Suck it up, Sistah

I went to the orthopedic surgeon yesterday. Pain has increased, I still can't feel my right hand.

After another round of x-rays, he came in, examined me, and expressed sadness when he discovered that he wasn't going to get to do some really exciting surgery.

Turns out, I have nerve damage, technically an injury to my Brachial Plexus nerve, or in "orthorpod. speak," I have (most likely) what is called a "stinger."

Apparently professional football players get these all the time. Also, babies can get this when they have a rough delivery.

It's when your arm/shoulder gets yanked out of the socket for a second and then pops back in.

check.

Then, everything gets pulled a bit.

check.

Then, as a result, the nerves are all frayed and torn and pulled as a result.

check.

There is nothing they can do for this.

crap.

It can take months to recover from the pain, in fact, it usually takes 2-3 weeks for every millimeter of tear. So in my case, we are most likely looking at several months of recovery before we know the extent of the damage. And of course, there's usually nothing they can do.

The doctor then said that when football players get it, they usually just give them a an injection of cortisone in the joint and put them back in the game if it's not too bad.

I responded, "so I just need to suck it up and deal with it is what you're telling me."

He did suggest that I undergo an EMG, which is a test where they put needles in my arm and measure my nerve function. This of course would only tell us what we already know, I have nerve damage.

There was a also a recommendation for me to take nerve medication to help, but I'm hesitant, given my track record with medications. I think I'd rather just deal with the pain.

I'm no longer in a sling, but still have it wrapped as the pressure from the ACE bandage does provide relief.

Moving my arm too much still hurts like crazy, even though I've been ensured I can't hurt it much more if I use it. The trouble is, I have no strength and no feeling, so if I try to use it, not only do I have horrible pain shooting down my forearm, I have no dexterity or motor function.

Things like trying to snap Evie's onesie or grab the tab on her diaper are at the moment, impossible, and quite frustrating. I can't pick up a piece of paper, open a door knob or even turn on the TV remote with my right hand because I don't have the strength or the control. This not only makes my really cranky, but it sometimes results in my nearly dissolving into a pile of tears like a whiny little girl.

My physical therapist assured me this is normal, and that I'll get my gross motor control before I'll get back my fine motor control, and that no amount of exercise will help me get it back, and that trying to move it more will only aggravate the condition by aggravating the nerves, and I, as such, need to "STOP IT" (as much as possible, that is.)

What I need to do, per my physical therapist's instructions is only do small, careful movements and exercises. When the pain becomes unbearable, stop.
I'm not going to be able to rehabilitate my nerves or get the feeling back faster, so don't bother trying, this will only make me frustrated and angry. Just go slow and try to stay positive.
Yeah boy.

My current game plan is to try to do physical therapy another couple of weeks and see if I can't get a little more arm function back. If after another week or so, I'm still not making much improvement, then I'll get the EMG, and perhaps agree to the neuro. drugs.

I did some online research regarding brachial plexus injuries and there are apparently different degrees of injuries. The one the doctor was referring to, (that football players get and go back in the game) that was a 1st degree injury, as those usually resolve within a few minutes to an hour. From what I read, my injury is at least a 3rd degree injury, which can take several months to heal, and can still sometimes require surgery, and still never fully heal.

So, let us all hope and pray that I get my nerve function back, I would really like my to be able to feel and use my right hand again.

If you want to know what I did, and missed it, click here.