Here I would like to share those three weeks when my right hand was in the plaster cast. Chk here for the photo of my cast /viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976771942
I had slipped in school and dislocated my right elbow. After setting it right, it was set in a plaster cast for three weeks.Though there was no pain inside the cast but there was a constant itch inside which I could not scratch.My arm was plastered from shoulder to half my palm. There was hardly any movement for that hand. It was my right hand. I could not do a thing. I could not write. Eating was a problem. As I have very long hair, I couldn't even comb my hair. I could hardly dress myself. The first few days were horrible. Still I have my mom to help me around. She at 70+ helped me with all those essential chores. I started to eat with my left hand. For a right handed person, it took a while to get used to it.
The normal daily routine we do, became a chore for me. I could take a shower only by sticking out my arm. I had to take very good care so that it did not get wet. In those days, the weather was horrible too. The humidity level was very high too. My arm felt sweaty and hot inside that cast.
I could not sleep most nights. As I sleep sideways, it was kind of difficult for me. So I catched up with my reading those nights I couldn't sleep. Good for me! I had a back log of reading!
For the first two weeks, I took it rather well in the circumstances. The last week was not too good. I felt irritated all the time. I didn't feel like eating. I needed the best of diets and here I was almost off food. My mom had to cajole me to eat properly. She made sure I took all the medicines/vitamins/minerals.
Suddenly I realised that walking too couldn't be fast. With a plaster cast, my right side felt heavy. Walking around with a sling did make even strangers ask me what happened and how I was. One good thing about the whole thing was, I learnt to use my left hand. I could type with the fore-finger of my left hand. Best part was I could write with my left hand on the chalk board. As I am a teacher, thats very important. I did take off from school most days but the days I did not I wrote with my left hand. I being a mathematics teacher, chalkboard writing is the most important part of teaching.
How we take our body for granted! We crib, rant about all the silly stuff in our lives. I now know better. With a healthy body and mind, I don't think I will crib again..why me, why me! After the cast was taken off, I felt free. It will take a while for my arm to be fully functional again. But I can write, eat, bath, comb and do all the stuff I have been doing with my right hand. I tire easily but so what? It is still stiff and I am undergoing physiotherapy. My priority is to get my right arm fully functional.
Now I am more patient. I am enjoying the use of my hand. I look at life with new light. Not that it was any life threatening but it did change my perspective of life for good. How our thinking changes!
(c)gautami.tripathy
~06/08/06
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Comments: 15
Magi
I have taken things slow. I have learnt to value myself.
I cannot wish that on my worst enemy.
I don't know which was worse, the itching, or the fact that i had my cast taken off with a steak knife (i was petrified of the electric saw they used then to take them off).
I have learned something from that. I've learned I am watching and dreading, praying my kids are not as much of a dare devil as I was!
I hope your arm fully recovers soon.
wow, i did not know what hit me
now i am back on my horse MIDNIGHT and am back in stilhettos...so much for the medics telling me that i would never walk without a limp or EVER ride a horse again.
great article