My name is Jamie. I am 30 years old, and I have been diagnosed with Kienbock's
Disease only since the begining of May 2008. I am currently recovering from
surgery. All of this began at the beginning of the year with what I thought was
tendonitis. I was treated for tendonitis of my thumb tendon with a cortisone
shot which worked wonderfully for that. I had to return to the hand surgeon a
month later for a follow up, and while at that appointment I told him my thumb
felt great but the rest of my wrist still hurt. Of course he basically
dismissed what I had told him and he said if it got worse to come back. Well
two weeks later I was back in his office because of excruciating pain in my
right wrist (of course I'm right handed). I was sitting there by myself
expecting him to tell me that I had tendonitis in my wrist when he comes in and
begins to explain that I have KD and I need an MRI and surgery. Of course I was
completely in shock and terrified, especially when he
began to tell me that I was going to be casted for 8-12 weeks or more after
surgery then in a splint for another month or two, then I still wouldn't be able
to use my right hand for 18-24 months. The only thing I could say at that point
is I have two very small children 2 and 1. He responded I hope you have alot of
help because you're gonna need it. So Now I have had a radial shortening
procedure and radial bone graft into the lunate which occured on May 22. I have
been to the therapist once who said I was doing great because I can turn my hand
up and down, and can open and close my fingers. But I can't understand why I
still have so much of the same pain as I had before my surgery. The therapist
asked if I was doing too much with my hand (like I could do absolutley nothing
with it with two small kids) and when I told her probably she smiled and said
well that's probably it. I do have a wonderful support group of friends and
family who have been with me almost
constantly since my surgery, but my children still want their mommyand don't
understand that I am hurt. I guess my real problem is that even when I am doing
nothing I still hurt. When I told the doctors office they treated me like a
druggie and said I shouldn't need pain meds anymore. So am I crazy, am I a
sissy, is there a problem with the surgery, or do I just not get that this is
gonna be forever and I just need to suck it up and deal with it. If there is
anyone who has any suggestions PLEASE I am open for them.


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