by 2 people |
Oh my, what have I done....
Carpal tunnel surgery has left me all but helpless for the next two weeks. Now I'm not looking for sympathy (well, maybe just a little), but I think they should make a person go into training and practice one-handed skills first. Like physical therapy, but prior to the "event". Not only am I typing with one finger, I"m having trouble spelling. How can that be?
New Table of Contents
- What the Mayo Clinic says about Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME...
- Don't forget the cap.....
- HOW TO WASH YOUR HAIR
- FLASHES OF BRILLANCE
- TIGHT JEANS WITH ZIPPERS AND BUTTONS...DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
- DON'T PAMPER
- MEDICAL HUMOR FROM AMAZON
- TAKING CARE OF YOUR JOINTS
- PLEASE, PERK ME UP-LEAVE ME A BLURB
- New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day
What the Mayo Clinic says about Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- MAYO CLINIC
- Interesting information shown about CTS. Treatments, diagnosis and causes.
ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME...
Now, I'm off to brush my teeth. The brushing is not the problem. It's getting the tooth paste out of the tube and on to the brush one handed. First couple of days my husband did this for me and then I decided there just had to be a better way.Photo to follow....
Later...ah, here it is. I had to get someone to take the pic.
Don't forget the cap.....
Yes, don't forget the cap. To replace the cap, tuck the tube under your arm just above your elbow holding it against your side and you can replace the cap nice and tight.
If you forget to do this the tooth paste will dry and then you'll have to sit on it to get it out of the tube.
HOW TO WASH YOUR HAIR
While in the shower, you first get your hair wet, of course. Then using the "above the elbow-between the ribcage" (AEBR) I mentioned earlier in regard to opening the tooth paste, you open the shampoo. If it's a removable cap and you have no place to put it, you have to hold it between your teeth.
With your good hand hold the shampoo bottle and put the shampoo on your opposing forearm. After you have the right amount then you have to reverse the above steps. Scoop the shampoo off your forearm, slap it on your hair and ta-da!
FLASHES OF BRILLANCE
Seems like most everyone that finds out "what happened to my hand" has their own story to tell. Tell about all the tricks you picked up when you or anyone you know had this or something similar happen.
Share your stories. Your work-a-rounds, humorous situations. Keep it light-no sobbing, please.
TIGHT JEANS WITH ZIPPERS AND BUTTONS...DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Getting dressed, undressed and going to the "necessary room".
Plan ahead-it will take longer than you think. I have found that alternating back and forth also helps, especially when pulling pants back up. Practice as much as possible prior to your surgery so you don't get "caught with you pants down".....literally.
"After you pull up your pants make sure the inseam doesn't run up the "side" of your leg."
DON'T PAMPER
After the Doc says it's okay to do so, make sure you don't pamper that hand. Sure it's gonna be sore, he cut you. But it's needs to be stretched and exercised. If you have an option, take physical therapy, they'll have you playing with balls of putty and playing virtual music on virtual pianos, making strange alien signals with your hand and fingers. Your friends will think you're strange, but believe me it will be worth it in the long run.
MEDICAL HUMOR FROM AMAZON
The Best of Medical Humor: A Collection of Articles, Essays, Poetry, and Letters Published in the Medical Literature
Amazon Price: $23.57 (as of 11/30/2009) 
For Doctors Only A Merry Mixture of Medical Humor
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Ambulance Anecdotes
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Medheads Slightly Fractured Medical Humor SIGNED
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
A Treasury Of Medical Humor
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
PLEASE, PERK ME UP-LEAVE ME A BLURB
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Reply
- dkgibbins dkgibbins Jul 1, 2008 @ 11:48 am
- I as well just had surgery. I actually get to go back today to get my stitches out! I've felt the same stress you have with getting things done with one hand... try having to help a three year old get dressed and get tennis shoes on. Thanks for the humor though!
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Reply
- hmsweaver hmsweaver Jun 11, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
- Congrats on getting it over with. I've been putting it off for years. It's nice to see you're keeping a sense of humor about your one-handed recovery! :-)
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Reply
- clouda9 clouda9 Jun 5, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
- Great info here. I have been putting off getting my right hand done because of a bad experience with surgery on my left. One of these days...maybe ;) Happy to know you got a good laugh at my menopause lens.
New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day
by lhiller
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