For those of you who have been concerned & prayerful about my wrist injury, I finally have some answers:
After MRI & CAT imaging, my doctor & I discussed the painful event that happened last September, problems that had been developing long before that, and the conditions I have now as I move forward. First, here’s a recap of what happened:
Last September, while working on a very physical private job for a friend, I hurt my wrist while using a small pry bar to remove some ¾” subfloor. It was super stubborn, and I was too frustrated & impatient to go out to the trailer to get Bertha (yes, I have names for some of my tools…in this case it’s the really big yellow pry bar), so I just pushed as hard as I could. Something in my wrist gave way with searing pain, and I yelled so loud my buddy thought I fell off the balcony. The pain subsided to a tolerable level after about 5 minutes, so I just kept working. Things like that happen all the time when you’re a contractor…little tweaks & pulls here & there…and they most often heal themselves after a few days. Well, this one never went away. I was very busy with Catalyst projects all the way into early December, and the nagging hitch in my right wrist was more of a nuisance that and inhibitor. But by then I was genuinely worried about it, because it wasn’t healing. That’s when I got it checked-out initially by a doctor, and started wearing the soft-cast in mid-December for a month. That didn’t do the trick so they put me in a hard-cast from mid-January to mid-February. After recovering from that, the pain came back and I have been in limbo ever since (3 ½ months). Honestly, I feel like it’s getting a little better every day, and I’m fine doing most daily tasks now with little or no pain….I’m even swimming at 100% now, and lifting up to 12.5 pounds with my right hand! But without knowing what’s going on in there, I’ve been reluctant to push it for fear of reinjuring something and reversing the recovery process. Well, now I have answers:
1) THE INJURIES – Surprisingly, MRI and CT did not reveal ligament damage, as was suspected. There are two injuries in there that could have been caused by my incident last September. Either one of them could have happened at that time, or both simultaneously.
- HEALED MICRO-FRACTURE: There is a small nib of bone sticking out from the tip of my scaphoid bone, which is surrounded by a little sac of fluid (edema). The scaphoid is one of those little bones in the wrist, surrounded by other little bones. It’s the one closest to the base of the thumb. The doctor says that this little bony nib probably broke off the main scaphoid bone but stayed in place, and was eventually fused back into the rest of the bone. This was probably helped tremendously by the casting….especially the hard cast. I asked if this could be surgically removed, and he said it’s not necessary because it’s not “in the way” of natural movement…and also that the procedure would be invasive enough that it could create more problems than it would cure.
- RUPTURED CARTILAGE: There is a hole in the cartilage between my scaphoid bone and one of the other little bones. The cartilage in this joint – called the TSS or “Triscaphe” joint – was very thin to begin with, but it was broken through, resulting in a bone-on-bone situation in the middle. There is no procedure for fixing or replacing this cartilage. The only procedure to fix this joint is to fuse the two bones….which he did not recommend for a 48 year old. I may have to get this done later.
2) ARTHRITIS – Apparently, I already have moderate arthritis in both wrists (they were both x-rayed). This certainly contributed to the thin-ness of the cartilage in my TSS joint, but is present in both wrists. There is no treatment to fix it, and it will only get worse with time. What I CAN do is find ways to minimize its effects, and avoid activities that cause it to flare-up or accelerate. He said I would probably benefit from occasional cortisone shots into the TSS joint…which sounds real fun.
3) MOVING FORWARD – This can be summed-up by the Ortho-Doc’s question to me “So, do you have the ability to move into a management role with your construction work so you aren’t doing so much of the physical jobs yourself?” Wow, I could hardly believe my ears! I’m the guy who carries the heavy stuff and sets the tone for hard labor, and you’re telling me to start slowing down to let the “young guys” do it….and I’m not even 50 yet! Oh well. With two injuries and arthritis that will not go away, here are my marching orders:
- Get cortisone shot, and continue rebuilding strength and mobility slowly.
- Avoid tasks that require super-heavy lifting, rapid torsion, or jarring of the wrist. Things like framing, using jack-hammers & hammer-drills, lifting & carrying heavy stuff, etc. I can do most things, as long as I go a bit slower and surround myself with people who can do the heavy stuff.
