Okay, I went to the friggin' doctor.

[chanaleh]

Last night my homeboys made me swear up and down that I would call today for a doctor's appointment, because my right wrist has now been bugging me to various degrees for over three weeks. Since I got the new brace, it's much improved over what it was for a while, but now there's a spot on the outside (just under the heel of my hand) that feels noticeably sore and possibly swollen. Not a lot, but clearly it's not normal either.

I hate calling for appointments. Having the appointment doesn't faze me a bit, but making it is like pulling teeth sometimes. Do I really think this represents a medical danger? Are they going to tell me anything other than "take some ibuprofen, use some ice, try to lay off the typing/mousing"? And if not, what's the point?

But I said I would, so I had to.

I was going to stop by the medical center before work this morning, but then I really wasn't that early, so I decided to go at lunchtime.

Progressively feeling worse (not wrist-wise, that is, but lonely, sad, sorry for myself) throughout the morning. Finally went downstairs at 1:30.

Went down to the steam fountain and lay on a bench for half an hour, fortifying myself with sunshine. Cried.

Got up and walked over to the medical center.
Flexed my wrist and tried to figure out if it really felt bad enough to require medical supervision, or if it was getting better on its own fast enough already.
Walked through the lobby.
Thought about having to justify my need for an appointment. "Well, no, I guess it doesn't actually hurt that much anymore... Well, er, no, I haven't actually tried an ibuprofen regimen for it yet... But it really just, y'know, doesn't feel right..."
Made a big circle in the lobby and walked back out again.
Cried. Kept walking.

Imagined having to tell my homeboys that, no, I didn't forget, it wasn't that I didn't have time, I just couldn't muster the courage to make the appointment.
Told myself that, yes, I can see a doctor, I do deserve to see a doctor (or for heaven's sake at least a PA which is all I'm likely to get assigned to anyway), I am entitled to ask for an appointment when something doesn't feel right.
Circled around again and went back into the lobby.

Went upstairs to the second floor. Looked around for a bathroom. Cried in the bathroom for five more minutes. Collected myself.
Went to the desk on my doctor's side of the floor.
Told the nice receptionist I was having RSI troubles and just wanted someone to look my right wrist over.
Got an appointment for Friday afternoon (yes, with the PA) at 2:15.
Walked out.
Cried some more.

Still didn't feel like eating much in the way of lunch, so I got frozen yogurt with strawberries and kiwi on it instead.

I hereby forbid any of you to tell me any more sad stories about how you just can't bring yourself to do XYZ important thing that you know perfectly well is for your own good. This is how it's done. I don't want to hear your excuses.

Love from PMS-land,
chanaleh

Comments

no stories

[palmwiz.livejournal.com]

but you might be interested in a lovely word describing this condition: akrasia.

Re: no stories

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I learned that word from roozle last year. :-)

I don't know if this counts, though. It's more like intimidation.

Go You!

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

If the doctor's appointment is anything less than completely satisfying, I recommend the following.

"This is interfering with my ability to do daily activities. I would like a referral to a physical therapist, please"

lather, rinse, and repeat.

(It's been my experience that doctors are not always the most helpful when dealing with soft tissue injuries because they sometimes get bogged down in diagnosis. Physical therapists and massage therapists are better, in my opinion, at working to make you better, even if they can't absolutely prove you have such and such.)

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

I think at MIT they must go out of their way to deal with RSI, because my dr. at Harvard told me several times how he had gotten training at MIT to help patients with RSI, and he was always very sympathetic and tried to be helpful for my problems with it. The problem is that you're probably right that taking Aleve and doing less of the activity that's hurting you is all you can do. And the ergonomics, of course. Hey, maybe you can file for worker's comp!

[chrysaphi.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the time I went to MIT Medical to have my RSI checked out, I was all worried because my wrists were feeling okay that day, so when they were bent this way and that they didn't really hurt, but the doctor basically took me at my word that the wrist pain was a problem, and referred me to physical therapy straightaway.

[jessruth.livejournal.com]

*gentle, non-wrist-involved hug*

[sunspiral.livejournal.com]

::more gentle hugs::

[dpolicar]

yay, you!
incidentally, if you find yourself feeling unpleasantly lonely in ways that company would help alleviate (and I do recognize that that's not a tautology) around lunchtime, I work in the area and have often been known to eat lunch around then, often in company.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

It's safe to say that whatever loneliness I am prone to experience is not for lack of available socializing/company. :-)

However, I'd love to have lunch with you sometime(s).

[kalessin.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad that you made the appointment, for all kinds of reasons.

And I've experienced (with more Joelll-like details) the same thing. Getting beyond it is good in itself.

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an epic quest. A promise, a journey, despair, almost turning back, but following through no matter how frightening the road ahead might be? That's heroic.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Hee hee. Heroism takes small forms these days. But we take what we can get.

[red-queen.livejournal.com]

I have *so* been there. It was dubiously gratifying when I finally went to the doctor after a nasty allergic reaction to neoprene (weak ankle, thought wearing socks under ankle brace would be enough. nope, only deferred reaction by a week.) and she looked at my ankle and said "Oh my GHOD!" "Hmmm," I said, "I guess coming in was the right thing to do..."

Hey, next time, call me, ok? I can do handholding really well, and you can (hell you HAVE) return the favor on other stuff... It's no sin to feel better if someone just sits with you while you call, or keeps you company when you walk into the med center. Really. You don't have to do it the hard way. I've done this for folks, and they've done it for me. It's not a big deal for me, and I have (argh) too much free time...

wrist remedies

[eesti.livejournal.com]

Hi,

The last time my right wrist started acting up
again was about 3 years ago. I then switched from QWERTY keyboard layout to Dvorak.

First of all, my typing slowed way down, 'cause I
had to learn a new layout. So that gave the wrist
a rest right away. Secondly, Dvorak is more ergonomic - less wear and tear long term.

Here are some links:

Introducing the Dvorak Keyboard


Dvorak International's FAQ

http://web.mit.edu/jcb/www/Dvorak/

The only time my right wrist starts troubling me now is when I keyboard more than 12 hours.

HTH,
Alesha