Update on Katelyn's hand

Two months ago I wrote about Katelyn hurting her hand just by picking Ben up.  If you missed it you can read all about it here....

Well this has been quite the journey and it doesn't even seem close to being over.  After being in a cast for three weeks the cast was taken off and she was put into a brace.  Oh wait, let me back up...  After being in the first cast for 10 days it started to fall apart so she had to have that one removed and put into a second one.  Then after a total of three weeks in a cast she had it removed.  It was still sore but the x-rays didn't show anything and the doctor felt like she was good to go.  He said if she was still having issues 2-3 weeks later we should give him a call.  That was a Friday.

Saturday morning came and her hand was already becoming more sore and swollen.  We gave it until Tuesday and I called to see what they thought we should do, wait longer or bring her in.  They said to bring her in. 

Her hand looked pretty bad color wise, was in a lot of pain, and very swollen.  So the doctor put her right back into a cast and ordered an MRI.  Katelyn was absolutely TERRIFIED about the MRI but, with a little help from some calming meds, did wonderful for the 50 minute test!  That was Friday night.  Monday morning we went back in and found out the results of the MRI.  She has a torn ligament, a bruised bone, soft tissue damage, and edema all around the area.  Her third cast was taken off so he could do an actual visual exam of her hand and then a fourth cast was put on for two more weeks.

Katelyn's fourth cast, teddy bears and balloons

After another two weeks in a cast, 6 weeks total in a cast and two weeks in a brace at this point, she had the cast taken off.  Her hand still doesn't look right, it is a bluish color in the area that is injured, is still swollen, and very painful.  The doctor feels like she just can't be in a cast any more, it's not good for her to be in it too long.  She is put into a different brace that day and we have orders to start OT with a hand specialist ASAP.  I will admit, I almost lost it when her cast was taken off and she was still having so much pain...  Katelyn did lose it, she just bawled in the office...  I just don't get how picking up her little brother can cause such a bad injury that is taking so long to heal.  Katelyn and I left the office that day very discouraged...

That was last Monday, so almost two weeks ago.  Her first therapy was last Wednesday and was very discouraging.  This week she had therapy on Wed and Thursday and they were definitely better.  She is working so hard and it shows.  It's hard to see how much it hurts after therapy though.  I just hope it's on the way to getting better. 

I am so thankful that I am not a working mom right now!  I don't know how I could have managed all the doctor appointments and therapies that she has needed in the last two months and will continue to need!  I am also VERY THANKFUL for health insurance!  The co-pays are adding up very quickly and are costing us a pretty penny but if we didn't have insurance it would be SOOOO much worse!  Heck, just the casts are over $160 each and she had four of those!  Say nothing about the MRI! 

So, that's where we are right now.  She will go to therapy two times a week and do exercises every day at home.  If we don't see a big improvement soon though we will be bringing her for a second opinion to a pediatric orthopedic specialist because this is crazy.  Who knew all of this could be caused just by picking up your little brother to see some fish???