Wow, how did I forget to let the world know via this blog and FB about my thumb injuries? It could be that this past 2 months have been a flurry of activity. It could be that medical sharing might sound like complaining and who cares anyway?
Two caring individuals (you know who you are) noticed by thumb brace in recently posted FB pictures and asked about the thumb. Multiple people at GA asked me about it. Here is the update.
In early May, I went to my primary care for painful thumb and tingling in my left leg.
HOLD ON, I must go on this tangent! She made me wait for 60 minutes. I read 30 magazines in that time, and no one came in to update me. I was fuming by the time she came in the observation room and yes I did address it with her because she ALWAYS makes me wait at least 30 minutes. I am in the process of firing her for someone who values my time, and at the very least has someone give me updates about the wait time. I understand in our health care situation that PCPs are overworked and only have 15 minutes to try to listen to their patients. However, I am also firing her because she does not listen to me. I told her I had two things to talk to her about. Gave her the headlines, 1) sore thumb and 2) tingly feeling in my leg. She failed to talk to me about the tingling in my leg and honestly, I think this is the more worrisome problem. I am seeing a neurologist on Tuesday about that. I had to say "what about the leg?" as she rose to exit. Obviously the fact that I stood up for myself got her a bit flustered, and her 15 minutes had ended, and she was an hour late already.
I digress! Her diagnosis is that I have arthritis in two of my thumb joints and I have an inflamed tendon which sounds worse by it's official name, De Quervain's tenosynovitis. I left with 4 pages of exercises, and a prescription for PT, after she threatened to go straight to a cortisone shot. Without trying something else first? My exact words were "We don't do shots without trying other things first!". BTW, I was using the Royal We in case that was not obvious.
She was not going to give me the PT prescription, but I asked if I could have it, just in case the exercises did not work. She had already said "These probably won't work". Reasonable request for the PT prescription, and not have to come back to the office?
This post did not start out as a rant, but has become that. Thanks to all who have asked about the thumb, including perfect strangers at GA and to the two caring individuals on FB who noticed. Updates to follow.
Anybody want to help me solve world hunger, right after we improve the medical situation in this country?
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