Sebastian's course of illness
On November 18th, 2002 I received the following email (this has been approved by the author for publication on this page):
Hello!
My name is Sebastian, I am 23 years old and have finally managed to write down the course of my illness. I'll start:
In June 2001, I fell on my left hand while exercising. At first everything looked normal, but in the evening the first pain became noticeable.
So the next morning I first went to the doctor where I was diagnosed with tendinitis and given ointment and bandages for treatment.
Unfortunately it didn't get any better. The two more visits to the doctor brought the same result. But the pain got worse.
They did not want to send me for an X-ray because it was not necessary from the doctor's point of view. Then I continued to work normally. I thought the doctor would already know and it couldn't be a break. And what else should one have? In September the pain slowly moved towards the elbows. I went to the doctor again, this time a different one, I immediately got a plaster cast and an appointment for an X-ray.
Despite the X-ray, no one could tell me what I had now and an MRI followed.
Then I was given a preliminary diagnosis and asked to see a hand surgeon.
In October, a few more x-rays and a fine-slice CT followed in the clinic where the operation was to take place.
Then I finally got my diagnosis. Lunate Malacia! What is that? I wondered. An operation was indicated but it was not yet clear how.
Since I was still in the Bundeswehr at the time, I had to apply for the operation first. That lasted until the beginning of December and by the end of December my service time was over.
I went to the hand surgeon again in the New Year and got an OP appointment for February. The doctor decided on an operation according to Graner.
Here the moon bone was removed, the head bone sawed through and the moon bone was replaced with the lower half. In between, a piece came out of my iliac crest (partial stiffening). The whole construction was fixed with wires. I agreed. It was too late to shorten the radius or the like anyway.
The moon leg was already too broken.
From February to July, 8 days in hospital, 10 x lymphatic drainage and 28 x physiotherapy followed.
After six weeks the plaster splint came off and the fixation wires (three in number) were gradually pulled out of my hand (outpatient).
In addition, from February to September I was able to present myself to the clinic for an X-ray almost every three weeks.
But now I can say that everything is fine again. The pain at rest is gone. I can move my hand to some extent again (you get used to it) only when the load is on the pain is still there. And sometimes when the weather changes the pain is a little worse. But on the whole I am satisfied.
But the days after the operation were not as bad as I had imagined. Everything went almost painlessly. The next day after the operation I was even able to walk, just getting up and lying down I had my problems. But once I got up it was fine. And it didn't take long before I didn't notice the scar on my hip.
I don't know what caused the lunate malacia. In any case, I had no problems with my left or right hand before the fall. In my job as an industrial mechanic, I can no longer work. I would have to take the risk that the hand would have to be completely stiffened in a few years and I don't feel like doing that. I submitted an application for retraining at the employment office and I will start soon. Still, I hope that in a few years the movement will get even better. In January I have to have a fine-slice CT again and then I'll see again.
I hope that with my story I can help other people who are facing such an operation. If you have any questions you can contact me.
greeting
Sebastian
