u/User17826

Just want to share my experience with surgery. Brief history: 5 months of pain and bad stiffness and had noticeable, constant swelling below my thumb for last 1-2 months. I was actively avoiding using my right hand for most lifting and was beginning to drop items here and there. I tried months of anti-inflammatories and a brace but never did cortisone shots under care of my PCP. He did an xray to rule out any fracture/brake and ultimately referred me to an orthopedic doctor who specializes in hands/wrists. Ortho doc confirmed diagnosis of DQ and provided surgery as an option. We discussed more conservative, non surgical options but I was very frank with him about the unlikelihood of me consistently attending PT or OT (I know myself lol). He offered cortisone shot but said if I was unlikely to couple that with consistent PT or OT, there was decreased chance of success with that option and ultimately a cortisone shot would basically just delay surgery. I obviously chose to go forward with surgery.

Tomorrow will be one week post surgery. Twilight sleep anesthesia, surgery took 15 min. All the check in, prep and set up for surgery with the nurses took triple the amount of time than the surgery itself. I left with just a gauze-bandage wrap, no movement restrictions, brace or cast. Was instructed to keep that wrap on for 48 hrs and then could remove, shower with incision uncovered and cover with bandage, as pictured. I was given a 5lb lifting restriction until my follow up next week. Recommended to ice and keep elevated as needed.

Surgery was Friday, I was back to work on Monday. For reference, I work in an office and my work includes a lot of typing and writing, but no manual labor by any means.

Pain levels- I took one painkiller when I got home from surgery but have not had to take any more or even Tylenol since. I do ice for 20 min or so every or every other night. The pain and stiffness I was feeling from DQ pre-surgery was noticeably better pretty much immediately. As of now I can sense some slight pain when moving my fist forward (similar to finklesteins test movement) but it’s markedly less. I have slight soreness around surgery site and slight pain if I move my wrist in two rather specific, awkward ways. Have had some minor swelling and am noticing some bruising along my forearm to bottom of my hand developing.

Overall, I am so far very pleased with my surgery decision. I am confident any pain I still have is just residual pain from the surgery that will take some time to subside and not the same DQ pain I was having.

It’s interesting seeing the spectrum and differences in post-op wrapping, bracing, movement restrictions, etc. It seems my doctor took a pretty liberal approach (whether that will end up being good or bad, I guess we will see!) Just wanted to share a positive surgery experience (so far) for what it’s worth.

My daughter has been persistently asking for micro locs. I haven’t went forward with it yet, given the commitment and wanting to be sure she’s confident in her choice. It’s been some time now and she is still asking so I’m not against this and prepared to get a consult scheduled for her! Any initial thoughts on if this seems possible with her texture and curls? Any reasons they wouldn’t be possible? I have to admit I love her curls and will miss them but the inspo pics she’s showed me are very cute as well. What if she ends up not liking them? Do they have to be cut off or is there a way to maintain her length and comb them out? Very under-informed in this area so just looking for some initial info and thoughts!

Recently had exterior of house painted. The painting crew removed downspouts when painting. They recently finished and reconnected all the downspouts. The first rain after they finished, we heard a new sound on side of house that clearly sounded that water hitting the house (aside from usual rain). We peaked out and saw that where one of downspouts meets the gutters, a stream of water was shooting out (pictured) and that’s what was hitting the house. The next day we got a better look and it appears there is a gap where the one piece of the downspout is inserted into the gutter? Also pictured. I feel like the currently inserted piece should go over instead of into, or the water that is going downward would always find its way into the gap. does this appear to be instead incorrectly? It almost look like they had to force that piece into the other to make it fit. Idk.

I messaged the painter and he has yet to respond 🙃. Hoping if it’s the case that this is wrong, this is somewhat of an easy fix.

Hello.

We are needing to have our deck replaced, so have started process of getting quotes. We currently have a 10x10 wooden deck. I would like to replace and make the deck bigger in the process. Our backyard is sloped and is essentially tiered, with the deck situated between two small retaining walls. (See pic). My question I have asked and have gotten either unsure seeking answers or just non-answers is- can a deck only be so close to a retaining wall? Maybe I’m not asking it correctly or it’s a dumb question (very possible 😂). But in picture, if we were to extend our deck to the left (towards grill, as shown by my very technical picture, in red), is that possible with how close to the retaining wall it would be? Or would have to just go out past the retaining wall, as shown in green?

I have some vision of like the deck putting pressure on the retaining wall or something, I’m not sure. It could just be a nonissue and that’s why I’m getting unsure/conflicting responses. Hopefully I’m making sense. Thanks for any input.