Carpal tunnel, part 2

I decided to talk to my supervisor about it.  We filled out the workman's comp paperwork, and I went in to see an orthopedic physician.  He confirmed what I had suspected: carpal tunnel.  We discussed options.  Since I was doing my best with the brace and anti-inflammatories, the only remaining options were cortizone shots or surgery.  He said he wouldn't do surgery until a nerve conduction study was done to see how bad it is, so while I waited for that, I could think on the two options. 

According to more research, I learned that the vibrations of air tools are a big aggressor of carpal tunnel. In fact, according to the department of labor's list of careers most likely to have carpal tunnel claims, maintenance is higher up than computer/desk work.  Women are also 3 times as likely to get it than men.  Lots of things seemed to be stacking up against me, despite my very young age. 

After Christmas, I went for a shocking experience, which was really not that much fun.  They send electricity through various nerves to test how much resistance there is.  Between that test and a follow up appointment with the physician, things had improved, and I was going on vacation for two weeks, which is a great chance to rest my hand.  I decided to see if the time off would help, and be in touch if symptoms got worse.  The physician thought it was a great plan, and reminded me that we always have surgery in our back pocket as an option if needed. 

I was right, vacation helped.  No symptoms, no pain, but I wasn't using my hands nearly as much as when I am at work 8 hours a day.  When I got back to work, it wasn't long before symptoms kicked in again, as bad or worse than before.  I got to the point where I couldn't hold on to tools, my hand would go numb when working in inspection holes, and I couldn't buck or shoot rivets with my left hand. Despite wearing a brace at night, I wasn't sleeping well.

After much prayer and consideration, I called the doctor.  I knew something needed done, and I knew it needed done sooner rather than later.  We had a schedule lined out at work for finishing the 207, but I knew that I wouldn't be much use if I couldn't do any riveting. 

Throughout the process, I felt a lot of pressure from different people.  Certain coworkers implied I just needed to man up and deal with it, while others understood the problems.  Some friends advised me to take care of my body above all else, while others implored me to avoid surgery.  Still others told me that I don't want this on my medical records.  But the decision was mine to make, and I made it. 

To be continued...

surgery, recovery, and life (or carpal tunnel, part 1)

My blog is doomed.  You know how I know?  I have been not working for almost a month now, and I still can't find time in my nothingness to write.  Sure, there is a bit of needing inspiration, but mostly, its lacking in motivation.  And if I'm not motivated to write when I am desperately bored, how in the world will I find motivation when I am caught up in the throes of summer?  Perhaps in my "nothing to do" in the next two weeks, I can find motivation to write.  Its worth hoping, right? 

Oh right.  Maybe not everyone knows about why I haven't been working for almost a month.  Since I have time, I might as well tell you the long version of the story. 

Last winter, I would wake up at night with a numb hand.  being not entirely coherent, I didn't have much clue as to what was going on, so I associated it with having circulation cut off somehow by how I sleep.  As it became more consistent, I paid a little more attention to it.  I realized that it was always my left hand, and it was specifically my thumb, index, middle, and not as much in my ring finger. 

Armed with a little more definite symptoms, I took to the internet.  And what I found scared me.  carpal tunnel syndrome.  Really?  I thought that happened to old people who worked at computers all their lives.  The more I read, the more i discovered that it has everything to do with using hands, specifically repetitive motions.  The thing that scared me the most about it is how much I use my hands.  As a mechanic, my hands are my primary source of income.  Would I have to find something else to do with my life?

I called my ever faithful personal nurse (aka mom) to tell her about what was going on, ask advice, and see what she thought.  She talked to me about taking anti-inflammatories, and sent me a brace to sleep in.  The first night I slept in the brace, I slept better than I had in weeks, and realized that it was the numbness waking me up.  After a few weeks of sleeping in the brace, it got a lot better, and I didn't have to sleep in the brace.  Numbness and pain came on and off throughout the next year, but it was completely managable with the brace and ibprofen when it did come up. 

Then this last winter, we started on our big winter project in the hangar- our 207 overhaul.  Anyone who knows anything about silver bullet projects like this knows that it involves a lot of sheet metal fabrication, which involves a lot of rivet guns, drills, and die grinders.  Around Thanksgiving, symptoms were back in full force, and home treatments weren't effective anymore. 

(this post is getting rather long, so I will break the story up.)

To be continued...

anticipation

Let's face it, its been a cold winter.  For an entire month, the temperature crept above zero for less than two days.  Most of the time it hovered around -30.  The bitter cold made an escape to a warm, tropical destination much sweeter.  Mom and I begun planning our trip to Hawaii in October, but when the abnormally long cold snap came, I was even more grateful.

And everyone around me knew it. 

At work, I reported to co-workers how many days before I would be lounging on a warm beach.

At Bible study, the ladies would roll their eyes at my praise: an upcoming tropical getaway.

Even the girls were giving me advice on sunbathing and staying away from surfers. 

When I went into Anchorage, I let the world know where I was headed.  From the people at the doctor's office to the people standing in line with me at the coffee shop, everyone was aware, and probably a little jealous, that I was escaping the cold and darkness for two whole weeks. 

