am indeed doing quite well now. I've successfully beat up both arms this summer between software development and lots and lots of mountain biking. My right hand, still an issue (that arm I had the endoscopic procedure on) and my left hand (the arm with the transposition) has been doing great. Its not 100%, but prob 80-90%. I still have a weird feeling in it every now and then - like mild pressure in the hand, but no burning like before. Sometimes though I do wake up with the fingers tingling. It is rare and this didn't happen to me often before the surgery, but would surely take that over what I had before. That is rare though and probably if I sleep with the arm all curled up. So all in all looking back, recovery was a snap and now I dont even think about the arm much. The scar is slightly numb around ie.. well not numb but decreased sensation. That is normal though with any significant incision to the skin and I really don't notice/think about it unless I specifically touch the elbow and think about it. If you are about to get the surgery, its not bad. Besides sleeping discomfort the first few days it wasn't a huge deal. I just remember thinking 'wow.. wondering after all this time I finally had it done.. and now its all uphill from here' so keep that in mind : )
The incision is of course visible but the part along the formarm is hardly visible but the part near the bicep side of the arm is a little more visible. Not bad though at all. I may have the other side done this November or so.. we'll see : )
I did not have an emg yet on that arm but may have to get one just to see what the difference is and if there was a full nerve recovery in terms of conduction speed across the elbow.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Hopefully almost last doctors appointment
Had my roughly two month appointment last friday.
Grip strength:
Left 130, Right 150
I was told things are looking good (elbow still somewhat numb but at the same time hypersensitive to the prickly wheel they run down your arm and hands). That was from the incision itself I believe.
Its been pretty good lately.. definitely better than two weeks ago. I was told I can use it for most things now, just basically dont beat it up... IE no mountain biking yet. Doh.
So... next followup is end of february, hopefully I will get the OK then and I can fully test arm out with exercise and bike riding. Right arm has actually been pretty good lately as well. I've had almost no tingling in the left hand, even after taking both dogs for a long run the other day and a leash in both hands. I was told I can go skiing now too. WOOHOO!!!!
Grip strength:
Left 130, Right 150
I was told things are looking good (elbow still somewhat numb but at the same time hypersensitive to the prickly wheel they run down your arm and hands). That was from the incision itself I believe.
Its been pretty good lately.. definitely better than two weeks ago. I was told I can use it for most things now, just basically dont beat it up... IE no mountain biking yet. Doh.
So... next followup is end of february, hopefully I will get the OK then and I can fully test arm out with exercise and bike riding. Right arm has actually been pretty good lately as well. I've had almost no tingling in the left hand, even after taking both dogs for a long run the other day and a leash in both hands. I was told I can go skiing now too. WOOHOO!!!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
About 7 weeks post op
Grip strength: 100 left, 150 right
The last doctors appointment two and a half weeks ago I didn't post anything on. The doctor said my symptoms were not typical, and you would think that the surgery corrected the issue and shouldn't feel additional tingling when I do activities like type on the computer or lightly use my arm. He thought maybe it was just my body saying "you are doing too much" and to give it another month or two.
I spent the last two weeks in PA. When back there I didn't use my arm much. I used it on the computer with no problems. I did some painting with it back East utilizing the arm lightly and had no problems. I came back to CA and used the arm a little bit more and bam. Today my hand felt worse and fingers tingly again.
So.. 7 weeks and still tingling. This tingling is not what I felt before surgery.. it is worse.. err should I say different. I didn't really feel specific pins and needles, that was rare, more numbness, lack of sensation and an irritated feeling. So.. I have to be careful with the arm. I was going to try to get the other arm operated on quickly.. but its best to wait and see outcome.. although I feel confident (hopeful) this will resolve itself.
The last doctors appointment two and a half weeks ago I didn't post anything on. The doctor said my symptoms were not typical, and you would think that the surgery corrected the issue and shouldn't feel additional tingling when I do activities like type on the computer or lightly use my arm. He thought maybe it was just my body saying "you are doing too much" and to give it another month or two.
I spent the last two weeks in PA. When back there I didn't use my arm much. I used it on the computer with no problems. I did some painting with it back East utilizing the arm lightly and had no problems. I came back to CA and used the arm a little bit more and bam. Today my hand felt worse and fingers tingly again.
So.. 7 weeks and still tingling. This tingling is not what I felt before surgery.. it is worse.. err should I say different. I didn't really feel specific pins and needles, that was rare, more numbness, lack of sensation and an irritated feeling. So.. I have to be careful with the arm. I was going to try to get the other arm operated on quickly.. but its best to wait and see outcome.. although I feel confident (hopeful) this will resolve itself.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Almost a month post-op for ulnar nerve transposistion - Second follow up appointment
Monday Night -
still the same pains that developed Friday. They were gone in the Am but even when I use the arm a little bit they are back. I thoughts maybe it is hypersensitivity from the nerve 'waking up' but I wouldn't have thought i had that much damage to do that.. since at times I felt very minimal symptoms (although more severe at other times of course - warranting surgery).
