Two days after a visit to my primary care doctor, and my finger is much better. Psychological? Perhaps. But he told me to stop wearing the splint and use the darn thing, that it would loosen up and the swelling would go down if it is moved around. Seems to be working.
It's still tender. The doc said it's likely to be that way for a few more weeks. The break was at the first joint, and there may be blood inside that needs to move out of the way for healing to occur. I'm also to expect that the joint will be arthritic in the future. Great!
I was referred to a hand specialist, ironically one that I'd called previously and who would not see me because the injury involved a vehicle. Apparently, a referral is like a secret handshake in the world of health care. My doc suggested I make an appointment but if I don't want to keep it, don't, unless I feel it would be helpful. He didn't seem to think the finger would need additional work, just time.
So, I'm using the finger now to type, and the typos have virtually disappeared. I'm hopeful the road to recovery will now be smooth. Stay tuned.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
The Finger
Pardon my typos. I broke the middle finger on my left hand four weeks ago and it is still of no use as far as typing goes. This finger (I am wagging my left index finger) is typing for two.
At first I wasn't sure the finger was broken. It was shut in a car door accidentally (I suppose someone might do that deliberately, but only for insurance purposes) and hurt like heck. When it was swollen and even more painful the next day, I took myself and my finger to Fontaine Medical Center where an X-ray confirmed a fracture at the first knuckle. The doctor gave me a splint and suggested I contact a hand surgeon to look at the injury to see if it would need further attention. For a while, it was fun being able to flash my splinted middle finger at anyone who asked what had happened.
Three weeks later it still hurt, was still somewhat swollen and was bent at a funny angle. Time to call a hand surgeon, I thought, which I did. After seeking advice on Facebook, I contacted the guy most people recommended and who was at the top of a list the Fontaine doctor had given me. But Dr. Peter Bentivegna, the polite person who took my call told me, does not deal with injuries involving motor vehicles. Even if the car wasn't moving. Or didn't have the engine running. Sorry. Something to do with insurance. (I was going to write a long screed about how the insurance and health care industries had got us to such a ridiculous point, but I figured it was like piling on another coat of paint when you've already built it up an inch thick.)
The next guy on the list was going away and booked solid until he skedaddled. The third guy could see me in March. I did not want to wait that long, for obvious reasons.
So tomorrow I go to see my primary care doctor, who miraculously had an opening less than six months in the future. I'm hoping he can at least tell me if the finger needs more attention or is healing properly. I'm a bit worried that if it does need further work, I'm going to have to go off Cape, which is a major inconvenience, basically requiring a day-long commitment. Is my finger worth it? I've already decided that if it is a matter of aesthetics, I really don't care. I'm most interested in having a fully functional digit so I can type, shovel snow play the ukulrulr (that's supposed to be ukulele) and do the dishes properly. I don't care if it's bent a bit, as long as it works.
Look for a followup post tomorrow. Anf please forgive the typies.
At first I wasn't sure the finger was broken. It was shut in a car door accidentally (I suppose someone might do that deliberately, but only for insurance purposes) and hurt like heck. When it was swollen and even more painful the next day, I took myself and my finger to Fontaine Medical Center where an X-ray confirmed a fracture at the first knuckle. The doctor gave me a splint and suggested I contact a hand surgeon to look at the injury to see if it would need further attention. For a while, it was fun being able to flash my splinted middle finger at anyone who asked what had happened.
Three weeks later it still hurt, was still somewhat swollen and was bent at a funny angle. Time to call a hand surgeon, I thought, which I did. After seeking advice on Facebook, I contacted the guy most people recommended and who was at the top of a list the Fontaine doctor had given me. But Dr. Peter Bentivegna, the polite person who took my call told me, does not deal with injuries involving motor vehicles. Even if the car wasn't moving. Or didn't have the engine running. Sorry. Something to do with insurance. (I was going to write a long screed about how the insurance and health care industries had got us to such a ridiculous point, but I figured it was like piling on another coat of paint when you've already built it up an inch thick.)
The next guy on the list was going away and booked solid until he skedaddled. The third guy could see me in March. I did not want to wait that long, for obvious reasons.
So tomorrow I go to see my primary care doctor, who miraculously had an opening less than six months in the future. I'm hoping he can at least tell me if the finger needs more attention or is healing properly. I'm a bit worried that if it does need further work, I'm going to have to go off Cape, which is a major inconvenience, basically requiring a day-long commitment. Is my finger worth it? I've already decided that if it is a matter of aesthetics, I really don't care. I'm most interested in having a fully functional digit so I can type, shovel snow play the ukulrulr (that's supposed to be ukulele) and do the dishes properly. I don't care if it's bent a bit, as long as it works.
Look for a followup post tomorrow. Anf please forgive the typies.
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