What Difference a Day Makes

It's six weeks since my hand surgery so yesterday I returned to Pulvertaft Hand Clinic for a review. It's a two-hour drive each way which in UK terms is the equivalent of driving halfway across my home state of Texas which in a straight line north to south is 800 miles but here a mere 110. It's all relative; I'd rather drive a Texas mile than a UK one any day. Non-stop, dead straight, bright 'n' sunny . . .

But my day was filled with sunshine even though the fields either side of the motorways were filled with water after long periods of heavy and persistent rain, It took the hour the hospital warned me about to get a parking space. they use a one-out, one-in system that works. It's naturally coordinated with patients visiting and leaving the hospital.

My appointment was dead on 11 am when the occupational therapist called me in for examination. After my initial procedure, she had measured the angles of each knuckle bend in relation to the straight back of my hand starting with the main knuckles and taking angles and measurements. I was surprised at the progress with my right hand now being flat instead of curved. My less dominant hand was slightly curved but the improvement was just remarkable there too. The improvements are due primarily to the work they did, of course, but then after that further improvement was due to diligent hand exercising throughout the day and then wearing splints at night as I slept. The original splints are formed to conform to the shape the hand is after the procedure. It is made from thermoplastic that's mould roughly to the shape of the hand and fingers. Velcro straps hold it in place on your hands and this keeps the fingers from bending into a ball when you sleep. It doesn't hurt, it's not too uncomfortable and you soon get used to it.

As a result of the exercises my splints needed a straighter profile but quite markedly. I am back enjoying the use of all of my fingers and didn't really miss a day's working. I have had no pain whatsoever and the procedure itself was no more than mildly uncomfortable for a few minutes.

I am so happy that this procedure has been so successful. Thank you all for your support in so many ways and also with your birthday wishes and prayers.