The Cheese

In 1999 I had the very first surgery of my life.  And a few months later I had my second.  I had carpal tunnel surgery on both of my hands.  My mom had the same surgery on both of her hands, so I have to wonder if it was partly hereditary. 

Before the surgery, my hands would go to sleep all the time.  When I was cooking, scrapbooking, and especially typing.  Night was the worst.  I would wake up and they would be completely numb.  It was so uncomfortable. 

I went to a doctor about it in 1999.  I had to wear a brace for a while, which didn’t help.  Finally my insurance approved the surgery.  Each hand was done separately in out-patient surgeries.  After the surgery, I had to wear a “club.”  My whole hand was wrapped up and I couldn’t use it at all. 

I was also supposed to keep it propped up.  To aid in this, I was given a foam block.  My children quickly dubbed it “The Cheese.” 

 

Those 10 days after each surgery were so hard, but most especially when my right hand was done.  I couldn’t curl my hair on my own and I couldn’t bathe on my own.  My husband was so sweet to bathe me, especially when I would sit there and cry because I was so helpless. My mom and my sisters came over and curled my hair for me. I had to put my make up on with the wrong hand, I had to eat with the wrong hand, and I had to wipe with the wrong hand.  To make matters worse, Aunt Flo came to visit and I had to take care of that with the wrong hand.  Ever tried that?  Don’t.  It’s not pretty.

But I am so happy I had the surgery done.  My hands felt so much better and they didn’t go numb anymore.  I was so happy.  I had several people tell me they had the surgery and regretted it because they didn’t have the strength in their hand anymore.  I did not have that problem.  My surgeon said that if I wanted my hands to get back to normal, I had to use them like normal.  And I did.  I had 3 little kids ages 5, 2, and 4 months.  I couldn’t baby my hands because I had them to take care of!  They got back to normal quickly and I haven’t had any problems since then.