Yesterday, I had a morning appointment at the Orthopedic Clinic in Hastings, Michigan.  I had received a bunch of paper forms.  With Sylvia’s help, I had these ready at check in.  Soon, they called me in for X-rays of my right hand and wrist.  In another room, I was interviewed and they ran a nerve test.  Shocking!  Actually it was more of a tingle, but at times it was quite a jolt.

Later, the doctor came in and he probed some more, completing the tests.  Good news carpal tunnel is not my problem (even though I have a mild case of it).  It is arthritis.  I’m happy that I won’t have to undergo surgery followed by about 6 weeks of doing nothing with my dominant (right) hand. 🙂

Doctor wrote a script for a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gel.  The gel is applied to the problem joints in wrist and hand four times a day.  I’m supposed to massage and work it in well.  Fortunately, it seems to be working. The pain is less now and is more an annoyance than an actual problem.

In two weeks, I go back for a follow up.  I’ll let you know what happens.

I wouldn’t take it on myself to give you writing advice.  Too many of you are far more capable and talented than I.  Please allow me to share with you the wisdom of one of my favorite writers, C S Lewis.  In response to a letter he had received, he wrote the following:

What really matters is:–

1. Always try to use the language so as to make quite clear what you mean and make sure your sentence couldn’t mean anything else.

2. Always prefer the plain direct word to the long, vague one. Don’t implement promises, but keep them.

3. Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do. If you mean “More people died” don’t say “Mortality rose.”

4. In writing. Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us a thing was “terrible,” describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was “delightful”; make us say “delightful” when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, “Please will you do my job for me.”

5. Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

yours
C.S. Lewis

I met with the NP (nurse practitioner) yesterday.  She asked a lot of questions, examined my wrists and hands very carefully and did a couple of quick and simple tests.  After some more questions she sent a referral via computer to an orthopedic specialist.

In the afternoon, the specialist’s office called with more questions.  I have an appointment for consultation and testing next week on Wednesday.  Based on results of his tests, we’ll determine a course of treatment for this carpal tunnel problem.

I also learned that if they do surgery on my wrist, for six weeks or so afterward I won’t be able to do any work with my right hand. 🙁  That is not thrilling, but I’ll do it to make the nagging pain go away. 🙂

What’s that?

A moment ago, I looked out the window toward the barn and saw what I thought were apple blossoms being blown by the wind.  How pretty, I thought.  Then I looked out the other window (toward the road).  Then I knew . . . those are not apple blossoms.  They are snow flakes.

Did someone shuffle the order of the months this year?  I’m beginning to believe that it has happened.