drock580
23-12-2007, 03:54 AM
Hello,
I filleted my left middle finger on an oyster when I fell into the water about a year and a half ago. I cut the tendon (60%), and had surgery to repair it. I have a limited range of motion now, which I understand is because of the combined effects of scar tissue that forms around the tendon during healing, and also the fact that the tendon will not be as strong after repair. (The scar tissue inhibits the ability of the tendon to glide smoothly through its sheath along the finger).
My issue is not with the limited motion of the finger. The surgery went well and that is pretty common for that injury. What's been difficult is that I'm having range of motion problems with my arm, shoulder, and posture because of it, which I didn't expect. I'm an athlete (mostly soccer, basketball, surfing, but am into it all, played a little college soccer), and that stuff is an important part of my life, and my body is just not working the same. Feels like I got chicken wing arm or something, and my balance is off. I've talked to a couple physical therapists, and both seem to think it should be mostly back to normal, which isn't how it feels. What I'm feeling also makes sense to me as well, because the finger tendons run from your fingertips to the forearm muscles and attach at your elbow. Like having five rubberbands that work together, but one is shorter.
Anyway, I'm posting because I'm wondering if others with the same injury have experienced anything like this, or what people thought. Do I need to just workout hard? I try to stretch my arm and stuff out all the time, but it doesn't seem to help. Mostly I"d like to talk with people who have had similar injuries...but anybody really. I've been kind of frustrated after the talks with my physical therapists, and to be honest the whole thing has me pretty bummed.
(sorry for the long post)
I filleted my left middle finger on an oyster when I fell into the water about a year and a half ago. I cut the tendon (60%), and had surgery to repair it. I have a limited range of motion now, which I understand is because of the combined effects of scar tissue that forms around the tendon during healing, and also the fact that the tendon will not be as strong after repair. (The scar tissue inhibits the ability of the tendon to glide smoothly through its sheath along the finger).
My issue is not with the limited motion of the finger. The surgery went well and that is pretty common for that injury. What's been difficult is that I'm having range of motion problems with my arm, shoulder, and posture because of it, which I didn't expect. I'm an athlete (mostly soccer, basketball, surfing, but am into it all, played a little college soccer), and that stuff is an important part of my life, and my body is just not working the same. Feels like I got chicken wing arm or something, and my balance is off. I've talked to a couple physical therapists, and both seem to think it should be mostly back to normal, which isn't how it feels. What I'm feeling also makes sense to me as well, because the finger tendons run from your fingertips to the forearm muscles and attach at your elbow. Like having five rubberbands that work together, but one is shorter.
Anyway, I'm posting because I'm wondering if others with the same injury have experienced anything like this, or what people thought. Do I need to just workout hard? I try to stretch my arm and stuff out all the time, but it doesn't seem to help. Mostly I"d like to talk with people who have had similar injuries...but anybody really. I've been kind of frustrated after the talks with my physical therapists, and to be honest the whole thing has me pretty bummed.
(sorry for the long post)