Triggered

Taking a picture of my working hand with my non-working hand results in a photo like this, but it will give you the general idea of how the hand looks right now. I've done a lot of research on what is going on with my perpetually-dislocating ring finger, and found a new and pretty painful nodule in my palm directly under it. That means it's probably stenosing tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, which is one of the more delightful complications of arthritis. Believe it or not, that's the good news.

I'm going to talk to my doctor about it to confirm that's the cause, but evidently there's not a lot that can be done without surgery, which I want to avoid because I don't heal well or very fast anymore. I also don't want to go back on the anti-inflammatory shots because of the side effects. Sleeping with my finger in a splint might help ease the tendon inflammation, as will massages. As I theorized I need to avoid using or stressing it.

Having to cope with life with only three working fingers at the moment could be depressing, but I'm going to look at it as a challenge. I can definitely try to get more use out of the non-working hand, so I'll start exercising that one every day and practice doing things with it. So far I can use eating utensils with my left hand, and loosely hold things. That's progress.