can't use right hand for a while

[tctrek]

if typing looks funny it's because i finally went and had the trigger finger surgery on my right hand and can only use left hand. braking and shifting with right hand had become so painful, i really needed to have it done. still, now i cannot use my right hand at all for a while. the surgery was pretty easy, and as long as i keep my hand elevated i have no pain at all. but the bandage is huge (to protect it), so there's nothing i can do with right hand.

suddenly, you realize that you can't open a bottle or put your hair in a ponytail or hook you bra or open a can of cat food! luckily, dh works from home and is helping me with the trivial things.

its pouring rain today as though to tell me "you can't ride anyway"... so trying to read a book and not get too depressed. i have a new respect for girls having shoulder and knee surgery... it's tough to think about recovering and keeping optimism.

ideas for staying upbeat for 3 weeks?

[tulip]

I'm in a similar situation, without the surgery part thankfully. I can't use my right hand because of tendonitis in my wrist and elbow.

I am slowing down alot and deciding what is really important as I move through my day. For exercise, that means Pilates and tai-chi. Yoga's mostly out. I also got a trainer and do two short rides per day, adapted to not hurt my wrist and elbow. For work, same thing--what is most important to get done? Let the other stuff go. I've found it very useful and it's good to focus like that. I've become quite adept at using the computer mouse with my left hand. I will continue that because bad right mousing got me to this point.

Hairdryer is not being used. Dog gets walked on my left.

Things take longer. That's okay.

[OakLeaf]

Just be careful - when I had one hand immobilized for several weeks, I wound up with tendinitis and a lot of trigger points in the other elbow and forearm, not only from general overuse, but from doing so many things upside down.

Hope you heal up quick!

[tctrek]

i could see my left side getting hurt.. i am soooooooo right-handed! everything is clumsy and "upside down" with left. i've figured out that my right elbow can hold on to things.. like hold down a piece of mail while i hack at it with my left hand. my left hand is ridiculously weak.

[lph]

hmmm - keep a log of all the things you can do with one hand? Don't let people help you unless you really need it, but give it a shot and see if you can figure out a way of doing it yourself?

There's nothing wrong with dependent on other people for a short while, but it's a lot more fun and keeps your mind busy figuring out how to do things in a different way.

And don't forget that the rest of your body works fine, and a bout of endorphins is good for what ails you - go out there and walk, or go spinning, or whatever!

This helped me through some weeks with a cast anyway.

[OakLeaf]

One thing's for sure, it helps if you're not shy about doing things with your teeth (I never have been ).

[Raindrop]

I will probably end up having surgery on my trigger thumb early next year. What was the timeline for recovery? I was hoping to only be out of work for about a week.