A Warm Hello to All!

I am scheduled for surgery on this Thursday, July 10th!

I am scheduled for a procedure called a "subcutaneous anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve." (A long phrase!)

I have an ulnar nerve lesion. (The ulnar nerve comes down through our arms, passing by/through our elbow regions, down through our forearms and into our fingers... thebaby and ring fingers).

In my left arm/hand, this has progressed to the point of extreme pain in arm/hand, severe muscle wasting and severe weakness. My hand has atrophied. This has occurred rather rapidly. (Much further damage had occurred while awaiting correct diagnosis and also waiting for sugery!)

Doctors do not expect my left hand to regain strength, nor muscle mass. This type of damage is considered irreversible.

The reason for having any surgery, at this point, is to stop any further atrophy of the hand. (The hand will continue to show worse atrophy as time goes on if this procedure is not done.)

I have idioipathic peripheral polyneuropathies throughout my body, along with additional nervous system problems.

I have this same pattern showing up in my right arm/hand.
We are hoping to get the surgery done on the left side and have some recovery time before we must also do a procedure on the right side. We are planning to interrupt the process before the right side has atrophied to this point!

I am currently told full recovery time for my left will be between 9 and 18 months! We are hoping the right arm/hand (nerve) does not deteriorate as quickly! We hope we can allow the left to heal (at least some) before we must do this same procedure in order to save my right arm/hand.

I will need to be in a full length arm brace (straight) for three full weeks after surgery. (I cannot take my arm out of the brace at all for a week, and until stitches are removed. I then can take my arm out of the brace intermittently, to flex my elbow.)

I will not have any formal PT prescribed (nor approved/covered by insurance) for my hand, as the expectation is that of no potential for rehab.

I will, however, be working hard to strengthen any muscle possible in my hand, as I have been doing, trying to keep strength during this time of atrophy. I have a therapist lined up to work with me on this, even though the docs will not prescribe it and the insurer will not recover it.

I am going to try anyway, as I have nothing at all to lose. I fully understand that I might not recover anything. Yet, I also know some for the muscles not directly affected might be able to get stronger and help to compensate for the muscle directly affected. I can forgive myself for trying, despite being told trying was "fruitless." I would not be so able to forgive myself for not having tried my best anyway! Even strengthening some unaffected small muscles has got to help some.

I am grateful for any prayers, positive thoughts, meditations, positive enrgy offered up on my behalf!

I know this issue is very minor compared to some here.
So many here are in my prayers, and/or I offer positive thoughts/energy on the behalf of all in need.

I will be doing my best to check in , intermittently, between now and surgery time (Thursday a.m.) and also in the days after surgery!

Love and Deep Inner Peace to All!

With Deep Gratitude~