Post - Op Report of Wrist Surgeryfrom across the waves

It has been a month today! Already! "Time flies when your having fun" Even when your not!

For the benefit of those facing possible wrist surgery, I have been wanting to write an outline of what happens and what to expect.

First of all, not all wrist surgeries are for the same reason, and I have learned, mine was pretty extensive. So maybe most will not have to experience the same level of pain and inconvenience.

There were three surgeries done, one was a Synovectomy, a corporeal row "bone-"ectomy. forgot the actual term and then the ulnar bone excision, where 2.5 inches of the top of the ulnar was removed.

All of this due to RA destroying all the cartilage that holds these bones in place. The ulnar had drifted away from the joint area, the disc shaped bones that lie in a row across the base of the hand were overlapping each other and rubbing\, so every movement was causing pain. the Synovectomy was done because the tissue was so swollen. The whole wrist and hand werre deformed.

Now, Post-operatively, I can't believe the difference in appearance already. Still some swelling of the hand and fingers, but the incision area on the top of the forearm is much improved. I think it will eventually look very normal.

One unexpected problem is I have had a problem moving my fingers, to open the hand straight out. Well, lovely surgeon was not surprised, he assured me it would all work out.

I wish I had a picture to show you of the contraption he ordered the OT to make, piece by piece. It was another splint, goes over the forearm to meet the one underneath, to the top splint was affixed 4 long rods, picture fishing poles, with nylon lines, each ending in a little "swing" for each finger, then the tension is tightened, to raise the fingers up. Had to keep that on 5 hours a day, one hour at a time. Long story shortened, I'm done with that thing! I have been working my fingers on my own, to raise and staighten them and they are almost as straight as the left hand.

I am typing this with all fingers, though it is a strain, and sometimes I revert back mto just one middle finger on the right hand. but I will continue to make them all work!

This week, I got behind your blogs, though I read through them it was later in the day, and wasn't up to typing again.

I had my newspaper column to write, and get emailed to the paper, got that done Monday, Tuesday, I had my monthly Arthritis/Fibromyalgia Support Group to conduct, yesterday, had my grandaughter Ellen's softball game to go to, sitting in the warm sun was pretty nice. These bunch of girls are still unbeaten, and are projected to be the League winners again this year. Unfortunately Ellen will be going on to college in Sept, and I will miss her ball games. However, her brother's baseball games begin Sunday.

So, busy week. and back to Rehab. I was allowed to start bending the wrist on April 2, be allowed and being able are two very different things!! The OT measures the angle of the bend, so he can tell if we are making progress.

This week, I started using a big machine that could duplicate all the motions normally used, so he set it for the lowest tension, to mimic opening a jar lid and closing, also the motion of a screw driver, and squeezing a set of tongs. It all is recorded on a graft on the screen so he can compare each time to the previous ones.

That is pretty much where I am at. Can't lift a coffee cup just yet, or much of anything else, just beginning to hold a newspaper, but it keeps slipping! Not enough grasp yet.

I hadn't thought about having the hand impaired so much after the wrist surgery, but I am told we are doing well, and accomplishing things all the time.

I was in touch with Rheumatoidymommy before and after her surgery, so maybe she will bring us up to date here soon! She has two little ones to look after, so she has her own set of situations to deal with.

I'm making alot of corrections here, so probably need to stop. Will try to stay in touch, Polly, Sylvie, Tilda, Lavenderlady, Paula, Mary, Sciqueen, all you dear friends. It's wonderful to be thought of by so many nice folks! I think of each of you and wonder how it's going! Love and hugs, Loretxxx

[sylvi]

Loretta its so lovely to hear your still here. I am pleased to hear that your getting along ok. You don't have to worry about spelling mistakes we are all glad you well and still with us.

I am having problems with my knee,i think the ligaments have gone again. So here i am resting and hoping it will settle down,its only just over a month to go before i have my knee redone.

I have had my nails done today and i'm pleased with them and then i had to pick up my new glasses. So now i'm a new gal for a little while.

