Lili Krakowski on fri 4 apr 08
Linda: You have, as the French say, come to the right address!
Have had it done on both hands. The first when I was 71, the second at 73
(I think). Important to consider older people heal more slowly.
Ok. For the Innocents out there: the joint involved is that fat joint below
your thumb, the big joint that is hard to get into one's kid gloves. The
cartilage wears out, the thing hurts like crazy.
The surgery indeed involves taking a tendon out of the inside of the forearm
(leaving 1/2 inch scars) rolling it up, "like a sock" the surgeon said, and
tucking it into the worn-out joint. After six weeks the tendon, apparently,
has turned to cartilage.
The surgery is more annoying than carpal tunnel because one is put into a
cast. Which is disagreeable. But in my case --both hands, different
surgeons, the results are fine. My left hand has no after-effect at all,
the right is so damaged by carpal tunnel problems that I can only estimate
the tendon thing had no bad after effect at all. I am delighted I had it
done. (I delight easily, I guess!)
The reason for different surgeons: had first done in Charleston SC where we
were wintering then, the second in Utica (near home).In both cases I went to
A HAND SURGEON. I personally would insist on someone who knows hands...
And, if you never have had hand surgery before: you will have difficulty
dressing. I found over-the-head bras easiest. Also pants that pull up, no
zipper problems. I can manage putting on socks with one hand. If you
cannot, there is a tool that helps one put on socks--found at medical supply
places. Flossing teeth is really really difficult. But if you tie one end
of the floss to the knob on the medicine cabinet, you can work out a system.
Forget tying shoelaces.
I wish you well, and a speedy recovery.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
Naomi Rieder on fri 4 apr 08
For those who have to work with one hand to floss teeth there is a
product called " Floss Picks", a Y-shaped, small holder with a
permanently attached thread of floss. There's also a toothbrush sized
one. Drugstore items. Also, to get into a bra, without having
over-the-head ones, try placing the bra on a countertop, holding the u-
hoop part down with the elbow of the hand in a cast, then use the good
hand to hook on the opposite end. Once looped, just step into it and
slowly pull it up, alternating from side to side, until it's about
waist high, when you can put an arm in the loop and raise it to one
shoulder then the other. I've been doing all this for almost 2 weeks
since I broke a wrist and have a cast.
Best wishes for a speedy recoup!
Naomi Rieder
-----Original Message-----
From: Lili Krakowski
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Fri, 4 Apr 2008 2:54 pm
Subject: soft tissue arthroplasty!
Linda: You have, as the French say, come to the right address!
Have had it done on both hands. The first when I was 71, the second at
73
(I think). Important to consider older people heal more slowly.
Ok. For the Innocents out there: the joint involved is that fat joint
below
your thumb, the big joint that is hard to get into one's kid gloves.
The
cartilage wears out, the thing hurts like crazy.
The surgery indeed involves taking a tendon out of the inside of the
forearm
(leaving 1/2 inch scars) rolling it up, "like a sock" the surgeon said,
and
tucking it into the worn-out joint. After six weeks the tendon,
apparently,
has turned to cartilage.
The surgery is more annoying than carpal tunnel because one is put into
a
cast. Which is disagreeable. But in my case --both hands, different
surgeons, the results are fine. My left hand has no after-effect at
all,
the right is so damaged by carpal tunnel problems that I can only
estimate
the tendon thing had no bad after effect at all. I am delighted I had
it
done. (I delight easily, I guess!)
The reason for different surgeons: had first done in Charleston SC
where we
were wintering then, the second in Utica (near home).In both cases I
went to
A HAND SURGEON. I personally would insist on someone who knows
hands...
And, if you never have had hand surgery before: you will have
difficulty
dressing. I found over-the-head bras easiest. Also pants that pull
up, no
zipper problems. I can manage putting on socks with one hand. If you
cannot, there is a tool that helps one put on socks--found at medical
supply
places. Flossing teeth is really really difficult. But if you tie one
end
of the floss to the knob on the medicine cabinet, you can work out a
system.
Forget tying shoelaces.
I wish you well, and a speedy recovery.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
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