WARNING, graphic post!!... do not proceed if you have recently eaten chicken nuggets.... or ever want to again...
Starting about September of 2012, I began having pain in several joints. At first I just wrote it off as pain from a long run or two but it persisted past the normal few days that I would normally be sore. Initially it was a dull ache, and so I didn't really think that much about it until one morning around Christmas of 2012 I woke up and was in so much pain it was actually hard to get out of bed. A new experience for me, I suddenly realized I am actually getting older, ugh.
Everything stayed the same until I noticed that the back of my right wrist had actually begun to swell in one spot. It was hard sometimes and somewhat painful to touch. Additionally, getting out of bed had become hard every day. In about February I decided to finally go to the doctor and get checked out. After almost 10 months and 11 specialists later it was determined that I have developed atypical synovitis in my right wrist and tenosynovitis in my left wrist and left knee. The doctor asked if I wanted the growth in my wrist taken out, to which I replied "how soon can you do it?". The military hospital hand surgeon could get me an initial consult in about 6 months but the hand surgeon at my Japanese clinic was able to schedule the surgery only two weeks later on 18 December. Just in time for Christmas!
Surgery took 2 hours and I had to stay in the hospital overnight. They didn't have a big enough table in the surgery room for me, so they had to make an extension out of a surgery utility cabinet. They emptied everything off the top and stuck it at the bottom of the table for my feet. Mission flashback to the same thing happening to me when I had to get stitches in my head while here on the mission in 1997. Anyways, for everyone that has asked to see pictures here they are:
Hard to see because of all the hair, but the lump is about even with the stem of my thumb in the middle of the back of my hand.
The swelling actually went way down right before surgery, so can't see it very well from the outside.
Normally all that should be visible at this point is my tendons. The massive pink blob is the growth sitting on top of my tendons.
Two hours later, all clean! It's like brushing your teeth, right?!!?
The offending growth, looks like a chicken nugget before the batter... mmm, chicken nuggets. I better stop, Fiona is trying not to pass out on the floor... She doesn't like gore.
All back together. The best Christmas present I could get this year.
Starting about September of 2012, I began having pain in several joints. At first I just wrote it off as pain from a long run or two but it persisted past the normal few days that I would normally be sore. Initially it was a dull ache, and so I didn't really think that much about it until one morning around Christmas of 2012 I woke up and was in so much pain it was actually hard to get out of bed. A new experience for me, I suddenly realized I am actually getting older, ugh.
Everything stayed the same until I noticed that the back of my right wrist had actually begun to swell in one spot. It was hard sometimes and somewhat painful to touch. Additionally, getting out of bed had become hard every day. In about February I decided to finally go to the doctor and get checked out. After almost 10 months and 11 specialists later it was determined that I have developed atypical synovitis in my right wrist and tenosynovitis in my left wrist and left knee. The doctor asked if I wanted the growth in my wrist taken out, to which I replied "how soon can you do it?". The military hospital hand surgeon could get me an initial consult in about 6 months but the hand surgeon at my Japanese clinic was able to schedule the surgery only two weeks later on 18 December. Just in time for Christmas!
Surgery took 2 hours and I had to stay in the hospital overnight. They didn't have a big enough table in the surgery room for me, so they had to make an extension out of a surgery utility cabinet. They emptied everything off the top and stuck it at the bottom of the table for my feet. Mission flashback to the same thing happening to me when I had to get stitches in my head while here on the mission in 1997. Anyways, for everyone that has asked to see pictures here they are:
Hard to see because of all the hair, but the lump is about even with the stem of my thumb in the middle of the back of my hand.
The swelling actually went way down right before surgery, so can't see it very well from the outside.
Normally all that should be visible at this point is my tendons. The massive pink blob is the growth sitting on top of my tendons.
Two hours later, all clean! It's like brushing your teeth, right?!!?
The offending growth, looks like a chicken nugget before the batter... mmm, chicken nuggets. I better stop, Fiona is trying not to pass out on the floor... She doesn't like gore.
All back together. The best Christmas present I could get this year.
4 comments:
Yikes! Those pictures were both really gross and totally interesting, kind of crazy to see your hand sliced open like that. Even crazier if it is your own hand, I imagine. Lame that it took so long to figure out what was going on, but I'm glad they were able to get you in so fast once they decided what to do. So funny about having to make a special table extension just for you!
Nice photos Z! Hope you're feeling better and recovering quickly. I'm sure you're getting living care from Fiona and Co. I'm off to make some chicken...
Still recovering a bit from those pics. When you mentioned chicken nuggets, I thought it was gonna be about the kids and chicken nuggets. I guess I forgot I was reading about your hand and a surgery. Oh man. That was intense. Glad you got that thing out! Man! That was big! So sorry about all the pain and long process of getting answers! I had no idea that was even going on! I'm glad it's figured out and taken care of. I hope all your other symptoms get better too???? You didn't really say if it was a life long thing. Hopefully not. Merry late Christmas!!!
Woah Zach! That's crazy! I remember seeing that camping and you saying it wasn't very comfortable. Happy new year guys! Will we see you guys anytime soon? We really enjoyed getting to know your little ones better this summer :)
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