Love your photo lovely loretta. Take care now and love sylvi.xx

[Hidden]

Hey yes it's great to hear from you plus the bonus of having a face to fit with the wise Loret we all know and admire! I have to dash as am meant to be cooking tea! Love Tilda xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Aw, gee, thanks girls!

Now that raises a question I have wondered about. : I thought Tea was just that, afternoon tea, with biscuiis or little sandwiches. but it seems you are cooking, so is that a meal known over here as supper? Or dinner if it is the main meal of the day in the evening?? We don't call an afternoon snack as"having tea" even if we are having tea. If it's a snack a couple hours before our main evening meal, it's just having a snack. Many times we don't. I usually have a cup of coffee and some crackers and chees, though would rather have coffee and some oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies!!

[Hidden]

Hey Loret what you need to know for starters is that where I live used to be part of Scandanavia and the ways and expressions for just about everything would be as alien to someone living in London or Dorset as they would be to you! But I think supper is called tea in the North of England too. Supper here is what you have just before bedtime - a mug of cocoa and a sandwhich perhaps. And tea is eaten usually at about 5.30pm. This is because Orkney is a land of farmers and fishermen who eat large meals and then go back out to do lots of physical labour until supper time followed by bedtime. And often tea is the main drink at teatime - sipped along with herring or mince and tatties - or even wild goose, as our farming neighbours used to have when we visited. Hope this helps with my terminology at any rate! TTx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh my Tilda, that is more complex than I imagined! I have a couple books about "Tea Time" being like the Queeen's Tea, between Lunch and Dinner, or there was "High Tea' more formal, consisting of all kinds of pastries and little "tea" sandwiches, like cream cheese and cucumber slices on rye bread. Some of the more bored, un busy women here may do that to try to impress others, most of us don't just have the time or inclination Interestin how so many variations came from the "Mother country" along with the influx from Ireland, Scotland, Poland, Germany and France and more recently from the bordering countries.

Hence we are called the "melting pot" Thanks for that.

I do recall my Mom's family, as all farmers, always have a huge meal at noon and then when back to work until after dark, then had sandwiches and cookies or cake and pie and went to bed. I kinda like that arrangement, best beginning with the cookies and pie and cakes. Lxxx

[Hidden]

Yes Orcadians have traveled and settled the world over - particularly in Canada - and the tradition of dinner (lunch), tea(dinner or supper) and then supper (snack before bedtime) here sounds very similar to your mum's family. I think the only people in the planet who still have afternoon tea in the way you describe are probably the Royal family and American tourists at the Ritz or Fortnum and Mason's in central London - and maybe some Japanese tourists too. And even the Royals probably don't have time for afternoon tea these days?!

[bpeal1 in reply to Hidden]

I had this conversation with my mother-in-law last week. SHe is from London and I was brought up in a farming family on the wiltshire/oxfordshire border. We always called the evening meal tea regardless of whether it was a cooked meal or sandwiches and cakes. When we were younger we always had a cooked meal called dinner at mid-day, tea (consisting of sandwhiches, cake etc.) at about 5 p.m. and then supper before we went to bed - usually just a drink and biscuit or fruit. As we got older and stayed at school for lunch/dinner it was often more convenient for my mum to cook in the evenings but we still called it tea.

I still call it tea and so do my children - even my husband now calls the evening meal tea. My poor mother-in-law gets a bit confused.

I think it must be a rural tradition.

Becky

[Hidden]

Hello Loret great to see you and hear from you. Cannot believe it has been a month and that was a great blog to write with your poor recovering hands.

Just to keep on the tea theme - when we say tea it is usually just a cup of tea, however when i was growing up, - dinner was at around 2pm and tea was another main meal (sandwiches/ salads/soup...about 6 - not dissimilar to your mom's family. We were rural and of farming stock as well!

we didn't carry on the tradition because of work - dinner is at the end of the day.

Keep recovering well and great to hear from you.

