In the past year and a half, I’ve undergone hip replacement surgery on my right side and rotator cuff (shoulder) surgery on my left side. I’m hoping to schedule a third orthopedic procedure in mid-April. After no such procedures ever, my body seems to be falling apart all over, all at once. One of the disadvantages of not dying young, I suppose.
Because of arthritis, I’m scheduled for a ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition on my right thumb. The surgery consists of removing the trapezium bone on the affected side and replacing it with a “unused” tendon from my wrist. This has a very high rate of success and is usually good for 10 to 15 years. Since I’m 78 years old now, there’s a good chance that 10 to 15 years will be “enough.” Don’t know for sure.
I’ve put this operation off for a while. I’ve tried medication and steroidal injections. To no avail. It’s now very painful to even sign my name, and many things I used to do (snapping my fingers, opening jars that aren’t really simple, unlocking some doors with a key) are now beyond my abilities. There is one key I need to use to gain access to a private mailbox company after hours. I need to take along pliers to turn the key because I can’t generate enough torque without the extra leverage. I hope I’m not observed by a policeman who concludes that gaining access to a building with pliers after dark is a suspicious activity. I can probably explain things satisfactorily, but you never know. If he thinks that my pliers look like a gun — anything could happen.
The problem with the surgery is that it includes a fairly long recovery period. I will need to wear three different types of cast/brace/splint for two weeks each after the surgery. I’ll have some physical therapy somewhere along the way. Since this is my dominant hand, this will interfere with such things as eating, dressing, showering, and other bathroom activities. I haven’t tried brushing my teeth left-handed before. We’ll see. Fortunately, I don’t live alone, and Bonnie is willing to help me if I need it. She was a nurse for 40 years and the things I’ll need shouldn’t be all that strange to her. The doctor doesn’t want me driving — but I’m probably not going to obey that suggestion. I have practiced driving left-handed and believe I can do so safely. I will probably text less than I do now.
How this affects my gambling activities remains to be seen. Fortunately, I’m in a position to shut things down gambling-wise for a few months if I need to. I’m going to try to have a backlog of these weekly blogs already prepared before I undergo the procedure, but I may need to shut this blog down while I recover. Even though I use my thumb when I use a keyboard, I think I can temporarily revert to a fingers-only technique should I need to. It’ll take longer, but I should still be able to do it.
I’ll miss at least one of my monthly improvisational showcases. Not that I’ll necessarily need to — I can still perform most of the skits wearing a brace — but the leader of my group restricts cast members with “devices” (walkers, slings, splints, crutches, etc.) from performing. I’m scheduling my surgery for April 23 because there’s a monthly showcase on April 19 and that should allow me to only miss the May showcase and be back for June. (www.lvimprov.com)
Bonnie thinks this arthritis is a sort of carpal tunnel problem due to so many years of gambling activities. Although carpal tunnel is a wrist ailment and my thumb is a nearby-yet-different part of the body, I’m skeptical that this disease is due to repetitive use of my thumb. I don’t use my thumb much when I play, and I have a family history of arthritis. But wherever it came from, it hurts a lot and I’m going to get it taken care of — I hope.
Good luck with the surgery. I’ve mentioned before that huddled down and playing an upright video poker machine for 30 years is likely leading to many of these issues. Hazards of the job I guess.
I’m actually shocked to still see you playing uprights. Very bad for most parts of the body.
it is heck getting old and you said you are 78 and it looks like pretty soon you will be the 6 million dollar man with all those replacements that you have had. it is amazing what medical/surgery can do now compared to10 20 years ago.
you will make it thru this like you did the other ones but do not be to stubborn and listen to your doc.
well be waiting to hear the out come and good luck
Good luck and hoping you have a full and speedy recovery.
BOB: Just one question: Why do you consider eating to be a bathroom activity?
In his defense, I’ve eaten in a bathroom…Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
Good luck Bob. Wishing you a speedy recovery. As my mom would say, getting old isn’t for wimps!
Best of luck with the surgery and recovery. I’m having the same issue with my left thumb and am considering surgery. I don’t know if you’ve tried a bell brace but it has certainly helped and has delayed surgery
Good luck, Bob. Mind Nurse Bonnie!!!
Good luck Bob. Hopefully the hospital has video poker.
Good Luck Bob. We are examples that getting old is NOT for SISSIES !!!
My husband had similar surgery, both hands, and he also defied doctor’s orders on post op rest. Just had drive to go back to work THE NEXT DAY with a huge dressing on the hand/arm. He suffered for that, and agreed he shouldn’t have. He had both hands done, and did follow orders to rest it a bit the second time.
My husband was the impatient type, and when he had pain for a while he swore that 1) he needed pain pills longer (a mistake) and 2) the surgery was a waste since he anticipated faster pain relief. One day he suddenly realized the pain had eased off and the surgery was worth it.
Best luck and healing to you. Be patient with it and don’t try to override the doc’s orders!
Best of luck with the surgery. I would use the down time to explore using your left hand more than you previously used it. I think you’ll be surprised at how your non-dominant can go from uncoordinated to coordinated pretty quickly. Although, truth to tell, I had a helluva time brushing my teeth lefty. I could play basketball, drive, and do all kinds of stuff, but for some reason brushing teeth was a mess.
Best of luck with your surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you will be back on the dance floor real soon.
Howard
For me brushing my teeth and wiping my butt were very difficult using my left hand. Good luck