it took soooooo long...

... to get to the solution for the problem, and the solution happened so fast! After finally deciding to make an appointment to get the pain in my hand and arm evaluated, I made the call last September. Since I would be a 'new patient', it would be nearly two months before they could schedule me to actually see the specialist, guy who works exclusively on hands. I was supposed to see him in Nov. But had that sad frustrating accident in mid-October that resulted in a FOOSH (falling on out-stretched hand). The actual appointment was cancelled when I had a follow up visit with the doctor post surgery, which was also the day before I was originally scheduled to see him.

Slow process of having metal  inserted, getting the slice sewed up and healing, with a cast to immobilize and long weeks of therapy and regaining strength and mobility. I feel like I am as good as I am going to get, have been back at work, doing all I usually do since the end of January. Working enough that the original problem has become problematic again. When I am not doing the normal work of spending hours a day with a knife in my hand, cutting fruit, making salads, doing prep. work that involves the range of motion slicing requires it is not at all bothersome. But hours of holding a large knife and repetitive motion can be troublesome.

I knew this difficulty would likely return when I started back to work, after extensive therapy to regain strength and flexibility. But when I asked about it, at the last appointment post surgery, when the doc. told me I was finished with exercises: he said I would have to schedule a separate visit for that particular problem. I actually did go back out to the front desk and request a 'do-over' and was told when to return. That resulted in me making two more appointments when the doc. was so swamped, I could not spend the afternoon sitting in the waiting room. I finally, finally finally saw him again today. He seemed delighted to see me - even though I am sure he says that to everyone who has there insurance billed for an office visit.

So... what happened? After numerous x-rays, the doc. came in and held my hand, squeezing and smooshing, twisting and bending, asking 'does this hurt?' He showed me a bone spur and arthritis on the film where the long bone and hand bones come together. And offered a quick easy solution that would be dispensed through a long sharp needle into that joint. I went back to work, and am hopeful. He said I do not need to come back unless I need to come back.