Week 2 Status Report: Yep, arm's still broke

[annathepiper]

But, some measure of normalcy has returned to my life. These are the things I have determined are doable with one hand: writing (not good with my left hand, but legible), dressing myself (now that I have sneakers with velcro), washing clothes as long as the loads are small and carryable with one arm, emptying the dishwasher as long as it's dishes that go on lower shelves, get simple meals, go to the Ave and run errands, go to the little store and get milk, and take a bath and wash my own hair now that I have gotten it cut short (though getting out of the tub was a little tricky).

Tuesday I went back to the Bone & Joint Center for an appointment with a physical therapist. The most interesting things to come out of that were that she trimmed my arm brace some so that it would not cut into my armpit or my elbow, and that she thought I might be downgradeable to a 'fracture brace' which would be even smaller than the thing I am wearing now. But she has to discuss that with my doctor. I am to do some exercises for my wrist in the meantime, three times a day; she gave me elbow exercises to do as well, but then called me on Wednesday and told me not to do those for another week or so. My elbow is FINE with that.

I'm supposed to go back in one week from today to get a splint for my hand which is supposed to get me able to use those fingers, and also to have some tests done on my radial nerve to find out what sort of damage it's taken. Before then, though, I will be back AT WORK!

One thing I can't do without help, though: change the cotton sock under my arm brace.solarbird helped me do that today and boy howdy, did it need it. Happily, that was a relatively quick and painless operation, and now my arm feels much less gungy.

Thanks also must go to mamishka for taking me to the mall in search of bras that I can put on with one hand, to tinlail and lyricae for the big box of t-shirts we can cut up and make wearable for me as well as for the giggle factor of the box of romance novels, and to kathrynt who may well be getting me some free time with a lady who specializes in theurapeutic yoga to make my arm happier. Thanks to all of you for making this experience less suckful!

Comments

[avram]

This has me thinking about practicing doing stuff one-handed, just in case.

I'll probably forget all about that in the morning.

[annathepiper]

You practiced anything yet?

One thing I can't do: use chopsticks in my left hand. :P Discovered while going out to sushi last night!