They Tried to Make Me Go to Rehab, I Said.....OK

[Leslie and Halas]

This is only partly doodle related, and, no, it doesn't mean I can't participate in yappy hour any more.

 

Three weeks ago, I went in for minor, outpatient surgery on my wrist. My ECU tendon in my right hand/wrist had been hurting for almost 2 years. As a matter of fact, it was exactly 2 years ago today that I hurt it.  An MRI didn't show any problems, but with the pain still lingering, the surgeon was just going to do a quick, simple tenosynovectomy. The surgery takes less time than typing the word, tenosynovectomy. It's followed by about 2 weeks in a cast, and then you can resume normal activity, albeit with a little pain.  But no therapy of any kind.  Soooo, when I wake up (I only had a local, but they gave me this twilight thing to relax me, and I was so relaxed that I immediately fell asleep), the doctor says that everything went well, but my tendon was torn. He fixed the tendon, and did the tenosynovectomy. The cast wasn't too large or cumbersome. It was just enough to immobilize my wrist in a neutral position.  I could move my fingers, too.

 

Fast forward to 12 days later when I get my cast off. I had figured that I might have to have some therapy since the tendon was torn, but I was anxious to get the cast off and get going on whatever I needed to do. So I was pretty disappointed when they immediately put me into a splint, and told me that I was only allowed to do exactly the things the therapist would tell me it was OK to do. Until I met with the therapist, I had to wear the splint, and not put any weight or force at all on the wrist. No lifting, no pushing, no twisting, basically no movement.  Several factors then conspired against me, and I just got to see the therapist yesterday, which was 8 days after I got my cast off. Things were still working against me, so all I was cleared to do yesterday was move my fingers. I had figured that was OK, since the splint does allow finger movement. I was able to go back today (3 weeks after surgery) and get some real exercises. For at least the next 3 weeks, I can slightly bend my wrist using several different exercises. I'm allowed to feel some stretch in the tendon, but if it starts to hurt, I need to stop. These aren't the kind of exercises where I should push myself.  Apparently, this repair is pretty fragile for awhile, so I just can't push it. This round is just to get some movement back.  After 3 weeks, I see the doctor again, and based on my results at that point, he'll decide if I can move to the next phase, whatever that is.  I don't have a time frame, but I'm getting the feeling that it could be 3 months before I can put any weight on it. I had been working out or running 6 days a week, so being reduced to slight wrist bends is driving me crazy.  I'll be able to do some non-arm exercises now, but I just have to really make sure I can keep my wrist totally relaxed and unstressed during any activity.

 

So giving up my normal workout is bad enough, but I found out something else yesterday (here comes the doodle related part). No flyball for me. :(  I can't really hold Halas with one hand, and I can't risk falling down or running into something while we're playing. It's not that uncommon for people to accidentally run into each other, get their legs taken out from under them by their dog, trip over a dog, or just trip.  Falling on my wrist at this point would be awful.  We were supposed to go to a tournament next weekend, but I had to back out.  At practice last night, we tried to see if Halas would run for someone else.  He will, but I have to be standing right there.  If I stood a few feet away, he ran straight to me.  If I stood close, he ran like he was supposed to, but when he came back, he ran straight to me, instead of the person with his treats.  I was flattered that he was so concerned about where I was, and that he ran to me when finished, whether I had treats or not.  But this wouldn't work at a tournament, because I can't really be in the racing area due to the injury risk.  I'm hoping when I see the doctor in 3 weeks, he'll tell me I can play flyball in October, because there's a huge tournament in October that I would hate to miss.

 

Through all of this, Halas has been very sweet. He hasn't pestered me to play, like he knows I can't really do too much.  When I walk him, he's good about not pulling, and he waits when I tell him.  I have to put on his collar, hold his leash, open and close the door, and scoop the poop, all with just my left hand (I'm right-handed, so this left-handed stuff is awkward and difficult), so it's important for him to wait when I tell him.  And it also looks like he doesn't really want to play flyball without me, so that's sweet, too.

