Had my first PT appt today
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Nah, something is wrong again. I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity. I really like this surgeon and he does want this to work. But he's not going to conflict too strongly with his PT team and there can never be any proof of anything anyway. I can't twitch the thumb anymore. That got a shrug and a positive thoughts reaction from the surgeon yesterday. It will take time before the fact that the joint is non functional is accepted. I am familiar with this process from last time. Maybe there will be another procedure. I have three months of free medical care, so there's at least that.
Education is extremely important.
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Nah, something is wrong again. I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity. I really like this surgeon and he does want this to work. But he's not going to conflict too strongly with his PT team and there can never be any proof of anything anyway. I can't twitch the thumb anymore. That got a shrug and a positive thoughts reaction from the surgeon yesterday. It will take time before the fact that the joint is non functional is accepted. I am familiar with this process from last time. Maybe there will be another procedure. I have three months of free medical care, so there's at least that.
@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity
The surgeon MUST be made aware of this. If the PT did damage, he should stop referring patients to that organization, or that therapist's qualifications/abilities should be re-examined.
Also, does the surgeon say "Wait, and see how it goes?"
The problem with tendon injuries is that if they're not repaired, the tendon can atrophy and become useless for further repair. That's the physiology of rotator cuff arthropathy. If the rotator cuff repair is delayed, the tendons turn to mush, and won't hold a suture. I'd see him again ASAP.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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Nah, something is wrong again. I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity. I really like this surgeon and he does want this to work. But he's not going to conflict too strongly with his PT team and there can never be any proof of anything anyway. I can't twitch the thumb anymore. That got a shrug and a positive thoughts reaction from the surgeon yesterday. It will take time before the fact that the joint is non functional is accepted. I am familiar with this process from last time. Maybe there will be another procedure. I have three months of free medical care, so there's at least that.
@Horace
So sorry to hear this!!I will continue to send positive thoughts to you and your thumb!!!
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I'm doing what I can. If you haven't experienced the wall of positive thinking assumptions you may not respect how high and solid it is. I am reminded of the old story of investigative journalists embedding themselves in insane asylums to study them from the inside. Turns out, it's actually not possible to convince anybody there you're sane, even if you are. In that same vein, it's difficult to convince physical therapists or even the surgeon that the repair failed. There is no demonstrable lack of function that will convince them, until some certain amount of time has passed. I was very direct with the PT today that I am worried that there is another discontinuity. I demonstrated my lack of ability to twitch the joint. She is not convinced. I asked her to relay my concerns to the surgeon, even if she thought I was being paranoid. I have already relayed those concerns to him yesterday. This is the same dance I went through with the last surgeon/pt team. That time, I allowed myself to question my conclusions a little but this time I am just depressed about the whole thing. I won't be giving up and there is yet more time for another free procedure this year. Good thing they don't jack up health insurance rates like they do for car insurance, when you use it.
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I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
Education is extremely important.
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@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity
The surgeon MUST be made aware of this. If the PT did damage, he should stop referring patients to that organization, or that therapist's qualifications/abilities should be re-examined.
Also, does the surgeon say "Wait, and see how it goes?"
The problem with tendon injuries is that if they're not repaired, the tendon can atrophy and become useless for further repair. That's the physiology of rotator cuff arthropathy. If the rotator cuff repair is delayed, the tendons turn to mush, and won't hold a suture. I'd see him again ASAP.
@George-K said in Had my first PT appt today:
@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity
The surgeon MUST be made aware of this. If the PT did damage, he should stop referring patients to that organization, or that therapist's qualifications/abilities should be re-examined.
Also, does the surgeon say "Wait, and see how it goes?"
The problem with tendon injuries is that if they're not repaired, the tendon can atrophy and become useless for further repair. That's the physiology of rotator cuff arthropathy. If the rotator cuff repair is delayed, the tendons turn to mush, and won't hold a suture. I'd see him again ASAP.
This.
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I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
I'm very non-pushy too in RL and generally sit silently stewing rather than get something done, but I think with medical issues you really have to be your own advocate when something isn't right.
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I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
If I were nearby I’d be glad to go with you as your pushy bastard companion.
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@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
If I were nearby I’d be glad to go with you as your pushy bastard companion.
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I wish I could go with you, Horace. I'm soft-spoken, but I get things resolved, even with people who try to stonewall. There's always a way. I've worked with doctors, state legislators, and state departments (even got a significant contractual concession from our MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development, which I was told couldn't happen). Heck, I even took on Governor Ventura and got applause from the group of attendees at the Governor's mansion. Hubby always has me do our negotiating.
Really, I wish I lived close enough. People always underestimate me, until they learn. You'll get what you need, and you'll be entertained.
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Thanks Brenda. I have no doubt you would be a valuable friend in many situations. My wife too wanted to go with me. She is an assertive negotiator as well. (I think this characteristic may be more common in Chinese culture.)
But, I do have good news. I can twitch my thumb. I think the problem that started after the first PT appt was a matter of swelling somewhere along the line of the tendon sheath, around the wrist. This swelling wasn't as present immediately after the surgery but maybe increased in the following several days. There is clearly a connection there at the thumb, so while I think her pressing into the repair was ill advised, it does not appear to have broken the connection. So, I suppose my temperate reaction prevented a little embarrassment as time did in fact fix this one. The joint is still super weak, but that's normal. we'll see how much function I have eight weeks from now.
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I have pretty severe arthritis in the thumb - and wear a brace on the hand at night. I also apply Arnicare - a topical anti-inflamatory. Mind you, I'm not a wholistic anything - and the combo have really helped me. I found out that some of the lotions that massage therapists use on people also contain arnicare - helps to make the person feel even better about their massages. In any event, the brace and arnicare have made a huge difference in my mobility. I thought I was done with piano - but I'm back - can't play some of the things I used to, but I can play a lot more than I though I'd be able to based on where I was a couple of years ago.
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Horace, you don't strike me as a shy guy. In any event, I'm super encouraged to hear that your thumb is twitching. Hand surgery and rehab is a challenging business so I hope you have the best people taking care of you.
@kluurs said in Had my first PT appt today:
I'm super encouraged to hear that your thumb is twitching.
Me too. That is good news!!
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That's wonderful news, Horace. I'm not as patient as I should be with medical stuff, so good for you that you are. Thank you for the update, and continue to keep us posted on progress.
I'll go unpack my suitcase for now, but I'll keep it handy for a while yet.
