Saturday, October 22, 2011

This is Easier

My hands are improving. I still wake up in the morning with stiffness and pain in the wrists, but the pain in the fingers is, for the most part gone. I also have pain in my right hand and wrist when I have used my computer mouse for too long. I don't exhibit evidence of carpal tunnel. The orthopedist said it's all related to the trauma my joints felt with the fall.

My knees are a small step better. Having the cane helps tremendously in getting up and down. But, I think, just like the doctor said, it's taken time to improve. Some days will be worse than others. 

I know I have improved with my hands because this morning, I wanted juice with my peanut butter toast. A couple months ago, I burst into tears trying to open a bottle of Fusion. My hands hurt so much and I could not grip, hold or turn the cap to break the seal. I wound up taking a knife and scoring around the plastic ring so I didn't have to break off the ring to get the bottle open. 

I realized this morning, I just picked up the bottle with one hand and put it on the counter. Two months ago, I didn't trust my hand strength to keep hold of the bottle and was using two hands on everything I had to lift. Maybe that's not a bad idea but some stuff I can carry one-handed. 

Then, I opened the bottle without pain and without having to score the plastic ring off the cap. This is a victory. It's taken 6 months to get here. 

I find going down stairs is very painful while going up them not so much. I still try to avoid stairs if at all possible, but it doesn't hurt as much to go downstairs to do laundry. This is good. I'm a bit behind. 

And this weekend is kind of an unintentional experiment. I forgot to call in my prescription until last night. It has to be submitted to my doctor for approval so it's going to be Tuesday before it can be renewed. I did not take any Meloxicam last night so I have meds for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. My knees don't feel much different than if I had taken the drug. Based on how I feel tonight at bed time, I may chance one more day without just to see. I can always take it if it seems like I'm going downhill. 

It's been baby steps, frustratingly small improvements and large set backs, but I am encouraged. I seem to be mending, albeit slowly. 

Beverage:  Edinburgh's Finest tea

Deb

No comments:

Post a Comment