I am back on the wrist, and I need to delve into inflammation and understanding the why and how as it relates to my wrist. Inflammation is a tricky subject, one that I spend an entire workshop on in The 60 Day Turnaround.
First, let’s go back a week. Last Monday was my last full day adjusting, my hand wrist had been hurting since the prior Thursday, and as I said in the first article, referencing the wrist, rest was important to me. So I jumped all over that last Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday. Avoiding adjusting and other activities that would compress the wrist.
The realization now, is that it was too little too late. Looking at the MRI we found that the inflammation was deep. There is a bump on the bone called lister’s tubercle, that had been inflamed around it from the first wrist injury. I actually had used ibuprofen for a period to reduce inflammation, and pursued a period of very clean eating and anti-inflammatory supplementation. I did it all,yet still I had chronic inflammation along the tubercle. I saw it on my MRI, an accumulation of fluid where I wish I still had a tendon.
What went wrong? Sometimes treating inflammation from every direction isn’t enough. Sometimes the only treatment that will work, is rest. I find myself in the situation where I would advise others to avoid. Don’t let the pressures of your life cause you to make unwise choices. A week ago Friday I adjusted in agony all morning, but continued to say “I won’t be here next Friday, I need to adjust these people.” My decision is likely the cause of what will now be an inability to adjust normally for weeks.
I pushed myself when I should have rested… Who adjusts in complete agony? It brings me back to the separated shoulder a couple years ago. I was adjusting a patient in side posture three days after falling on a bike trail. In the moments felt a stinging increase in pain in my already sore shoulder, then that night I saw the all too familiar riser sign (I have separated both of my shoulders multiple times in hockey injuries over the years). I should have rested, or at least avoided side posture.
So now I am looking at surgery in a week, and a splint or cast for five to six, and no use besides therapy for six more. I’ll find ways to adjust with one hand, but there will be a long window where I will have a useless left hand. It would have made sense to not use it that one Friday… Much more sense.
Why do I like to write about my shortcomings? Because yours and mine are likely very similar. Maybe not so aggressive in the physical sense, but once again related to your over commitment to something. Pay attention, and be well.
Be blessed and be well! – Dr. E