Tag Archives: joints

New Thumb Brace and Some Hope

For those of you not following my Instagram (which, why not?), I did get in to see the hand specialist on the 16th! It was much sooner than I expected to be able to see them.

After a physical exam and some x-rays, it was determined that my thumb is actually … okay. Well, it’s probably recurring tendonitis or something like that. He said I could do an MRI if I wanted, but since my thumb was starting to feel better already I figured it probably wouldn’t show anything (though the next time it flares up badly I’m going to request one). My other options were to do nothing, request specific occupational therapy or physical therapy, or steroid injections. I didn’t like any of those options so I was trying to be more specific about how I can’t even write because it hurts too much.

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Update About “Internal Struggle”

Previous Post: Internal Struggle

My mom decided to unfollow my blog. She wasn’t upset, but she didn’t want me to feel like I needed to hold back. While I’m kind of relieved, because now I can be completely honest without stressing about the tenuous relationship I have with my family… I’m unsure about how communication is going to work regarding my illnesses and such now. Oh well, I guess we’ll see. Maybe now we’ll actually talk.

I do have a post I’m trying to figure out how to structure. It might turn into a series of posts. Recently, I’ve been struggling at coming to terms with my Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) (potential EDS). Why have I been struggling? Because it’s a condition I was born with and that means I have had it my entire life. Why is that a struggle? Because I didn’t get diagnosed until just recently, even though I’ve had symptoms and very definitive signs my entire life. Yeah. So I’m trying to figure out how to structure the post/series properly and how to make it informative and therapeutic. It’s been a major part of my thinking lately, which is why I haven’t really been posting.

Well, I also haven’t been posting much because I’ve been in a pain and Tramadol induced haze for the past several days due to my back. Stupid back.

Hopefully, things will start to come together soon.

Making Lizz Stronger with Pilates

I’m so crazy sore from skiing on Monday! I used muscles I haven’t really used in three years. Ouch! The last time I went skiing was March 2013. Crazy how many unique muscles it uses! Thankfully, it’s just the type of sore from working out hard, not from fibro or anything like that! Pilates helped me dramatically. I don’t think I could have lasted as long as I did if I hadn’t been doing Pilates. Seriously, Pilates is changing my life in so many amazing ways! Everyone should try it!!!!

In fact, I was able to do a Pilates reformer class today (a gentle one called “Pilates for Recovery” led by Joleen). I was completely shocked I was able to do everything! Sure, some of my range of motion was restricted so I could maintain proper form (fatigued muscles get super shaky), but I didn’t have to completely sit out anything. Joleen was even impressed at how well I did!

sidepic_pilates-reformer-stretch

This is a reformer.

The class was fantastic and relatively easy. It gave me a good workout, but in a very gentle and accessible way. I think I’m going to add it into my weekly routine; I’ll have to discuss with Joleen if she thinks I could do that. So, hopefully, I will be doing Pilates Beginner Mat class every other Monday (or two Mondays in a row) alternating with private sessions, then Pilates Reformer for Recovery every Wednesday. I’m also hoping to add back in the biking on Fridays. My body finally seems to be getting stronger and more capable! I’ll keep ya’ll posted of course.

New-ish Diagnoses

These diagnoses aren’t new, actually, but I just found out about them. These two new-ish diagnoses are joint hypermobility syndrome (I will often shorten it to JHS) and inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST).

Joint hypermobility syndrome, which I wrote a little about in the Writing 101 assignment Why Do I Write?. I have always been very flexible, but for some reason having a name makes things make more sense. Dr Spencer thinks it is possible I might have Ehler-Danlos, but the genetic testing is expensive and it wouldn’t change any of my treatments anyway. JHS is a congenital condition that just makes all of my joints extra loose.

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Thumb Brace

My thumb is still having issues … Like I expected. These cramp things last for quite a while usually. For some reason, I’d never purchased a thumb brace, even though this is a fairly common problem. I have one now though!

Thumb Brace

It’s not beautiful, but it seems to be doing the trick. Writing is still painful, but much more bearable with the brace. Hopefully I can paint in it too.

The Thumb Thing

For YEARS I have had a weird thumb issue. Every now and then my thumb seems to cramp up or get tendinitis of some sort, and becomes excruciating for quite a few days. My husband is always wondering if it’s my phone, but I don’t think it is. I didn’t have texting available when I started getting these issues when I was in junior high (didn’t have a phone). I was a prolific writer, of mostly therapeutic fiction and poetry, and it’s the thumb on my right hand only. It would happen mostly after lots of writing. Now, while I definitely say it’s aggravated by my phone, it seems to happen after painting. I have no idea why. I’m going to have to ask Joleen on Monday. I’m going to attempt to splint it so that I don’t injure it more accidentally… ugh. Typing is going to be interesting for my homework.

Any ideas?

The Wrist Issue

Yesterday, Joleen looked at my wrist. We spent the entire session working on my wrist, because I can’t actually get a full range of motion without using my other hand to assist it. However, good news, she really doubts it is either broken or sprained. Apparently, massaging the joint and myofascial tissues in the arm will usually feel soft inside if there is a break or sprain, mine was the exact opposite of soft. She thinks I did something (probably something normal) that just scared the muscles in my arm, wrist, and shoulder, which made them seize up and pinch my nerves.

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Ugh, the pain…

So I somehow did something to my wrist… or at least it thinks I did. During Pilates on Monday my right wrist acted up, so Joleen was able to take a look at it. She doesn’t think my bones move properly (like the rest of the bones in my body haha, sigh), which is causing them to pinch nerves. Then, late that night, my left wrist started hurting. It was a different pain, just kind of felt like I jammed it. Well, it STILL hurts so badly that I have been wearing my brace almost constantly (it’s been giving me a heat rash type of thing, so I’ve had to take breaks) since Monday night. I am starting to wonder what’s wrong with it. I’m going to have Joleen take a peak at it on Monday, which is our next one-on-one session… but until then, I’m stuck with this excruciating pain in my wrist. I’ve been doing my best to hide the magnitude of the pain, because I don’t want to pay for an Urgent Care visit (it just doesn’t feel that urgent, honestly, but it probably is more so than I am allowing) nor do I want to worry Dan. He can tell it’s really bad though, I can’t hide all of the winces and exclamations…

Just… need… to… make… it… to… Monday!

At least I can take pain meds now 😉