Life on Planet Baby: An update on my carpal tunnel syndrome: an ode to patience

Thursday, 29 March 2012

An update on my carpal tunnel syndrome: an ode to patience

Hello Gorgeous Ones. Thanks so much for your interest in my life as a lawyer - I was amazed at how many of you found it intriguing! I have a few more posts to follow it which I'm *dying* to write (you've got me on a roll now!). I want to tell you more about what I love (and don't!) about the law, how I managed the working mum caper for a while and whether I now feel like I can return to practise straight law.

But today I am really struggling.

My carpal tunnel pain is quite intense at the moment. I saw the hand physio yesterday. After examining me, she worked out that my nerve damage spreads from my hand, up my arm and into my shoulder blade area. She showed me how the skin pad at the base of my right thumb has atrophied. The horror! I wanted to cry as I looked at my little hand and compared it to my left which obviously looked different.

To think this has been happening under my nose and I haven't noticed it!

This hand has borne such loads since we arrived on Planet Baby.

It's carried the pixies (now weighing between 15 and 20 kg) thousands of times.

It's wiped bottoms more times than I care to calculate.

It's strapped resistant pixies into carseats in the middle of tantrums, enduring terrible pressure as they've made their bodies stiff as boards, just to prevent my putting on their seatbelts.

It's pegged a gazillion loads of washing on the line, unpegged them, folded them and then packed them away.

I could go on. You get the picture.

And now, just when I need to be able to use it to bring in income to keep Planet Baby's ship afloat, it's had enough. It wants some time out.

Then today I've had some *disagreeable* behaviour from certain pixies (such a euphemism). So I'm feeling less than chipper.

Today's Brave Girls Club email resonates with me on so many levels.

I just need to be patient. See the surgeon. Have the operation. Recover.

And then, my timing will be right to grab my dreams and follow them.

Patience is indeed a virtue, don't you think?

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Comments (30)

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Teresa · 682 weeks ago

I like the image you've chosen for this post, Jane. I wonder if the timing of the CTS is to allow you more time to continue to develop your dreams. To make them as grand as you deserve.

We'll be here to support you through the long (and hopefully not too painful) wait and at the other end to cheer you on as you make your dreams a reality.

As you would know, I also found your last post interesting and look forward to hearing more. If ever you want to chat about the whole lawyering/mum thing, just let me know. xox
My recent post Confessions of a Secret Mum

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks Teresa, you gorgeous girl. And yes, we need to have a chat! J x

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Katrina · 682 weeks ago

Hope you feel a little better soon. Sending good vibes! X

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks, Katrina - right back at you, my friend! J x

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Posie Patchwork · 682 weeks ago

Oh darling Jane, good luck, I hope you have as much success I have with the carpal tunnel decompression surgery. I have such a crush on my orthopaedic hand surgeon, what a joy his job is - giving people back the use of their hands. I tell you honey, I am flying again, love Posie
My recent post cousin-a-palooza

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

You are my absolute inspiration, Jennie, and what keeps me going. J x

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Jen R · 682 weeks ago

Oh Jane...use Posie as inspiration to get your hand fixed, its amazing how much as girls need them to help our families and ourselves xx
My recent post Now Let It Go...Im up and running and grateful for the opportunity to launch my business

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

So true, Jen - thanks! J x

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Libby · 682 weeks ago

Hi Jane,
Sending you warm and healing thoughts for your poor little hand :)
Thank you too for your kind words re my break...I will definitely keep in touch and comment regularly!
Libby
My recent post taking a break

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks Lib, you gorgeous girl. J x

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Lyndal · 682 weeks ago

I love brave girls club daily emails - thank you so much for introducing me, as you are totally right, they always seem to be exactly what I need to hear !
My recent post cheers to you, old mate

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

My pleasure, Lyndal - so glad to have a fellow fan on board ☺. J x

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Ash · 682 weeks ago

Oh Jane I'm sending so many positive thoughts and wishings. That message brought tears to my eyes it is so ....I'm at a loss for words. You look at the world in a beautiful way. Lots of love xxx
My recent post Simple Things Sunday – Home On the Farm

