It’s still awkward to do this. My right arm is bound in an articulated brace that bears a resemblance to some kind of robotic prosthesis. This one, however, is only intended to constrain my movements so I don’t damage the surgery while it heals. Makes typing difficult, but it’s getting easier. My handwriting, already questionable, is another matter.
So back in August I had an accident. I could characterize it as an act of stupidity, but that’s not really true. I did something I had done before and had no reason to think I couldn’t do again. However, my right biceps tendon chose to give and I experienced a partial tear. Not enough to incapacitate me but enough to give me chronic problems. When it became evident that it wasn’t healing, I sought advice and went to a specialist. I saw Dr. George Paletta. One MRI and a lot of conversation later, I agreed to surgery to repair the tendon.
So on March 31st I went to a small surgery where Dr. Paletta opened a small incision on the inside of my elbow, “completed” the tear, and bolted the tendon back in place. I spent the next two weeks in a full cast. 
Much reading and watching of movies ensued. Learning to do with just my left hand proved an education.
Removal of the cast occasioned one of the worst pains I have ever experienced. My forearm felt as though the Incredible Hulk had grabbed it and determined to crush it. When my eyes once more focused and the spots stopped dancing, the staff, including Dr. Paletta, were standing around me smiling. “Perfectly normal,” they told me. Okay.
So now I’m doing physical therapy twice a week and slowly, slowly reacquiring the use of my right hand. I can drive, I’ve been back to work, and I’m doing this. Because the brace is a restraint on range of motion, I can’t yet brush my teeth with my dominant hand. Or eat with it. Or scratch my nose, comb my hair, etc, you get the idea. Next week I may get a bit more range. I haven’t tried playing piano and I’m not even getting near a guitar with this aluminum thing.
Before the surgery I managed to finish the 1st draft of a new novel. I’ve been noodling on a couple of short stories lately and still reading. (I’ve decided to start Agatha Christie. Read some of her books as a teenager, but that was almost half a century ago, so…) I’m working my way through a book by Kip Thorne about wormholes and such.
My hope is that by the end of May I’ll be more or less mobile again. My gym kindly put my membership on hold till such time as I can come back, but that may be even longer. I’m feeling…puffy. But if I’m careful, which I intend to be, I’ll be good as new by fall.
Meantime, I thought I’d just give folks an update. More words are coming, trust me. But lastly I want to say Thank You to everyone involved in this. People have been terrific. From my coworkers to the medical personnel, everyone has been generous, supportive, and tolerant. Thank you all.
