Because they said so
Friday November 18th 2016, 10:08 pm
Filed under: Life

Actually two small breaks, the orthopedist told us. Off with the splint, on with the cast. (But I liked the splint.  I could take it off when I had to.)

He wanted to cast the whole hand but I cannot, cannot, sorry, I tried, do the ileostomy thing one-handed, so he left three fingers free. (What on earth do people do who are worse off than me?)

Which is still a pain. But: I didn’t break my left hand. I can hold the cane that needs to be on my left side to counter the balance damage from the ’00 car accident, where it has to be, and so I can walk. A little carefully, given that I go by visual and tactile feedback to keep up and down figured out and that there’s a constant distracting storm of input from my right hand–that cast is tight.

I can manage.

As long as you don’t ask me to open any screw top lids (almost went next door but gave up) or to plant that new amaryllis bulb that’s sprouting like crazy in the toasty warm house. (To self: toldja you should have done them all the moment they arrived.)

The funny part is that last Thursday the endocrinologist went over my bone scan at my annual appointment and told me that if I fall, to fall on my hand.  Hips are much harder to heal, hands are a lot faster. Put my hand out to catch my fall.

And I thought, like anyone has a choice in the moment it’s happening?

So there you go: I was just following doctor’s orders.


8 Comments so far
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Oh my. How long ’til those bones knit themselves back together? What a pain for someone who uses those fine motor skills so much! So, any plans to try out one-armed knitting? Maybe some garter-stitch baby blankets in bulky yarn for charity to pass the time. I know you dislike acrylics but it’s cheap and easy to wash. Take care.

Comment by LynnM 11.19.16 @ 3:06 am

Sending hugs and healing thoughts! I’m glad you weren’t hurt badly. I chuckled about considering going next door to have a jar opened. I once had my apartment maintenance guy open a jar for me. I happened to see him passing by outside and flagged him down. I later delivered cookies to the maintenance team and they offered to open all future jars and retrieve objects from tall shelves. 🙂

Hope you heal quickly and that the cast doesn’t impede your activities too much!

Comment by Mary 11.19.16 @ 5:56 am

I can so understand the limitations of not having your dominant hand at full use, except mine was the wrist, years ago. I hope the healing is quick and trouble free. And that the cast feels looser once the swelling goes down. Enjoy the extra reading time.

Comment by DebbieR 11.19.16 @ 7:51 am

Time to check out all those someday patterns. Don’t fret, every crisis is resolved within 3 months. The time will pass.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 11.19.16 @ 8:01 am

Trust you to find any glimmer of humor in the situation. Sending love and prayers from Texas.

Comment by Lynn 11.19.16 @ 10:31 am

Well, I guess I’m glad you followed the doctor’s orders. But try not to do it again!

Comment by LauraN 11.19.16 @ 5:12 pm

I guess I ‘lucked out’ last spring when I fractured my radius in a fall (put my right hand out to stop a fall…stupid thing). I got to get by with a splint and then 2x a week therapy to keep the joints in hand, wrist and elbow flexible. Heal fast!!!!

Comment by Helen 11.19.16 @ 10:12 pm

I’m so sorry to hear about the breaks, but glad it wasn’t any worse!

Comment by ccr in MA 11.20.16 @ 10:05 am



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