It has to be said, I was absolutely gutted to discover the problems with my wrist, and what it would take to fix them. Basically I have three problems;
1. My ulna is still broken and not healing so requires a permanent screw.
2. Where my radius was broken and pinned was not done very well, in that the alignment between the radius and ulna is out, which is why I can't rotate my wrist beyond 90 degrees. Basically when you twist your wrist around, your radius and ulna cross over one another, and mine no longer can. The only way to really fix this issue is to re-break and re-set the radius, so basically start again! This is a big operation and so not one that my surgeon is considering any time soon!
3. The mis-alignment of my radius and ulna has a secondary impact in that the ends of both bones are now a bit too close to the bones in my hand. This could mean in the future I will have more motion problems, this time with moving my hand up and down. If this does happen, another operation would be required.
So the operation yesterday was to fix the first issue and provide me with some permanent metalwork, and relief from the pain I've been in since I did this back in early April.
I was warned before the operation that this is unlikely to help much with rotation issues, and also there is a risk of nerve damage to the nerve running down the outside of my wrist, as this had to be moved aside during the procedure. I shall have to wait and see, although it wouldn't be the end of the world to lose sensation there-it's hardly a particularly sensitive area anyway!
I was sat in my room in my hospital gown, dressing gown, compression socks (very sexy!) and hospital slippers, with no make-up on-all in all not feeling particularly attractive as you can imagine, when to my horror I realised that in the room across from me was a colleague from work! I had to acknowledge him as I was taken along to theatre, and I just about managed a 'fancy seeing you here' whilst wishing the ground would open up! He wished me luck which was nice of him, I hope whatever he was in for went well. He wasn't there when I got back from theatre so I assume it did!
I had a general anaesthetic so thankfully know nothing about the operation itself. My first memory was waking up in recovery where they were asking me all sorts of questions about my job and what I do etc. I remember slurring some answers and thinking to myself, why are they trying to make me talk when my brain doesn't want to work, but obviously they were trying to wake me up! They gave me some codeine and took me back up to my room, where I was tucked under a big duvet as I was shivering really badly. I think that it was about 5pm, and the next couple of hours went really fast! I would close my eyes for what felt like 10 minutes and an hour had passed! I have to say, I felt pretty good-floaty and warm and so totally blissfully relaxed. I was semi-awake but I couldn't focus on anything-it felt like all the thoughts in my head were fluttering just out of my reach so I couldn't quite grab them. It's a nice feeling to be that totally and utterly relaxed!
Around 7pm I was sat up and given some food, which I did manage to eat. Unfortunately it made me have a bit of a funny turn-hot, shaky and very nauseous. I was laid back down and all my blankets removed, and soon felt well enough to try walking. I was assisted to the loo by two nurses (you aren't allowed to leave if you don't spend a penny!) and then I had some help to get dressed, before being released at around 8.30pm.
I had some pain during the rest of the evening as the anaesthetic wore off, however I was feeling so lovely and happy I didn't really mind. I had so many lovely messages from family and friends wishing me luck, and asking how I was doing afterwards, that I just felt so wrapped up in love, and full of appreciation for all the wonderful people I have in my life and I went to bed full of happy thoughts (ok, and maybe some drugs too!!).
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