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Post by k9krap on Jan 25, 2022 1:08:40 GMT -5
I am amazed at how much work a thumb does. I’m only aware because my right thumb/wrist pain has ventured back with a vengeance. It is aching all the time. I’m not sure what has caused this flare-up. Am I gripping the cane too hard? Is there another nodule developing in the joint area? I have nodules on quite a few of my finger joints. They are primarily ugly and disfiguring, my rheumatologist told me, but do no harm. However the one on my right index finger seems to have left the tip of my finger kind of dangling. He wrote orders for an X-ray for it a couple years ago, but my ennui had already set in and I didn’t get it done. But these nodules do cause pain as they are developing and after. Since I can no longer straighten my index finger, I use the middle one next to it for tasks which a single pointer finger would be used. But there are giant nodules on that finger, too. There are fewer nods on the left side - maybe I need to develop my left hand more.
Anyway, I was just ruminating on the ache in my thumb and wrist and pondering on how much we use thumb a and how valuable they are. I can no longer bend either of my thumbs at the first knuckle because of nodules and my right thumb has one at the base and one even farther down close to the wrist.
Maybe my name should be Lumpy.
My (short) paternal Mee Maw had arthritic hands - her joints were very swollen. I was amazed she was able to do anything, much less crochet. But they looked a bit different than mine.
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Post by minx on Jan 25, 2022 9:45:01 GMT -5
Oh, that sucks.
When my kids were little, they went to an in-home daycare. Woman's son did interior construction and had an accident that severed his thumb. The doctors weren't able to reattach it.
I remember it was hell for him learning how to re-use that hand. She said that they were all thankful it was his left hand, because he was able to work PT while he went through rehab, but you don't realize how important silly things like fingers and toes are until you lose the use of one.
And arthritis sucks ass. MIL had osteoarthritis. While it was amazing what she was able to do with limited range of motion, it was also awful to see her in so much pain.
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Jan 25, 2022 10:32:11 GMT -5
My hands are the only things that don't bother me too much anymore except for when I wake up and had them in clenched fist mode all night while asleep. Back when I was working I would have days where I was doing something that would really suck, like terminating a couple hundred CAT5 cables. Both thumbs would lock up tighter than a duck's asshole for at least a day or two and it was super painful.
Thumbs- not gonna do much without them.
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Post by minx on Jan 25, 2022 11:29:23 GMT -5
When I broke my arm, day care provider told me to wiggle my fingers around frequently, and to try and stretch by doing what I could to bring my pinky and thumb together.
Very grateful to her - made PT easier and I was able to grab a pen (and therefore go back to work) a lot sooner.
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Post by k9krap on Jan 25, 2022 21:55:49 GMT -5
I’m surprised that they didn’t use the big toe as a thumb replacement, minx. I understand that is common because thumbs are so necessary.
I’ve had trouble with my hands almost since I can remember. Had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands in my 40s. I’m not sure if it was my crafting or the typing that caused it. But despite what my doc says, these nodules are painful. It has to be. Something is displacing the tendons and other tissue in the joint, after all. And my handwriting has really suffered. I’m embarrassed to leave the notes I write for the mail lady as they are illegible. It was never very good but now it is awful. I used to use wrist and thumb braces when I crocheted here in this house. Just gripping this pencil to enter this post is painful, and my grip on it is very loose. (I use the pencil for a couple reasons: to keep smudges off the screen; and because my fingers are so crooked it’s hard to hit the correct keys. I’m going to try them again. When I get up from a day’s rest, I’m in much less pain so it’s obvious that not using my hand helps.
I think my body was old long before it was supposed to be.
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Post by k9krap on Feb 17, 2022 20:20:05 GMT -5
So, somehow I’ve strained or sprained my thumb, while wearing a thumb brace! Granted, it wasn’t the one that immobilizes the wrist as well as the thumb, but still! Pulling up my underwear has become a real issue now. 🤣🤣
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Post by k9krap on Feb 19, 2022 0:38:33 GMT -5
This morning, I went to bed wearing the less restrictive brace. I don’t move about much when I’m sleeping. This measure was to protect myself when I awkaken. I forget while I’m asleep, and the first moves I take were a very stiff reminder that first evening. So this worked out well. Except I noticed when I removed the brace that my entire hand is swollen! (I’m not wearing a brace in the shower) Is this from the brace? Am I restricting blood flow?
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Post by Dave's Not Here Man on Feb 19, 2022 9:54:01 GMT -5
Sounds like you might've had it a bit tight OR you actually sprained your thumb and it's swelling.
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Post by minx on Feb 19, 2022 12:45:01 GMT -5
Hard to tell - I don't suppose we can convince you to go to urgent care and have it looked at, can we?
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Post by k9krap on Feb 19, 2022 21:25:32 GMT -5
I tried the more restrictive brace this morning and my fingers look like sausages. So, no brace at the moment. To me, support (or bracing) means it has to be fairly tight. Loose support is useless.
Ugh. Just had to put it back on. The pain was amping up. I guess I’ll just let things run their course.
Minx, I’m not going anywhere They don’t do anything for sprains. Just wrap it up in a tight ace bandage or something. Besides, I have no desire to know my current blood pressure. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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