I tried to start this post a week ago, but my hand still hurt so much when I tried to type that I kept losing my train of thought. This week is somewhat better.
On September 27, I had surgery to put a plate and screws in my arm and wrist to rebuild the joint. I started occupational therapy on October 23.
I find it ironic that my last blog post before my injury was titled "Recovery" and I have been in recovery for the past six weeks.
My occupational therapist is the same person that worked with me to rehabilitate my right hand after my stroke in May 2015.
So, I am in the unique position of having done occupational therapy to rehabilitate my right hand from stroke damage and my left hand from orthopedic damage.
My right hand is my dominant hand, so the consequence of disability in that hand was more acute, and probably provided subconscious motivation. However, I never knew how much I needed my left hand until this happened. Two hands are seriously better than one.
Rehabilitation is hard work. It is frustrating when something you have always been able to do is now difficult or impossible. But stroke rehab and ortho rehab are very different, and because it is what I do, I have been analyzing the differences.
In my case, stroke rehabilitation was not painful. It was very difficult and exhausting, but virtually painless. The milestones were great. I can floss my teeth again. I can put in a pony tail. I can braid my hair. I can crochet. Each one represented my brain learning to control my hand differently than before the stroke. I had to work hard, but pain was never a limiting factor.
Orthopedic rehabilitation is very painful for me. It is not difficult or exhausting, it is just painful. And it takes a lot of resolve to cause yourself pain in the belief that on the other side of pain is restored function. The milestones feel more like an adaptation to higher pain levels instead of victories. I can floss my teeth again. I can put in a pony tail. I can braid my hair. I can crochet. But they all hurt. I do what I can until the pain makes me stop.
I couldn't have typed this much last week without the pain stopping me, so I am making progress. And for that I am grateful.
But I have a huge appreciation for those that have to rehabilitate larger more comprehensive injuries. I salute the courage, fortitude and determination necessary to come back from a significant injury.
It feels good to type and share my thoughts. I lost a little bit of myself when I was unable to do this. It feels good to be back.
I'm trying to stay optimistic that down the road a bit is restoration of full function, and a pain free wrist and hand. If not, I'll adapt to whatever the future is state will be.
And while I work towards that future, it is good to be back. I missed you all.
