You know I’ve been saying that I haven’t gotten a lot of stuff done lately. I’ve also mentioned that Rick had a doctors appointment.
All of that is true…and both things are related. Rick did have a doctor’s appointment, and it has had an effect on what I’ve been getting done around here.
When I met Rick, he said he was having trouble with his wrist. Gradually, it got worse and worse. He would wake up, and his whole arm would be asleep. Gradually throughout the day, his arm got better, but his wrist and hand got to the point where they would never really wake up. I immediately thought carpal tunnel. Some time ago, our daughter Kelli had carpal tunnel. She ended up with surgery on both wrists.
I mentioned this to Rick, and after a few instances at work, when he was lifting heavy panels of metal, they slipped out of his hands, he started wondering if I might be right. This was dangerous. He also had instances of picking up a drink, and they slipped out of his hand.
It was time to go to the doctor.
I was right…carpal tunnel it is. Because of the nature of his work, Rick has been off work. He had seen his doctor and had the nerve test. He saw the surgeon on Monday…now surgery will have surgery on July 30th.
He will be off work until then. We aren’t sure how long he’ll be off work after that. Currently, they said about three weeks. It might extend longer as his job is very physical, with him lifting heavy sheets of metal. He operates a laser cutter and cuts the heavy metal.
So…I’ve been enjoying having him around. He’s doing more of the cooking, and we’re getting a lot of time to go fishing and hang out.
He has to wear a brace now.
When he was first off work, I thought, oh boy, this is really going to be a test on our relationship having him around 24/7, but it hasn’t. We’ve had a ton of fun. In fact, it’s given us a big boost. It’s almost been as if he’s retired. Rick is 62 and starting to think about retirement. This gave us a strong desire to start getting everything in order so he can retire. We’ve had so much fun together and want to keep doing that. Unfortunately, I think he’ll have to work at least three more years.
In the meantime, I’ve been spoiled with Rick cooking, fishing afternoons, afternoons lazing around, him watering the plants and taking care of the lawn. It’s been wonderful. I’m so spoiled right now.
Right now, we can have some fun while we’re waiting for surgery and our focus is on that!!
I will need to go back and check if you said he will be having both wrists done BUT I must tell you about a childhood friend of a doctor i was working with. She insisted on having both of her wrists done at once because of her important busyness. The first day there was a phone call to the office complaining that we should have insisted she do them one at a time because it was not any fun having to have her husband help her with the hygiene following
her first trip to the bathroom. Just sayin”
So glad you are having fun with Rick around most of the time. So sorry Rick has to go through the surgery, but wonderful it can be fixed. I hope you all continue having so much fun!
Jo it sounds like your one happy camper these days. So happy for you and Rick.
It’s great that you can work together to accomplish jobs. Makes life so much easier. You both are watching out for each other and that is so important.
Take care girl.
It is so nice to hear that you and Rick are doing so well.
Dh is scheduled for hand surgery like Rick’s but one at a time.
Also, make sure he has pants or at least shorts that are elastic to make it easier for him.
Love and prayers
I had a special carpal tunnel surgery without any cutting done on my wrist. One at a time. I didn’t have to go to a hospital and my hand was working about 48 hours after it was done. No down time. My hands were done about a month apart. The Dr. had a special tool to use (I had to pay for the tool as insurance didn’t cover it). I have no big scar and I hope Rick has as good an outcome as I have had.
I had a computer-generated episode of carpal tunnel. Fortunately a brace for a couple of months, plus at night for a while longer, allowed it to heal. The doctor also recommended increasing my vitamin B6 (? – whichever B is good for nerve health) intake. As long as I take care not to do anything that involves gripping tightly (weeding – I’m looking at. you!) for too long, it hasn’t flared up again. An elastic wrist wrap and taking the B vitamins seems to fix it up again. So Far.
Good that Rick got it looked at before he dropped something and got hurt somewhere else.
Just thought I’d jump in and suggest that this may qualify for Workers’ Compensation. When I managed Workers’ Comp at a factory that required men to operate huge shears for cutting large sheets of metal, a complaint of carpal tunnel would have resulted in me seriously considering the claim and probably approving it. Unless there’s something outside of work that Rick does repetitively for hours, he may have a claim. If he hasn’t already done so, it may be worthwhile to look into it.