Osteoarthritis

Debbie

How did it go at work? The first week back is always the worse. Just like going on vacation and having to come back all rested and walk in with a desk piled a mile high. Hopefully they had someone there to keep things caught up while you were out especially since you are not going to be able to move around very easy at first. Are you going to try to work full days, or try it with a few hours? It's one thing to be in pian in the comfort of your own home, and being in pain in a place you can't do anything to ease it. I hope it all goes really well for you, and know I am sending many prayers your way.

I still don't like it because you are not the cl right now. But not near as glad that you are back. The board is just not the same as when you are here. Even though I was the cl on the LOCM board for that short time before they took it off, the lady who was helping me did the reports. I watched and answered most of the post. So that worked out for us, but when you are on your own, it would take up a lot of time to do both the posting and the reports. I am just glad I am not responsible for either right now. Thre are times I just can't get on here. Tonight I have typed a little then got off. My hands hurt but from my waist down hurts twice as bad. So typing get my mind off my pain.

Lia, did you get any of the rain that came through? It started here last night, and seems like all I want to do is sit with heat pads all over me. I have been alternating the heat and ice on my back, but can't handle the ice on my other joints. This weather sure causes me a lot of misery. Debbie are you getting any of it? I guess you have seen it on tv about all the floods, etc. We have had a lot of water coming down. But the storm missed us. Debbie, doesn't one of your sister's live in that direction too? Looks like as long as I have been on this board I would know those kind of things, but my memory and at time my brain, is lacking. I hope the two of you and your kin are alright.

Lia, did I tell you a few weeks back that Ray had gotten a job offer in AZ? It was back in constructin, so he had to turn it down. His heart is just not strong enough to take the hard manual work or the outdoor weather changes. But I was ready to pack up and go. At first I was thinking about how much better the climite is there for arthritis suppers, then I happened to think that would put me a lot closer to TX too. That would have been neat to be able to visit sometimes. How is your leg doing? did you make it to the chiropractor? I can't remember if I told you what was wrong with mine or not. It was a superficial phleavitis. I knew it was something out of the ordiniary becuase it wouldn't hurt deep unless it was swollen. But anytime anything got aganst it it would hurt and sting. I had cellulitis one time, and had to stay off my feet for 5 weeks with the foot propped up. So that is what I was doing to this one. The only problem is this time it is not going away. I have never had them to last so long.

Welcome back Debbie, whether as a cl or kdcarterni, it doesn't matter as long as you are here. No matter how hard they try, they will never be able to find anyone else who can do as well as you do. You have all the right qualifications, but you also possess a lot of extra talents and personality, education, etc. to do the job. You always know the right things to say to make the people feel as if they are the most important person on the board in each and every one of your posts. And in all the years I have known you, I have yet to hear you say even the smallest of hints, that there was someone on the board that you felt any opisition toward. I really don't think they will be able to find anyone else who can even come close to being the cl that you are. So I hope and pray they don't get a volunteeer to cl the board until you are able to come back for good. I will be saying a prayer for you every day that you mend quickly. I will even add a prayer for you to make it through that torture they call rehab and pt. Good luck Debbie, and I will keep checking the board for you until you get back on full time. But I can't promise to check it as often as I have. As you can see I tend to write too much when I am in pain. And right now my left wrist and hand are getting close to just locking down on me. So you take very good care of yourself. Good luck too.

Many very gentle hugs, Myrna

Myrna, my home physical therapist from the Visiting Nurse Assoc. (she came to the house before I was well enough to go to outpatient therapy) had one of her ankles replaced in June. She was fully recovered by Sept. - I don't know how long she was out from work, but she was really doing well by the time I met her. She said she walked a mile every morning - she had started out, while recovering, walking 1/4 mile, then progressed to 1/2, then 3/4, and finally to a mile. She said she had no problem walking but could tell the next morning that she had done it! Anyway, she was thrilled with her new ankle. Now, she only had one done - I don't know how it would be to have them both done, but she was really glad she had had the surgery. I'm so sorry about the phlebitis - one of my friends had that, years ago, and she was a young woman (in her 30's), and I used to feel so sorry for her when her leg swelled up!

I hope your hands are doing better. Mine are suffering from the crutches - using crutches is really hard on your hands and wrists. Now it has gotten to the point where my thumbs are asleep all the time, and by evening both hands are asleep as well. But I am wearing the braces, and I think I'll ask the rheumatologist to give me some more cortisone injections next time I see her.

Lia, we are supposed to get the stormy weather today, but so far it is just gray and drizzly. I hope Ronnie's schedule improves before long. You two will be practically strangers if he has to keep this up much longer!

Hugs,
Debbie

When I read your post about the crutches I thought I'd pass along this suggestion as I had the same problem after my TKR's. Ask your physical therapist to try attaching "platforms" to the side of your crutches. Not platform crutches, but detachable platforms....gives you a lot more control. This way you rest on your forearms and there are handles to hold and guide you but you don't have to hold on tightly or once you get used to them, don't have to hold on at all. Only thing that worked for me.

Watch those thumbs....I just got a small tear in my thumb tendon from the repetative stress of watercolor painting...a 2 hour class! Oh well....first I blow a bursa open, then tear a tendon, and now my skin is tearing where I have that stupid rash. Can you beleive getting blood blisters from the "tremendous" pressure of putting my arm in and our of a pumpkin? We'll see what the dermatologist has to say next month. And to add insult to injury, I got bitten by another deer tick and I'm on Lyme watch again. I thought my arm was aching from my flu shot....then I remembered it was the other arm! Always something isn't it.

Take care and heal fast. I'm glad your knees and hips are getting some rest and if you can get those platforms, you'll be able to rest those wrists too.

cyber hugs.............Jenny