 

This probably comes off as a lot of complaining on my part, but I'm actually feeling a lot better about it than I was a few days ago. When you expect to resume normal activity, and end up with months of therapy and limited use of your dominant hand, it takes some getting used to.  But I found out today that it could be much worse.  The therapist told me that the normal protocol after ECU repair surgery is 5 weeks in a cast with your wrist bent backwards at about a 30 degree angle.  That would have really sucked!  As it is, I'm looking forward to be able to use a corkscrew again around Thanksgiving or Christmas.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Just read this Leslie - so sorry to hear about your surgery but please do just as they say and you'll be back to normal soon.  I fell through a big piece of glass a few years back and tore a tendon in the top of my hand.  Had to have hand surgery (4 days before my son's wedding) and then spent time in a cast and then 10 weeks in physical therapy.  I didn't believe I'd ever get full use of my hand back but they didn't let me give up and I did get it all back.  I hope the times goes by quickly and that you get back to your flyball soon.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This is huge and even worse, a surprise. Here you were expecting a little 'time out' from using your wrist and you ended up 'in prison' - I am so sorry.  I guess it is a good thing that you found out what was really wrong and that eventually it will be totally corrected.  I hope you and Halas can do the flyball tourney in October.

[Leslie and Halas]

Karen, I'm sorry you're still having so much trouble with your shoulder. Are you at least making progress?

 

I would love some upper body exercises if you have some.  I ran a little today, and that was fine, so I'm happy that I'll be able to do that.

 

Ricki, typing is easier than writing, but still slow.  Thank goodness, because I'd go crazy if I couldn't be on DK for awhile.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thank goodness you can still type! Hope your wrist heals quickly and completely and I'm glad you have Halas to give you doodle therapy until you can partner up for Flyball again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

OMD, Les, I had no idea you were going through all this! I may be able to help with the exercises, lots of upper body work you can do without having to put strain on the wrist.

I've been doing PT for a shoulder problem, but in my case, the goal is to be able to wash my own back again, and get in and out of my bathrobe, without assistance. It's slow progress, and I didn't have surgery. I don't blame you a bit for being frustrated and I would be complaining a lot more than you are.

Halas is beyond wonderful. Give him some left-handed hugs for me. And heal quickly!

 

[Leslie and Halas]

Thanks for the get well wishes, everyone.  My mom has offered to open wine for me, so I've got that to fall back on if I can't find screw top.  Halas has been a really good boy, and we're going to do a bunch of stuff today, including getting his birthday present, so I think he'll enjoy that.

Laurie, thanks for getting my song reference. I knew you knew about more than Justin Bieber.

Donna, I've been holding things under my right arm while I open them with my left hand, but that doesn't really work with liquids, since the bottle ends up sideways, and I probably shouldn't be using my arm that way anyway. Holding things with my legs sounds like a better idea. Thanks for the tip.

Lucy and Sophie's Mom, you had it way worse than me. I hope you're fully recovered soon. When I went in for surgery, we didn't know the tendon was torn. But it would have been nice if, after the surgery, the doctor would have mentioned that I'd have lots of therapy and limited use since the tendon was torn.

Nina, I do feel a little smarter lately.

[Anna and Achilles]

What a good puppy Halas is! Hope it heals quickly.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Leslie, on the positive side, you are making your left hand smarter and making the right side of your brain work.  Therefore using more of your brain than the rest of us. :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Leslie, I'm so sorry!  It must be so frustrating now to be able to use your hand, but it sounds like Halas is being such a good Doodle.  Take it easy and you'll be back to flyball before you know it!

[Bryce P]

I hope you feel better soon. It always happens that way if you are right handed something would happen to your right hand and you would have to use your left hand. If you are left handed something happens to your left hand and you have to use your right hand for everything.