Monday was Teaching!!! Which is my favorite T and I love, love, love getting to teach!!! I spent Monday in the outskirts of Las Vegas Nevada doing a Trunk Show and Class for the Sun City Quilt Club. These ladies were so much fun to hang out with!! The trunk show was so much fun to share, which of course, I didn't happen to get any pictures of because I was up front talking, ah well. Immediately following I taught my Braided Irish Chain class and just loved working with these wonderful gals. The class was so much fun and everyone did a great job!! Here are a few of our block finishes ;)
Which was nice because Wednesday was Testing. And this is where we get into the not so wonderful tidbits. So a bit of backstory . . . basically, I have been having a lot of pain and numbness in my hands and wrists for about the last 3 months. I should state that I have had very mild carpal tunnel for about 10 years now, but it has always been manageable with a wrist brace and some ice when it got sore. I saw a surgeon 6 weeks ago thinking that I must have just finally pushed my carpal tunnel past mild. We talked about how Carpal Tunnel once pushed past mild can be fixed with a surgery. The surgery healed pretty quickly, and I would just have to stay away from rotary cutting or long arm quilting for about 3 weeks but the surgery normally gives very good results and you are back to normal. So, the surgeon ordered a nerve conduction study, to see how severe things were and while I have been waiting for my appt. I have been working on clearing all of my "to do's" off of my list and not adding any more for a bit. Well yesterday was my Testing. I told my husband to take some pictures of the testing so I could put them here but he forgot. Let's just say, electrical shocks and needles, while not awful, certainly not all that pleasant. (I borrowed these images from nervecare.com to give you an idea :)
And just because I had made a plan on how I could fit a surgery in, The test decided to take me down a different path. The test actually showed that the problem is not my mild Carpal Tunnel, but actually my Elbows, more specifically the Ulnar Nerve that has the same symptoms as carpal tunnel. And apparently the Elbow Nerve is a whole lot different than the Wrist Nerve :) The good news is that sometimes it fixes itself (Yippee!!!) So that is the new plan. And what does this plan entail . . . bracing and behavior changes. Meaning thinking about not bending your arms when you don't need to, ie . . .not crossing your arms when you stand, sleeping with your arms straight, ect. for the behavioral changes and for the bracing, I get to sport these bad boys for the next month. And hopefully my irradiated elbow nerves will fix themselves, if not, well I suppose we will cross that bridge when it comes ;) And just in case you are wondering, although a little slower, you can still use a long arm, rotary cutter, and sewing machine (and type for that matter) while keeping your arms pretty much straight, I know, I have already tried ;)
I hope you are having a Wonderfully Happy Quilting week thus far!! Let me know what Wonderful Tidbits you have to share in the comments below ;)
Sorry to hear of your nerve problems. I know how it goes. I have had Carpal Tunnel in both wrists for almost 2 years and I need to wear splints especially when I am sleeping. (I call them gauntlets) I have postponed surgery because I am afraid I will be out of action for too long. I hope yours straightens itself out over time. It's always something...
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you don't need surgery at this time - and hopefully never. Hoping that these elbow braces work and your nerve problems go away. Congratulations on being in the 'Top 100'!! That is special. Now how about cooking - do you get out of that :)?
ReplyDeleteWishing you quick healing!
ReplyDeleteAs of this week I have fonished the bindings on Three quilts this month. I quilted them last month. Hoppe the brackng and limited bending helps your pained nerves.
ReplyDeleteAs of this week I have fonished the bindings on Three quilts this month. I quilted them last month. Hoppe the brackng and limited bending helps your pained nerves.
ReplyDeleteI would love to come a be your rotary cutter pep but you might try the AccuQuilt gocutter, its electric.
ReplyDeleteOh, I had a similar 'shock' test years ago, and I remember how awful that was! I hope the braces do the trick for your elbows!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! you're in top 100! I really love reading your posts. Hope your elbows fix itself with a bit of behaviour changes. Wish you all the best :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a week!! Wishing you a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteHope the braces fix you up.
ReplyDeleteSpeedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteWow. I can't imagine going about my day without bending my elbows! Yikes! I've had to wear wrist braces for carpal tunnel (luckily mostly just when I was pregnant), so I hope the braces help - and quickly!
ReplyDeleteI just got to some of my emails: I hope that your elbows heal up well!! Take it easy on them!! I had tendonitis years ago when I had 5 sewing classes one semester! But the brace really helped me REMEMBER not to use that wrist, so I'm hoping the same for you!! Hugs, H
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