Monday, June 19, 2006

Another Mini Break

Light blogging for the next little while - Carpal tunnel acting up. (Ouch!)


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BTW, please check out SDA for links to what will likely be coming soon to a school near you! The Nanny State always knows best. Parents, just sit home and enjoy your beer and popcorn.


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Awesome comment by Margaret Somerville when receiving her honorary doctorate from Ryerson:


"When, for reasons of ethics, something we stand for hurts others, even though ethics requires that we stand for that, we should still regret the hurt it causes."


Sometimes the truth hurts.


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WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Excellent piece by Fred at Gay and Right regarding Somerville's treatment at Ryerson.

25 comments:

Red Tory said...

Oh goody! Home Schooling... this should be a barrel of fun.

Hope your carpal tunnel gets better. Is it still a "syndrome" by the way?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks, RT. There is more than a syndrome? Not bad enough for surgery, if that's what you mean.

Red Tory said...

I’ve just always found that whole “syndrome” thing kind of curious. It used be referred to as “carpal tunnel syndrome” (CTS) but I notice these days the “syndrome” part has been dropped. I’m not sure how long you’ve suffered with this, but when it first emerged, it was dismissed by a good number of employers as little more than chronic whining by disaffected and lazy employees. They refused to acknowledge its existence and many in the medical community were equally skeptical. Since then it appears that opinion has shifted the other way and one not infrequently sees people with various sorts of prosthetic supports, devices and ergonomic fixes to mitigate the problem. It’s kind of like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) that too could not be quite pinpointed by the medical community and was regarded as a shiftless behavioral pathology by many employers and insurance companies.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Yeah, I have a doctor-prescribed splint to keep my wrist from bending.

Omar said...

Hel-lo, Jo-anne,

Take care.

;-)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thank you, Om-mar :>)

Zac said...

Yeah, I have a doctor-prescribed splint to keep my wrist from bending.

I've seen a few of those around this office that I'm working at for the summer time. They seem to be popular.

Sara said...

I've had the surgery and so has my mother in law,, didn't work. Take it easy JO!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Surgery didn't work? Yikes.

Sara said...

50% chance either way and I lost... tis ok though I built it up over the years and still painful but not as often as it used to be... sometimes things need to get worse before getting better :)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

DBT - Thanks. Yikes; I hope it doesn't get as bad as that. Had a flare-up before, and was getting numbness. This time just some swelling and the odd shooting pain. Don't want it to get worse.

Anonymous said...

The surgery is effective about 50% of the time. Funny how the surgeons don't mention that, isn't it?

The pain and symptoms which characterize carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by a number of different conditions; some chronic and some acute. That's why it's called a syndrome rather than a more specific description.

Doctors, like most of us, look for the easy answer first. Carpal tunnel surgery has a good track record for not causing major side effects and has a 50/50 chance of resolving the problem so many doctors recommend it without hesitation.

My wife had carpal tunnel surgery on both of her wrists and had temporary relief... but the pain came back. Luckily, the surgeon arranged a follow up visit to review her progress. He wasn't happy with the results.

Long story short, he discovered her problem was related to a partial tear in the supraspinatus (connects to the rotator cuff) of her right shoulder which was causing problems in her neck that brought about pain in both forearms, wrists and hands but especially the right one.

She had corrective surgery on her shoulder and now enjoys full function again although she is prone to fatigue and re-injury.

My point is... make sure your doctor does a complete diagnosis rather than just going the easy route.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks for the tips, Dr. Mac. Sure hope it doesn't get that bad. Glad your wife's shoulder surgery went well though.

Now I'd better go put that splint on.

Anonymous said...

Ice and anti-inflammatories, Joanne.

Did anyone show you the appropriate stretches to help loosen the forearms?

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks, Vicki & Mac. Yeah, I'll have to remember to do those exercises. I know what you're talking about - the ones that stretch the tendons or whatever. Thanks for reminding me.

Sara said...

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Sara said...

ok JO I got the questions from the survey, but don't ask me how. I'm not sure myself lol

Joe Calgary said...

Drugs Joanne...

copious amounts of illegal drugs, they will help cazzelfratx luppin jay pour into your *Frizzle*.

Lov Joe. (Hic)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thx, J.C. Sounds like you speak from experience. ;)

Anonymous said...

I hope those of you who read and post here will take note of the quote which I lifted from Blake's blog, expressing his intention to troll Joanne's blog.

I posted the quote on the "It's the money, stupid" thread. If you ever had any doubt of Blake's "noble" intentions, lay them to rest.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks for the intervention, Mac!

Anonymous said...

I saw a neurosurgeon in London who did various tests on my right wrist (something to do with electrical impulses, I believe), declared me a suitable candidate for non-surgical treatment and had me return (with a driver - a definite necessity). He injected cortisone into a spot on the inside of my wrist and sent me on my way. That was 20-odd years ago. I've had very few symptoms since then. It might be worth investigating.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Wow! Thanks, Anne!! If things get worse, I'll check with my doctor about that. That sounds better than surgery!

Also must remember to do those exercises that Dr. Mac suggested.

Anonymous said...

A cautionary note:

Cortisone is, to be blunt, a meat tenderizer. It provides short-term relief for acute inflammation HOWEVER repeated use is not recommended since, true to it's nature, cortisone will damage ligaments by softening them which will damage joint function.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Oh, yeah. Thanks, Mac. I'll check with the doctor before using cortisone.

Mostly I just have to get away from the computer more often.