Getting Disarmed Mon, Sep 28. 2009

How'd I do that? Well, it starts with:

I signed up as a Costco member because I wanted to use the photolab and get an alternate credit-card (since Mastercard killed mine just before I got the stereo for the Element.)
Since Stef and I have the same address on our drivers' licenses, I figured I'd save him the $45 and get him in on my membership for free.
A couple weeks later, at a family dinner, he's talking about how there's this couch at Costco he wants to buy
Dad: [Incredulous] You're going to buy a couch?
Stef: [Excited] Yeah! It's awesome
Dad: How're you going to get it home?
Myke: Yeah Stef - how's that going to happen? Like the way your HDTV fit into your Camry in my Element?

Stef: It's okay, I've figured it out
Dad: Yeah?
Stef: Yeah - I measured too, it'll be fine. I'll bring it home in the Element!
Myke: ...
A few weeks later... (Friday, August 21st 2009)

A few hours later...

Since the boxes were so big, only one would fit in the Element at a time, and I actually had to remove the back seats (never done that before) to get one in. So K & I took the first box to the garage at Condor, went back, picked up the second box, took it to Stef's apartment, got the first box at Condor, then it stuck while trying to take it out of the elevator at Stef's apartment.
Box stuck in door. Stef stuck inside. Elevator door mercilessly trying to close. Time to rip the box.
I cut a little edge to get it started, and then tore a strip off... and dislocated something in my wrist and pinched a nerve. K, who was about 15 feet away knew something happened right away. It hurt, it spazzed, but I figured I could shake it off.
Sat down for a couple minutes on Stef's old couch, iced it a bit and went home.

By Sunday (Aug 23rd) it was clear that things weren't getting better, I resolved to visit a walk-in clinic on Monday (since my GP is useless - open maybe 8 hours a week - doesn't accept voice-mails)
That doc didn't even look at it. Offered me drugs and referred me to a sports doc.
Fast forward 5 weeks till now... the pain has only been getting worse and I've been using my arm less and less. And still nothing from the doctor's. I applied some pressure to both the referring physician and who he'd referred me to... the latter of which said not to worry, they weren't booking appointments until December anyway.
December? Uncool.
Meanwhile I'm doing some computer consulting work for a cardiologist who moonlights as a sports-team physician (as well as being a Member of Canada and Queen's Jubilee award winner, etc... etc...) - and I finally asked him for some help, because I couldn't wait till December for an initial consult. He gave me the names of 2 docs/clinics, I called and was seen within a few hours. Very awesome.
What's not so awesome is what could be wrong, there's two running theories right now: Scapholunate Disassociation or some form of TFCC injury. Both basically involve long-arm casting or surgery... or both.
I've had X-Rays (waiting for them to be read), a script for physiotherapy (that I'm not supposed to start until the X-Rays are read) and I'm being booked for an MRI (ETA: 1 week to 1 year...)
For now I've got some sexy arm candy...

I talked with a guy (in his 30s I'd guess) who had a short-arm cast, including this thumb. He broke his scaphoid in May and has been in a cast since. Why so long? Because that's how long it take to heal.
And I was all whiny that I wasn't going to be able to go skiing this winter...
I should've made Stef spend the $45 on his own membership. At least I got two cartons of Dentyne out of it.

More updates & X-Ray images to come.
#1 - DW 2009-09-29 00:05 - (Reply)
well it is a nice couch in an attempt to look on the bright side i don't know much about Scapholunate Disassociation, as I have not had much experience with it, but I do know a little about TFCC injury and you would be looking at roughly 6 months in a cast (depending on the form and severity). I can always talk to one of the physiotherapist and see what sort of treatment could be started (if your casted) after the xray has been read and get back to you on all the info I can gather.
I hope that you are at least feeling some pain relief with you sexy arm gear
#2 - Ron 2009-12-31 15:54 - (Reply)
Hope your arm is feeling better. What are they doing for the tendinitis?
#2.1 - Mike Geiger said:
2009-12-31 19:02 - (Reply)
TENS mostly. I haven't been able to start hand-therapy primarily because of Christmas, secondarily because it seems most OTs are intent on solving MVA or workplace injuries, and thirdly because I no longer have insurance coverage and this stuff gets expensive.
www.mike.geiger.ca on : PingBack
Myke's 'blob. on : "Will it hurt? No, I won't feel a thing."
Myke's 'blob. on : Of mending hearts and hands
Myke's 'blob. on : It's Safe To Say It's Over