Barbara's disease process
The following email reached me on August 23, 2005 (this has been approved by the author for publication on this page):
My name is Barbara, I am a commercial clerk and I am 48 years old. I would like to tell my medical history:
In November 2004 I developed severe pain in my right wrist. I thought of overload and didn't see an orthopedic surgeon until mid-December. There I was treated for tendinitis. Dressings, ointments and injections into the tendons.
In mid-January I informed my doctor that there was no improvement. The doctor said very gruffly that it should be better now. I was horrified, and at my urging, got a referral to the MRI, which was done in early February. When I came back to my orthopedic surgeon to discuss the findings, he said I had to go to the hand surgeon to have a wrist stiffener because my bones were dying. I was as shocked as if I had been told I had terminal cancer. There were also no explanations from him.
I made an appointment at the hospital for the end of February 2005. After two doctors examined me, they asked the professor to join me. After several discussions, the professor explained to me that I had a very rare disease.
Moonbones and scaphoid have died, which is probably even rarer. He suggested to me that I needed an operation as soon as possible because my wrist could collapse with the slightest impact. Another shock! My surgery appointment was March 7th, 2005. The 7 1/2 hour operation ran without complications. A bone chip and bone substance was taken from my hip and planted in my wrist. There was only one tension bubble two days after that. After 8 days in hospital, I was able to leave the clinic with a full cast. The sutures were pulled 6 days later. After 6 weeks I went for a check-up and was given a half-cast for another 7 weeks. So I wore plaster of paris for 13 weeks and during the check-up I was told that the implanted bone chip had grown, but not streaked. I have to be very careful and not strain my hand. In the meantime I've changed the orthopedic surgeon. For 6 weeks now I have had physiotherapy 3 times a week and occupational therapy 3 times a week (all without stress). My wrist has already become much more flexible, but still not pain-free, but it is getting better every day.
I can highly recommend the clinic in Hamburg. There are very competent doctors there who are very sensitive to the patients.
Today I am happy that I had my hand operated on. I had no choice either. During the entire course of my illness, of course, I rode a rollercoaster emotionally. I was afraid that I would never move my hand again.
In the clinic, my left wrist was also checked and it turned out that the lunar bone had already died here too. As soon as the right hand is reasonably "household", the left hand is operated on. This will be so in 6-8 weeks. Since I know today what to expect, I look positively into the future. I know it's a game of patience, but it's worth it.
I want to say to all concerned to hold your head up and be patient.
Kind regards Barbara
