The Dackel Princess

My first day of physical therapy on my  hand went well. It was a bit painful then, and now several hours after, it hurts like heck, but I am determined to do the treatments and get better!

I have had to ask Hubby for help with thing like chopping onions, and he has been great! I guess I must make him something like a vegetable omelet.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can use the mouse with my left hand pretty well, but cooking, cleaning, and dressing are still tricky.

I have big news coming later in the week. I love surprises!

Today I start OT on my hand. I sure hope this works. I’m a little nervous because I think it may really hurt. Still, I know I must do it so I can get the use of my hand back.

I managed to change the sheets on the bed, do laundry and make dinner with one hand. I did have to get Hubby to slice the onions, but aside from that, I did it myself.

One thing that was tough today was turning the key in the car’s ignition. Also lifting the tea kettle in my left hand.

I do seem to be getting the mouse down in the left hand. It’s tricky, but it can be done.

We did not get any of the snow that fell on Wednesday. It stayed south of us. However we did get some strong wind. Forty miles an hour!

Well, here is the diagnosis. I have De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (dih-kwer-VAINS ten-oh-sine-oh-VIE-tis) it is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist. If you have de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, it will probably hurt every time you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.

Although the exact cause of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis isn’t known, any activity that relies on repetitive hand or wrist movement — such as working in the garden, playing golf or racket sports or lifting your baby — can make it worse.

I also have In trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis (stuh-NO-sing ten-o-sin-o-VIE-tis), one of your fingers or your thumb gets stuck in a bent position and then straightens with a snap — like a trigger being pulled and released. Often painful, trigger finger is caused by a narrowing of the sheath that surrounds the tendon in the affected finger. In my case all four fingers are affected.

So I am in a half hard and half soft cast. And of course while I am going through therapy, I cannot use my right hand, and yes, I am right handed!

So I am typing with one hand and not getting too far too fast. I start therapy on Thursday.

A few weeks back my hand, fingers and wrist started to bother me at night. I tried just immobilizing it, but gosh darn it, that did not work!

Luckily, I have a hand surgeon who did my carpal tunnel surgery a few years back, and I called her office. Today is finally the day I will see her and hopefully she can help me out.

The thumb, middle  finger, ring finger, and baby finger on my right hand are not only painful, but seem to get caught in the bent position.

I simply cannot imagine what it is. Dr. Google says it could be “Trigger Fingers”. We shall just have to wait and see what she says.