Day Three Another good sleep, considering I’m sleeping upright ish, with a lot of pillows to prop me up, and arm in the foam sling. Perfect to keep an ice pack on it. I have a hot water bottle for my lower back, as that’s an issue. So far so good.

I’m surprised my fingers haven’t swelled up yet, maybe it’s been the icing routine, or the constant elevation, but I’m grateful as that would have made things far more painful. Due to the free movement of fingers I’ve made to make a cup of coffee today, what a victory!! Though don’t want to do it too often.

TED stocking change today, why they are white like 2009 (bit of PTSD from seeing white ones, as that’s what I had for my DVT) who knew seeing a colour could transport your mind back so fast. Much preferred the dark greeny blue ones as they felt and looked less medical. Clearly it’s like an Olympic sport to put them on, so that job is Mr Moons!!

We managed to go and see family, share the day with plenty of people, travel and not get too overwhelmed. Really proud that we did it so soon after surgery, as I was anxious about getting knocked or being too exhausted. I’m sure I’ll be shattered tomorrow, but it was worth it for the family time that was super important.

Day Four not the best sleep in the night, I feel more parts aching in the thumb pad region, like it deep aches and stings, clearly it’s waking up more. I had thought it was already all awake. But a fizzy thumb tip ( like a plaster was on too tight) during yesterday and perhaps not holding it as high. Meant the pain returned. It’s a deep nagging ache, nothing sharp or only for a moment. It’s all a learning process.

The main part of the cast is feeling really big, like my hand can move around a lot around the fingers, but not the thumb area so much. And it’s feeling heavy around the webbing of thumb between that and forefinger. I’m sure it’s just sensations coming back. Ice and resting for today.

Day Five opposite hand really needs a steroid injection, must try and organise it. Wearing a brace on it too help, sucks not having a ‘good’ hand. I think I’ve worked out I’m currently taking 3 Dihydrocodeine in 24 hours and 6 paracetamol. This feels like it’s working well, especially if I don’t try to do things. Boredom is real, and the mind wants to do things to help in the house, so it’s annoying to rest. But I’m not looking to undo any good work, so resting it is.

Started to feel a lot more emotional, which took me by surprise as I always thought it was General anaesthetic that made me emotional. Though it is a highly emotive time in this month, I do feel closer to tears and wanting to cry since surgery.

Fingers are stiff at times which surprised me, as they’ve been free moving since block wore off. But I do gentle joint stretches to keep them from seizing up, not too many though as that creates the stinging in the back of the hand area.

I’ve noticed where the bandage feels baggy when I elevate the arm, the hand sinks down into the cast and it’s creating a pressure point, which makes the hand feel hot and irritated at times with pain. Soon my dihydrocodeine will run out, I hope the tramadol will be enough to replace it with.