I saw my orthopedic surgeon today for what’s been roughly seven months since I had surgery and 11 months since I first injured my hand. Back in January, I went under the knife thanks to a nasty spill I took. Diagnosis: ulnar nerve entrapment at the cubital tunnel (elbow) and in the Guyon’s canal (outer wrist), ulnar nerve damage at the cubital tunnel, radial nerve entrapment at the carpal tunnel, a tear and cyst on the TFCC (the ligament structure that attaches the ulnar bone to the wrist bones), and tenosynovitis (swelling of the outer tendon membrane). Symptoms: pain, swelling, clicking of the wrist, and numbness from the under (ulnar) side of my elbow all the way down to the tip of my middle finger to the outside half of my hand.

There was a lot of cutting and repair that had to be done. I have scars that are about 1.25” in the middle of my palm and outside of my wrist and the third is about 3.25” along the under side of my elbow.

It’s been a long saga, but I’m hoping the next five months will see the full healing of my entire ulnar nerve. If I don’t getting the feeling back in my hand, it’s back for another delightful EMG.

Either way, I’d like to be able to use my hand like I used to. It’s really difficult feeling so weak and sore and uncoordinated when I used to spend so much time playing my flute or crocheting.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed – the ones on my left hand, that is. 22 months ago