Brace Yourself

For the last four months of my LIFE, I've lived with a black brace upon my wrist. It's my fashion statement to the world! And is perfect for snagging things like shirts and couches.

I noticed a slight pain in my right wrist back in December when I started working full time at AlphaGraphics. It was an odd sharp pain that I could only feel when I bent my wrist in certain positions. I suspected that it might have something to do with my desk at work. I couldn't adjust the height of my chair, so moving a mouse was like a six-year-old trying to reach for the cookie jar high on the shelf.

The first week of school started and the pain immediately increased. My wrist would throb even when I wasn't moving! I was worried that the dreaded fate of a designer had caught up to me all too soon...carpal tunnel?

Bill and I went to the IHC. The doctor had me do a couple of simple tests and told me I had an inflamed tendon in my thumb. Fortunately, not carpal tunnel! I was pleased. He told me it probably had to do with the "ergonomics" of my desk at work. He gave me a wrist brace and told me to ice it at night and take ibuprofen to take the edge off. If it wasn't better in two weeks, he told me to go see Dr. Lyons, the Sports Medicine Doctor at the hospital.

Well two weeks later, the pain was less, that was for sure. I got a new chair at work! I watched my posture while sitting at the computer! I was feeling pretty dandy. I got brave a couple of times and tried not wearing it at night, but that was a BAD idea. My brace became my buddy 24/7.

One month later, the pain was about the same. I could still move a mouse and do all my design and school work! It'd heal on it's own over time...right?

One of the few images during this four-month period
that actually shows me and my brace. 

Two months later...same story.

Three months later...nothing different.

Four months later...What the heck? While cleaning my apartment, I had my brace off. I went to shut our front room window and...TWEAK! OW!!! I wanted to fall to the floor because the pain was so sudden and sharp! I went back to taking some ibuprofen. A couple of days later I tried putting a pillowcase on one of our pillows and....TWEAK!  OOOWWW!!!! Alright. I can't deal with that kind of pain. I suspected it was time to call Dr. Lyons - four months later.

I set up an appointment for Friday the 13th at 10:00AM. I hoped this wasn't an omen. I really wanted this pain to go away without them telling me I'd need surgery...

I left to go see the doctor and I was a bit nervous. As usual, I was 15 minutes late. I was worried that he would ask me why I didn't come in sooner like I was told to. Now it was too late - my wrist was too far gone! They'd have to amputate my right hand. My career was over before it began! Why continue going to school? What now? What is the meaning of LIFE?!?!

Breathe.

I was whisked away into a doctor's room before I even had the chance to fill out all the paperwork. I hadn't even gotten my coat off when the nurse was in to take my blood pressure. We made small talk and he intimidated me a bit. I wasn't sure what to think of all of this. It was happening so fast! The nurse left the room and two minutes later Dr. Lyons and an Intern entered the room. Wow! I can appreciate snappy service. :)

Dr. Lyons came in with the biggest smile on his face. The Intern was young and sharp. I began to settle down a bit. I could put my fate into their hands and be totally okay with LIFE. I knew they would take care of me! Dr. Lyons had the Intern check my wrist/thumb out. He had me do some tests and instantly they knew what was wrong.

It was so fun hearing Dr. Lyons explain his thought process aloud to his Shadow! He told me they could infer a lot about me from the first 30 seconds they stepped into the room. He told me I was sharp and well-put together (flattered!). The doctor noticed my brace on the examination bed and knew immediately that it was a brace designed for my thumb. He looked through my paperwork and read that I was a Graphic Designer. He knew all about my situation and why I was there before I could blink. He asked if I had children and I told him no. He smiled and told me that a lot of young mothers have the same issue that I do due to the repetitive motion of lifting their children out of car seats and bathtubs. Let's hope I don't develop this inflamed tendon again when the day comes that I have a baby! ;)

So I had three options.

Surgery.
Physical therapy.
A shot.

The Doctor quizzed the Intern and discussed each of the options before me. Surgery was a bit drastic at this stage (a relief to my soul!). Physical therapy was a better option, but I'd have to come in a couple times a week and it'd be hard to know if there's any improvement at all for a few weeks...yada, yada, yada. Or I could get a shot right now and probably notice immediate results. My choice.

Unlike my darling husband, I don't have a problem with needles. ;) I'd take a shot.

Alright! Away we go! In comes the nurse! The doctor explains the chances of things going wrong (which are slim) and opens up the cupboard and begins pulling small bottles and a needle down to the counter. I sat on the bed trying to keep my dangling shoes on my feet and asked him what exactly this shot was that he was about to give me. He explained it was some anesthetic and two types of cortisone. The nurse rubbed an area just above my wrist with some iodine as Dr. Lyons explained ratios of medicine to the Intern. All of a sudden a needle was injected just above my wrist and I felt this creepy popping sensation as he pushed the serum under my skin.