Based on the cold, Hawaii seems like paradise.  But as I thought about how excited I was to share about my temporary escape, I started to wonder, Why am I not more excited to share about my permanent escape?


I realized that Hawaii may seem like paradise, but its not heaven.  Don't get me wrong, I had a blast.  Its beautiful and wonderful there.  But not heaven. 

Heaven is heaven.

I am going there.  And not just for two weeks, but forever.  I get to spend forever in a place that is infinitely more wonderful than Hawaii.

Forever.  

Now that is a little more exciting than getting out of the cold for a couple weeks.  

207 Fuel selector overhaul

Fuel is crucial.  Ask any pilot.  Whether you are in the air and want fuel to flow to your engine, or on fire, wanting the fuel to STOP going to the engine, a properly working selector valve is pretty important.  So when you have a working valve, it makes one nervous to take it apart and replace O-rings.  Especially when one of the most experienced guys in the shop walks up, says, "wow, you are brave!" and walks away.  But I survived, and it passed leak tests.  The real test will be when it goes in the plane, but for now, I can be happy about actually succeeding.  And having pictures.

Fuel selector, lines marked, ready for removal

cleaning with acetone.  Making sure not to erase alignment marks!

Old O-rings. I think they were originally round. The sticker on the unit had a cure date from '69. Replacement is well overdue. 

All the parts and pieces lined up, just like the picture from the manual

I don't have a picture of it all back together, but rest assured that its no longer in 14 million little pieces.  My tips for anyone attempting this act:

1. read the instructions from the manual, copy pictures, take notes, cross off steps already completed, whatever it takes to make sure you do everything in order and don't miss a step.
2. Disassemble on a tray or something to help catch little pieces.  There are 6 springs, 2 little silver balls, and countless other pieces that are easy to lose and expensive to replace.  
3. Lubricate sparingly with fuel-lube.  DC-4 is much more likely to clog stuff up, and is not as compatible with fuel.  Or so they told me. 
4. make sure you have everything lined up exactly right when you put it together. I think I had to remove and install the last roll pin about 5 times, cause something wasn't lined up right, then i forgot the washer, then something else wasn't exact, then I forgot the washer again... rest assured that it is now perfect :)

Argh!

I had a whole post about a delectable pot of salmon chowder that I made completely disappear!  I am totally frustrated with blogger right now!  Ok, so its possibly my fault a little... but still! Where did my witty instructions on how to cook like me go??  I will get you next time, blogger...

Look at how good I am doing...

... at not keeping up the blog already this year!  Well the past few weeks have been full of adventures in town, house sitting, moving back home (PTA home, not oregon home), and planning for Hawaii.  Last week, we finally broke the -30 streak by warming up to -10.  Man it feels warm in comparison!  It dropped back down again for the weekend, then came up ABOVE FREEZING on tuesday!  Seriously thought I was in the tropics, since it was over 60 degrees warmer.  This too shall pass though, as it is now back to 20 below.  We did manage to get in a blizzard and a good solid dumping of snow in the past few days.  I think the trend for the rest of the week is single digits during the day, below zero at night, and clear.  Not too shabby for Alaska!

resolutions for 2012 (with a shiny new grading system!)

1. Consistently work through Bible Study materials.  Kind of arbitrary, but it won't be easy to score otherwise.  

2. start a monthly newsletter to prayer supporters.  I know people are praying for me, but I owe it to them to be accountable, and it will keep them more in the loop, and they will be more accountable to pray for specifics.  (Hey... this looks awfully familiar!)  8.3% per month of writing monthly news

3. no facebook chat.  It sucks away entire evenings. I just need to learn to email or call.  Every time I get on, -5%

4. Don't get eaten by wildlife. This is a pass/fail sort of thing. this also might be to pad my year end grade.

5. Get my IA.  For those of you who don't speak aviation maintenance, that is my Inspections Authorization.  It allows me to sign off annual inspections, major repairs and alterations, and some other stuff I am sure. (why yes, I do need to study...)  I am eligible to test for it in October.  100% if I get it, 75% if I am ready for the test and haven't taken it, 50% if I take the test and fail, 25% if I have at least started to study, and 0% if I don't touch it.

6. Work on priorities.  How's that for vauge?  I know the details about this, but I'm not putting it out there for the blogger world to see. 

7. lose 25 lbs.  4% per pound, easy enough. I guess anything over that can be extra credit. 

8. Blog at least once a week.  1.5% per post.  Yes, I realize that works out to more than once a week.  


9. Summit Tanalian. Should be no problem.  Pass/Fail


10. Do at least a mile 5 days a week.  Even if it is just skiing to work.  Basically this works out to having to come up with something new if I get a ride to work.  the math is a little more than my brain can handle right now... (I can't figure out the math right now. But it will be figure out-able come year end)


11. be better about working full weeks.  40+ hrs = 2 pts, -.1 points for .1 hours, and so on.  Every 5 hours over 40 is an extra point.  Vacation weeks don't count, nor do holidays (1/2 day on 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas)