Hand Surgery

[KGIII]

@KGIII--
Have you been through physical therapy?

Oh, yes... Yes, yes I have. The last was fairly recent... In 2018, I was involved in a spectacular automobile wreck, as a passenger and at a very high rate of travel. I broke a bunch of stuff, eventually riding in a helicopter to a second hospital once I was stabilized.

The worst of the injury was a completely sheered off femur. Picture your femur. Picture the widest possible point. It broke completely off along the diagonal, in the longest possible place.

I eventually left the hospital only to mostly live in a bed and wheelchair. I had in-home nursing 24 hours a day as I was still on IV opiates. I had physical therapy five days a week, buying a ton of equipment along the way.

My PT included weird things like dressing in Lycra (a green suit) with dots all over me. The specialists then examined that and taught me a new way to walk, with less of a limp and without doing further damage to the socket due to a misalignment.

My PT was 18 months long and started with me struggling to move my toes and then moving my foot in one direction. To get in and out of bed, I had to sit just right and use my other leg to lift the screwed up leg and then slide into bed. I was on my back (while in bed) for six months.

It was hell... The PT would bring tears to your eyes if you let it. Instead, you work through the pain and do your PT because that's the only way to ensure you have the best recovery possible.

I didn't miss hunting season - though it was exceedingly stupid and painful. We fashioned a platform on the back of a 4 wheeler and a buddy brought me into the woods and then towed me to a hide in a plastic sled! He had to do everything for me, except shoot the deer.

But, it was otherwise hell. The pain from the injury was really bad before I finally got opiates into me, which was over a couple of hour and AFTER being manipulated on an x-ray machine. Meaning they did things to my broken leg that we won't talk about.

That pain was probably about even with what I felt during PT, but the difference in PT is that you're doing it to yourself. Sometimes, the PT pain was worse than that, but you do it because you have to.

DO NOT WORRY...

Your PT will be nothing like that. It'll suck, but it's nowhere near the level I endured. Kinda amusingly, I was pretty purple for a few months, as I was bruised over 80% of my body. I can't really complain too much. The price was paid because of my stupidity and I should probably be dead.

 

[Alexzee]

Oh, yes... Yes, yes I have. The last was fairly recent... In 2018, I was involved in a spectacular automobile wreck, as a passenger and at a very high rate of travel. I broke a bunch of stuff, eventually riding in a helicopter to a second hospital once I was stabilized.

The worst of the injury was a completely sheered off femur. Picture your femur. Picture the widest possible point. It broke completely off along the diagonal, in the longest possible place.

I eventually left the hospital only to mostly live in a bed and wheelchair. I had in-home nursing 24 hours a day as I was still on IV opiates. I had physical therapy five days a week, buying a ton of equipment along the way.

My PT included weird things like dressing in Lycra (a green suit) with dots all over me. The specialists then examined that and taught me a new way to walk, with less of a limp and without doing further damage to the socket due to a misalignment.

My PT was 18 months long and started with me struggling to move my toes and then moving my foot in one direction. To get in and out of bed, I had to sit just right and use my other leg to lift the screwed up leg and then slide into bed. I was on my back (while in bed) for six months.

It was hell... The PT would bring tears to your eyes if you let it. Instead, you work through the pain and do your PT because that's the only way to ensure you have the best recovery possible.

I didn't miss hunting season - though it was exceedingly stupid and painful. We fashioned a platform on the back of a 4 wheeler and a buddy brought me into the woods and then towed me to a hide in a plastic sled! He had to do everything for me, except shoot the deer.

But, it was otherwise hell. The pain from the injury was really bad before I finally got opiates into me, which was over a couple of hour and AFTER being manipulated on an x-ray machine. Meaning they did things to my broken leg that we won't talk about.

That pain was probably about even with what I felt during PT, but the difference in PT is that you're doing it to yourself. Sometimes, the PT pain was worse than that, but you do it because you have to.

DO NOT WORRY...

Your PT will be nothing like that. It'll suck, but it's nowhere near the level I endured. Kinda amusingly, I was pretty purple for a few months, as I was bruised over 80% of my body. I can't really complain too much. The price was paid because of my stupidity and I should probably be dead.

