Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Thumb Report

My thumb is much better than it was.  It has been seven weeks since the surgery.   I do not have a noticeable scar..but a band of scar tissue that feels all funny. Perhaps with time that sensation will go away.

There are still things I can not do. I cannot snap the snaps on my parka with my right hand..I use my left.   I cannot open anything that has cap that twists off..like on a bottle of water.  I cannot grasp heavy objects between my thumb and forefinger and pull them toward me without pain. ( think down comforters, seat belts etc..) You know those little arrow things on the cap of a bottle of aspirin..that have to be lined up and you just flip that top right off..well that is still not happening.

What can I do? I can now use a can opener, for months I would haul the can to be opened and the opener to Far Guy. If I didn’t ..he would be brought into the kitchen by my screaming because my thumb would be stuck out of joint, and the stupid can would still be unopened.   Most of the time I can get a jar opened..sometimes not..but that  happened before my thumb went to pot too.

I would not be able to carry three gallons pots filled with plants at once or weed like I used too..but perhaps those are the things that wore out the pulley in my thumb in the first place.

The pain is mostly gone..but I still sleep with my hand elevated at night…out of sheer habit..I can go to sleep with my hand down and wake up an hour later and it is safely elevated above me.  My hand hurts if I get it cold..that must be the arthritis. So I am not 100% yet but 90% and it is getting better everyday.

It was twenty something below zero here again this morning..spring seems so far away. Thanks for asking about my thumb:)IMG_4374

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31 comments:

  1. Intense GuyFebruary 8, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Sounds like it could be a little bit better... and a lot worse.

    I hope it gets ALL better soon.

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  2. Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)February 8, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    ....and here I thought I was freezin' at a whoppin' eighteen degrees when I upped the woodpile this mornin'. We have another winter storm movin' in.

    Sounds like your thumb is comin' right along. I bet the cold does hurt! Hopefully by the time the flowers push through you'll be in the swing of things again. I know I'd push through 'whatever' go work in my beauties.

    God bless ya sweetie and have a super day! :o)

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  3. LeenieFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    It sounds like the doctors patched you up pretty good. I'll bet in not time you'll be ready for spring and all the things hands need to do outside. Cold-cold-cold here too.

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  4. LindaGFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    Glad to hear you're on the mend, even if slowly.
    Take care and stay warm!
    *Hugs* ♥

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  5. Maery RoseFebruary 8, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Not quite that cold in the cities, more like -10 but it's kind of all the same once it drops below zero. Glad to hear your thumb is better than it was.

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Glad to read your thumb is getting better. Thank you for the pics of the lovely flowers. As I sit looking at the snow, they reminded me Spring is just around the corner....not sure what corner. Harriet

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  7. Connie PetersonFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    Eventually you will not notice your thumb and then it will be 100% healed. I only think about mine once in awhile. I am not as strong as I used to be, thumb-wise, but mostly it's great. We were only -15 this morning and have warmed up to +4!!!! And the wind has died to almost nothing, which is very exciting. Spring WILL come -- and we will appreciate it more because of what we are going through, now. Keep that thumb WARM.

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  8. RaeFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    That flower photos is stunning!! The vibrant colors are so pretty.
    It may take a little while before you get that thumb back into shape. At least the pain is minimal now. I'm sure you will be able to adapt to not having 10% function in it.

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  9. KarenFebruary 8, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    Thanks for the thumb update, whether we wanted one or not!! Ha, ha, anyway, I'm glad to hear that it's slowly improving, and I'm betting that over time you will get much of it's use back. We take longer to heal now:( And what use you don't get back, well you will have adapted in other ways and it will have become second nature.
    Beautiful flowers... and we are about 40F here, the sun is shining, and the breeze is a bit cool (relatively). I'm almost embarrassed to say that the breeze is a bit cool:)

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  10. West Side of StraightFebruary 8, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Oh the flower picture is so pretty. We need spring soon! The flower picture gives us hope!

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  11. Becca's DirtFebruary 8, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Gosh I'll be so glad when this winter is over. Can't believe it's still so cold there. Glad you are on the mend. I'm longing to see those pretty flowers in your last photo.

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  12. Nancy/BLissed-Out GrandmaFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    Brrr. That lovely flower photo is a great reminder that if we just hang in a while longer, spring will come. Meanwhile, I hope the thumb keeps on healing.

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  13. laurieFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    90 percent isn't too bad but lord those flowers are so spectacular! i am setting them as wallpaper on my computer.

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  14. LindaFebruary 8, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    I'm glad it's healed nicely. It amazes me how we get into habits like holding it up at night. I did the same.

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  15. Country Gal February 8, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    Glad to hear your thumb is getting better.
    Love the flower photo, come on spring ! We are having the same temperature as you are, down right cold. Have a warm and good day !

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  16. Emma RoseFebruary 8, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    Glad to hear the thumb is improving. Hopefully that 100% will get here soon.
    If it was -20 here we would stay under that down comforter! Yikes!!! That is really too cold :)

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

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  17. LyndaFebruary 8, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    The physical therapist said it takes one year to recognize the full recovery and range of motion. I am praying that it all returns. Recovery can be the pits though - - - even when we see progress. Until then, I vote for an electric can opener!!!

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  18. LyndaFebruary 8, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    P.S. The cold weather and/or low pressure preceding a storm makes my arthritis holler loud, too. There is a lot of truth in the statement that aging isn't for sissies. But it sure makes me want to cry "uncle" some days.

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  19. LeahFebruary 8, 2011 at 9:56 PM

    Glad the thumb is on the mend... Thank you for the beautiful flower picture - ahhhhh it feels good and summery!

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  20. That Janie GirlFebruary 9, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    Girly, give yourself time to heal...

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  21. Pauline PersingFebruary 9, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    I am happy to hear your thumb is better. Your weather makes the ice we are dealing with a minor problem.

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  22. Changes in the windFebruary 9, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Isn't amazing how our bodies heal...it takes time yes but little by little we get better. Take good care of it:)

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  23. linda mFebruary 9, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Thanks for the photo of the flowers, I needed that. Glad the thumb is getting better. Stay warm and healthy.

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  24. DJanFebruary 9, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Your thumb is definitely on the mend. Much better, and I sure appreciate you taking the time to tell me about it.

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  25. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Glad to hear Thumb is improving, but it's such a bind when you can't do something simple all on your own. It will be fine soon! Jo

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  26. PamelaFebruary 9, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    my fingers are all split from the cool weather and doing dishes etc

    So I can't open anything either.

    Are you keeping the thumb stretched?

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  27. AnonymousFebruary 9, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Glad to hear your thumb is doing better.

    Gorgeous spring flowers, says she shivering...

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  28. L. D. February 10, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    That bottom photo is such a prize winner. I like all the blue.

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  29. DayPhotoFebruary 11, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    Thank you for the update! I have wondered. Scar tissue is the whole issue now. Will it soften up as time goes on?

    Love the spring flowers!

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

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  30. gayleFebruary 11, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    Glad your thumb is getting better! Did you have trigger thumb? I had surgery for that a few years ago.

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  31. Far Side of FiftyFebruary 12, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    Hi Gayle..yes a trigger thumb..a painful one!
    Hi Linda, I hope the scar tissue softens up in time.
    Hi Pamela..Stretched..I guess so ..I am trying to do normal stuff with it...within reason:)

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Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate your comments! If you have a question I will try to answer it here. I no longer accept anonymous comments. All comments will be approved before posting...due to spammers...may the fleas of a thousand camels infest every hair on his body. Connie