"Whoa! Look at that one! Did you see that? See that popping under the skin! She's got such tiny wrists you can really see what's going on here!"

I finally decided that it would be okay to look down at my own wrist. Three men were hovered around my wrist in awe as I sat there thoroughly wigged out by the sensation under my skin.

Apparently my tendon had a lot of scar tissue built up around it. That's why when I would bend my wrist in certain directions, the scar tissue would pull on my tendon and cause it to become inflamed. When the Doctor injected the needle into my skin, if he got it just right, he could aim the needle to break through all the scar tissue as well as push the serum straight through to the most direct location. That popping sensation was the serum breaking up all the scar tissue. It was funky.

As soon as he removed the needle, I could already feel an improvement! Everyone smiled at the relief on my face. Wow.

And just like that, I was done! I was in and out and healed in thirty minutes. I lived with pain and an annoying brace for four months why? WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG!?!?!

I will tell you.

1. I was afraid the doctor would tell me I would need surgery. If it came to that, I would be out of school and work for a couple of days...which I really felt like I couldn't afford to miss because it would just causes large amounts of anxiety in my LIFE. It could at least wait until summer...right?

2. Attention. At first it was fun to have a brace. I liked everyone asking me what was wrong. But really only because it was a great conversation starter. "Ah! What did you do?" "Well let me tell you..."

3. It became a part of me. Wearing my brace had become second nature to me and it was no longer a nuisance. It was like putting on shoes. Since I'm left-handed, it didn't stop me from doing my day-to-day things.

They are honest answers. But really, I hated my brace. It smelled bad. The Velcro stuck to everything. It would get sweaty during aerobics. It made washing dishes a pain. I couldn't just fix my hair. I'd get stuck to the sheets at night. Driving a stick-shift was kind of a irritating. Typing was a rather annoying process. Oy.

And now I'm officially better. Today is the first day that I can bend my wrist and there is absolutely no pain associated with the movement! I'm so tickled by this fact! I just have to remind myself that I can use my right hand again. I've gotten shy about carrying heavy things or even performing normal day to day processes like opening a door.

I'm grateful for modern medicine.

And I'm grateful for my Savior. This may seem completely random, but I promise it's not. I've been thinking a lot about this event in my LIFE...and it's helped my testimony to grow. Let me recap this story, but this time, think about it in a different context. :)

I noticed right when my wrist began to hurt. It was a small pain at first. Then that pain began to grow. I knew I needed to do something about it, so I went to the doctor looking for an answer. He gave me the tools I needed to get better, but I didn't follow through with everything he told me would help me feel better. Bill had to remind me to ice it and I delayed calling Dr. Lyons. Eventually, I just came to accept the fact that this was just a part of my life. It was a burden I carried with me always. One day, the pain came back and hit me all at once! It almost brought me to my knees! I knew it was a more serious issue than I had originally thought. I really needed to make a change. So I finally gathered the courage to call the doctor. I was afraid of what he would tell me...that's partly why I had put it all off. What would he think of me? What would I think of myself? I just didn't want to hear any of those words. But the pain was too great, and I knew there was a way to feel better! I had to let go of my pride...humble myself, truly. Then when I arrived at the doctor's office, he had a big, beautiful smile on his face and complimented me on the kind of person I am! He didn't say one word concerning my stupidity in putting this office visit off for so long, even though he knew I had been dealing with this pain for four months of my LIFE. He gave me options that would help me get better...but it was ultimately MY CHOICE to pick which option I knew would be best for me. When I had made that choice, he instantly came to my side and healed me. Of course it hurt a little bit when he pricked me with that needle and when I felt the popping sensation under my skin! But that little prick and pop meant nothing compared to the relief I felt afterwards! I really wanted to hug Dr. Lyons. He was such a nice man, and he made me feel better right then and there! A few days later, I'm completely myself again! This feeling is bliss!

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO GO SEE THE DOCTOR?!?!

I'm so grateful for a Savior who loves me - who knows and understands me. He realizes I am human! But he's given me a beautiful gift called agency. He will let me make choices in this LIFE. Some good. Some bad. And when I make those bad choices, He's there to make me whole again. He's knows better than anyone how I'm feeling...because He's been there. We don't have to live in pain if we just come to Him. I know that is true. I'm grateful for this Easter season - to be reminded of our Savior's ultimate sacrifice and that if we're willing to repent, we can return and live with Him and our Father in Heaven again!

Moral of this story? Go see your Doctor. Now. :) You'll feel so much better if you do.