Wow....it sounds like the pain was hell, indeed.
I bet the in home care was a pretty penny--

Thanks for the warning that PT could be painful.
At this point anything is better than the agony I've been in,
The pain wakes me from a sound sleep and if I use my hand to do anything the pain last's for a long time.

Now the left hand, arm and shoulder is giving me pain due to not being able to use the right hand.
When it rains it pours!
I'll be glad to see the Dr. this Monday.

 

[KGIII]

I bet the in home care was a pretty penny--

The driver has exceptional insurance. So far, I've only paid for one prescription - and that was only because I didn't have their insurance information and it's just not worth the effort to get it refunded.

Thanks for the warning that PT could be painful.

It will be painful, especially at first. You gotta start moving it as soon as you're able. PT for a wrist is mostly movement, stretching and grasping. They might have you use some rubber bands after a while. You might need a light weight to roll out on your hand or the likes.

It won't be that bad. That'll start healing quickly. Right after surgery, when you move it the first few times, that's when it'll be pretty rough.

 

[Alexzee]

The driver has exceptional insurance. So far, I've only paid for one prescription - and that was only because I didn't have their insurance information and it's just not worth the effort to get it refunded.



It will be painful, especially at first. You gotta start moving it as soon as you're able. PT for a wrist is mostly movement, stretching and grasping. They might have you use some rubber bands after a while. You might need a light weight to roll out on your hand or the likes.

It won't be that bad. That'll start healing quickly. Right after surgery, when you move it the first few times, that's when it'll be pretty rough.

Thanks David-
Enjoy the weekend.

 

[Alexzee]

Started taking a medication called Methylprednisoione.
It's bringing down the inflammation so I can close the hand now.
The pain however is still bad during the day at times and keeps me awake at night.
I see the Dr. this Monday and I hope to have a surgery date that day.

 

[Deleted member 137406]

Started taking a medication called Methylprednisoione.

Be careful taking steroids prescribed by a doctor or not steroids are bad for every part of your body and yes they do offer relief however I wished I never had taken any of them.

I have carpal tunnel and nephropathy which interrupts my sleep so I do hand therapy as I don't want the traditional carpal tunnel ligament repair surgery.

I don't like doctors and I don't trust doctors however there are some very good doctors out there.

I just do hand exercises and hand stretching exercises for carpal tunnel I've been cut open enough.

 

[Alexzee]

Be careful taking steroids prescribed by a doctor or not steroids are bad for every part of your body and yes they do offer relief however I wished I never had taken any of them.

I have carpal tunnel and nephropathy which interrupts my sleep so I do hand therapy as I don't want the traditional carpal tunnel ligament repair surgery.

I don't like doctors and I don't trust doctors however there are some very good doctors out there.

I just do hand exercises and hand stretching exercises for carpal tunnel I've been cut open enough.

Thanks, I know they aren't good but have been in pain for the last 6 weeks and had to try something.
I'm only taking 1/2 the dose instead of what the instructions say.

Did you have a bad experience while taking steroids?

 

[kc1di]

Thanks, I know they aren't good but have been in pain for the last 6 weeks and had to try something.
I'm only taking 1/2 the dose instead of what the instructions say.

Did you have a bad experience while taking steroids?

Hello again @Alexzee glad you found some relief with the Steroids. Hope you can get the surgery you need soon. I'm on Prednisone and will be for the foreseeable future. I don't like the idea either but I've been diagnosed with an aliment called Polymyalgia rheumatica for which the only treatment is steroids. So though it's not Ideal there are no other alternatives. My prayers will be with you and wishes for best outcomes.

 

[Alexzee]

Hello again @Alexzee glad you found some relief with the Steroids. Hope you can get the surgery you need soon. I'm on Prednisone and will be for the foreseeable future. I don't like the idea either but I've been diagnosed with an aliment called Polymyalgia rheumatica for which the only treatment is steroids. So though it's not Ideal there are no other alternatives. My prayers will be with you and wishes for best outcomes.

Yes, relief, indeed!
Thanks!

