I'm having arm surgery on April 21

17 years ago

Some of you might remember that last July I fell on cement steps at a church potluck when I was carrying an empty glass baking dish. I sustained a severe laceration to my right wrist and forearm. I was sent to Des Moines to a vascular surgeon because I had a severed artery along with a severed tendon and nerve.

Since then I have been getting occupational therapy and a few months ago it became evident that the nerve was not regenerating. I had a consultation this week in St. Louis with a plastic surgeon who does nerve transplants in injured limbs. She said she can fix the nerve and also move a tendon so I have more strength in my thumb. It will be wonderful to have feeling in my little finger and my entire hand. She said the surgery will be extensive and I will have several scars on my arm. I don't care how many scars I have. For 4 weeks after the surgery I will have my arm splinted from my upper arm to my fingers to keep it all immobile. Yikes!

A friend went to St Louis with me this week and we enjoyed seeing the arch there and visited Hannibal on our way home. Next trip we are going there two days early to do more sightseeing before my surgery.

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Comments (22)

nodakgal
17 years ago
Gosh Linda I was SO hoping your arm would be back to normal by now.
I am sure you hate the thought of more surgery, but if thats what it takes, guess you gotta do it.
Good Luck with the surgery and don't forget to post and let us know how you're doing after wards!! (even if you gotta do the hunt and peck with your left hand!)
glenda_al
17 years ago
Sending you special good luck thoughts, Linda!
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You have my heartfelt sympathy!! I shattered my knee a year ago in November - total misery having to stay off it. Now.....I need the pins out and keep putting off surgery...I too will need to stay on couch for a couple of weeks - big incision on kneecap so cant bend. I suggest you get your pots ready with soil in them to plant - 10 shoulnt take that much time. I have lost count of the ones I have coming....Can you have the roses shipped earlier? You can get everything on the deck, get a chair by the water spigot and water from there. I couldnt stand it and hopped around on crutches and planted 4 roses that came in 2 weeks after surgery. Just organize everything and it may not be as bad as you anticipate. Pile up lots of gardening magazines and books to read! Good luck..... Judith
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phyllis__mn
17 years ago
It sounds like a good option, in order to get the use of your hand back to normal. Good luck, and enjoy the road trips!
grammahony
17 years ago
Good luck Linda, and I hope things go well with the surgery. Keep in touch.
Leslie
tami_ohio
17 years ago
Wishing you all the best with the surgery!
Linda Wayman
17 years ago
Good luck Linda. I hope everything goes well for you.

Linda
alisande
17 years ago
I remember your fall well. It's scary how one quick slip can have such repercussions. Of course, we can always say, "It could have been worse," and that's almost always true. But it doesn't minimize what you've gone through. I'm sorry your injury hasn't yet healed completely, but glad you found someone who can fix it. Keep us posted!
wanda_va
17 years ago
Linda, you will be in my prayers for a successful operation and painless recuperation. The splint doesn't sound like fun. How can you make quilts with a split on your arm??? Hugs!
jannie
17 years ago
Wishing you good luck with the surgery and recovery. I once severed a tendon in my thumb with a kitchen knife, and had it re-attached , and did therapy for about six weeks after. Luckily, it healed well and I am still able to knit.
Kathsgrdn
17 years ago
I hope the surgery works and you're back to normal functioning again.
Marilyn Sue
17 years ago
Oh, the very best of luck Linda! Hope it heals rapidly and you are like new once again.

Sue
hayjud_mn
17 years ago
Linda, I'm so sorry that you are having such a tuff time with that arm.

It sounds like you will have a long time of working with just your left hand. Are you practicing? I hope you have some help for the beginning at least. You should have it out of that splint before it gets really hot this summer.

Hugs and best wishes!
lydia1959
17 years ago
Hope the surgery goes well. My MIL got her arm caught in a school bus lift and besides a small amount of numbness in a finger she has recovered well from her surgery. Maybe she had the same doctor as you??

If you don't mine walking and if you don't get caught up in road construction on 40/61, the St. Louis Zoo is one of the best in the US. You might also want to see the Cathedral Basilica which has one of the largest amounts of mosaics in the world. It really is quite stunning. Downtown St. Charles (Main St) is nice for shopping.. it still has the old brick roads and historic houses. A couple nice casinos there too. St. Charles is just outside of St. Louis.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cathedral Basilica
socks
17 years ago
What a terrible fall. Best wishes for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.

Susan
susan_on
17 years ago
What an ordeal! But they can do so much now, so we will all be hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.
clubm
17 years ago
Good Luck!! Hope everything goes well.
maryanntx
17 years ago
I sure hope everything goes as planned and your arm and hand is as good as new!
donna_oh
17 years ago
Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Donna (^_^)
love2sew
17 years ago
Good luck with your surgery Linda. I had a tendon replaced in my thumb and it is just like new. The surgery scars are so small they just fade away after they heal. I am sure you will have a good outcome and full use of your arm again.
Jean
Toni S
17 years ago
Good wishes for a successful surgery. The cast part would make me nervouse too. Guess you might need an itchy stick.
Anyway I sure hope it all goes well.
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
17 years ago
Sending good thoughts and a speedy recovery.
linda_in_iowa
Original Author
17 years ago
Lydia, thank you for the link to the Cathedral. We will visit it for sure.
Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts.

I'm having arm surgery on April 21

Comments (22)

nodakgal

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I'm having arm surgery on April 21

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