Surgery 2.0

It's been awhile since I've posted, but there is a new development in my prognosis.

So, it all started several months ago when we were finally able to retrieve my medical records from the military. I researched the best orthopaedic hand surgeon in my region, and also got advice from a co-worker/girl friend whose aunt is in the industry - and funnily enough in both cases, it was the same person.  Dr. L is a very adept practitioner who is one of the top rated surgeons in the Inland Northwest, not to mention Washington State.

I've had two visits with him. Initially, it was to get an idea as to what was going on in my wrist currently. I haven't been under a doctor's care since late 2011. So, I wrote him a really long letter and dropped off a stack of about 90 documents all relating to my disease. He agreed to see me, and I promptly had x-rays and a new MRI. He took special interest in my career, in my home life, and in my plans to travel in July. On my second visit, he informed me that my radial joint leveling caused a very profound difference in the length of my ulna to the natural line of bone growth. In the image of my right hand vs. my left hand on the computer screen, there was literally almost an inch of difference from hand to hand. My right hand bones have started to develop severe arthritis due to this. So, now my ulna has a positive difference, exacerbating the progression of the disease.

Originally, Dr. L wanted to do an ulnar joint leveling in order to correct the issue and alleviate the pain while also slowing down the progress of the disease. I told him I would think about it and get back to him. In the meantime, I had a cortisol shot. He injected a 6 inch needle into my wrist and after about a week, I stopped feeling the pain so severely. I still can't feel it very well, and it's been almost 3 months - but I know it's wearing off. My condition is so severe that he was afraid the shot wouldn't do anything, and they always say that the first shot is the most effective - meaning ... it's not good that it's only lasted a short period of time. The idea was to hold me up until my big vacation this summer. So far it's worked.

Today, however, I went to see Dr. L because I decided surgery was the best solution at the moment.  What I thought originally, and planned for originally was the ulna joint leveling. But, instead I got an odd change of course. See, the doctor had reviewed my MRI and X-ray images and decided that we could attempt revasculation in order to attempt to save the bone. It appears that my bone isn't completely dead as was previously believed, and that an attempt to revasculate could save the bone. There are many reasons for this, which I will not numerate here. But, below is the Pedicled Vascular Bone Graft and Lunate Reconstruction - which is what I will have done. Basically, a marrow transplant, bone graft, and revasculation will all occur in the same surgery.

I am extremely nervous and apprehensive of what is to come with this new chapter. I don't currently have a lot of support or even a "support network". But, Come early August, I will be in a new, vulnerable position that I'm terrified to be in. 

I know I just barely scratched the surface of what is going on, but feel free to ask me questions.