For those of you who aren't able to work any more. What do you like to do to fill your time? If you do crafts, what kind of a craft do you do?
I'm hoping all of us can share our ideas to help others (including myself) come up with new things that we can do to fill our time.
Thank you,
Ben
I have a question regarding this topic. I have not worked in several months because of carpal tunnel syndrome issues and "fixes". after 2 surgeries on one hand and one on the other, my hands are probably actually worse than before the surgeries. I am a pharmacist by training, and while career prospects are getting better these days for those of us with advanced doctorate degrees in pharmacy, generally the most easy to find and commonly advertised position is for the retail pharmacist. Not sure that I will ever be able to stand there and open/close bottles any more due to the nerve problems in my hands so I am trying to figure out new career paths / retraining. I have almost no ability to use fine motor skills, etc.
which leads me to my question: Seeing this post made me wonder if perhaps my hand disabilites are more related to EM vs CTS, and if so, are there any numbers / evidence out there on people who have EM who also have severely disabled fine motor skills?
Any info is welcome!
thanks so much :)
Linda
Great post Ben. I will start by saying that I do work but still try to do things that I like in my spare time, I read lots as a way to escape a pain filled life and also cycle. This is the only cardio exercise I can do with my EM and fibro. I take up to 4 spin classes at the gym a week and try to get out on my bike when the weather is nice.!
I have a question regarding this topic. I have not worked in several months because of carpal tunnel syndrome issues and "fixes". after 2 surgeries on one hand and one on the other, my hands are probably actually worse than before the surgeries. I am a pharmacist by training, and while career prospects are getting better these days for those of us with advanced doctorate degrees in pharmacy, generally the most easy to find and commonly advertised position is for the retail pharmacist. Not sure that I will ever be able to stand there and open/close bottles any more due to the nerve problems in my hands so I am trying to figure out new career paths / retraining. I have almost no ability to use fine motor skills, etc.
which leads me to my question: Seeing this post made me wonder if perhaps my hand disabilites are more related to EM vs CTS, and if so, are there any numbers / evidence out there on people who have EM who also have severely disabled fine motor skills?
Any info is welcome!
thanks so much :)
Linda
What are your symptoms?
Dave, just gonna give the disclaimer that I can't possibly give a 2 word answer if 100 words will do :) that said...
Symptoms: Worsening bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms and signs for the past 6 or so years. The first 2 years or thereabout I got by with localized steroid injections, then for another couple of years I staved off surgery with stretches recommended by a PT. About 2 years ago along with the numbness, tingling, loss of strength, etc, I developed a tremor that appears related to the tensile resistance somewhere between the shoulder and the hand, and I lost most of my ability to perform fine motor movements. Additionally, the EM type symptoms, always worse in my feet, began manifesting much more severely in my hands as well. I broke down and had the median nerve release surgery last summer because I was having such a hard time working. After 4 months the symptoms had only worsened so they reoperated. Now I still have the tremor, my hands are at least as bad as they were before surgery, and the hot hands thing is completely out of control.
So I started wondering if there is an issue of causation, or at the very least correlation, and that perhaps the existence of the neurovascular condition of EM could also play a role in the development or severity of nerve entrapment syndromes. Or vice versa...
What was your conduction delay before the surgery?
I don't have the numbers here. I do know that the cts had gone from moderate to severe to moderate, to mild to moderate right before the surgery. However, due to the severity and impact of the symptoms they operated. At 3.5 months after 1st sx, they repeated emg/ncv and the numbers were pretty much unchanged and still showed mild to moderate. During the 2nd surgery they found the median nerve was surrounded and compressed by fibrotic scar tissue so the surgeon retracted the nerve a bit, split the scar tissue lengthwise and removed about 2 inches of compressive band. Since my symptoms still haven't ameliorated they repeated the emg last month and the numbers show I have mild cts. Obviously I am not particularly interested in more surgery if it can be helped..
Was it laproscopic?
Dave, yes, the 1st surgery was endoscopic, the second was open.
I love to read which helps with coping with the flares. A good book will concentrate my mind away from the symptoms.
I also enjoy genealogy and have spent 12 years compiling my and my husbands family trees which between us stretch back to to late 1600's. A fascinating hobby for those unable to get out and about but have access to a computer. Everything you need to trace your history is available on the internet and the postman delivers any certificates you want to verify your searches. No need to leave the comfort of your own home.
Don't get me started as I have been known to make eyes glaze over on the subject!
I can't do the DIY I used to enjoy doing in my spare time and I do miss that.