[Grammie]

FIrst of all Loret, I am so pleased to see that you are doing so well! I am sorry that I have not kept in touch as much as I would like, but I have been in rehab. second of all!! I love the story of tea time, dinner or lunch, I love the idea of a main meal around 2:00 pm with evening "tea". Please, if we could to keep this conversation going. Gentle hugs to all, Linda

[Hidden]

Hi Linda,,If we think about it, a main meal at 2 pm and a lighter "Tea time" in the evening makes more sense, health-wise. but work schedules and other activities, like after school and early eveni ng kids sports games, delay meals till sometimes closer to 9 pm. Don't care much for that myself! Maybe we should resurrect the practice of afternoon Tea, midway between Lunch at noon and Supper at 6 or 7? I'm going to go get one of my "Tea" books out and get ideas

Take care, hope things are going atleast OK with you too! Loretxx

[LavendarLady]

Hi Loret, lovely photo - so glad all went well with your wrist ops. We have in the castle, breakfast, lunch or to give it its proper name, luncheon) and dinner. Very occasionally, high tea in the afternoon if I have people coming which is usually sandwiches with the crusts cut off, home made cake and a big pot of tea. Best china of course. Dinner is eaten about 6.30 to7 p.m. lunch about 1 p.m. (depending if we are out or not) and breakfast anytime between 7.30 and 8.30 a.m. depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

If we are out for a formal dinner it doesn't usually start until 8 p.m. and can finish sometime about 10 p.m. I do find eating late upsets my digestion so instead of 3 courses I only have two. If I am doing a dinner party at home, it is 7 for 7.30, at least 4 courses followed by cheese and biscuits , coffee and chocolates.

My Uncle was a farmer and his main meal was always at night after he had finished in the fields and the animals were milked, fed and bedded down for the night. Lunch was a basket of food taken by my aunt up to the fields for all the men together with a huge flask of tea and some bottles of beer. Usually, she put in home made savoury pies, filled sandwiches and home made cakes.

Pie fillings were often what had been shot in the previous few days. Of course, farmhoue breakfasts were huge. My Uncle would be up at 4.30/5 a.m. milk the cows, feed the sheep and pigs and gather the eggs and would then come in for breakfast at about 8 a.m.

My father was a pharmacist so he always ate dinner in the evening. We children had our own tea at about 5 p.m. so we were out of the way before dad came home and he could enjoy his dinner in peace with my mother. Our child hood teas were usually sandwiches, cakes, jellies with milk or juice to drink. I do remember visiting a great aunt and uncle and having a proper high tea with them which was sandwiches or bread, butter and jam, cake, lemon meringue pie, lots of tea or we children had milk if we preferred. There was always plenty of it as well.

Afternoon high tea was usually cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off or smoked salmon or egg sandwiches again with the crusts cut off and also cut into dainty triangles, a tiered plate with all different cakes on (always home made), scones with cream and jam, apple or some other fruit pie (if anyone still had room) and a malt loaf sliced up and buttered which the men always enjoyed more than cakes. I can remember as a little girl when my mother still made calls on other ladies and left a card and they did the same. And if mother was at home when they called, it was coffee and cake served at about 11 a.m. My grandmother as a girl had an 18" waist =in her fifties she was a lot larger - all those teas I think.

Good luck with your teas. LavendarLady x

[Hidden in reply to LavendarLady]

You got it! This is what I remember as a kid. My Grandma had Bridge Club ladies she entertained at Tea, before, or maybe during a break in playing cards. She always had me come help her get ready, so I was trusted to wash up the Haviland luncheon china, and polish the sterling silver forks and spoons. Now I have all of those things Grandma left me. Some she gave to me when I was engaged, to put in my "hope Chest" she called it. My parents bought me the Oak, cedar lined chest and that is where I stored Grandma's linen tablecloths, napkins and such. I so love those pieces!

