Progress report

[helen99]

Two handed typing - Up to about 60 wpm now - not up to speed because I still have the split loosely in place to allow wrist to rest on wrist-shaped surface at all times.

Able to oppose index & middle finger to thumb now. (before could not oppose middle finger). Thumb opposing the ring and pinky, still working on - moving to the stress point but not beyond. Nice to know the average rat has better opposing ability than I do... Edit: I was able to oppose the ring finger today (July 3).

Ability to lift with left hand. Tested by lifting a coffee cup full of coffee so I could open door with right hand. Success - no pain, huzzah.

Discoloration and swelling - still there but fading.

Ability to bend fingers - still stiff - need PT

Ability to make fist - not good - need time, PT

Ability to grasp - fairly good, oddly enough. Need time, PT to get up to snuff.

Ability to move thumb to "thumbs up" position - not good, need PT and time - one of the bones that governs that was broken.

The future -- Not happy until I resolve a few things.

Usual line of treatment for people in my demographic - Biophosphonates. I was tested last year and told my bone density was low and was told to take a biophosphonate called Fosamax. Refused due to particularly gruesome side effects, and also due to the fact that my father experienced some of those side effects when he took it.

Would Fosamax have prevented this fracture? I don't know, but I doubt it. Not how I fell on it and given the tiny radius of my wrist. The new wrist now looks like a normal wrist. My right one looks like a small kid's wrist.

If it had broken while taking Fosamax, the Fosamax would have impeded healing. This is how it works: It prevents old bone re-absorption and new bone growth while it adds mineral substance to existing bone. Thus the bones become dense but brittle and non-regenerative. That would be rather bad in the current situation.

Alternative medicine route: http://www.algaecal.com
Real or quacks? Again, I don't know. People have reported good results.

Further uneasy questions: Why did I fall? Tripped? (that's how my brain parsed it at the time) All my life (from childhood) I've taken these weird spills occasionally. I'll be walking along and suddenly I'll fall. Does my foot catch on something? Does my ankle give out (many sprains as a kid)? A weird muscle/nerve glitch? Bad shoes? I never fell or sprained an ankle as long as I wore my high-top ren shoes, though. Maybe I'll go back to wearing those all the time for good weather and high-top boots in bad weather.

Comments

[rainbow]

I'm so glad you're doing so well.

Re bone density: I've been mostly chair bound for a long time, burn instantly in the sun if I'm not completely covered, and had a severe vitD deficiency, so it's something I have concerns with. I'm still in a relapse and not able to do weight training (which is great for bone density; I recommend the book "Strong Women Stay Young" by, I think, Miriam Nelson. I don't htink much of her diet recs, but the exercises for strengthening ones bones are wonderful.).

Since I'm not able to do that, last year I invested in a Bounceback Exercise Chair, which is also something that can greatly improve bone density.

It's certainly a possibility that you have loose ligaments in your ankle from the multiple sprains. Certain exercises do help; since I first started the Strong Women program, I've not sprained my ankle once, in 12 years. Previously it was a once a year or more occurrence.

[dancinglights]

glad to hear of the progress; wish you continued wellness.

I fall over every now and then, too, usually to do with my knees going sideways, but I can't say as I can always pinpoint why. Even though it's not direct support, a bit of ankle support with boots rather than shoes has always helped, as has strength training the muscles that holds the whole mess together. I can even dance, now, if I wear boots sturdy enough. Talk to the PT person once you get one? I bet they'll have good general advice.

[enotsola]

My one ankle in particular decides not to support me on occasion. Leads to me falling/stumbling if I'm not wearing boots that do a certain amount of support. If it weren't for said boots, I'm sure I'd deal with things like this myself, as I've dealt with various sprains and the like because of it. But combine custom orthotics with ankle supporting boots and my injury rate drops dramatically.

[hummingwolf]

Fosamax. Refused due to particularly gruesome side effects

What are those side effects? If the DEXA scan results show my vitamin D deficiency's done some damage, Fosamax is one my doctor will probably recommend. (I hope my bones are okay. I feel like I'm already on too many drugs as it is.)