Saturday, April 28, 2007

From the Inside

X-rays freak me out a little bit. It’s not so much the thought of radiation, although it never feels good to have the tech leave the room while I’m stuck under the machine with a lead skirt on, its more the idea of looking inside myself. More of an existential issue than a physical one. I even sound nutty to myself sometimes.

I’ve had three x-rays of my left hand now and there’s been no healing yet, according to the ortho doc, but he said that’s normal with fingers. Your body goes through a process and the bone itself is the last part of it. I have a purple stripe of a bruise across the joint on the underside, while the rest of the finger turned a sickly green color, most of which is gone now. It doesn’t hurt if I keep the splint on straight and tight and remember to elevate it before it starts to throb. Every once in a while I will forget enough to try something I shouldn’t and I am reminded that I have a broken finger, like tightening a girth, for example. The ortho doc wants to see me one more time in three weeks to check on the healing progress and possibly get rid of the splint.

Part of the radiologist’s write-up reads “…there is mild palmar angulation of the head of the third middle phalanx.” One of you nurses out there correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that means my finger is crooked. The doc said it will probably always be that way.

I rode yesterday for the first time since the incident, almost two weeks. That might have been a bit premature, it was very difficult to control the left rein, but I didn't want to wait any longer to ride again. As it was I could feel my body wasn't hitting the right positions and my legs weren’t under me enough. We are going to try to do a light lesson this weekend sometime on the gray horse Tommy (who I rode yesterday), he's about the easiest horse outside of a pony there.

I also had a mammogram recently and just received the results: the girls are OK.

7 comments:

  1. I hope it still works out for Miss in May.

    PS - your finger description gives me the willies and I don't even have to experience it.

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  2. Yes, I beleive it is fancy lingo for a crooked finger. I know someone who once told me if you're going to get injured from your horse it will be the first year of ownership of that horse. And those bones do take a long time to heal.

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  3. Glad the girls are okay :) and hope the finger will soon follow suit.

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  4. I think it's fair to say that in the future, when you "flip someone the bird," your finger will be crooked. Over time, it'll probably look less bent. Unless your finger impedes the range of motion of your hand, surgery is usually not necessary.
    Very glad to hear that the girls are behaving.

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  5. crooked fingers aren't so bad, they add character, show you lived a little

    you've reminded that i need to take the girls for a visit

    glad to hear you're on the mend

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  6. Hi Donna

    Sorry about your finger, I have also had my fair share of injuries, a broken finger when lunging and the rope got tangled around the finger when the horse pulled back, it is still crooked. Another finger broken when a horse I was leading spooked and again the rope looped around my finger, which is still enlarged at the joint and 22 stitches to put my thumb back on when I used my hand to drive a steel T post instead of the post driver (long story!!!). Wear the scars with pride, you earned them LOL.

    I havent visited for a while as I have had my own share of distractions and problems. I read your post from a few days back and had to tell you that I have lived in four countries on three continents in my life. All of the moves were not really from choice but from necessity and I also have lots of dates to remember, so many that they are fading in my memory. The country that I was born in, Zimbabwe, was at war from the time I was about 12 or 13. After marrying for the first time having a daughter and then divorcing I left to move to South Africa as I did not like the crime that was rife in Zimbabwe at the time even though the war was over. I was in South Africa for 15 years when the crime again started getting to me and I moved to London England where I lasted 2 years. The Foot and Mouth (Hoof and Mouth here) put a stop to my income for 2002 as all of the horse and other animal events were put on hold to try to control the spread of the disease, which meant I had no horse events to shoot, something I had spent the whole winter booking and setting up. I moved to Indiana USA nearly 6 years ago and arrived here with my camera gear and one suitcase. I miss the support of my family although my Mom passed away a week before my first marriage 25 years ago and my brother and father are still in South Africa. I feel like a nomad sometimes, my birthright is no longer there as the country I was born in is no longer that country. I have my personal possessions and memories stored in South Africa and England and sometimes feel so lonely even when I am surrounded by people.

    I guess what I am trying to say is make the most of what you have, your loved ones would not want you to be unhappy. Keep positive, keep smiling and enjoy Miss.

    ((((Hugs))))) I know how you feel. Depression has become a big part of my life and I am learning to deal with it. Some days are better than others.

    Lori
    xx

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  7. Yes, that is a crooked finger. I have one too - even after the surgery. Wish I'd of known, I'd have skipped that part.

    I ride even when I'm injured. It just is so healing for me to be on a horse that I can't seem to give it up. I even rode with a broken arm and dislocated shoulder. Just couldn't stay off my horse. I just scaled down what I wanted to accomplish.

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