8th Occupational Therapy (22.6.07)

22 June 2007

With the end of my 4 months MC, I returned to camp last week. After much rush and a long ride on bus #21, I am 30min late for the session today...

For the past 2 weeks, my left hand is very much overworked. This lead to much stiffness, aching and mild pain at the fracture, knuckles and wrist. There was mild swelling at the fracture; blue-black sensation at my 2nd, 3rd and 4th knuckles and reduced flexibility... Knowing this, Pei Fen noted that today's session will focused on grip strength...

Again, this session commenced with the 15min fluidotheraphy. As I didn't get much sleep in camp, I am really tired and sleepy through the whole session and I nearly fell asleep while doing fluidotheraphy. My tiredness is so obvious that even Pei Fen noticed it...

After fluidotheraphy, I proceeded to the BTE PRIMUS exercise machine in the exercise room, squeezing the grip handle of a higher force level. The increase in force level transformed this exercise into a demanding task. It made my left hand very much redder (it was already red from fluidotheraphy) and blister-like sensation was felt at the centre of my left palm... Concurrently, Pei Fen needs to attend to another patient.

Another therapist requested to use the BTE PRIMUS exercise machine, so Pei Fen brought me to the metal rack and instructed me to shift 4 sand bags of 2+kg up and down the rack for 5min. This exercise was very tedious for my wrist and biceps... Next, I'm back at the BTE PRIMUS machine. Being assisted by a therapist assistant, I would need to turn a knurled knob and a medium screwdriver. For both exercises, weight would be increased gradually. The knurled knob exercise caused mild pain and aching at my mid-joints and at the muscle group between my 4th and 5th metacarpal. The medium screwdriver exercise caused mild aching and tension at my wrist...

In contrast to the previous treatments, today session is among the longest in duration and the most tired. This might be due to physical fatigue and the increase difficulties of the exercises...

Being rather famished, I had an early dinner at TTSH Kopitiam food court, eating lemon chicken rice and a big pau at B2 café before going to Orchard for some shopping...

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