#104 Surgery

Before - You might be able to see the way the ligament has shredded - the ragged white parts

Well again a long hiatus in my blogging. I have been very busy since I returned from Argentina, and although I went for a preliminary checkup in Thailand in September, and that at least I found a doctor who gave me a cortisone medication for my lingering cough, which cleared it up in about eight days. The orthopedic surgeon ordered another MRI. Poor guy, he didn’t want to tell me that the MRI that I got in Argentina was crap. But it was. When I saw the new MRI from Bumrungrad it was like the difference between a fuzzy black and white TV and a 4K ultrahigh definition set. It was so clear what was wrong.

So, this last Monday I returned to Thailand, and  on Tuesday I had a operation to repair the damage in my right wrist. They shaved back my ulna about 3 or 4 mm and cleaned up a badly damaged ligament. I had my doubts about doing this operation, and it’s the first surgery ever had my life which probably added to my angst. But, when it came right down to it, I didn’t have this problem five months ago, and I could notice that it was getting worse. Not insupportable pain by any means, but if five months ago I did not have it, and it is getting worse, it did seem to me that the most logical choice was to get an operation at a facility with a good reputation and try to make it better.

I had a doctor in the Philippines try to tell me that you sure you want to do the operation; can’t you just try to do a lifestyle change so that you don’t do anything that bothers your right hand. I have to say I didn’t quite laugh at them, but when you have been right-handed your entire life and you work out and use that right hand for everything, seems a little strange try thinking about a lifestyle change.

Once again, I have nothing but praise for Bumrungrad hospital in Bangkok. They are so organized and so efficient it is beyond belief. Depending, of course, on the type of illness, it is still difficult for me to consider going anywhere else for serious medical care other than this hospital.

After he cleaned it up

I have to say that having this half cast on my right hand has, even in just 36 hours, demonstrated how difficult it is to work with that handicap. I have practice doing some of the stuff left-handed, but when I tried to do manual writing, it looks like a mentally challenged four-year-old. It’s even difficult doing texting with my left hand. And typing on a laptop? I can only type for a minute or two and I have to rest the hand. I did buy a mouse where I could swap the right and left click buttons and use left-handed but it’s very clear to me that I am operating at about 30% efficiency compared to being able to use both. I well. It will be an interesting couple weeks until I can get to a splint only on the wrist. So forgive me, this probably will not be the most well formatted blog entry, but I did want to do an update.

I have attached here a picture of my attempts at writing with my left hand. Second day. The Q seems to be giving me a lot of problems. :-)

And since I really can’t do much, I am reading a lot and binge watching university courses while eating high tea :-)

I did not forget blog #103 but it has a lot of diagrams in it that I can’t really finish off right now. Maybe next week.

It is indeed educational being so greatly reduced in … effectiveness. Very hampering, but at the same time, I can see that one adapts quite rapidly due to lack of choice.