Vivo en Bizkaia (y otros sitios tambien)

Finally went to see the surgeon today about my slightly problematic wrist and this is the outcome:

I thought I was going to be told that I had damaged some tendons in my arm / had an RSI type thing but that’s not the case. Basically my wrist is ‘knackered’ to quote the surgeon and a lot worse than it should be two years or so after an injury. Basically it has not healed properly and I have a bad case of arthritis which causes the pain. So a range of operations were discussed which included...

1. Cutting the nerves in my wrist that transmit the pain
2. Shortening the ulna to relieve the problem
3. Fusing my wrist so my hand stays in one position permanently which should alleviate the pain

At first Option 1 was most likely but after some further discussion and consultation in fact it seems like that would be a waste of time as would Option 2 so it is straight to Option 3 – Fusion. Apparently this is not done with gaffer type, glue or sticky backed plastic but involves an operation to have a plate inserted from my wrist across the top of my hand. Then – oh joy – six weeks in plaster! Then rehab (presumably about the same amount of time) and then about six months after another operation to take the plate out.

And yes my hand will be permanently fixed in one position so I am now open to suggestions as to what position it should be fused in. Winner gets to buy me a bunch of grapes. This is not a whole lot different from how it is now as I have to wear a splint most of the time anyway. But obviously I can take the splint off for darts matches and knitting. I will be able to take photos and type with my new fixation.

So anyway the NHS wait for this sort of thing is five months which is good cos it gives me five months (May or so) to save up some pennies for the three months when I will be one armed again! This does of course present all sorts of difficulties which I will not bore you with now – but will do when I see you!