Who knows...
The thickness under the scar is getting smaller. I wish my fingers would feel normal all the time though. It felt like it was getting like that a week ago but since last friday has been worse again. Weird.
I can sleep ok now though without really any discomfort from the surgery.
still the same pains that developed Friday. They were gone in the Am but even when I use the arm a little bit they are back. I thoughts maybe it is hypersensitivity from the nerve 'waking up' but I wouldn't have thought i had that much damage to do that.. since at times I felt very minimal symptoms (although more severe at other times of course - warranting surgery).
Who knows...
The thickness under the scar is getting smaller. I wish my fingers would feel normal all the time though. It felt like it was getting like that a week ago but since last friday has been worse again. Weird.
I can sleep ok now though without really any discomfort from the surgery.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Unexpected Pain Today - Three Weeks + 2 days post-op for ulnar nerve transposistion - Second follow up appointment
Friday
At about 2 pm today at work started noticing arm feeling weird and getting worse. Within an hour or two I would hold out my hand and ring and pinky fingers were trembling and feeling tingly again. Its now 10 pm and I've been resting arm since work.. it still feels bad, like I took a step back about two weeks. It feels tighter again too. I can only think that I must have done something 'just right' and it caused it to swell - I've been using it a lot lately having to work late (without pain) and there was no single incident today that I can recall, although I was moving something in a room at work and remember noticing my forearm muscle was flexed.. so maybe I did work it a little too much... although I wasn't trying to 'push myself'.
A similar thing happened when I had in situ decompression performed on the other arm - I lifted something fairly soon after the surgery, and my hand got significantly worse and it actually swelled up Its hard to say if the swelling was from the surgery.. but it sure seemed like the day after the surgery it wasn't swollen, and two days later when I used the arm it swelled up.. which makes sense. You might be saying "duh.. dont push yourself" and I only used the arm because at the doctors office they said after surgery you can use it - your body will let you know if you shouldn't be doing something. So.. I guess it did. Even though the in situ felt so minor after the surgery - it really didn't seem that invasive.
So... Im taking ibuprofen probably at higher doses the next few days to help keep it down.
At about 2 pm today at work started noticing arm feeling weird and getting worse. Within an hour or two I would hold out my hand and ring and pinky fingers were trembling and feeling tingly again. Its now 10 pm and I've been resting arm since work.. it still feels bad, like I took a step back about two weeks. It feels tighter again too. I can only think that I must have done something 'just right' and it caused it to swell - I've been using it a lot lately having to work late (without pain) and there was no single incident today that I can recall, although I was moving something in a room at work and remember noticing my forearm muscle was flexed.. so maybe I did work it a little too much... although I wasn't trying to 'push myself'.
A similar thing happened when I had in situ decompression performed on the other arm - I lifted something fairly soon after the surgery, and my hand got significantly worse and it actually swelled up Its hard to say if the swelling was from the surgery.. but it sure seemed like the day after the surgery it wasn't swollen, and two days later when I used the arm it swelled up.. which makes sense. You might be saying "duh.. dont push yourself" and I only used the arm because at the doctors office they said after surgery you can use it - your body will let you know if you shouldn't be doing something. So.. I guess it did. Even though the in situ felt so minor after the surgery - it really didn't seem that invasive.
So... Im taking ibuprofen probably at higher doses the next few days to help keep it down.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Three Weeks post-op for ulnar nerve transposistion - Second follow up appointment
Wednesday
Its been three weeks, wow.. it has gone by fast.
I can do almost anything with my arm barring lifting anything heavy...not that it would hurt.. but Im not going to find out. The arm doesn't really hurt during any daily activity from the surgery.. unless I rest my elbow right on the sensitive portion of the scar. Interestingly enough there is still one stitch in there that didn't dissolve. The scar right around the elbow has gotten a little more inflamed from rubbing scar cream in it.. seems like even though it was 'sealed' it may still be healing on the outside, so I've switch to scar cream and triple antibiotic cream.
My left hand hasn't hurt at all, although Im not using it for anything heavy so don't expect to tell a big difference for a while.
At night my arm still burns some.. but also interesting, not where the surgery was, but midway down starting about 5 inches above my wrist. It is sore when I put pressure on it and hope its not a minor clot. I cant think of another reason why the incision area itself wouldn't hurt much but that spot would as it is lower and out of the way of the work that was performed.
Its been three weeks, wow.. it has gone by fast.
I can do almost anything with my arm barring lifting anything heavy...not that it would hurt.. but Im not going to find out. The arm doesn't really hurt during any daily activity from the surgery.. unless I rest my elbow right on the sensitive portion of the scar. Interestingly enough there is still one stitch in there that didn't dissolve. The scar right around the elbow has gotten a little more inflamed from rubbing scar cream in it.. seems like even though it was 'sealed' it may still be healing on the outside, so I've switch to scar cream and triple antibiotic cream.
