where i have been for the last month......

[ethirtydavid]

sand the scars off?
hey, when they did the Z cut, why did they remove the shin in between - does it become very tight when flexing fist?

good luck man, happy things were not worse.

[shmutzigE30]

wow glad your ok and recovering

[der affe]

if you look at some of the other pics, there was a really high raised scar there. by doing the z cut and removing some of the scar it changes the "grain" (like in wood) of the scar and allows it to bend more easily and it also makes it lay flatter. there is a HUGE difference there.

and YES they sand the scars off!

[der affe]

here is the scar before

[nickpdx]

Wow, I can't even imagine how awful it must be to go through all that...and I can't imagine being able to have the optimistic attitude you do. Best of luck with the procedures!

[Nicademus]

Wow I never even knew about any of this. Hope it keeps getting better.

I'm soo scared that if anything like this happens to me I'll be in so much pain. My tolerance for painkillers is astronomical and I fear if I ever really need them that I've ruined myself. Such is my punishment for being a jackass for a period of time. I don't touch the stuff and have no interest in taking it, but I'd hate to need it someday. I'm also surprised they didn't give you something stronger, but at least the acetaminophen content is only 325mg, that way you don't molest your liver too bad. If I was the doctor I'd probably have give you 7.5/325's or just straight 5mg oxycodone's. They gave me oxycontin for my hernia surgury in 01' and tons of roxicet (which is when I really got a chance to find my vice).

Anyways, I obviously know too much about pills. Best of luck and if you or anyone else ever needs help/wants an ear of someone who's had an opiate problem feel free to PM me anytime.

[der affe]

this time they gave me 30x 7.5/325 lortabs and yesterday a new script for 30x 5/550 oxycodone

[Nicademus]

this time they gave me 30x 7.5/325 lortabs and yesterday a new script for 30x 5/550 oxycodone

7.5/325mg, yes! Called that one! I've never seen nor heard of 5/550. How odd? Typically it goes */325,500,750. You're surely physically addicted to them by now if you've been taking them as you should. Hopefully you have a good doc who'll work with you on tapering off or help you with other drugs to ease on out, but for now just keep on keeping on :)

[Tree18is]

Jeeze take it easy man.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Greg, I have not visited this thread, and I didn't realize you were back, posting in it either. Looks like the new work is gonna improve some mobility. That's a great thing. I'm amazed at the positive attitude you have had thru all of this. One thing I was wondering, if you don't mind my asking, is the left wrist area with the unaffected area due to a watch?

[der affe]

7.5/325mg, yes! Called that one! I've never seen nor heard of 5/550. How odd? Typically it goes */325,500,750. You're surely physically addicted to them by now if you've been taking them as you should. Hopefully you have a good doc who'll work with you on tapering off or help you with other drugs to ease on out, but for now just keep on keeping on :)

actually you are wrong on that one, i have to be the most addictive proof person in the world!
when i used to smoke in HS, it got to the point where cigs were more than a big gulp. i decided i got more from the big gulp. so i just stopped, from smoking a pack a day to nothing. no problem.

i drink because i want to or socially. never to alieviate my problems. they are still there when the buzz is gone, so why avoid dealing with them. i have lots of alcoholic friends, i guess i just never wanted to be like them.

same with the prescription drugs. although i do have a large cash of them from the accident, and will on rare occasion take one or two with a drink, i have no desire to take them when i don't need them for pain. when i was on everything in the hospital, i was really concerned about becoming adicted. i talked to the Dr about it and he told me to take them as i need them for pain, when you don't feel pain don't take them. it is when you don't need them for pain and you continue that you become adicted.
this operation is the first where i have taken all of the pain meds they gave me, mainly because the bangage that they gave me, once the swelling went down in 2 days, was pulling in the stitches sending shooting pains up my wrist. i still have 5-6 of the 7.5/750 lortabs, but i have just started takeing the 5/500's when i need them today because there is a spot where the stitches are pulling and the incision is opening as my wrist flexes. i am going to call him tomarrow and see if he needs to fix it. once that is dealt with, if i need anything, i will take the 400mg ibuprofin.

no offence taken by your assumption about the drugs, i apriciate the concern though.

[Desaevious]

Good christ and I bitched when I got a second degree burn on my left arm. Good to see the grafts are doing their job, but it's too bad it'll never be "like it was" and that it's such a grueling process.

[der affe]

Greg, I have not visited this thread, and I didn't realize you were back, posting in it either. Looks like the new work is gonna improve some mobility. That's a great thing. I'm amazed at the positive attitude you have had thru all of this. One thing I was wondering, if you don't mind my asking, is the left wrist area with the unaffected area due to a watch?

thanks, it's been rough, i wont lie. this last year and a half have taking a lot from my life. i guess i am too stupid and stubborn to give up, so i keep plugging on. i am pretty sure things can't get much worse, and will start getting my disability payments soon so i can get on with things.
there IS a light at the end of the tunnel afterall!

enough of that.....
to answer your question:
most of the damage to my hand were caused by the rubber gloves i was wearing when the fire flashed, they melted to the tops of my hands. years of working out and doing physical work gave me abnormally large/strong hands (muscle wise), because of that i wear XL gloves. the cuffs on the gloves always fit loosely on my wrists. one my left wrist i always wore a big fuel jug O-ring (i have since i was 20/21, not an emo thing) the O-ring held the glove off of my wrist keeping it from melting to my skin.

on my right wrist the cuff was loose enough to where it also did not melt to the top of my hand. after the accident there was no damage on that wrist either. for what ever reason, a scar crawlled across my wrist in that spot. the doc told me some times that just happens, no real reason why, lucky me! so that scar attached to a tendon in my wrist, causing me a limitation in the movment of my wrist. after these 2 surgeries i think i am what i am, i am pretty sure there is nothing more that they can do for that wrist. i hope it does what it is supposed to do.

[der affe]

my new giant bandage



the integra





they also cut the scars away on my pointer finger up to the first knuckle, but did not use the integra there. this stuff is crazy! it is clear and my arm reminds me of shrink wrapped steaks at the grocery store

[kronus]

Your arm reminds me of much less appetizing things... Keep on going steady, though. Your attitude about the injury is incredibly positive.