Richard Selfridge on tue 18 mar 97
Hello all,
First post from a previous lurker. Have followed lots of the threads
for the last few months and now I jump in with two things.
First, after a steep learning curve we have constructed a new Web site
up at
http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/selfridg We would appreciate any
feedback or suggestions. The intention of the site is to have a portable
resume with no postage and a bit of a retrospective exhibition. Those of
you interested in either majolica or short stories might find the piece
"Short Stories" which was first published in Contact Magazine helpful.
Second, from someone who has been there a few thoughts about Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome. I had both wrists operated on a year apart 21 and 22
years ago. Like John who at 50 is finding this a weak link in his
biolgical machine, I too have faced the possibility of surgery. I had
done a lot of construction,(carrying steel while constucting powerline
towers, shoveling, brick laying, hammering,and painting) all things
which "build up" the cross palm tissue which ends up pressing the median
nerve running through the carpal bone.
I had only been potting for about three years when I had a recurrence
of the problem which a G.P. had incorrectly diagnosed 10 years before
(he thought zinc poisoning from galvanizing dust). This 10 yr. hiatus
period was when, as an academic, I didn't overuse them, and only
occasionally did they bother me.
My hands were again "going to sleep" and felt tingly like ginger ale,
and it woke me up a few times each night. To put it simply this is a
mechanical problem(constant pressure on the nerve). The surgeon who
fixed them said the "sheath" under the skin across my palm was 3/4 inch
thick when normally it would be about 1/4 inch. It didn't help that I
learned to throw incorrectly by centering large lumps of hard clay,
adding water to make it finally mobile and ending up with tired clay
that would not stand much refining and reworking. Eventually after
seeing people like Randy Johnson and Shimoka throw I figured out (soft
clay) how to throw without expending so much energy.
But in a way, the damage is already done, your built up sheath doesn't
get smaller if you rest it, only the inflammation goes down. Individual
differences in the carpal bone are great and some people never get CTS.
For those who have the symptoms IMHO, no amount of bee stings, vitamins,
pigs feet stew, splints, stretching exercises, splints, etc will
alleviate the problem. I have not had any problem since the surgery. I
too was afraid, but I haven't had any pain, sleepless nights nor have I
filled my body with anti-inflammitories for the last 22 years and my
grip strength is just fine, thank you..
Finally, to have your nerve pressed on will do permanent damage. Nerves
atrophy when they don't operate at full capacity. Test your grip
strength against anyone who doesn't have CTS. Yours will be much
weaker. Maybe that's why you sometimes drop things - the "message" to
the muscles is weakened and the muscle response is less. For those who
intend to use their hands alot, it only gets worse. Good luck in finding
your personal solution. Regards, Richard Selfridge
selfridg@compusmart.ab.ca.
http://www.compusmart.ab.ca/selfridg
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