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sigh. Here we go again
Nov. 8th, 2018 02:19 pm"hrm. that's odd"
Just once it might be nice to have a PT/OT look at something and say "I know what that is, and we can get to treating it right away". But Nooooo, it's "that's odd. I know a few things it *isn't*...."
On the other hand, the first step toward determining what it actually is from the remaining options is the same - 'here, have a splint to immobilize the thumb so that the inflammation can go down. Wear it all the time for the next three or four days. apply heat twice a day for no more than 15 minutes at a time". She may send me back to the doc for x-rays, but agrees with the doc that it's not (or at least not primarily) arthritis in the joint. She says it's one or more of: ligament, tendon, muscle damage; probably exacerbated by arthritis. It is not any type of nerve impingement, and almost certainly not inflammation of a tendon sheath. Other that that? we keep trying things and figure out what it is by what makes it feel/work better.
She gave me a big splint, and told me where I could order a smaller one that I should be able to wear during rehearsal (insurance will only pay for one), but that won't be here until after rehearsal next week. I can take the big one off for rehearsal - she'd rather I didn't, but understands why (she used to be an oboe player).
Just once it might be nice to have a PT/OT look at something and say "I know what that is, and we can get to treating it right away". But Nooooo, it's "that's odd. I know a few things it *isn't*...."
On the other hand, the first step toward determining what it actually is from the remaining options is the same - 'here, have a splint to immobilize the thumb so that the inflammation can go down. Wear it all the time for the next three or four days. apply heat twice a day for no more than 15 minutes at a time". She may send me back to the doc for x-rays, but agrees with the doc that it's not (or at least not primarily) arthritis in the joint. She says it's one or more of: ligament, tendon, muscle damage; probably exacerbated by arthritis. It is not any type of nerve impingement, and almost certainly not inflammation of a tendon sheath. Other that that? we keep trying things and figure out what it is by what makes it feel/work better.
She gave me a big splint, and told me where I could order a smaller one that I should be able to wear during rehearsal (insurance will only pay for one), but that won't be here until after rehearsal next week. I can take the big one off for rehearsal - she'd rather I didn't, but understands why (she used to be an oboe player).