My left hand hasn't hurt at all, although Im not using it for anything heavy so don't expect to tell a big difference for a while.
At night my arm still burns some.. but also interesting, not where the surgery was, but midway down starting about 5 inches above my wrist. It is sore when I put pressure on it and hope its not a minor clot. I cant think of another reason why the incision area itself wouldn't hurt much but that spot would as it is lower and out of the way of the work that was performed.
Friday, December 5, 2008
16 days post-op for ulnar nerve transposistion - Second follow up appointment
Friday
(ok.. these pics were the next day ... Saturday at a friends place I went over while he was brewing beer. He had a camera and my cell phone cam stinks and my camera is packed away somewhere from the last move)
Note the bruising is only up top.. none around the incision which I was very surprised at how it healed up so far. When I tap my finger above the part of the incision towards the bicep, I feel a tingle in my pinky and ring fingers. This is probably from the nerve still being sensitive and swelling/healing process going on.
I had the appointment to get the stitches out today. It turns out they were dissolving stitches and when the bandage was removed, there were no stitches. Its pretty amazing, there is basically no bruising at all around the incision. Its a little swollen, not too bad. Today I can reach my thumb back and touch my shoulder without any assistance from the other hand.
At the appointment I was told to still take it easy with the arm as it is healing still of course - but now I can use it to eat, lift things like a cup of water no problem. I asked if its ok to drive in two weeks - he had me squeeze his hand and said the strength seems pretty good so I could prob use it to drive now. Of course I was told if I do anything that hurts the arm - don't do it.
Tonight sitting at home my wrist started hurting after waking from a nap.. don't know why- but it hurt a decent amount so I took some ibuprofen.
My hand is slowly feeling less 'dull' (not from the nerve issue before surgery but after effects from the surgery)
The tip of my elbow is hypersensitive. When the prickly wheel was rolled across it.. it was pretty uncomfortable - which is weird because to the touch it feels pretty numb. The elbow is definitely swollen.. but it is a lot less than I thought it would be and am shocked there is basically no bruising except for the 'garbage' that is on the bicep area flowing towards the chest cavity from keeping the arm elevated (which I am no longer doing).
I was told today I can start putting cream on it. I used a little alcohol and q-tips to remove some of the pen lines after washing it twice. I purchased some scar cream with silicone and spf (it seems better creams have silicone in it to reduce scar formation). I had used ScarGard on a previous surgery but stopped quickly because it just flaked up and came off easily after applying it. I want to keep the area moisturized so the cream is pretty good for that rather than a brush-on dried up flaking scar treatment.
(ok.. these pics were the next day ... Saturday at a friends place I went over while he was brewing beer. He had a camera and my cell phone cam stinks and my camera is packed away somewhere from the last move)
Note the bruising is only up top.. none around the incision which I was very surprised at how it healed up so far. When I tap my finger above the part of the incision towards the bicep, I feel a tingle in my pinky and ring fingers. This is probably from the nerve still being sensitive and swelling/healing process going on.
I had the appointment to get the stitches out today. It turns out they were dissolving stitches and when the bandage was removed, there were no stitches. Its pretty amazing, there is basically no bruising at all around the incision. Its a little swollen, not too bad. Today I can reach my thumb back and touch my shoulder without any assistance from the other hand.
At the appointment I was told to still take it easy with the arm as it is healing still of course - but now I can use it to eat, lift things like a cup of water no problem. I asked if its ok to drive in two weeks - he had me squeeze his hand and said the strength seems pretty good so I could prob use it to drive now. Of course I was told if I do anything that hurts the arm - don't do it.
Tonight sitting at home my wrist started hurting after waking from a nap.. don't know why- but it hurt a decent amount so I took some ibuprofen.
My hand is slowly feeling less 'dull' (not from the nerve issue before surgery but after effects from the surgery)
The tip of my elbow is hypersensitive. When the prickly wheel was rolled across it.. it was pretty uncomfortable - which is weird because to the touch it feels pretty numb. The elbow is definitely swollen.. but it is a lot less than I thought it would be and am shocked there is basically no bruising except for the 'garbage' that is on the bicep area flowing towards the chest cavity from keeping the arm elevated (which I am no longer doing).
I was told today I can start putting cream on it. I used a little alcohol and q-tips to remove some of the pen lines after washing it twice. I purchased some scar cream with silicone and spf (it seems better creams have silicone in it to reduce scar formation). I had used ScarGard on a previous surgery but stopped quickly because it just flaked up and came off easily after applying it. I want to keep the area moisturized so the cream is pretty good for that rather than a brush-on dried up flaking scar treatment.
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