It is now almost half a year ago, since I had unexpectedly surgery on my left hand's index finger. Due to severe swelling, Edema, they had to open it up and look inside.
You can see the huge swelling on my left index finger; Edema.
Having a rare auto immune disease could also trigger such unusual reaction.
After my total histerectomy, I even suffered Angioedema because of ACE inhibitors that I took for controlling my blood pressure, which I had to stop using of course.
An orthopedic surgeon opened up my index finger, on the outside and inside.
They started growing a culture but nothing was growing in it and I felt like having undergone surgery in vain... Also I'd begged to have it done by my Hand Surgeon, whom I saw in April of 2012, for my Dupuytren's Contracture. 'No, any orthopedic surgeon can do this I was told!'
This photo is of October 18, one day after surgery while still at the hospital, for a total of 6 days.
You don't realize how handicapped you are with only the use of one hand...
It was a time that I asked husband Pieter to bring me the lap-duvet, my own sewing creation from the left over down duvet that I used for enlarging the European sized twin duvets. I'd sewn a soft duvet cover for it from cable print flannel sheets that were on sale at Garnet Hill
Don't know about your hospital experience, but I was almost freezing during my stay!
During surgery they had bruised my eyes and nose, making me look like I had been in a fight!
Could they not more carefully place the mask over my nose and mouth for putting me to sleep?
Could they not more carefully place the mask over my nose and mouth for putting me to sleep?
Not my best days...
At the first check up with J. Richter, M.D. he told me that sometimes, surgery does not go following the book... BUT with aggressive therapy, 3 times weekly, I would be able to fully use my finger again.
At Fairview Park Hospital: Rehab Unit they put Kinetix band on and treated me with Ultrasound in order to get rid of the aggressively formed scar tissue.
On November 14, 2014 still a lot of swelling as the Edema persisted.
You can see where orthopedic surgeon J. Richter, M.D. cut the finger open and also on the underside.
Dupuytren's Contracture does cause scar tissue to grow more aggressively...
One more reason I had begged to see my Hand Surgeon in Macon!
Finally, after going to the local hospital's rehab center, for 6 weeks, 3 x weekly, I managed to see my Hand Surgeon in the next city, one hour driving from where we live.
His first question nearly floored me. 'Where did you go for therapy?' I told him at Fairview Park Hospital Rehab. He then asked me: 'Why didn't they send you to a certified hand therapist?'...
I realized that not only was I told that this surgery was not exactly following the books and now I learned that my first two months of precious healing time had not been fully utilized because, unknowingly, I did not see a certified hand therapist!
So I committed to driving the long distance from than on. Surgery cannot be redone, sure it would have been a different outcome had Waldo E. Floyd III, M.D. done my surgery to begin with.
At Ortho Georgia, Diana, one of the experienced and licensed Hand & Upper Extremity therapists, provided me with an elastic finger for wearing during the day in order to reduce the swelling.
A gel coated elastic finger to wear at night, all for reducing the swelling...
She got me a splint to wear at home, for some 20 minutes at a time, about 4 or 5 times daily.
This in order to further stretch and straighten my finger.
From the side...
Here you can see my nodules from the Dupuytren's Contracture in the palm of my hand and it has extended out towards that index finger. You also can see where the scar tissue has kind of caused a nodule.
In order to bend the finger again, I had to wear this elastic strap, just simply stapled together and tightened over time, as I progressed.
Needless to say that when having to do all this, the usual household chores like baking, cleaning etc. are very much restricted!
This is on January 19, 2015 and still very much swollen and red.
At OrthoGeorgia I started out each time with this Whirlpool treatment.
Ground up corn cobs, an inert medium, are being circulated by hot air inside.
I had to insert my lower arm and hand and with a velcro sleeved extension it got closed off.
photo courtesy of Ortho Georgia and not my hand!
Next Diana would treat my finger with ultrasound, for reducing the scar tissue.
On January 22, after removing the gel coated elastic finger that I wore during the night...
At Ortho Georgia Rehab I had to work with pegs...
Shooting off these little 1.25 inch porcupine rubber balls, with your thumb and index finger.
Diana custom made me a brace for wearing, so the lowest finger joint could not bend; thus forcing the other two to function on their own.
Diana would stretch, bend, flex and massage my finger; well I could better write that she tortured me but I endured it for the benefits I got out of it. ONLY wish I could have started off with her right after surgery...
This is for bending the finger for a certain length of time.
This is today, still somewhat swollen and red but when I got my check up yesterday with Waldo E. Floyd III, M.D. in Macon, he told me that I better quit the therapy.
First he asked me if I could live with this finger the way it is...
What can I say? I have to accept it and in the almost six months time, I've grown used to it and look forward to normal use of both of my hands without being restricted due to all these things.
He still suggested I use my THERABATH PROFESSIONAL THERMOTHERAPY PARAFFIN BATH for warming up and than continue with the strap etc. at home.
It has been a very expensive time for us and I often say, paying for hospital bills is far more expensive than being at the most luxurious Resort!
What bothered me was that I was not correctly advised for seeing a certified person and even worse, when comparing the billing between the non-certified, so-called hand therapist and the really professional one!
On December 1, 2014, this was the bill from our local Fairview Park Hospital Rehab.
Ultrasound therapy $ 377.25. Luckily I had reached my deductible of $ 5,000.- at that time!
At Ortho Georgia only $ 47.00
Sure, I'm not finger-pointing but there IS a difference!
With my new insurance, I've paid over 2015 already $ 1,150.83 out of pocket...
Sure, I'm not finger-pointing but there IS a difference!
~
Life goes on, even after we have had a rough ride this year with also my Mom's death, husband Pieter's Angina Pectoris (heart cramp) after Mom's passing.
But we did enjoy a lovely 6 days in Arizona from March 22 through 27, using our free companion ticket from Delta that would expire on March 31.
Related links:
{There You Go Again... Update} | previous post by me about bullying siblings that attacked me for NOT going to Mom's funeral while still having rehab and NO financial means for paying the very expensive ticket (short term booking)... I've forgiven them and only pray that they will change. It is up to God to deal with it.
{My Hand and Dupuytren's Contracture} | previous post by me
{Fighting the Water + Scanning Slides} | previous post by me
{Dutch Twin Down Duvets Altered to American Size} | previous post by me
