Medical stuff...

[fajrdrako]

Had an extra-long session of physiotherapy today. Leslie always manages to reassure me somehow, even when my prowess seems pathetic. She said that what I did to my arm was about as bad as it can get, and considering that, my progress is good. She thinks I'll end up with a functional elbow, which means being able to straighten it something like 15^o more than I can manage now. I hope I get there soon.

She said the situation with the swelling in my hand is not edema, but lymphedema, which is why it has been difficult to lick. She thought the look of my hand today was encouraging (i.e., less swollen than last week) but has added another trick on the advice of the occupational therapists - putting a little pillow made of cut-up foam under the back of the glove. I'm supposed to sleep with it. Okay.

I'm also supposed to lightly stroke the back of my hand and arm from time to time, like petting a cat.

At least it's less painful than it was. I'm really tired of having a nearly-immobile hand. auriaephiala asked me if I could type with it yet. Hah! I can barely reach the keyboard. But I did manage to press the shift key with it once yesterday. Progress!

Leslie says that in 20 years as a physiotherapist, this is only one of two cases of lymphedema she's actually seen. Trust me to get the weird ones. She got her student, Lise, to come over and have a look at it.

She also says to do lots and lots and lots more exercises... Sigh.