Brace Yourselves

Today I saw an Occupational Therapist (OT) about the clawing and movement of my hand. He watched me move my hand, wrist and fingers and did some comparisons to my strength and movement between now and when I visited him three years ago after my last operation. Apparently my finger strength has decreased slighty in that time, but surprisingly consistently (i.e. each finger has lost the same amount of strength). The interesting thing is that the problems with my fingers are actually stemming from my wrist - one half of the system (flexors?) works stronger than the other now, causing my wrist to cock back and causing my fingers to curl.
I'm now wearing a wrist brace to help me type. When my wrist is held straight I have not only better movement of my fingers, but power. I was really struggling to have enough power to even depress a key on a keyboard, but with the wrist brace on I can now use all but my index finger to type. My typing speed and accuracy have marekedly improved, to the point where I'd say I'm at about 90% of where I was at before things deteriorated. I've had a short go at using the mouse, but the brace seems to make gripping it a bit hard. I'll keep trying though.

I'm also back ay my desk full time, 5 days a week. The physio really helped in working out all the tension that was stopping me being upright all day. I'm now doing a bunch of daily exercises to try and build up some muscle in my shoulders and neck, which should help me get more use out of my arm and less discomfort.

Thursday: An MRI! Just like playing Space Invaders in a confined space without the controls or screen!

Update

OK, so I'm not too good at this regular blogging. I think as "normal" life gets back under way, it's easy to get distracted. A summary of the last few weeks:

• I've been back to my neurosurgeon for a one month check up. Everything has healed fine, and I'm off for an MRI & follow up visit in a few weeks to see if the cyst has collapsed.
• I've started physio, and last week managed to actually sit at the desk for a full day.
• Yesterday I started the Couch to 5k running program. It felt pretty good, I'm really looking forward to getting some fitness back.
• My right hand is still clawed up. I'm a bit worried it's actually a bit worse. Left handed mousing and only typing with my right pinky is driving me crazy. I think I'll just see an OT under my own steam.
• I've had some of my worst dizzy spells, including one where I couldn't even really control my arms. They seem to be reducing in frequency though, I thinmk it has to do with being more mo bile
  

So, overall things are pretty good, although it's frustrating waiting another month to get an MRI and back to the doctor.
Another frustrating thing is the amount of time and money I've had to spend. There seem to be some gross inefficiencies in the Australian system. For example, I get sent the Medicare "gap" cheque for each service provider (CT, MRI, bloodwork, ECG, surgeon, etc) and then have to pass it on to them. Why not mail them the cheque or use EFT? Also, the fact that I'm privately insured yet still have to pay a gap between what my surgeon charges and what the health fund pays is also frustrating. I know I'm better off than if I went through the public system, but paying a few grand of "gaps" when I pay a monthly fee to my health insurer adds insult to injury.
At any rate, the bills will be paid off soon, and I'm still up and about so I shouldn't complain too much.