Grateful Dead

The body has miraculous ways to restore and heal itself, and I'm certainly coming along however slowly. I have dark discoloration under all the nails, and the ring is the darkest. I don't want to be too gross, but I can expect some or all of the fingernails to come off eventually and then regrow. It's better than the fingers coming off, and that was a real and scary possibility. I still have this disconcerting curl in my pinky that I'm hoping is not permanent. The sensitivity to cold remains an elevated issue. However, the pain is way down from where it was and I am so, so, so thankful for that. I am also using the middle finger more now, and in a reflexive way which is also heartening. I am hoping to get even better so by Spring or Summer I can use my new bikes, which ironically I got just prior to my accident. One came in on the day of the accident, think of it! So frustrating, argh! All good things in all good time, and I'll continue to work hard. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers folks...they help!!

Furthur!

Kind words and well wishes are exactly the type of thing I need to help push me through this. I know I have a hard road ahead full of uncertainty. Tears have definitely flowed. I'm not sure if my right hand is ever going to recover fully. But, man do I ever want to use it again! The strength is just not there anymore. It's my dominant hand and right now all I have a good thumb (spared any damage), but 2nd degree frostbite to the forefinger and middle. Ring and pinky are the worst (3rd degree). I found out last week I should be able to keep them all, but how much they recover depends on how hard I work. I've got exercises to help restore range of motion, but damn they're hard right now! Thankfully I've got a support group of people (from here, friends and family, and hopefully starting therapy very soon) pushing me to keep up with them. I'll keep posting progress reports and I'm coming along, but thank you for the messages, kind words and inspiration. They help a great deal and I'm looking forward to sharing more good news as the healing continues to unfold.

Just now finding out about your journey, Jeff, and certainly wish you all the best thoughts and fervent prayers for healing and a positive outcome from all this that has happened. Keep the faith, trust the music, grab onto what is positive and try to shrug off the rest. All of us are pulling for you, each and every one of us. You will get through this and see the sunshine whether blue or yellow. Your right hand is hurting, the pain is real, the journey hard, so don't discount that part of it. You are allowed to be bummed take it easy, push yourself, be proud and be weak all at the same time and there is nothing like a good cry to let it all out. Peace, love and prayers for all good things. We got a summer tour to git to. Glad you're a survivor, keep in touch... G

A relative term, my right hand still looks like raw meat. But, things are certainly looking up! Thanks for the well wishes marye, I will need truckloads of them if ever going to get the confidence to get these confounded exercises going...they hurt like the dickens!

Yeah, those near-death experiences have a way of changing your perspective.

Thanks marye, sisterearth and iGrateful for the positive vibes and encouragement. They help. It's going to be a tough road ahead to get my right hand functioning normally again and I'm beginning the work now. It's easy to take life for granted until it is almost taken away. I realize now how fragile it really is. I am counting my blessings for how much worse it could have turned out. Please keep pulling for me!

Positive vibes headed your way WTJ! Peace to you!

WilfredTJones how awful! Sending prayers, and positive healing energy and vibes your way!Peace & Light

That's awful! Hope you are soon healing up. Take it easy, that's a lot to deal with at once.