- Become ambidextrous with my left hand
- Find ways to strengthen the wrist and keep it limber
Following is some of my introspection…. Psycho-babble and spiritual reflection for those who are interested:
I haven’t done any work, or lifted anything heavy, for 3 ½ months….waiting for a prognosis of what happened and how to move forward. If you know me well, you know how difficult this has been for me….I’m totally hyper, and anything that puts me down is like torture. It’s been incredibly disruptive to my life as a contractor, and I’ve struggled emotionally through the implications of having a permanent disability in my dominant hand. Personally, I’ve lost income (and opportunity for income) from side-jobs and haven’t been able to be very helpful around the house. Professionally, It’s put a wrench in the gears of Catalyst Partnerships….slowing down what has become quite a big construction machine with my able body in the middle of everything. I must say, however, that in the long-run this has been good for Catalyst, and for me. For Catalyst, because I have been absolutely forced to delegate more effectively and think outside the box of depending on myself. Whether I have a strong wrist or not, this is the way things need to move in the future. I am surrounded by wonderful & capable people, and my greatest strength is not actually my strength….but my ability to inspire the strength of others. It’s also been good for me internally.
Like most other people, I get a lot of satisfaction & self-esteem from what I accomplish; and while this has some good components, it can be a snare as well. All my life, I’ve struggled at times to believe that I’m good enough, and have been overly dependent upon my accomplishments to define my worth & identity. This is the birthplace for how driven I am in all areas of life. The season of struggle I have been in with my wrist has forced me deeper into my relationship with my Creator, who reminds me daily that my goodness and blessedness does not come from what I produce or who I am….but it comes from Him, period. Every one of us has limitations. Some limitations are minor – like an injured wrist or bad eyesight or a small bank account. Other limitations are major – like the loss of a limb or death of a spouse or downs syndrome. None of these limitations determine our worth or our identity, and each of us is love by God equally. God created each one of us, and loves us tremendously for who we are regardless of how we use what He’s given us. Certainly, He is greatly pleased when we use His gifts wisely and follow His path, and His rewards follow His pleasure & promises. But our worth & identity are constants because of who HE IS…not who we are. This has been good for me, and I want to live in the emotional & spiritual health of this lesson regardless of what happens with my wrist.
7 replies on “Answers About My Wrist”
Quite a story, Shawn! This is the first I've actually learned of the details of you're wrist injury and to what extent it has affected your life. I am very sorry for what has happened to you!
Speaking of tough questions or maybe not for you, I am interested in what questions you've asked yourself, your wife, your friends, God and anyone else since this Has happened. Also, if you're up for it, I have a few I'd like to ask but want to hear yours first.
gearsdad
A while back, I was in a tavern watching some Monday Night Football. I started a conversation with a 27 year old man standing next to me. "Religion" came into that conversation and at one point he asked me this question. Are you one of those Christians who is going to ask me to receive Jesus into my heart as my Savior and that if I don't, I'm going to Hell? I said that I wasn't thinking of it right at that time but did believe what he said was true and part of what I was taught and raised in, my Dad having been a minister. He then told me he used to have some Christian friends he hung around with who told him the same thing and after he didn't 'receive Jesus' they stopped 'hanging' within. Next, he got fairly emotional asking me why he should believe in a God who tragically took his dad from him when he was 13 years old. Adding, you expect me to believe in your God and that He's a God of love? How can you explain that to me? Lastly, he said, "And by the way, I'm gay, so now I bet you don't want to talk with me anymore either, right?" I told him I would certainly talk as long as he wanted to.
There was more to our conversation, I tried to listen and understand, realizing he was a very hurting person. I really wanted to listen and respond, or not respond, the way I thought Jesus would or wouldn't respond and sensed that Holy Spirit was 'very present.' I felt like my listening and the way I did respond was used and really seemed to have an impact on him. I guess I did't want to have the typical, 'pat Christian answer response' that I think many times may do more harm than good for the sake of the Gospel. I wanted to demonstrate that I really did care and hoped he could see more of Jesus in me. Does that make sense and what do you think?
…….they stopped 'hanging' with HIM.
I think that's beautiful….exactly what Jesus would have done. He told you that his old friends abandoned him when he didn't believe what they did…christians do that all the time when their more concerned with making converts than friends. You demonstrated that you wanted to be his friend. In my experience, seeking quick conversions with strangers is rude and ineffective. We would do better by befriending those with different beliefs, serving them, and trusting God with the results.
Thx for the encouragement! Regarding your comment,…"more concerned with making converts than friends." In what most of Christendom calls the Great Commission, Jesus told the 11 apostles (interesting why another guy was later added to make 12 again) to,…"make disciples of all nations (beginning at Jerusalem, Luke 24:47).
As I see it, the whole idea was to go OUT into the world to reach the unsaved first and then bring them INTO the church, not to bring the unsaved into the church to get converted. To do that requires the 'building of relationships.' The church (me) seems to be good (at best) in trying to continually disciple believers within the walls of the church. The emphasis is on 'building relationships,' which we do with our Christian friends. I think that's where the 'holy huddle' comes into play. How many close relationships are we (I) building with non-believers outside those walls? Not enough because that takes my time, willingness to sacrifice, it's inconvenient and I may have to get my clothes dirty, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. I John 2:6
you said it!
you said it!