Loralee's Fancy: One Week; Big Days

Last Thursday, February 9 was kind of a big day for me. I had my first follow-up/post-surgery visit with Dr. Widmer. He had new x-rays done and I got to see the pin in my elbow; it looks pretty interesting. And then, after three weeks of splints and slings, the doctor unwrapped my arm, exposed it to the air, made it visible.

It actually looked pretty terrible, but it felt great—although a little scary— to have it freed.

He had me bend it and straighten it as far as I could (after an unnecessary warning that I should not straighten it completely—to 180°—or it will dislocate again. No chance of that happening; just sayin'.). And then he sent me to Physical Therapy (PT) to be fitted for a hinged brace.

While I was waiting they had me fill out and sign another couple of forms —with my left hand, of course. (I think they just think it's funny to see grown-ups concentrating as hard as they can, with their tongues poking out, to write their names. ;-)) And then the fun began:

They measured my range of motion using a tool like this one:

It looks like this person's arm is bent at 90°. That was my starting point for all my measurements.

So I was able to bend my arm up to 95°, and straighten it down to 67°. Or maybe it was the other way around? Hm. At any rate, I had about a 30° range of motion. They also measured how far I can rotate my hand—palm up or palm down (and they compared all my measurements with my normal left hand). My left palm-down rotation was 79°; my right was also in the high 70's. Not bad! But my left palm-up rotation was 81° while my right was only 3°. :-( Obviously I have some work to do there. My exercises are to bend and straighten my arm as far as I can, holding it for 3 seconds each of ten reps, three times a day. And to rotate my palm up and down, same number of reps. I am amazed at how much hard work this is! But I'm doing it every day—I want my arm and hand!

After my 5-minute workout and the instruction session, they gave me my Darth Vader elbow brace. (Well, Bruce says Darth Vader; I don't know...) The brace keeps my arm at 90° so I won't inadvertently hurt myself, but it also unlocks so I can wear it while I do my bending and straightening exercises.

My bionic arm.
Bruce took better pictures than this one last week, but they are still on his phone. (And yes, I reversed the photo so it would be as you see me, rather than how I look in the mirror.)

Friday, February 10 was a big day for me because Bruce came back to Salt Lake to take me home! Melanie teased that every time she saw us we were hugging, or kissing, or dancing, or I was sitting on Bruce's lap... Well, I had just spent the first week after my surgery recovering without the comfort of having my husband with me. And, anyway, we really like each other!

Saturday, February 11 was a big day for me because we packed up all my things and went home. At least we tried to... What really happened was that Bruce's car worked beautifully all day long until we got about a mile up Parley's Canyon. Then it died and wouldn't start again. By 5 p.m. we finally ended up calling a tow-truck to haul it to a mechanic, and Bruce's dad to take us to his house where we spent the night.

Sunday, February 12 was a big day for me because we really did go home! It is nice to be with my family again.

Monday, February 13 was a big day because I discovered just how much I can and can't really do for myself. And the rest of the days this week have all been pretty much the same. (Except for Wednesday, which was a big day because we found out how many, many things are wrong with the car: the repairs would cost four to five times the value of the car. :-/ )

I can shower now, but my right hand is very little help; I can't touch my face with it (which is really aggravating when I have an itchy nose), or use it to wash my hair. I can write with it, but not anything lengthy—that is too tiring. I can't lift, push, or pull things with my right hand and arm—at least nothing bigger than a phone. I can't do laundry, dishes, or really clean house much (which is not as great as it might sound). I can hold the phone in my right hand, but I can't put it up to my face. I can pick up and use sewing pins, but not my big scissors. This week I have sewn one entire costume all by myself, finished two, and started two more.

the costume I started and finished all by myself this week
There's a hat and knee-breeches that go with it.

Last week I was sleeping on the couch, in one position all night; this week I have found three different, comfortable positions to sleep in, in my bed. Last week I was shedding a snowstorm of arm-dandruff (three weeks of dead skin that accumulated under all my bandaging); this week, after lots of washing, rubbing—even using a soft brush on it—and lotioning, my skin is back to normal. (Except for the pretty green bruises.)

More importantly, last week I could extend my arm about 13° (down from 90°); today I can extend it 25°. Last week I could flex my arm about 5° (up from 90°); today I can go up 15°. This means that now I have about a 40° range of motion. Last week when I tried to rotate my palm up I couldn't even see my thumb-pad; today I can turn my palm so it's parallel to the wall.