Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Better than Fried

I cut some chives from the kitchen garden to make garlic-chive baked fries for dinner. This is a great side dish for veggie burgers. Click here for the recipe from Taste of Home.com.
Post a Comment
Read more

Make It Yourself

As we head into December, here are ten ideas for easy handmade gifts: Cookie Exchange: If you live close to your friends invite them over for a cookie exchange. Basically everyone bakes a set amount of their favorite cookies, and these are exchanged at the gathering by lottery, sharing a little from each batch with everyone, or however you want to do it. You can also exchange recipes, too. My neighbor did this once and it was wonderful. Favorite Recipe Cookbook : For my favorite person I found a copy of my favorite cookbook from a vintage bookseller (yes, I am that old) and went through it making notes on all the recipes I used, how I tweaked them, etc. Ornament: There are probably a million free tutorials on how to make your own holiday ornaments, so do some research online. I like to make hanging pomanders , which smell heavenly and are biodegradable after the holidays. Mug Rugs: If you sew, making up a set of mug rugs is simple and easy; I add these every year to my ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Journal Find

This is a page from my 2010 poetry journal. My handwriting isn't the best, so I'll transcribe it: If my heart survives to tell all the secrets kept inside it will be an abalone shell in which the beauty did reside. But I think I will always be lost to the tides that rage in me . . . humbling and polishing . . . I don't write many self-portrait poems, but this one isn't too embarrassing. A bit overly dramatic, but the girl I was eleven years ago went through some tough times. I'm in a much more peaceful place today.
Post a Comment
Read more