I had my first hand therapy session yesterday. Let me just say that occupational therapists are way under-appreciated. I knew that they were going to put me in a different splint; I had this vision of the OT picking one off a shelf and strapping it on my hand. Not so. She built it from scratch based on my hand measurements and my specific injury. It ended up being made out of a moldable plastic material, velcro, fishing line, Barge cement, and a rubber band. Here’s a photo. Click on it to get an appreciation for the fishing line part.
I also have to start exercises hourly while I’m not asleep. I’m sure it’s the exercises and not just the splint, but the pain in my hand has gotten kicked up a notch.
I also found out yesterday just how limited I will be with the use of my hand for the next 3 months. Basically all the exercises are passive stretching, and she said that I won’t be allowed to do any active movements of any of my right hand fingers for that time frame. Obviously that means no knitting, but more significantly, no work for the next three months. That means there won’t be any yarn deliveries around here for awhile. The UPS man might just forget where I live in three months. He’ll probably think I died or something.
I did buy myself one little self-pitying girlie item yesterday. Nothing cheers you up like springy makeup colors. The eyeliner might be a little optimistic, though. I have been able to get my makeup on with one hand otherwise.
I’ve decided I’ll still be blogging. Obviously it won’t be about new knitting, and I’m not quite sure just what this space will hold for the next few months. I will get back to knitting eventually!
That does look like a real contraption and better than the totally wrapped hand below. Maybe you’ll find some new interests but whatever you do we’ll be wanting to know how your doing.
If you can get your hands on a Nifty Knitter loom you should be able to resume knitting (cheater style, but kntting none the less). My daughter has one, I think we got it at Michaels…
Great looking splint. Hope you can find something fulfilling to do over the next few months. We’ll still tune in.
Way back when I needed occupational therapy on my hand, I was impressed with the way my splint was made.
Hope your recovery continues to go well!
Wow. I hope you’re one of those doctors who follows doctor’s orders! It looks like they know what they’re doing — and at least didn’t need a piece of chewing gum to hold it all together! Best wishes!! I’m glad you’ll still be blogging.
I’d been worrying about what this injury might do to your work time as well as your knitting time. (Yes, some of us worry about people we’ve never actually met before.)
Enforced idleness is never as fun as chosen idleness. Good luck and best wishes for quick healing! I haven’t had OT, but I had PT when I had my ACL replaced. It was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever been through.
Hang in there. I know it is hard to be the patient when you are used to being on the other side of the table, so to speak. I’m sure you’ll find lots of things to do.
I agree with the Knifty Knitter. You can easily do that with one hand. I taught a lady the other day to use it and she only had one finger on one of her hands. She did just fine with it.
🙁 I’m sooo sorry to hear of your injury!!! Seeing that wine glass poking out of my hand would have FREAKED ME OUT!
I’m wishing you a speedy recovery!!!! In the meantime, milk the forced time off for all it’s worth and resssst!
Lorette! I was out of town for your injury. I am soooo sorry. I’ll say an extra little prayer for you tonight…for recovery…and for not-being-able-to-knit-for-a-while fortitude.
Oh man, that smarts. Bummer to hear about the injury, and the long recovery time. Glad you’re still going to be blogging, though.
Since you can’t knit, maybe this is the time to pick up all the knitting tomes (Eliz. Zimmerman, etc.) and really read through them?
I gimped up my elbow a few years ago and had to go through similar rehab – couldn’t use that arm for about 3 months. Practice with the makeup – you’ll get it. (best to do at night! to wash off mistakes easily.) If you can’t get your hand wet (I can’t tell), the long bags that newspapers come in are really good for wrapping up appendages. And splurge on waxing anything that you would otherwise shave. It’s totally worth it. 🙂
Former OT here. Hand therapists are amazing and hard to come by. Did you tell them that you are a (frustrated) knitter? Maybe not right now, but they might be able to work that into therapy a little later?
I’m glad to hear you’ll still be blogging. You know, we get so wrapped up in knitting we forget that there are whole other dimensions to our lives that our blogging friends know nothing about. It will be fun to get to know more about you over the next three months, but I’m very sad about the reason.
Sending you quick healing vibes!
I am sorry to read about your accident. Take care. That is quite the splint and I, too, have greatly appreciated any OT we have met.
Oh Lorette, my heart aches for you. As I read about your hand I could have cried. I do believe that a hand injury would really do me in! Yet you sound so positive. I will pray for a speedy recovery and please keep us posted about your progress and what you’re doing with all that free time.
Hope the saved wine was good! What kind was it?
WOW! That is a work of ART!!!!
you are doing great typing with your left hand! ouch…ouch…ouch! next time I’ll try to put makeup on with my left hand!
I wish you a speedy recovery and lots of people saying “wow, you are a really fast healer” so you can get back to doing what you love. I know it sucks to have to think of other things to do, but I agree that you should be looking at knitting tomes, reading knitting blogs, making lists of new projects you want to do just to keep knitting in your life in some form – and i would try that knitting frame – it’s worth a shot!