It’s the weekend and we are off to visit our youngest daughter in Wales. But let me recap how it’s been since Wednesdays steroid injections in the thumbs, guided by ultrasound.

Wednesday Had the appointment at 10am and I didn’t come out until 10.40am. The left thumb was done first, as it’s my most painful one. And though it’s depo and not kenalog (so less liquid) the joint space is so tight, it’s extremely painful getting the liquid in. So the micats lady takes it slowly and easily took 5 to 10mins on it. I felt sick and hot, and light headed. Just the sensation made me feel this way. So I had to lie down, this helped massively. Onto the right hand while I was still lying down, and it was literally seconds and done. As this one joint has collapsed completely it’s created a wider space and isn’t as difficult to inject.

Predictably once home the numbing had started to wear off, left hand feeling the worse. So icing and wearing splints for the rest of the day. Had to eat easy to hold food, and generally rest the poor hands. I upped my pain relief meds as well. Night time I had to wear compression gloves and splints, very very swollen and sore. Hope I can sleep. Managed on 2 tramadol and 4 paracetamol, and 1 etoricoxib all day and night, impressed as usually need more than this on the first day of steroid injections.

Thursday Day 1 Slept pretty well considering, I had meds at the side of the bed in case I woke up needing them in the early hours, but I didn’t need too. So took them at 8am. Took splints off to try and free up some stiffness and ice the hands. Right hand feels pretty good already, just need some rest. Left was still feeling swollen and stiff.

Hot sweats started today, absolutely dripping, there is hot weather too. But these hot sweats I’ve had before from depo so I recognize it as a side effect. Annoying but it’s liveable. Had 2 tramadol and 4 paracetamol all day, along with 1 etoricoxib. So only double my usual amount.

Friday Day 2 Have errands to run, and things to pack for our weekend, so needing to use the hands, to help combat the stiffness I’m still using splints, or compression gloves, even both at times. Never underestimate how useful gloves and splints can be, pain to wear in warm weather though.

It’s still very sore and tender, can’t use it as a normal hand, so not carrying cups, plates etc. Tried turning a tap and omg that was awful!! Still taking 2 tramadol, 4 paracetamol and 1 etoricoxib. I can’t wait for surgery now. I actually did well today considering the actions needed doing, like holding a hair straightener, packing clothes, washing up. I even slept this time with no gloves and splints.

Saturday Day 3 Traveling day so not much needs to be done, taking splints and gloves for in case, but it would be nice to not need them if possible. Also taking ibuprofen gel as that helps too. I can move the left one more freely, so swelling is going down. Right one is completely at ease and doing things it usually can’t.