 

[ML_113]

Hello again @Alexzee glad you found some relief with the Steroids. Hope you can get the surgery you need soon. I'm on Prednisone and will be for the foreseeable future. I don't like the idea either but I've been diagnosed with an aliment called Polymyalgia rheumatica for which the only treatment is steroids. So though it's not Ideal there are no other alternatives. My prayers will be with you and wishes for best outcomes.

Problem with cortisones that sooner or later their effectiveness will stop.
Yes, there are alternatives like acupuncture...but it's costly and a good acupuncturist is extremely hard to find.
Approaching 80 and not taking a single pain killer pill a day, me doing this...

Mantak Chia Collection : Mantak Chia : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

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Please spare me a debate about pain...I have enough doing that with my friends and relatives - lot of them are MDs, Pharmacists, Acupuncturists ...

 

[Alexzee]

Saw the Dr. today and I have to go to physical therapy first for 2 weeks.
The Dr. explained he has to do it that way first before surgery could be performed.
If I understand correctly he has to show the insurance company that all things that could be done were tried.
*****I was not happy because everything I try to do with this hand leads to feeling severe pain.*****

 

[Deleted member 137406]

Saw the Dr. today and I have to go to physical therapy first for 2 weeks.
The Dr. explained he has to do it that way first before surgery could be performed.
If I understand correctly he has to show the insurance company that all things that could be done were tried.
*****I was not happy because everything I try to do with this hand leads to feeling severe pain.*****

It's about the insurance company's and not about us anymore.

The insurance company's are calling the shots not you and not your doctor.

I waited a year before I was able to have my hip replaced because of my age.

Doctors ran tests to make certain I could survive the surgery and not die on the operating table.

Get used to it's all about the insurance nowadays.

I'm not being negative just being the realist I am.

 

[kc1di]

Had to go through the same thing with my knee replacement surgery. 2 Weeks P.T. before insurance would sign off on it.
Also had to endure 3 weeks of injections in the knee before. But they finally authorized it. It's the price we pay for insurance.
My knee surgeon told me it was foolish because the ins. co. ends up paying more for the P.T. and injections than they would if He had just been able to do the surgery in the first place. Go figure. Still you'll get it done eventually.

 

[Alexzee]

It's about the insurance company's and not about us anymore.

The insurance company's are calling the shots not you and not your doctor.

I waited a year before I was able to have my hip replaced because of my age.

Doctors ran tests to make certain I could survive the surgery and not die on the operating table.

Get used to it's all about the insurance nowadays.

I'm not being negative just being the realist I am.

Being a realist is a-ok with me, thanks.

 

[Alexzee]

Had to go through the same thing with my knee replacement surgery. 2 Weeks P.T. before insurance would sign off on it.
Also had to endure 3 weeks of injections in the knee before. But they finally authorized it. It's the price we pay for insurance.
My knee surgeon told me it was foolish because the ins. co. ends up paying more for the P.T. and injections than they would if He had just been able to do the surgery in the first place. Go figure. Still you'll get it done eventually.

I understand, thanks-
I'm glad they finally authorized it for you.
I hope they do the same for me and I hope it doesn't take too long because the pain, tingling, swelling and numbness is getting worse.

 

[Alexzee]

Made it through the first week of physical therapy and I'm happy to say that the horrible intense pain is gone.
I'm still having swelling and tingling but nothing like before.
Still can't grasp anything with strength w/o pain.

 

[KGIII]

It'd be awesome if you could manage without surgery and just have some PT.

 

[Alexzee]

It'd be awesome if you could manage without surgery and just have some PT.

I completely agree.
I'll see what happens in PT next week.

 

[Alexzee]

Two weeks later and I can wipe my face with my hand w/o pain.
I can hold a fork but can't apply any grip w/o pain.
Can hold my eye glasses w/o pain too and the swelling and the pain is not as bad as it once was.
Still can't make a fist or touch each finger to the thumb.
I hope the Dr. approves another 2 weeks of PT.

And, surprisingly the cyst is gone!

 

[KGIII]

Those are good signs, from my expectations. I'm not actually a medical doctor, nor did I play one on television.