Trapeziectomy soon and live alone - advice needed.

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Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    The point about the colour is it can make posts for some readers harder to read - quite a few of us have eyesight troubles and I am still struggling with the new pale blue-grey on a grey background. Many of us played with the colours when we first had them but the novelty wore off - extra clicks are sometimes most unwelcome.

    I am pleased to read that the wound is healed - hurrah! :D You seem to be doing all the right things and going in the right direction so keep up the good work. I had to touch my fingers to my thumb after my double carpal to keep things moving and blood flowing because both aid healing. I agree with you about the touchpads on laptops, I loathe mine. :( DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Drewa
    Drewa Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Re the text/print I myself have got cataracts beginning in both my eyes and I thought that making it bold made it easier to read, but yes, I agree that the colour wasn't strictly necessary - I just liked it!

    Anyway, OMG, what have I done today!! You just wouldn't guess and it was quite accidental, but I had to change an appointment in my diary and afterwards it struck me that I had written the new one in with my right hand :o:o and I hadn't realised at the time. When I looked it was quite faint and not my normal writing but 100% better than my left-handed attempts. Ok I'm not planning to write my memoirs but at least I can maybe sign the odd Christmas card and it's not even been 4 weeks yet!
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    That's very good news indeed! :D I hope you won't get too carried away with your re-discovered skill but the fact you did it unthinkingly is a good sign because it must be feeling more comfortable. Carry on the good work! DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Drewa
    Drewa Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi folks, sorry I haven't done an update for so long and now I realise you may be too busy to read this! Anyway, I am now at almost 7 weeks and still progressing much faster than I anticipated. I can now not only write, but use scissors, eat with a knife and fork and use a computer mouse again. I did get a bit carried away yesterday and bought a cauliflower, only to realise I couldn't chop it! Solution was to cook the whole head and then break it up. I've never done it that way, but I know some people do and serve it as a full head with cheese sauce over the top for people to help themselves.

    Speaking of which, I have gone and invited 2 people for dinner on Christmas Day, not thinking how much work that will be, but I'm just going to make it as easy on myself as I can can, cut a few corners and hope they will understand!

    And my Christmas present? Well today my physio said I don't need to wear my splint at night any more and she thinks my thumb is stable enough to resume driving!!!!!!! I'm not going to get carried away though until it's confirmed by my consultant on
    5th January. But pretty good going I'd say!

    Anyway that's my good news and all that's left is to wish you a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year. :carolers:
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    That's a lovely, positive post - well done, Drewa, keep up the good work! DD

    :santa2:
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Cushytara
    Cushytara Member Posts: 22
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Drewa, you are suing so, so well! Those 7 weeks have flown by and your progress is amazing.
    Sounds like Christmas is going to more fun than you thought too! All in all, a good result I'd say :cheesygrin:
    Merry Christmas, have a great day
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello, we're a few days on now since we last heard from you, I hope all is proceeding as smoothly as it was and you didn't overdo things over the festive season. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Drewa
    Drewa Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Nice of you to ask. I have overdone it a bit but still things progressing well and surprising myself with what I find I can do. I've been away over NY and discovered I could lift quite a full kettle of water and fill a hot water bottle and open heavy fire doors among other things!! Now and then get a slight twinge but don't take painkillers or wear my splint anymore. Really I couldn't have hoped for a better recovery!

    The other reason I have been quiet (apart from being away) was that I am due to see the consultant/surgeon for the first follow-up to the op on Tuesday and hopefully will get a definitive "yes" to driving, so I was going to update you about everything after that. But one small question in the meantime which I keep forgetting to ask - is it normal to feel a slight numbness/tingling (don't ask me how it can be both!) along the inside of my thumb? It doesn't bother me, but just wondered?
  • Drewa
    Drewa Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi all, well saw consultant on Tuesday and he was impressed (as I am!) - not only did he say I could start driving (it's only 8 weeks since op) but he said he would put me down to have my left thumb done now, but as the waiting list was non-existent last time, I felt I wasn't at all ready to go through this again so soon, and told him that some people said you should really give it a year for the first one to recover completely first. He said he considers 6 months enough but has made me another appointment to see him in 2 months and we can discuss it again.

    So far I haven't driven yet - I think I've got a bit agoraphobic and scared of driving too during these weeks of idleness and not going out, but want to go somewhere tomorrow so hope that's motivation enough. Did any of you just jump in your car immediately after being given the ok?

    Oh and I mentioned to him about the numbness/tingling on inside of thumb. He said the fact it's tingling and not just numb probably means a nerve was bruised during the op but is getting better now.

    So that's it I reckon and not nearly as bad as I had been anticipating prior to the op. Even at this early stage I'm glad I had it done and would recommend it to others.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I jumped in and drove as soon as I was allowed after my double carpal tunnel op but I love driving - to be able to do so again was my incentive not to do silly things whilst recuperating. I think the tingling is normal, nerves may be disturbed or even cut - I know that many were when I had my open synovectomies and my physios advice was to lightly drum my fingers on the tingling bit to help the nerves regrow. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi drewa. I've not had a trapeziectomy but,I was away from driving for 4-5 months after having both knees replaced. On a purely practical level I'd suggest a short drive round the block if you can first just to get used to it again when not under pressure. I recall the first time I needed to use my headlights on full beam again and I had to stop to find it :shock: :lol:
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Drewa
    Drewa Member Posts: 33
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi dreamdaisy - well nobody could say I love/d driving because for me it has always been more of a necessity than a pleasure, and increasingly so the older I get! Nevertheless when I drove today it felt as if I'd never been away from it, except that my right thumb couldn't turn the ignition key and I had to do it with my left hand standing outside the car! But stopping to do some shopping on the way home - now that was an ordeal! I have only been doing online for the past 8 weeks, so I found walking round aisles, pushing a trolley, avoiding other people etc quite exhausting! But re the tingling I'll start doing what your physio suggested.

    Stickywicket - I had a knee replacement almost 3 years ago and I thought I remembered it taking longer before I could drive. Hmmm...."short drive round the block" - well I actually did a 40 mile round trip today, but it wasn't too bad!
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Try this https://www.abilitysuperstore.com/index.php/aids-for-indoors/key-turners (Other stores are available :wink: I used to need one for my car ignition. Now I use one for my door key. They make such a difference and even a non-disabled friend thought they were a good idea for anyone.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • carolina1954
    carolina1954 Member Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, I am Caroline, and due to have a trapeziectomy on the 29th June and I also live alone.
    I have osteoarthritis in both hands and they are doing the right hand first. I have had 2 steroid injections in that one, first in 2014 and last in March this year but they were of little use.
    I was very lucky in being seen quickly, from 10th Feb to my op on the 29th June.
    I am going on holiday to Italy on the 22nd July and the surgeon said that would be fine as that would leave just over 3 weeks, time for the plaster to come off. I am assuming he will put a splint on after.
    It was either take that date and have the summer off or leave it until later, by which time my work will be busy. In summer we really slow down and I though it might be good to be away on holiday with people to look after me. I am not really sure what to expect after the op, how will I cope in a hot climate etc.~I have just gone onto BA's website and seen that you can book assistance, which I have done. Looks like I booked a wheelchair !
    I suppose better over than under in this situation :)

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