Re: flexor tendonitis, cold fingers, and pillar pain

In Reply to: flexor tendonitis, cold fingers, and pillar pain posted by dmm on March 12, 2004 at 19:00:21:

: It's been almost 12 weeks since my ctr. The numbness/ tingling when holding things was stopped by the surgery, so it was a success in that respect. It has been slow going to get my hand strength back, it's getting better, but not there yet.

: For the last 6 weeks I notice that when I do things like use the mouse for long periods, or do a lot of concentrated hand movements such as doing the fine motor skill stuff in rehab, my fingers get very cold over a half hour or so of continuous use. The funny part is if I don't do anything with the hand, it is fine - nice and warm. I've complained about it, but the dr doesn't see it as a problem. I suspect the scar tissue may be pressing on an artery some, when I'm actively using the flexor tendons, but this is an unproven theory.

: Pillar pain is when the heel of the hand is sensitive at the base of the thumb and near the hammate bone (wrist bone on the pinky finger side of the wrist) where the cut ligament retracts to once it's cut in the ctr surgery. This is one reason why it hurts so bad to put pressure on the heel of the hand after the surgery. The incision scar tissue is another reason. I'm dealing with both issues.

: I am also finding that I can't do a lot of things yet. I went to pick up a box that had contents weighing about 3 pounds, and I did like usual and just grabbed a box flap to pick it up and move it, and my wrist screamed. I almost dropped the box. That kind of "loaded" pincer move is too painful, as I found out the hard way. Weight lifting is also continuing to be a challenge. I can lift about 15 lbs with both hands without pain, but more than that is not yet possible without hurting. I went to make a simple batch of sugar cookies the other day, figuring that adding water to a ready-to-use mix, then putting the dough on a cookie sheet should be no big deal, but i was wrong. The wrist ache was intense. Not real pain, per se, but enough of an ache that it was telling me that this was more than it was comfortable with. So, in between putting cookie sheets in the over, I was having to ice my wrist.

: The dr keeps telling me that things will get better, but I am getting tired of waiting. Meanwhile, it's back to work, with a splint to protect things. I got the dr to agree to have the therapist fabricate me a splint from some stuff they use called orthoplast or kay splint. Its a low temperature thermoplastic that becomes pliable when heated, and stiffens when cool, making custom splints easy to make. It'll be much better than a fabric and velcro splint as I have to wear gloves - latex or nitrile - at work as I work in a cleanroom. the plastic one won't end up smelling like an old shoe by the end of the day.