Large Scale Central

Still having problems with hands swollen and stiff

General Discussion
#1

Hey there. Still having problems with hands being swollen and stiff and hurting. This run began early May.

Just like when this kind of thing ended my job at AT&T in 1996 I don’t know when, or if, I’ll be able to work on trains, rockets, writing, again.

And if so how much will be able to do.

Was off on disability for 3 months straight in each 1995 and 1996,

Have been half a dozen endocrine, neurological, musculoskeletal, things going on for a couple decades now; are looking to see

whether this is new thing or part of them.

As before it seems answers come slowly.

Speaking of writing, haven’t been able to write cursive since back then, my hands just won’t do that any more; and it also ended my days of drawing.

#2

So sorry to hear this but know that you are not alone. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a couple years ago and have been dealing with a detached retina since February. I have significant balance issues, lots of pain, and with the eye issues have difficulty with vision and depth perception. I know it is hard to feel positive sometimes, but I do believe there is light for you, as well as for me and all the others similarly situated, at the end of the tunnel, and that light will be a train. Let’s just take it a step at a time, adapt as necessary, and hop aboard as best we can!

Greg

#3

I am sorry to read about your condition. Its a real bear not being able to use your hands. Years ago I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I had the surgery to fix it, but my hands haven’t been right since.

Greg, you are correct, and I am sorry to read about your condition too. We just have to take it one day at a time, and hope for the best.

#4

I can’t think of anything appropriate to say. I’ll pray.

#5

If it helps any, I too know mostly constant pain, it started with my picking up a full size anvil and encountering my knees on the determined way down… the surgeon wanted to fuse, but it took my chiropractor a year to put me back where it was… but that’s only occasional or if I stand too long.

I also know occupational arthritis where small tool handles sped up cartilage deterioration …throbbing as I write and is mostly on, I guess. I excuse my ‘drawings’ because I haven’t set it up right… good luck coming back to it later and having a clue…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-undecided.gif)

I don’t take pain pills. I manage it.

Yeah I beat lung cancer, but the cure tried to kill me! It’s only a small lobe that collapsed and sure, I get winded thinking about walking fast, but I ain’t complaining, because in my mind, the alternative sucks.

Be Blessed my friends, all y’all make my life brighter.

#6

Really sorry to hear that Forrest. I sure hope with you that the new docs and maybe new science will come up with much better answers for you than 20+ years ago.

I can relate to the handwriting, mine’s been seriously messed up since I had a stroke in '04. Then there’s the carpal tunnel crap…

Nowhere near what you’re suffering though, I’m sure.

Cliff

#7

Speaking of handwriting, Parkies sometimes get micrographia, which causes one’s handwriting to become abnormally small even in the course of one line on a sheet of paper. My occupational therapist suggested I use larger diameter pens and that pretty much took care of the problem for me. Hopefully, there will be some simple solutions to some of our collective issues!

#8

Very sorry to hear of your health problem, Forrest. Prayers and best wishes coming your way!

#9

Thanks y’all. Appreciate it. Still no news that it is something different, seems to be just a rerun of a previous plot.
Between that and weather, “Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 103.”
the 4th for me is going to be stay home and stay in with the pair of short and furry ones.
With one being Georgie, the rare Venetian Tabby (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

In mid 1980s Dad was one of USN’s first medical retirement, actually, I think the literal first, will have to ask him again,

with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia; and with a few other things, neuropathy among them.

About 10 years after that, his 16 years younger sister had her nursing career ended by MS.

And about 10 years after that, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia; and neuropathy, ended

my retail career. Something is going on in this genetic line.

I remember the several years of hell Dad went through while high-powered military doctors in Virginia were trying to figure out,

“What is happening to this guy???” One day Dad’s health was fine, the next it was really bad, just like flipping that proverbial light switch.
Aunt Susan had MS, that was known.

