Howdy Folks,

Once again I have a question I thought I'd throw out there. I had R submusc trans last Tues. Splint came off yesterday. Looks great! Minimal swelling, a bit of bruising. Sutures to be removed next week. They gave me a compression sleeve to wear to keep it clean and for swelling. When I had my left side done, I had no problems with the comp sleeve, the only thing that bothered it was when something rubbed over the scar. I just figured it was because I had two surgeries utilizing the same incision site within a short time.

This time though, the compression sleeve made me so uncomfortable, I was actually nauseated. Not painful really. Kinda of like the noise of nails on a chalkboard but a feeling. Very hard to describe. Anyway I'm freaked out because I work in an outpatient department in a hospital and even though I'm not doing any direct patient care for the next few weeks, I don't like keeping the wound exposed. Does anyone have any ideas? Could it be the stitches ( I didn't have external sutures before)? I'm feeling a bit freakish, but can't stand the thought of anything touching my incision.

Chris

It really amazes me how each doctor does things their own way. My splint wasn't removed for 15 days and then they pulled the sutures the same time they took it off and sent me on my merry little way. I too felt weird for a while with my elbow incision exposed. Clothing rubbing on it and sleeping was awkward and uncomfortable. Like Brenda, I used an elbow sleeve or brace for a while until I felt more comfortable with my incision and the sensitivity decreased some. I have a couple of different ones, one a thicker neoprene and one a lighter stretchy material. I got the neoprene one at a sporting goods store and the other at a pharmacy.

Hey Ladies,

THanks for your replies. I feel like a big whiner for even posting, but I can't quite explain exactly how having anything touch that incision really creeped me out. My left arm was sensitive to things rubbing over it, but nothing like the right. I did go and get a variety of sleeves and am working on "desensitizing" the area. Thanks Brenda, for the ebay link. I'm waiting for that sleeve to be delivered!

Hey Brenda, I know it took a while for you to experience the full benefit of your transposition, but how long until you noticed changes in your sensation and improvement in your clawing? It's only been two weeks, so I haven't really noticed any changes yet.

gueoasis wrote:
Hey Ladies,

THanks for your replies. I feel like a big whiner for even posting, but I can't quite explain exactly how having anything touch that incision really creeped me out. My left arm was sensitive to things rubbing over it, but nothing like the right. I did go and get a variety of sleeves and am working on "desensitizing" the area. Thanks Brenda, for the ebay link. I'm waiting for that sleeve to be delivered!

Hey Brenda, I know it took a while for you to experience the full benefit of your transposition, but how long until you noticed changes in your sensation and improvement in your clawing? It's only been two weeks, so I haven't really noticed any changes yet.

"Whiner?" Hehehe, not at all! I think I wore my elbow "sleeve" for like 3 or 4 months off and on. I also helped myself desensitize it by massaging the site, and working the scar tissue out. It made it softer, healed (I think) it more internally and such. I hope it works for ya!!

In answer to your questions Gueoasis, my clawing was manually taken care of when the surgeon went into my Palmer's crease (that crease under your fingers at the top of your palm) and cut the "A-1" pulley's ~ it instantly released my fingers.

If I remember right, about 3 or 4 months after the surgery, I did get some "Charley Horse" like cramps of my ring and pinkie fingers, but that only lasted about 2-3 weeks. I noticed it more when I drove, so I think my fingers being curled around the steering wheel may have aggravated my still fussy/sensitive nerves.

By a year after the surgery all feeling except one little spot at the tip (pinkie side) of my ring finger had returned! By around month 4, *most* of the control was back in my hand, but probably didn't feel "normal strength" until passing the 6 month mark. On mine also, they released my Ulnar in the Guyon's Canal (in the wrist and hand), so I have a few more areas to which my innocent little Ulnar was traumatized! Hehehehe I also for 6 weeks 3 times a week had a GREAT physical therapist! PT was started about 6 weeks post op. If you have any more questions, fire away! Glad to help if I can. Take care.

Brenda

I had mmy surgery nov 18th left elbow. my arm is finally feeling much, much better. the numbness of the pinky finger, and ring finger is 90% better. it took 23 weeks thank god it is getting there. Brenda