All Thumbs

Recently, I was diagnosed with flexor tendinitis in my left thumb. After weeks of pain, I finally saw an orthopedic specialist yesterday, who confirmed the original diagnosis, let me peek at my hand x-rays, and gave me my first (and hopefully last) cortisone injection. It left my thumb puffy, with a rather interesting almond-shaped bruise at the injection point.

If I thought the pain was bad before, it was nothing compared to the pain that showed up about an hour after injection. So severe, I could feel it in my teeth, and I spent the whole day feeling nauseous and jittery from it. Any movement of my thumb was excruciating. I stupidly ordered a dinner that required a knife and fork last night, but I discovered how to hold my fork between my forefinger and middle finger, with my pinky to steady it, much to the amusement of my dinner companion. I'm sure I looked like a kid just learning to use a fork. Who knows? Perhaps that will be a useful skill in the future.

I slept in my thumb brace with my hand resting flat on a pillow, and even still, woke up after every sleep cycle with my hand curled up and on fire.

Today, my thumb is stiff and sore, but I can almost make a fist before it starts to hurt, and I can grasp objects with it for short periods of time. The pain is minimal. It kind of makes yesterday's suffering worth it.

Best case scenario is that this injection cures my tendinitis. Worst case is that it does nothing, but based on how much better I'm feeling, I'm hopeful that isn't what's happening. Somewhere between best and worst case is that I may need another injection in the future. If I keep making a recovery, and feeling better tomorrow, I would probably be willing to do it again. But next time, I'll know not to try going to work after. I was useless and barely able to type.

I'm moving out of my apartment this weekend and I have a draft of a chapter I'm writing due Monday, so sadly, there will probably be no Statistics Sunday post this week. Back to regular posting in October.