Progress!

[eregyrn]

I know, I'm hell at updating. But, as you can tell from my writing this, I came through the surgery fine. (Except for the nerve block not working to actually block the pain, and except for the Percocet making me ill.) Massive, massive thanks to elishavah, and also to veejane, for all the help they've been giving me. I apologize for not being good about replying to comments, I really appreciate everyone's well wishes.

Yesterday was the 11th day after the surgery, so I went in for my postop checkup. Everything looks good! The cast finally came off (and this had been the most annoying cast, yet). I now have a very small plastic brace that goes on with Velcro straps, which I can take off to shower (!!!!!!) and to do my exercises. The incision is big, but healing well; the skin is already pretty much closed over. The whole arm and hand is a bit achey, and feels vulnerable because it isn't so well protected. The bone won't actually be healed for another four weeks, but because the plate is holding it together, I can start on rehabilitating everything.

The weirdest part is that I am supposed to now be doing all kinds of exercises to get a hand and the wrist back in shape, and it's very strange to have nothing at all on the arm, and to be trying to tell it to do things, and it's not be able to do them. I know that will come in time, as I work on it.

Below the cut, my x-rays, so you can see the plate and all the screws.

Comments

[emilytheslayer.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you're doing well!

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

It's a shame there are no pics of your arm all, you know, laid out during the surgery.

What? That would be cool.

[paian]

How cool of you to post X rays! They make me go 'ow' and 'neat!' at the same time.

Gah about the nerve blocker and the Percoset, but yay for cast removal and for everything looking good. Will keep hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

I'm very pleased it went fairly well and that you're doing better.

[xandra-lj.livejournal.com]

I concur on the "Ow! But neat!" review of the X-rays. And I'm SO glad you're doing well-- go you, plate and all!

[cofax7]

omg I didn't know you had to have surgery! How stressful! OTOH, I hope that means you will be healing up and regain full functionality.

You have been missed around here.

[raqs.livejournal.com]

cool! you're all cyborg-y and shit now.

[troyswann.livejournal.com]

Oooooooooooooow!!!!!

How did I miss the "gittin' yerself CYBORGED (I keep typing "cyborked"--new favourite word)" update?

I'm very glad the surgery went well, though.

Sending healing vibes ~~~~~~~>you

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

Phew!

[ryanlion.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the bionic club! I'm glad to hear everything went well.

It is kind of freaky how fast your body can 'forget' how to do something. The exercises do help though, so don't give up on them. You'll see progress quickly. :)

[tyellas.livejournal.com]

Another one who's glad your new bionic self is on the road to recovery...and don't have any regrets about not having any "during" pictures. I once got a glimpse of myself "during" a surgery (local anesthetic) and, while I have a stomach of steel, to this day I wish I hadn't.

[trickofthedark.livejournal.com]

Yeeks! Heal well!

[dustandroses.livejournal.com]

Wow. The x-rays are pretty damn cool, but I'm with you on not wanting to see the actual operation. I'm glad to hear it went well - except for the lack of effective pain killers/blockers. Also glad you have the heavy cast off, that's often the worst part from what I've heard - having been six months old the last time I broke a major bone, I can't remember.

Good luck recovering your hand's mobility, that must suck. My arthritis and fibromyalgia cause me enough problems that I can definitely understand that part. It's so frustrating to not have complete control of one's hands. You don't realize exactly how crucial they are until you can't use them properly anymore.

[radiotelescope.livejournal.com]

Robot arm for the win.

Here's hoping it's one of the kind that picks up pop music from lizard bands. They generally rock out.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

Holy bat dren, those xrays! :::gentle hugs::::

Yay for showers and the cast being off though.

[katie-m.livejournal.com]

The cast finally came off

!!! woo hoo!

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with the therapy. I'm glad the surgery went well.

[destina.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're doing ok! :) *sends hugs and good vibes!*

[barkley.livejournal.com]

Do you make bionic noises when you move your arm? The X-rays look really cool. (uh, for various definitions of cool. You might define it differently...) I hope your recovery continues to go well!

OT

[rydra_wong]

http://orca-girl.dreamwidth.org

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