Author |
Topic: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...) (Read 301 times) |
|
Lizzie2
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
"L'Chaim"~Hebre w Toast~"To Life"
 
Gender: 
Posts: 4458
|
 |
Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« on: Jan 23rd, 2006, 9:49pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Well I know I've been posting updates from time to time about the fact that I had to have a wrist arthrogram and MRI done recently and also about having ended up in the ER because of my back over New Year's. The MRI of my back is okay, and I'm starting physical therapy next week.
However, my wrist... I forget if I posted this or not, but the report showed I tore some cartilage and ligaments in my wrist. I went to my orthopedic for follow up today, and he has referred me to a hand surgeon for a second opinion, but he feels I'm going to need surgery on my wrist to repair the damage... I'm a pianist....I actually went so far as to get a degree in piano.....I canNOT have surgery on my wrist. I'll never play the same way again...... 
So for now, he put a brace on it, but I can't wear the brace at work. And even if I do have to have surgery, I don't qualify for short term disability yet, so I'd have to miss work without pay. I don't have any sick time built up currently because of missing work over New Year's.
My orthopedic says he has no idea how this injury even happened. If you're going to tear the extrinsic ligaments in the hand, you usually tear the back of the wrist, whereas I tore the inner aspect. Also, I never had an actual injury that I can recall, and I'm too young to suffer from wear and tear - not to mention that this particular ligament once again wouldn't have been the one to tear. His theory is that I possibly have some type of blood flow problem - and not that I lack blood flow, but that possibly the neurologic control of the vascular supply is somehow not working properly and things that should heal normally are not healing. He feels this would explain the intractible migraine, avascular necrosis, repeated injuries that occur without any actual injury.... but how we'll ever know for sure, I dont' know.
So on Monday I'm going to a hand surgeon for the second opinion. I really hope I don't have to have surgery. Of the 3 surgeries I had last year for various things, I feel that I only ever got worse after them - so I'm feeling right now that surgery doesn't actually fix anything. I'm worried I'd lose functioning, gain excruciating pain, and get arthritis in the wrist sooner.
But most of all...piano....
Anyways sorry to ramble on...and thanks for "listening" to me rant.
Hugz,
Carrie
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
Annette_Emond
New Board Veteran
Family Member
Gender:
Posts: 189
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #1 on: Jan 23rd, 2006, 10:00pm » |
Quote Modify
|
One of these days, Carrie, you are going to catch a break! Hang in there.
Annette
|
|
IP Logged |
Happiness runs in a circular motion..
you can sometimes come back around to what you thought was done.
|
|
|
cootie
New Board Hall of Famer
sumday I'm gonna be sumbody........ ..
Gender:
Posts: 8406
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #2 on: Jan 23rd, 2006, 10:13pm » |
Quote Modify
|
What happend' with your back Lizzie.....I must of missed that part. Mine is screw'd.......but anyhow......EXCESS wear and tear is my problem with alot of things goin on now....painful things. But I always had an idea hanging onto a 1200 lb animal with one hand for hours for YEARS and gettin drug, stepped on, smashed, trampled, kicked bit and bucked off was SUMDAY gonna hurt. Now I keep DROPPING things......big things, small things.....don't matter. Dropped a pitcher FULL of about a gallon of water today and didn't even know I let go. Been doin alot of that....been droppin my fork and spoon too and lookin like a wierdo at dinner doin it......dunno it is even gonna happen. So.....careful what ya decided to do with the wrist.....cuz I know of cases where surgery made things alot worse for life. Dealin a dealt hand Pam
Good luck with the hand surgeon....I suspect as with most surgeons surgery wil be sudgested......just like specialists have special prices.
|
|
IP Logged |
Cause and Effect......"Cause is the effect concealed, Effect is the cause revealed"
|
|
|
writer
New Board Junior
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 52
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #3 on: Jan 23rd, 2006, 10:32pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I would postpone surgery as long as possible, and maybe, if you can, forever. Obviously I'm not a physician, but I just have a feeling that waiting the wrist out, at least for a while, is best.
Whatever you do, I hope things improve soon--
Best, Barbara
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Opus
New Board Hall of Famer
(Insert witty comment here)
 
Gender: 
Posts: 2509
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #4 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 1:12am » |
Quote Modify
|
(((((Carrie))))),
Can you where a thin ace bandage for now, they make them out of rubbery stuff so you can get it wet, that is if the glove will fit.
Opus/Paul
|
|
IP Logged |
Zed-Zed-nine plural-Zed alpha,
There is no place like home.
|
|
|
LeLimey
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
OUCH-US - Less "ME" and more "WE"
Gender:
Posts: 11720
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #5 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 1:41am » |
Quote Modify
|
Carrie let me know your schedule for this coming weekend and I'll ring you and we can have a good old bitch and whine together! 
In the meantime, REST THAT BLOODY WRIST!!
|
|
IP Logged |
The arsehole I'm divorcing needs to get a life and stop stalking mine
|
|
|
sandie99
New Board Hall of Famer
Wish it, dream it, do it - inspite the pain!
Gender:
Posts: 10429
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #6 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 2:14am » |
Quote Modify
|
Carrie..... 
I do hope that your wrist will not need a surgery...I do recall how important playing piano is for you. Lots of prayers and vibes are on their way to you. 
Best wishes,
Sanna
|
|
IP Logged |
CH happends, Live anyway! PF days to us all!
"Do what you can and let God take care of the rest. Leave your heart wide open and always wish for the best" (Sanna Hillu)
"No matter how far out your dreams are, it's possible" (Marketa Irglova)
|
|
|
DonnaHar
Guest
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #7 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 4:43am » |
Quote Modify
 Remove
|
Carrie....try to find other people, possily at work, who have had this done.
I, just two weeks ago, found a young man about 25 who has a similar back problem as I. His injury was from lifting weights. He has two bulging discs. He first had a lamenectomy which didn't work. He had the same series of steriod epidurals as I and that didn't work for either of us. Last, he had the rod and fusion and even now he is out of work yet and in terrible pain.
My episodes with the three bulging discs and spinal stenosis last almost exactly 12 weeks and subside. This has happened at least four times within the last eight years. Last week I read a medical article which described my symptoms exactly.....even the sciatica pain down the left leg and ankle........and it said that this type of flare up occures regularly and lasts approximately 12 weeks. What a surprise that was.
Maybe yours will follow a path like that. I'd give up 12 weeks every year or two to keep playing the piano. Check it out..........praying for you.
Donna
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
PollyPocket
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Someone I am is waiting for my courage.
Gender:
Posts: 2496
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #8 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 7:50am » |
Quote Modify
|
so sorry you're dealing with this 
I agree with postponing surgery if you can. What about using the ace bandage during the day, and an immobilizing brace at night? Long ago, a dr. gave me hard metal braces for my wrists cuz of carpal tunnel, which I wore at night. It really did help. If you need one, I can send it to you.
|
|
IP Logged |
“Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.” - Stacey Charter
"If I don't remember it happening, it never happened.  " - Tori
|
|
|
Charlie
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Happy to be here
  
Gender:
Posts: 14968
|
|
Re: Ultimate Orthopedic Bad News (for me...)
« Reply #9 on: Jan 24th, 2006, 10:56am » |
Quote Modify
|
Keep gong for second, third, forth and so on opinions. First, just doing stuff like this sometimes has beneficial effects but don't tell anybody I said this.
You're young, take advantage of this and be very very wary of MDs and their zeal to cut. They are evil here.
Hold on kid. Give yourself more time than you think you should take.
Charlie 
|
|
IP Logged |
There is nothing more satisfying than being shot at without result---Winston Churchill
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss