increasing facility with the left hand, and who knows, ambidextrous turning might be on the cards. Might be able to give a run for his money :rolleyes:
Dream on.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by rsser
LOL.
Good to have a goal.
Handicap might be a bit steep, lacking several decades of experience and prob the right genes.
never ran for his money in his whole life. :D
Hi Ern
Had'nt seen this post since it was moved here, an reading through it it struck me with the friendship and concern for one of our fellow formited. Yes you may be handicapped physicaly for a while but you have a wealth of knoledge to share and in doing so is helping you. You have opened up and support has come your way and I'm sure many people have benifitted from the replies posted here. Hang in there and the best for the future.
Chers Tony:)
:? and I've never seen him in a pair of jeans either. :think: But I have really only seen him in a workshop of some sort.:doh::DQuote:
Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers
Tony, thanks for the feedback and your good wishes.
hughie, just as well you're 2000 k or so away :wink:
Good day today.
Resumed my f/nightly lunches with my 89 yr old mum.
Made a holder for 2 new waterstones. Bent 3 panel pins. Broke an edging strip removing one. Sh*t myself tapping the pins in with stones in place (using a tack hammer in the splinted hand; sshh, don't tell the physio!).
Got to use the new knob and tote mounted on the block plane to smooth the edge strips; very nice.
Had to hold the shellac jar lid upside down in the vice to free it :-
Happy as a pig in mud :D
You're right there, Ern. There are quite a few of us who have had loads of support in many and varied problems, particularly in the area of our health. Even the ability to blow off on line is a great release, and to know that blokes and sheilas that you've never met are letting you know that they care about you and your difficulties.Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
<had hold="" shellac="" jar="" lid="" upside="" down="" in="" the="" vice="" to="" free="" it="">"</had>Had to hold the shellac jar lid upside down in the vice to free it"
<had hold="" shellac="" jar="" lid="" upside="" down="" in="" the="" vice="" to="" free="" it="">
A tool that I've found very useful for undoing things that you don't want to use a stillson on is the Baby Boa, a plumber mate put me onto it. A plastic handle and a rubber strap that they use for undoing corroded taps in bathrooms, great for sticky lids, overtightened keyless chucks etc.
Cheers
Graeme</had>
:2tsup: Life on the edge eh? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by rsser
LOL.
yr a wag TL ;-}
Ta for the tip Graeme.
Only wrinkle is that I only have 1 hand with any decent grip.
Well the wrist went gangbusters yesterday - for no reason at all :-
Had a review with the hand therapist on Thurs. She said if pain with exercises, then back off. Made an aside about my dirty fingers.
Later in the day, piqued by the fear that she thought I was taking a dirty hand to her I faxed a note saying that the stains were there after surgery.
Also that at a guess part of the consistent pain prob might have been due to the fact that the splint was pretty loose; & that I'd got into the habit of closing the straps to where they were at first fitting, but with a reduction in swelling and some muscle atrophy, that was no longer tight enuff and I was cinching them up more.
Well the young angel rang shortly after to apologise; the stains are normal with Kwires (yeah, go figure), and to bring the thermoplastic splint up at any time to reform it.
Damn if that ain't good care.
I also got active about the ltd window of opp'y for further surgery: faxed all the referrals to a private specialist asking to be considered for any cancellation. Got a reply saying come in Mon arvo, so now just have to extract the latest X-ray from the hospital Mon morning. Cross fingers they can find it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsser
Could be rust :p.
:2tsup:
(not about the rust! :doh: About Monday. :rolleyes::) )
Maybe only the private patients get the Stainless steel wires :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Grumpy John