Wrist

[simonp]

Have fun with that Clarion.

I was cycling around for three weeks with an undiagnosed scaphoid fracture (despite responding positively to the snuffbox test the day after the injury).  So you are in excellent company. 

[clarion]

Goodness, I'm tired!

Can I go to bed now?

[clarion]

Oh bollock.  After a morning trying to ge through to the hospital, I got a call back from the SpR.

Hand specialist away all this week, so nothing doing till Monday.

And possibly a long wait after that.

Meanwhile, I've discussed risk management with a GP, and am trying Ibuprofen (one tablet).

It hurts.  And it's hurting more since Wednesday.  And I feel shit.  And I've got two meetings this afternoon...

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

You can take paracetamol with ibuprofen, you know. I hope they sort it for you soon.

[nuttycyclist]

Are you using a support?  e.g. a decent elastic bandage or neoprene one?     I found that helps out a lot for wrist pain.

[hellymedic]

Oh bollock.  After a morning trying to ge through to the hospital, I got a call back from the SpR.

Hand specialist away all this week, so nothing doing till Monday.

And possibly a long wait after that.

Meanwhile, I've discussed risk management with a GP, and am trying Ibuprofen (one tablet).

It hurts.  And it's hurting more since Wednesday.  And I feel shit.  And I've got two meetings this afternoon...

At least the SpR did ring you back!
I have cautiously fed ibuprofen my asthmatic partner, who also has a history of duodenal ulcer. No trouble resulted but I'll try not to risk this again.

Hope you get orted soon and that  your weekend's not too sore.

[MSeries]

Oh bollock.  After a morning trying to ge through to the hospital, I got a call back from the SpR.

Hand specialist away all this week, so nothing doing till Monday.

And possibly a long wait after that.

Meanwhile, I've discussed risk management with a GP, and am trying Ibuprofen (one tablet).

It hurts.  And it's hurting more since Wednesday.  And I feel shit.  And I've got two meetings this afternoon...

Maybe have a fight on Saturday night, hurt the wrist and get it seen to quickly in A&E. Only kidding, trying to cheer you up.

[clarion]

Support - yes, I got a Futura splint from St Thomas's last week.   I got a new one, plus tubigrip, from St georges.  I couldn't wear them all the time, and I take them off for relief sometimes, but it does stop me doing too many stupid things with my hand.  

Makes typing or writing (two of my major work processes) tricky...

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

I can teach you how to do some stuff one-handed.

[MSeries]

I can teach you how to do some stuff one-handed.

So can I

Actually, in all seriousness perhaps it is something we all should learn so when we lose the use of one hand we are prepared. Do you do distance learning Kirst ?

[onb]

, and I take them off for relief sometimes, but it does stop me doing too many stupid things with my hand.  

Ooooh err Missus

[clarion]

It's very surprising how debilitating limited use of your dominant hand can be (and it's a very dominant hand in my case, though I'm not very adept with either...)


So, Kirst, what's contained in the one-handed masterclass?

[hellymedic]

I bought some Lock-Laces from Wiggle.
Though you sometimes still need to use both hands, the level of dexterity required for a snug firm fit is greatly reduced.
My OT had never seen them before...

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

We use No-Bows. There is a one-handed technique for tying shoelaces, but I can't do it so I can't teach it! 

Main thing with dressing and undressing is put your affected side into garments first, and take your unaffected side out first. So for upper body garments, put your bad arm into and through the sleeve first, then pull it over your head or around your back and then your good arm. For taking it off, good arm out first, over your head/around your back, then bad arm out.

For food preparation, it's difficult without equipment - spreader boards, spike boards etc. Slide, don't lift, heavy pans and kettles. You might want to put a chip basket in pans to contain veg while you boil it, then you can just lift the chip basket out, the water will drain away, and you can tip the water away when it's cold and less risky.

[clarion]

That's all useful stuff, though I instinctively go with the dressing the affected side first, and undressing last.

[clarion]

Just a big whiiiiiiiinge cause it hurts

[delthebike]

Just a big whiiiiiiiinge cause it hurts

A quick one off the wrist eh! 
GWS.

[clarion]

Right.  Got a letter.  Called into clinic for Thursday.  Let's see how that goes...

[Wendy]

OOoh good luck Clarion, that really sucks and I feel for you.

[clarion]

OK, a quick update and a whinge (again ).

I went to the clinic in december, got prodded & x-rayed, and the consultant said she would call her colleague & get back to me.  Referred for MRI & recalled to clinic for one month's time.  Future arthroscopy and probable surgery

So.  Did she get back to me?  No.  Did she eck as like!  She said today that she'd rung her colleague & he reckoned there was no urgency.

That MRI referral?  I rang last week and was told that it wasn't put through as urgent, so it was a 6-8 week wait, and my appointment was 'being processed'.  Still no news.

Today's clinic appointment?  Well, I waited nearly an hour before being seen again, and again an SHO had a bit of a prod, then decided that the consultant needed to see it (well, durr!), so we had to wait for her.  She had a prod and pushed my hand around till it hurt.  Interestingly, the pain is now more widely spread than before, but my hand now really hurts.

I got X-rayed for a third time.  Inconclusive.  But the next step is the arthroscopy. 

I mentioned I was having lots of trouble, including cycling, typing, writing, and activities that involve supporting any weight.  They were dismissed with a wave of the hand, and I was told I'd not be on a bike 'for months'

I know, I know: I knew.  But it's depressing.  Shit!

Next step: Arthroscopy.  I'm told that, after they've used a camera to look inside my wrist, it's 'likely to be a bit sore'

[matthew]

When my sister bust her wrist she had damaged the cartilege that holds the two bones in the lower arm together at the wrist. The consultant at the hospital in Windsor said it is a common injury amongst the girls in the pony club. Only my sister does not ride and couldn't remember falling over.

She did however have to write her A level exams with her left hand (right handed)

I hope they can diagnose your problem soon.

Matthew

[clarion]

Thanks.

It occurs to me that our pain scale gets recalibrated.  And you feel stupid if a Consultant prods your hand, asking if it huts, and you answer 'I don't know'

[clarion]

I'm bored & pigged off, so I'm going to go ride my bike this weekend & see what happens.

[JohnP]

I presume you are still using a decent wrist support ? Or at least you will when you ride at the weekend ?  For several years I've suffered severe metatarsel pain if I walk more than about a mile.  Still miss a decent walk on hills etc so every now & then I just go and put up with it afterwards.

Wandering around Silverstone for 5 hours or so tends to reduce me to tears by nightfall.

[clarion]

I have a wrist splint, but can't ride (or type or write or much else) while wearing it,  so I'll be leaving it off to ride.  I won't be going far.  If it hurts too much, I can get home.  I might even ride fixed just to stop me wandering