The Adventures of the Amazing Stick-Figure Woman

[swan_tower]

As those of you who have met me know, I am a small-boned woman, especially in my hands and wrists.

Well, I just spent a month with my left arm in a cast — not a broken bone, just tendonitis in my wrist, which the doctor hoped would go away with an injection and immobilization. (Fingers crossed that it works.) Today the cast came off, and . . . oof. My god, atrophy sets in fast.

I’m right-handed, so my left forearm was always going to be a bit smaller. But now? It’s nearly a full inch smaller. The pad at the base of my thumb is shriveled. My wrist proper hasn’t shrunk much, but that’s only because there really isn’t a lot of muscle in the wrist, just tendons and ligaments. The head of the ulna is pointy like a pointy thing, though.

At least my skin is in good shape. The cast was a special new kind, a framework of heat-molded plastic over a type of fabric that breathes well and wicks moisture away from the skin. Unlike a normal cast, you’re allowed to get this one wet. So at least I’m not shedding like a snake, and the cast doesn’t smell manky like they usually do.

Anyway, now begins the PT. Because I’d like to have something resembling grip strength again.

Originally published at Swan Tower. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That's unpleasant! I hope the strength comes back soon!

[dyvan.livejournal.com]

hmmmm, this whole small boned thing makes me wonder, have you ever had an MRI to confirm you are NOT a sparrow?

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when I sprained/hairline fractured my wrist, two weeks in a splint left that forearm visibly smaller, which curbed my desire to have the splint on longer.

[landofnowhere]

When I was 14, I broke my leg and had it in a cast for two months. I remember it came out looking much thinner and slightly greenish -- it felt rather sad-looking.

I hope your arm recovers well!

[sovay]

Congratulations on no longer being in a cast!

As to the rest, that's kind of amazing and I hope the physical therapy goes swiftly and effectively.