Ulog 162: Pending Surgery Has Me Thinking/Planning Ahead

Yesterday I had an appointment to have a second EMG test to compare the numbers from six months ago when I had my first EMG to check for nerve damage concerns on my left hand and fingers. The news was good and bad. Luckily no further damage has been done to my thmb and index finger, but the feeling in my pinky and ring fingers has started to deteriorate.

And on top of the response to the electrodes on those two fingers, I have also developed carpal tunnel in my left wrist due to the loss of activity, bad circulation from the nerve damage and now I am being sent to see an orthopedic surgeon. So this wrist brace is my new best friend; not very well liked or appreciated, but it will be with me until I see the surgeon. Date to be determined as I am waiting for approval from my health insurance for the referral.

According to John Hopkins Medical website; an EMG test is as follows:

Electromyography (EMG) measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle. The test is used to help detect neuromuscular abnormalities. During the test, one or more small needles (also called electrodes) are inserted through the skin into the muscle. The electrical activity picked up by the electrodes is then displayed on an oscilloscope (a monitor that displays electrical activity in the form of waves). An audio-amplifier is used so the activity can be heard.EMG measures the electrical activity of muscle during rest, slight contraction and forceful contraction. Muscle tissue does not normally produce electrical signals during rest. When an electrode is inserted, a brief period of activity can be seen on the oscilloscope, but after that, no signal should be present

Surgery Needed?

Ulnar Nerve Transposition

Luckily this is an outpatient procedure.

The main purpose of the surgery is to reposition the ulnar nerve, relieving it from compression or damage

How Will This Effect Me?

a full recovery following ulnar nerve transposition will take 3 to 6 months

This takes me well into late winter, if not early spring time.

What Will Be Effected For Me?..

• Writing is my life- tapping on the keyboards is what I do
• Cooking & baking- I'm a homemaker
• Chores- again, I'm a homemaker
• Lifting- Oh man... this one will get me I will be without the use of my hand and arm for quite some time while I recover

Even thought this is my left hand and fingers (elbow) being affected by the surgery, and I am right-hand dominant, I never realized just how much I rely on my left hand for work, chores and every day activities.

So for the next week or so, until I find out when I go see the orthopedic surgeon, I will be making lists of things I need to get done to stay ahead of the game; so to speak.

I'll be planning out easy meals, getting the more difficult tasks done around here (thank goodness canning season has ended) and I'll be prepping the house (and the husband) for what I can or cannot do during the recovery time.

As for writing and blogging (and being @qurator's newsletter writer)? I will continue on; just at a much slower pace. Where the newsletter takes me under 30 minutes to do every day; I will have to allow myself more time. Blogging on my page will be the same. I will have to halt some other freelancing/writing gigs, but I will persevere.

I still can't believe this all stems from my auto collision. I mean... _really?
But according to my rehabilitation doctor... yup, sure is.

So onward and upward... I'll get through this and hopefully have the feeling return to my hand and fingers so I can put this past me.

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