Hand Update — Probably the Last One!

Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash

I spent some “quality time” with my surgeon this morning. It’s not my last visit with him (he wants to do one more follow up in April to make sure I’m healing appropriately).

And I am almost free!

The Status

1. I have “full functional” range of motion. I still have a tiny bit of extensor lag that comes and goes (meaning my finger doesn’t always straighten out all the way and isn’t quite hyper extending yet). The cure for this is apparently “lots of stretches.” It won’t go all the way out to the side yet. You can guess what the cure for that is…with the addition of “strengthen your muscles.”
2. I have nice new bone growth. The fracture is still visible, but the new bone growth is sufficient that I’m now allowed to do anything I want (doesn’t mean I can…I doubt I could lift a fifty pound box right now, but the cure for that is working out).
3. I still have some residual swelling in my pinkie finger. This is not uncommon and will self-resolve over time.
4. My hand is still stiffening up in the mornings and has to be stretched out. Also not uncommon and will also get better over time.

I’m told it might be six months to a year before the residual issues are completely resolved, but I am very much better and I’m going to celebrate by going…