I'm alive - with good and bad news

[Seraph]

Gotta make this short, and you'll see why.

Bad news - After two months of excruciating pain in my pinky and ringfinger, I went to the doctor and found out I have both carpal tunnel, and ulnar nerve damage. Next 2-3 months are going to be lots and lots of ibuprofen (3 pills, 3x a day), wrist brace 24/7, and keeping my arm as straight as possible. Otherwise, surgery, which isn't guaranteed to help, and *could* cause paralysis. Computer time has to be kept to a minimum, any hobby of mine as well that involves bending my elbow. (aka reading, video games, crafting, gardening...just about ANYTHING)

Good news - business picked back up again a little bit, not by much, but enough. On top of that, I got another fulltime job, and because of the last two disasters, didn't say anything here. Well, it's been over a month, and they have dutifully sent me a paycheck every single time. Its not as nice paying as I'd hoped, and there are no benefits, but it is a job, and it is helping us stabilize things. Which is nice. Just means I don't have a lot of free time =/

Anyways there you have it, will try and hang around a bit more, but wrist braces make it stupid hard to type.

[Aethian]

Come back soon and take care of that injury.

[42_42_42]

Seraph, not sure which kind of doctor you went to that diagnosed your carpal tunnel, but I suggest an orthopedist. That is who I went to. He did carpal tunnel releases on both of my hands years ago. It made a HUGE improvement. The damage from carpal tunnel compression isn't cured by the surgery, so the sooner you do it, the better off you are. Not sure why they mentioned the possibility of paralysis as that was never an issue with my doc.

[Seraph]

Seraph, not sure which kind of doctor you went to that diagnosed your carpal tunnel, but I suggest an orthopedist. That is who I went to. He did carpal tunnel releases on both of my hands years ago. It made a HUGE improvement. The damage from carpal tunnel compression isn't cured by the surgery, so the sooner you do it, the better off you are. Not sure why they mentioned the possibility of paralysis as that was never an issue with my doc.

I'll have to see if my insurance covers that.

I am fuzzy on the details, but for the ulnar one, they'd basically have to move the nerve there to a new area. They'd have to open it up, let the inflammation die down, and then relocate it to a different side of my elbow. Could cause issues, due to...moving a nerve around. I think thats what he was saying. Was mostly curled up in pain because they tested me by poking a pressure point on my arm and wrist. Owwwwww

[Jay 2K Winger]

Soon as I saw this was a post from Seraph, I knew it was going to be a "Good news everyone!" post.

Because even if there's good news, there's always a catch. And if the news is coming from Seraph, you know that tears have been shed, and probably blood as well. Hopefully someone else's, though this isn't guaranteed.

Take care of yourself, Seraph. We'll forgo getting amusing stories from you if it means things stabilize and get better for you.

[MoonCat]

Oh OUCH! Take care of yourself, hope it gets better soon!

[Shpepper]

Dragon Naturally speaking. Speech to text software. I love this thing. You do have to train it to your voice, but it can make typing a thing of the past. Also, if you use Win 7, there is built in text to speech software. I don;t like it as much as dragon. Something to look into since I know you are a huge computer person.

[fireheart]

Dragon Naturally speaking. Speech to text software. I love this thing. You do have to train it to your voice, but it can make typing a thing of the past. Also, if you use Win 7, there is built in text to speech software. I don;t like it as much as dragon. Something to look into since I know you are a huge computer person.

Pretty much this. Hell, it's even recommended by special education folks that students in the upper years of their education with dyslexia or dysgraphia learn how to use speech-to-text software.

Of course, just be careful that you don't get something like THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7Nz4bIwss

(Warning: NOT SAFE FOR WORK!)

[Pixilated]

Ouch. Very glad to hear about your job but I hope your hand/arm starts to improve very soon.

[DeltaSierra]

I have carpal tunnel and I can't stress enough WEAR YOUR BRACE!!!! My physiotherapist told me that mine was BAD, and that she was doubtful I'd be able to go without surgery. That was 2 years ago and I'm pain free. Aside from the brace the other single biggest change that helped me was getting an ergonomic "split" keyboard so that my hands weren't constantly being held at an abnormal angle while typing. Also- get a "stress ball" to squeeze and exercise your hand.

Oh also - another change I forgot - I use a Logitech trackball mouse (the one you move the ball with your thumb) and that has helped too.

[Teysa]

Congratulations on the job. Steady paychecks are always a good thing. As for the carpal tunnel, hopefully you'll be able to get that taken care of soon.

[Aethian]

Aside from the brace the other single biggest change that helped me was getting an ergonomic "split" keyboard so that my hands weren't constantly being held at an abnormal angle while typing. Also- get a "stress ball" to squeeze and exercise your hand.

1. Love love love those keyboards.

2. The silly putty like stuff and the bands are awesome too. Can do all sorts of hand exercises I think everyone should do.

[Food Lady]

My bad days require 4 ibuprofen 3 times a day (24-hour period), staggered with acetaminophen if necessary. I can sympathize with what a hassle that will be for you. And the immobilization. My carpal tunnel is very mild, but my back issues can really limit me. I feel like nothing ever gets done around here.

I just want to throw it out there that if ibuprofen doesn't work well for you, ask the doc about a stronger anti-inflammatory you can take once or twice a day. And sometimes I take a pain med that can go along with anti-inflammatories for the times when I have actual nerve pain. Ibuprofen works for muscular pain, but for me a synthetic opioid taken conservatively helps me sleep when I have a compressed nerve. I really wish they'd given it to me when I had that nerve in my neck compressed a while ago, instead of the codeine-based things that didn't work. I guess my point is that I sympathize with nerve pain and my philosophy is communicate communicate communicate. My doc knows me pretty well now.

[Crossbow]

Glad you have a steady job, even if it's not the best. A steady paycheck is a great stress releiver.

As for the carpal tunnel and nerve issues, I can't really add anything to what's been said already except good luck, and take it easy. I have to see an orthpedist next week for my own elbow pain, and I'm not looking forward to what he has to say...



(and 3 ibuprophen 3x day? I'd be screwed. I'm not really allowed to take ibuprophen or naproxen in those quantities anymore. That whole one kidney thing...)

[Seraph]

I just want to throw it out there that if ibuprofen doesn't work well for you, ask the doc about a stronger anti-inflammatory you can take once or twice a day.

Oooh, good idea.