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks Ash, you darling soul. You have a huge heart. J x

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Le_third · 682 weeks ago

Hello dear one...Do you remember that Tim Finn song that says...patience is a virtue, possess it if you can? Well you do and you will prevail ! It was from the 'Fraction too much friction' album :) Le xox

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

No I don't, Le. Gosh, now I can't stop humming the title tune! J x

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Mum on the Run · 682 weeks ago

You beautiful, patient woman.
Left foot, right foot... doing what you can for now.
xxx
My recent post 52 Week Project : Wk 28

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks Sweetheart. You are so kind to me. J x

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Kelly · 682 weeks ago

Oh the work our poor hands are put through...surgery could be a great excuse to stop slow down and take it easy :-) ...
P.s Beautiful letter Jane gave me goosebumps x
My recent post yes...i swear....

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks Kelly. And so glad you enjoyed it. J x

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Kat · 682 weeks ago

Sometimes the universe forces us to slow down in the strangest ways.
Definitely not the ideal way Jane, but maybe, just maybe it is giving you more time to take stock and consider which direction to take.
I love the letter. It spoke to me too!

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Exactly, Kat! J x

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Mama of 2 boys · 682 weeks ago

Oh Sweetness, it saddens me to think of the pain you're enduring right now. Reading about all of those repetitive stress type actions your hands bear the brunt of every day really brings it home.

As Mamas, our hands are really the frontline and I can relate so well to all of those things AND it reminds me not to take my precious hands for granted. Maybe a little less typing from now on, but who am I kidding, I can't stop coming online to blog!

Yes, just focus on having the operation and recovering and getting some sense of relief back into your days. As you've already established, those hands have and will have to carry you and your family through many years to come. Hugs to you Jane xoxo

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks so much, Jules. You have a heart of gold. Truly. J x

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Chantal · 681 weeks ago

Hi Jane, I imagine the loss of use of a hand when you have young children as well as work and day to day life would be so difficult. I hope your have success with surgery. I have an artist friend Kitty Kilian in the Netherlands who deals with similar pain regularly. She may have some tips for coping with writing whilst you are dealing with the pain on her blog. Good luck, and thanks so much for visiting my blog today : ) Chantal x
My recent post Screen Printing with Prints Charming

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks for your kind words, Chantal. I must pop over there now. And it was my pleasure - thanks to dear Felicity for bringing us together. J x

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Sarah Scott · 681 weeks ago

Oh, hugs to you my new friend. I was an Occupational Therapist in life-before-Maren and worked on such issues. The pain is so intense - and so hard to avoid, being that it stems from very productive little hands that have a hard time resting!

I'm sure you've tried them already, but had to ask - have you given wrist splints a try? It sounds as though you will be having surgery soon, but if there was any way to lessen your pain before, I'd suggest wrist guards. Something that keeps your wrist/hand aligned and prevents you from aggravating those tender nerves while you are doing particularly repetitive task.

Anyhow, hate to suggest things that you may have already tried - mostly just wanted to write in and send some healing mama love from me to you. Such hardworking, loving hands - taking care of those little pixies! I sure hope they feel better soon! xoxo
My recent post "Beautiful stranger..."

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Oh Sarah, you gorgeous girl. Thanks ever so much for your kind and helpful suggestions. Yes, Sabrina the splint is providing considerable relief, thank goodness. J x

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Emma · 681 weeks ago

Oh you poor lovey! Thinking of you and hoping that the surgery takes place soon. Hands are so important with young children and the mothering/parenting of them. I really feel for you. xx
My recent post One man's trash is another man's treasure!

1 reply · active 681 weeks ago

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jane1970 99p · 681 weeks ago

Thanks, Sweetheart. You *get* how hands on this gig is. J x

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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, you gorgeous soul. You've just made my day! J x

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