I had neuropathy and some other things which were known. Then one year, just before I was to become manager of a franchise hobby shop after owners opened their 3rd,

I got run down during Christmas and never came back. By February I could only work half time.

Then one day in April right in the middle of ringing up a customer I suddenly had zero clue how cash registers worked.

WTF??? Excuse me?!?!?!? I’ve been in and out of retail for 23 years, I know damn well how cash registers work!!!

And I’d been involved in programming that very one while we were setting up store to open.

Except now I had no clue how it worked.

Also had no clue what my contact info was.

And no clue where home was, though it was only 2 miles and 3 turns away. But I could still draw a picture of it.
Eventually current manager got my then wife to the store and we got me to hospital.

I was thinking stroke, but no; that same day or another, no longer recall, the doctor said something along the lines of,

*"*Have you ever heard of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome?"

Ahhhh #$%^&&%^##$%%^%@#^, (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)(https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif)oh yes, I’ve heard of them. And how.

Fortunately my little brother seems to have escaped these things,

though Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have caused him their own set of challenges.

#10

I can relate to your cash register lapse…

The morning the Viral Encephalitis struck it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to sit up… 6 months bed ridden and then I had to relearn my reflexes…

Life is strange. As a result both my cat and myself were on the prescription Predisone; his for a skin condition and me with a mind condition!

#11

John Caughey said:

I can relate to your cash register lapse…

Me, too. I once got lost driving home from my in-laws. We live on the same street …

#12

Putting your car keys in the freezer is normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it???

#13

Steve Featherkile said:

Putting your car keys in the freezer is normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it???

Yes, but as a friend whose mother had dementia once told me, not knowing what they are for, isn’t …

#14

Gregory Hile said:

Yes, but as a friend whose mother had dementia once told me, not knowing what they are for, isn’t …

Reminds me of Grandmother Wood, whose name was Maxine and she had some in common with the cartoon character. Lived to be 90 something.

In her later years she had dementia and Grandad had died years earlier with complications from Alzheimer’s.

Anyway, the specific thing is her insistence that she couldn’t possibly have neuropathy, she didn’t feel anything, so how could it be neuropathy.

Am in a model boat mood again but with my hands having issues I can’t do jack about it.
:frowning:

Am remembering 10 years ago building some rubber band powered submarines and free-sailing pond boats. Orange sub is mine, black was built for a neighbor. Have bare beginnings of a couple others up in closet.
Submarines were inspired by projects in a 1971 book parents got me and my brother while we were in grade school. Took me 30 years to get around to building the sub but that was okay because I vastly improved the design.

Flickr album for subs https://flic.kr/s/aHskzXRFGp

For cardboard sailboats, https://flic.kr/s/aHsjnhRPpA Were 2 versions of this scow hull.

Of course are several other designs and one partly begun currently stored up in the closet with the submarines.

#15

Anyone for 2-rail electric canal boats? Yes, my mind is wandering today.

“For many centuries, canal boats were propelled by men, horses or mules on the towpath beside the water. Before diesel power took over, engineers developed several interesting methods powered by electricity: trolleyboats, floating funiculars and electric mules. Many of these ecological solutions could be applied today instead of diesel engines. Because of the very low energy requirements, they could easily be powered by renewable energy, generated on the spot by water turbines located at sluices. One trolleyboat line is still in use.”

"1. Trolley propeller systems

One of the first alternatives for animal power was the trolley propeller system. Only four years after the first experimental trolleybus, Frank W. Hawley adapted an ordinary steam canal boat to a trolleyboat (named after him), which was tested on the Erie Canal in the US in 1893.

The two electric motors (of 25 HP each) powered two screw propellers and received current from a pair of wires suspended over the canal through two ordinary underbearing trolley poles (picture on the right).

http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/12/trolley-canal-boats.html

#16

Automobile keys in the freezer…oh, is that what those keys are for…I don’t even own an automobile…!!

I know, yes I sure do…“T’aint funny Magee”…

Fred Mills