A few years ago, in the Summer, one of my friends had a lovely "High Tea", held on her lawn, under a beautiful big tree, like a giant umbrella. She kept serving all those delightful tidbits as you described. All the crusts removed, sandwiches cut in quarters, some she made with bread she had somehow tinted to match the color decor on the tables. It was so fun, but we all agreed, back when Teas were popular, women didn't work outside the home, or escort kids to sports and music activities quite like we do now. But it was delightful fun and she really did put forth alot of effort.

It is fun to know those traditions still exist! One aspect I have continued for all my adult life, is making scones. My favorite, and one of my friends favorites, is the Orange/Walnut scones. They request those sometimes, even if I say I'm going to try something new, that's OK as long as I still make the Orange ones.

My Grandma was German, never had an 18" waist, and she kept to Irish and English traditions, for my grandfather's sake. He was brought from Ireland when he was 6.

Thanks for all the history and info. Love, Loretxx

[helixhelix]

Hi Loret,

Good to hear from you, it all sounds much more extensive as an op than I thought, but great that it you're seeing a good improvement already. The exercises sound quite hard, so well done for keeping going. That piano playing is still waiting for you.

I've had family over easter that has completely taken over, so am just catching up on HU with my morning tea (or elevenses, which is tea & a biscuit) However, the last 2 leave this evening after tea (!) and I think I'm going to sleep for a day. I'm from down south in England, as we too have high tea in the late afternoon, which is savory things not just cakes and so on. Especially good with kids as they have something solid when they come in from school, and then just a snack for supper before bed. For our family, afternoon tea was what posh people had with fancy little stuff, and we had a high tea full of solid, filling food (and a pot of tea of course!).

But do have tea buns, and tea loaf with your resurrected tea!

Polly

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for adding to this fantastic topic, Polly.

Not sure what would be tea buns, but I have a recipe for Apricot Tea Loaf I have been wanting to try, need to get a couple ingredients, like the dried apricots. The picture looks divine.

When my friends drop by, or if we plan a get-together, we usually have coffee and something, like the tea loaf, or banana bread, to enjoy while we chat, and laugh. One of the friends prefers tea, so I usually make a pot of tea for her, which will later become iced tea.

We don't call it "Tea time", though I guess it is, since a couple hours later we go out for lunch Sounds like we eat alot! Just not every day.

Need to get ready for OT this morninmg, so I'd better get moving!

Now I'm all psyched up to have another Tea, wish you all could come on over! Love, Loretxxx

[helixhelix]

You must have some sort of tea bun tradition - essential for tea drinkers! Maybe under another name? Here they can be called fruit buns, bath buns, sally lunn buns, or of course for easter they turn into hot cross buns like the nursery rhyme.... a yeast based bun with dried fruit and spices. Delicious toasted with butter & jam.

Hot cross buns!

Hot cross buns!

One ha' penny, two ha' penny,

Hot cross buns!

If you have no daughters,

Give them to your sons

One ha' penny,

Two ha' penny,

Hot Cross Buns!

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

That's it, that's it!! Hot Cross buns! Love 'em!

and Grandma used to make a similar braided bread, full of dried candied fruit and nuts she called New Year's Gruntz and everybody in the family had to eat some for good luck on New Year's Day.

[Treesha]

I'm so glad you're managing ok, I was wondering how you were getting on. Do you still have lots of pain?must be difficult with your wrist in a splint to do even minor tasks. Don't overdo it. Sending hugs from across the pond take care xxxx

[Hidden]

Thanks, Treesha'

actually, at 4 weeks post-op, I don't have any pain when at rest. BUT, Once I start to use the fingers, they get sore pretty fast! The splint is my security blanket, I feel better wearing it, and it keeps me from over extending anything. all action is confined to the fingers right now. Gets sore after use, but settles down with a bit of heat and the pain meds.

I seem to be napping more these days, like everyday by 4pm, I am ready to crash for an hour or so. Then I am revived. Sunlight also energizes and revives. Just haven't seen any today, but yesterday, Friday. was heavenly!

Hope things are atleast OK with you this weekend! L.xxx