Tags
and reduced transverse arch, botox, Cerebral Palsy, Certified Hand Therapist, CP, disability, Gary Robinson, grasping reflex, health, intercarpal joint hypomobility, median nerve entrapment, Orthopaedic Therapy, Palsy, splint, Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Orthopaedic Hand Clinic
That’s what all the boys say. But some of them have my best interests at heart.
The handsome guy in the photo with me is Gary Robinson, a Certified Hand Therapist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Orthopaedic Hand Clinic. We’ve been spending a lot of time together because he’s trying to prevent me from losing the use of my only good hand. What started as pain in my right thumb and wrist presumed to have been caused by an injury has become much more complicated to treat.
No doubt you’ve noticed in all of my photos that I can’t hold my hands “normally”. This is due to my Cerebral Palsy and I’ve never really given it much thought except when circumstances brought it back to my attention. So what if I have a grasping reflex? Aside from having to grip my mouse with excessive force while I paint for hours and the total inability to shape the perfect meatball it just isn’t a big deal. I can’t do up tiny buttons or open childproof caps, either. You learn to work around these minor annoyances – until your workarounds are becoming painful as half a century of incorrect movement starts to take it’s toll. Now the workarounds need workarounds, too.
That’s when you end up holding hands with a nice guy who whispers sweet nothings like “intercarpal joint hypomobility, median nerve entrapment, and reduced transverse arch”. When he tells you you have a lot of tone it’s not a positive comment about your workout results. Instead it means that my Cerebral Palsy makes it very difficult for me to relax the base of my thumb so that it’s always pulling inward towards the rest of my palm. Lots pf people with CP benefit from Botox injections to open up their hands or uncurl their feet. But I’m “high functioning” (stop laughing) and Botox would be more of a hindrance than a help.
There are no easy answers; no tried-and-true procedures to fix the problem. Luckily, Gary is very motivated to help me. He views it as a challenge outside of what he normally has to deal with.
He made me a custom splint I have to wear at night. Finding something I can wear during the day that will keep the base of my thumb in a beneficial position is proving to be more difficult. For my part I’ve offered up a cycling glove to serve as a base for attaching “ideas”.
If he can figure out a configuration that works I”ll be entertaining suggestions from all of you about what I should do to make it look attractive. Otherwise, Gary doesn’t even think I’ll wear it because it’s won’t look cool.
He’s wrong, of course. I can make anything look cool.
Such a great attitude … of course you can make anything look cool. My first suggestion would be to get a mate for the other hand, non-medically functioning, just the same glove. Then you can look like Karl Lagerfeld. Otherwise, light and non-interfering fabric wraps … jewels to pin on? Large size satin-to-the-elbow opera gloves that will pull on over it? Lace covers, like old fashioned lace fingerless gloves?
Actually, the black glove looks kind of cool, just as is. Not a bad time, fashion-wise to sport a simple black glove. I’d definitely get a pair.
FYI, with full use of my digits, I have trouble with bitty buttons and child-proof lids.
One needs a child to open them.
Do you remember the old Saturday Night Live satire commercials for pain relievers with child-resistant lids?
The product was “Tryopenin”. Urk.
My best wishes are with you in this endeavor.
J
I have the mate for the other hand, Jan. I really love your suggestions and if I sport any of them in the future I’ll definitely give you credit! I’m already visualizing a few things myself – but Gary will need to perfect the medical aspect of the glove before I can do anything 😉
Thanks for your ideas – I love all of them!
I like your attitude. The idea of going all Monsieur Karl on it is great. Or with all the cycling chic around at the moment it’s half way there.
Thanks, Anne, I don’t think it’s unreasonable of me to want to look as fashionable as anyone else. I really love this one from my Pinterest boards. It’s very edgy but still elegant.
I don’t have any ideas (I’m not in the least fashionable), but I know that with your confident smile and positive attitude you can pull it off in style!!
How sweet of you to say so, Kay. Thank you!
Add finger-less glove to the left hand and go for all out Ron Moody/Fagin-esque. 🙂
Where would I find an Artful Dodger that could match me? 😉
I know a certain urchin who has already got the bowler hat!
I’m thinking bedazzle it with little jewel studs? The problem is that you’ll want a different one for every outfit. I’m getting that way about canes.
Charlotte, the glove has a hard piece attached to it that you can kind of see in the middle photo so it’s a one-off, at least for the moment. I thought about sending it to Spy Girl and letting her paint it. We’ll see; it’s still a prototype. This may not be it’s final incarnation.
Add some badass metal studs to that puppy! Punk it up! If anybody gives you lip, you can shake your fist at ’em.
Nailed it Megan. Alicia you can totally pull of that Rob Halford vibe.
*off*
Studs–rock and roll studs!! and maybe some Rhinestones for a bit of shine!!
i hope they can come up with something that will help you!
I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that I’m going to need more than one of whatever it is we arrive at that’s beneficial.
Thanks for your support, Tamera – I truly appreciate it! 😉
Yup, I leapt straight to studs – goes with the black fingerless glove thing.
Best wishes for healing, mobility and strength!
You know, I like the idea of an edgy, studded, “rocker” look and a lacy, feminine look. We’ll see what I end up with.
Thank you, Eleanor, for you wonderfully supportive comment! 😉
I’m keeping good thoughts for you. Only those who have experienced physical limitations, can fully appreciate what you are struggling with. Your tenacity inspires me. Thank you for that.
Thank you, Marlene, for your support and feedback. I am nothing if not tenacious, but the truth is I’m just not ready to give up just yet. Some day are more frustrating than others, but there’s still a lot of things I want to accomplish before I’m “kaput” 😉
Never give up. Like you, I also have lots to accomplish before I’m kaput.”) We’ll get there.