My hand hurts

[theyellowhobbit]

Last year with six weeks of digging, including hours upon hours of pottery washing, I was fine and healthy. This year, 2 weeks into the dig, I've injured my [right] hand. I have no clue what I did to it, but it hurts to do anything. I thought that over the weekend it would feel better if I rested it, which I did, but to no avail. For brief periods of time it was ok, but as soon as I used it it would hurt. And I can't not use my right hand. I can't "take it easy." My left hand is good for only basic things, such as carrying things that aren't fragile, or liquid for that matter, typing on that half of the keyboard, holding things as I do whatever needs to be done with my right hand. My left hand has limited motion. Most people have a dominant hand, but at least can do some things with their non-dominant hand. I'm not most people, though.

So even if I were to stop digging, I'd have to stop eating, getting dressed, grooming myself, opening things, etc., if I were to completely try to stay off of my hand. That's not happening, because I refuse to be helpless. I can still use my hand, it just hurts a lot. Hopefully the non-archaeological stuff isn't hurting it...

I've given up knitting and crocheting until I get treatment or get better, whichever comes first. Or maybe just for the duration of the dig. I don't know what I'll do about my summer job if I'm not better when I get to the States. I'm supposed to teach knitting, crocheting, and crafts!!!!!!

How did I do this to myself? Was it the turiyahing? Was it the bucket carrying? Was it the balk-trimming?

And what would you do in my situation?

Comments

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

Owch. Well, I would put an elastic bandage on it for support, first, and see about taking some anti-swelling stuff. Then if it didn't get better in a few days, I'd take it to a doctor and see about perhaps getting it x-rayed.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

The problem is getting to a doctor in Israel, though...

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

You're abroad on a dig with no health coverage?

Well, anyway, even paying full price for medical care there, it's still an awful lot cheaper than the same sort of thing in the US.

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see. I read the rest of the comments. You have coverage but you're in the middle of nowhere. Hope you persuade your supervisor that they want to drive you to a clinic somewhere and get it looked at, because hurty hands aren't good.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

They're giving me time off at the moment, and hopefully I'm going to a clinic this afternoon.

[http://users.livejournal.com/stone_/]

That sucks. See if you can get some cordozone or something. My sister-in-law gets chronic pains in her hands and she has this steroid-cordozone cream thing that evidently helps out.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

Do you know where I could get such a cream in Israel?

And are you and galads_forest around this shabbat and hosting people/hobbits?

[http://users.livejournal.com/stone_/]

I called Ahuva and she said it was actually a shot, not a cream. Evidently avaailable through specialists or something. So yeah, I recommend Consulting Your Local Doctor for help.

In terms of Shabbat we are around for Shabbat next week for sure, but we haven't figured out this coming Shabbat yet.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

Gah. This is sounding more and more like Something That Has To Be Taken Care Of Back In The States. And here I am wanting to go back to digging as usual tomorrow so I don't go insane sitting on the Tel doing absolutely nothing.

And I guess just let me know when you figure out this Shabbat.

[spazerrific.livejournal.com]

get an ace bandage or a carpel-tunnel sleeve/brace thing (depending on how immobile you want to be... carpel-tunnel braces can be almost like a cast but comfier)... and def. talk to whatever type of medic or whatever is with you on the dig... and take advil... When I busted my knee last year, I was taking 3 at a time, which is apparently safe...?

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

We don't have a medic on the dig...

And I'll see if I can get a hold of the ace bandage, but I'm a bit wary since I'm afraid I'll wrap it the worng way and just end up making things worse, which is a definite possibility...

And yeah, advil is my saviour.

[superducky1.livejournal.com]

see a doctor before it gets worse. you never know what kind of permanent damage you may be doing to yourself. do you have health insurance for the duration of your stay in israel? does your american insurance cover you?

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

My insurance covers me here (it's one of the requirements for coming on a dig here). But I'm not sure how to go about seeing a doctor. I was going to go to a clinic in Jerusalem yesterday, but when I went it was closed. And now I'm back on the kibbutz, which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

[superducky1.livejournal.com]

what's more important? the dig, or your health? i dont mean to be an alarmist, but you should be prioritizing your concerns. take a day off and find an open clinic, preferably one with english speaking doctors.

good luck.

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

But I'm not sure how I can get to the open clinic from here...We're pretty darn isolated. Unless there's something in Bet She'an, but I doubt there are many English-speaking doctors there.

I'm gonna talk with my square supervisor tonight.