Nerve Testing

Well, ladies and gentlemen, my husband told me I have to type about my hands before my hands don't work... Ominous sounding? It should be.

Little background info: A few years ago I was having numbness and tingling in my ring finger and pinky of both hands. My doctor diagnosed me with ulnar neuropathy and prescribed me Gabapentin and ordered nerve testing to confirm. Told me to try a hand brace. They never called me for the test, and I followed doctor's orders to stop leaning as much on my elbows, took my meds, and carried on with my life. I kind of got used to it and did not think it was a big deal.

Fast forward to about a month ago. I notice that when I open a water bottle it feels like I have slammed my thumb, index, and middle finger in a car door. It hurts for HOURS. I am right-handed and it hurts REALLY bad, so I try mostly using my left. That hurts too, but not as badly. I think it's probably not good, so I mention it at an unrelated doctor's appointment. She said it sounds like carpal tunnel and ulnar neuropathy. She orders nerve testing.

I am at a football game and my son hands me his saxophone case over a railing in the stands. I thought I had it...I did not. It falls onto my daughter's face. She cries, I cry. She is okay, but I feel TERRIBLE and very confused because my hands have been hurting, not just not working. I talk to my doctor, she confirms that sounds like textbook nerve problems. I get the test appointment a couple days later.

This doctor, a specialist in these things, takes one look at my hand and tells me the muscles are severely atrophied. He says we are going to do the test, but he can see it and knows the problem. Test confirms. My right hand has pretty much no muscle left in it anywhere, the left is headed that way. What can I do? Step one: arm and wrist splints at night when I sleep. No more sleeping on my stomach as I usually do. Step two: Finger rubber band stretching exercises. Step three: Surgery....on both arms, but not at the same time, or "I couldnt wipe myself" he says. I am not supposed to bend either of my arms past a ninety degree angle at all until surgery.

I asked what if I do not get the surgery, cause who has the time...and money...or wants surgery... He looks at me like I am slow. He said, "Well, your hands won't fall off, but they won't work." Okay, so surgery. He says, "Yeah, you're falling apart."

So here I am typing with painful hands, wondering how my baby is going to react to me not being able to pick him up. Here I am wondering how we are going to pay for it with our crap insurance. Here I am worrying about how I will work. I have not stopped wondering if this man has children since he told me I will need to change diapers with gloves on to avoid infection in my elbow. Worst part though? My husband coming into rooms and saying things like, "that's more than ninety degrees" throughout the day and night. Not really, the worst part is definitely trying to learn how to use my phone when I have the braces on. Definitely feeling a bit like Edward Scissorhands...or a robot....but way less coordinated. I will keep y'all updated, of course, but it will probably be January before the first one can happen with scheduling, budgeting, and insurance nonsense.

Today, do something interesting using your hands!