Laika’s back in the water! She was very excited that she was going back for more swim ‘lessons’ and loves her instructor, Tori. Sadly, I am now unable to join for Laika’s swim therapy due to work, but I asked for photos and video so I could feel like I took part in it. Check out her new swim vest (cue the Jaws theme song). She will have ten weeks of therapy - after that we’ll take her probably once a month or so to maintain that gorgeous svelt figure :D
As for me ... I do have carpal tunnel on both sides. The neurologist upon testing me said I have an “impressive case” - moderately severe, but worse on my left side. The tests aggravated my yet-to-be-diagnosed thumb issue for about one week (first test they send a small electric shock through your arm at different points to test how fast the nerve reacts and follow up with and Electromyogram where they jab you with a needle and rotate - was not painful until they hit one particular spot and I thought I would jump out of my seat). The thumb issue is not a classic case of anything so they don’t want to label it yet. Where this is a compound problem on both sides, they are not sure about how to schedule surgery and if surgery will simply open a new problem.
I have been to a physical therapist twice now for braces (for sleeping in - so sexy) and will visit one more time for additional tests on posture (neutral stance) and stretch techniques to help through the day. I also see the doctor one more time before trying to determine a good time to schedule surgery for the left hand. This is complicated by my work which has escalated the problem in a very short amount of time (new job had very different tasks that I had avoided for a number of years [like stretching canvas]) but requires both hands to work. Full recovery they say can take two months - that doesn’t help me with a timeline on what I can do and when as every case/person is different. I do know ten days for stitches, but when I can write or hold things is specific to me. Even a clue as to how long each task might take will help with scheduling the surgery - I am aiming for August/September. I’ll tackle the other hand next year.
What is sobering (and infuriating) is the realization that I have had this problem for years and years and not one single doctor thought ‘hmm, maybe we should sent him for the neurological test’ - I mean - no skin off their ass for taking the precaution, but it might have saved me at least a decade of pain and frustration.
