Severed Nerve Recovery Blog

Improvement with my hand is slow, almost imperceptible, but as the weeks progress I find I can do more and more. Here are some things I can do now without a problem: Use chopsticks. I was pleased to learn this during a sushi dinner with Ryan in Berkeley. Thanks for the picture, Ryan! Use silverware Cut with a knife Write (!) Open bottles if the lid isn't too tight Carry things Braid my hair. I did this for the first time yesterday, and I was very excited. Put on makeup Put on a bra Strum the guitar. I am even starting to be able to fingerpick a little. Sleep normally with my arm tucked under the pillow the way I like it. Unlock a door with a key Tie my shoes These might seem like small things, but when I was able to do each one again, they seemed like big victories. Things are good!

Here's a video to show you where I am with my hand movement, as of January 11. I no longer have to wear the blue brace, but I hadn't stopped yet when I took this.

This past Monday, I had my third post-operative appointment with my doctor, and it went pretty well. When the appointment started, my doctor said that in February we should begin discussing timing for a potential tendon transfer survery. Normally it would be early to discuss the surgery, but because I severed a nerve and have serious muscle damage to the extensor muscles in my arm (a few muscles were completely severed), the surgery was nearly a definite. Then we got into the appointment and the doctor started looking at my arm and where I'm at with my functionality. That is when things got interesting. When he asked me to try to move my fingers back in a particular way, he thought I was able to do movements that showed that my nerve was recovering. Based on everything I've read, it would be quite miraclulous if that is true, but that is what he thought. Also, when he felt my arm as I was doing particular movements, he thought that he could feel my extensor muscles mo...

In October, I sufffered an arm injury. It was an accident. I slipped and fell and cut my arm. I was sober, possibly a little tired, but I don't think anyone would say that I am to blame for what happened. Even though I have employer-provided health insurance, my injury cost me $5,626.21 out-of-pocket in 2017 . Here's a list of the costs so far, although things could still post to my account. The urgent care bill just got added two weeks ago: Urgent Care - $903.05 Surgery - $2524.35 Anethesiologist $918.54 Orthopeadic Doctor Appointments and Custom Arm Splint - $840.27 Physical Therapy - 11 sessions - $440 I was able to pay this $5,626.21 without it disrupting my life too much, but I think often about what I would do if I was less fortunate, or if I had a family to support. It's insane to have to pay this much money out-of-pocket for an average person. Plus, next year, I will likely have another more complicated surgery and lots more physical therapy. M...

A few days ago, we welcomed in 2018. Thank goodness! 2017 was a bad year for pretty much everone I know, including myself obviously. Now that it's a new year, I am looking forward to getting better and having at least some use of my hand back. I'm also looking forward to knowing more about where I will land when this is all over. Not knowing is almost as hard as having the injury, in a weird way. Here's what I have in store this year: Follow-up visits with my doctor to assess how I'm healing Continuing my physical therapy to maintain joint movement Springtime tests to see how/if my nerve us recovering A potential summertime visit to Chicago to see family and friends and enjoy Chicago in its most glorious state A June vacation to Yellowstone with my sister and her family. Plus, a visit to Billy and Virgia in the Grand Tetons. Yay! Probable tendon transfer surgery in the late summer or fall  Recovery from surgery in the fall Christmas in Phoenix with Jim...

In December, we headed off to Arizona for an 80th birthday party for Jim's mom and stepdad. To get there, we flew round-trip from San Luis Obispo to Phoenix. This meant I had to deal with my arm situation when I went through airport security. This wasn't that difficult, but I did want to share my experience. On the way there, I left my brace on through security and the scanner. This meant that they had to fully swab my brace in order to ensure that there was no explosive residue on it. Kind of weird, but not a big deal. At the Phoenix airport on the way back, they asked me if i could take my brace off, and if so, to please remove it. Since I remove my splint everyday to shower, I took my brace off, kept my splint sleeve on, and went through security. This was ultimately a mistake. After I went through the scanner they had to pat my arm down, which was very scary since moving my wrist in any way would be very bad. When I told her to be very careful and not move my wrist,...

Having the use of just one hand definitely provides lots of new challenges. I'm steadily adjusting, but here's a little info on some of my new-found difficulties: Chopping vegetables - This is basically impossible with one hand, but I am lucky that my friend Christie bought me a fancy cutting board to help. It's super useful! Opening bottles and jars - Again, this is basically impossible with one hand, but the cutting board Christie got me also has a vice on it that allows me to do this myself. Buttoning shirts and pants - I haven't even tried to button a shirt, but I've worked out buttoning pants. As long as the pants aren't super tight, I can just zip them first and then pull the button closed. Putting on a bra - Jim helps me with this since it's really hard with one hand. I will probably end up trying to get some cute sports bras to make this something I can do myself. Typing - I am a pretty fast typer in general so I am still pretty fast wi...