Tuttle, Dan
I'm sorry that it's been so long since my last blog entry. Since my accident and subsequent surgeries, I've not been able to do very much except rest, read (mostly fantasy baseball stuff), rehab, and an occasional doctors visit.
I had surgery to insert a metal plate and 7 screws in my left wrist (broken in three places) and another metal plate with 6 screws in my right hand (4th metacarpal) on January 7th. It was a bit unfortunate to injure both sides but VERY fortunate to find an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in hands and wrists and that could perform both surgeries on the same day. Having the plates and screws to hold things together while the bones heal allows me to rehabilitate the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) much sooner and more aggressively (than w/o the metal).
I'm sorry if the x-rays above are a bit of 'TMI' (Too Much Information) for some of you. I thought it might be interesting for some of you (esp. my former students). Instead of fiberglass casts, I have two hard-plastic splints that I can take off to do my rehab. It amazes me that my therapist got me going on moving and stretching both the wrist and hand so SOON (one-week after the surgeries). As a result of stretching about 4-5 hrs a day on my wrist and hand (I certainly have the time), I'm now able to make a fist with both hands and have improved the movement in my left wrist quite a bit. There is a lot of stiffness in my right hand but no real pain. The rehab my left wrist is a bit painful to move in all the different directions that the therapist requires. Percocet and Aleve help me get through the therapy that I need. Both the doctor and therapist are very pleased with the progress and will release us to continue on our sabbatical journey in about a week and a half. I'll have a therapist and a doctor to check in with in Baltimore.
We will continue to visit middle schools when we arrive in Baltimore where we are going to be house sitting for a friend for a couple of months. Our scheduled visits to a few Chicago schools were postponed until our return trip back across the country in April.
While in Minneapolis, it's been very easy to get caught up in the Vikings mania. This town is absolutely crazy for their football team. We will enjoy watching the Minnesota / New Orleans game this evening. This town is also nuts for Hockey. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are being help this weekend just a few blocks for where we are staying. There are thousands of hockey players (some much too old to be playing) that show up for this age-group event. The lake that it is held on has 25 hockey rinks carved out for the hundreds of games that take place over the weekend. Pretty amazing stuff!
I continue to really enjoy all the comments and emails that I've been getting. It has really helped be get through all this therapy. I especially love hearing from my former students like Sayu, Jamps, and Sarah. Rick, and Allison have now joined in to comment too…. Thanks guys! ALOHA!
I had surgery to insert a metal plate and 7 screws in my left wrist (broken in three places) and another metal plate with 6 screws in my right hand (4th metacarpal) on January 7th. It was a bit unfortunate to injure both sides but VERY fortunate to find an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in hands and wrists and that could perform both surgeries on the same day. Having the plates and screws to hold things together while the bones heal allows me to rehabilitate the soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) much sooner and more aggressively (than w/o the metal).
I'm sorry if the x-rays above are a bit of 'TMI' (Too Much Information) for some of you. I thought it might be interesting for some of you (esp. my former students). Instead of fiberglass casts, I have two hard-plastic splints that I can take off to do my rehab. It amazes me that my therapist got me going on moving and stretching both the wrist and hand so SOON (one-week after the surgeries). As a result of stretching about 4-5 hrs a day on my wrist and hand (I certainly have the time), I'm now able to make a fist with both hands and have improved the movement in my left wrist quite a bit. There is a lot of stiffness in my right hand but no real pain. The rehab my left wrist is a bit painful to move in all the different directions that the therapist requires. Percocet and Aleve help me get through the therapy that I need. Both the doctor and therapist are very pleased with the progress and will release us to continue on our sabbatical journey in about a week and a half. I'll have a therapist and a doctor to check in with in Baltimore.
We will continue to visit middle schools when we arrive in Baltimore where we are going to be house sitting for a friend for a couple of months. Our scheduled visits to a few Chicago schools were postponed until our return trip back across the country in April.
While in Minneapolis, it's been very easy to get caught up in the Vikings mania. This town is absolutely crazy for their football team. We will enjoy watching the Minnesota / New Orleans game this evening. This town is also nuts for Hockey. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are being help this weekend just a few blocks for where we are staying. There are thousands of hockey players (some much too old to be playing) that show up for this age-group event. The lake that it is held on has 25 hockey rinks carved out for the hundreds of games that take place over the weekend. Pretty amazing stuff!
I continue to really enjoy all the comments and emails that I've been getting. It has really helped be get through all this therapy. I especially love hearing from my former students like Sayu, Jamps, and Sarah. Rick, and Allison have now joined in to comment too…. Thanks guys! ALOHA!
Comments
David (unauthenticated)
Jan 24, 2010
Hey Dan, good to hear that you are healing and in good spirits. The chance to sit and read all day sounds incredibly decadent to me, but I don't think I'd like to break both hands to do it. Take care mate.
Rachel Lau
Jan 24, 2010
Wow!!! the xrays really are amazing!!! The plate is soo big. I'm glad to hear you're on the road to recovery -- I need you in tip top shape when you return to us. Sounds like it was a bit of a good thing so you could be in Minn to be with Cici's mom. Japan was awesome. What an experience. A bit bizarre that it is so foreign yet so much like any city in the US. Glad to be home with my family. Keep up with the therapy don't get discouraged. Missing you. Go Colts!
Ruthann (unauthenticated)
Jan 25, 2010
Dan, I know you have relapsed since the OT loss by the colts.....
I hope it doesn't give you too much of a set back!! :-)
Go Chargers! um, well, next year...
Bruce (unauthenticated)
Jan 25, 2010
Sorry to hear about the accident, but looks like you're making great progress. Thanks for all of you updates on school visits... fascinating stuff.
- Bruce
Tedd L. (unauthenticated)
Jan 25, 2010
Dan-- Glad to hear you're recovering so quickly (though I'm sure not quick enough). Take care!
Rick Manayan (unauthenticated)
Jan 25, 2010
I hope you'll be proud of me when I tell you that I did enough work in the first semester to finish with a B+ in BioH, although I felt like dropping down to regular Bio throughout the entire semester. Thank you for recommending me for this class, and I'm really thankful that I've been able to experience this wonderful learning opportunity. Hope all is well, your x-rays look SUPER cool by the way.
(unauthenticated)
Feb 8, 2010
Hey Mr. Tutle,
You should be very proud of me, I finally read one of your posts the entire way through! Normally I just look at the pictures and read the beginning. I didn't know that your injury was that bad, but am happy to know that everything is going well :) And I love those x-rays, they look so cool!
(unauthenticated)
Feb 8, 2010
hahaha
that was me, Eryn, if you cant tell :)