The Siamerican

Today was worthy of mention here.

I was awaken by ants biting my bpi injured arm.  I actually didnt feel the biting, but a very slight itching on parts of it brought my attention to the army invading my bed, jolting me into the shower. As I hadn’t eaten on my bed any time recently, I had no clue what they were after–perhaps revenge for the recent massacres following their breaching of my shower drain.

It was 7am. I had Environmental Science class scheduled at 9.00 but  realized I needed to translate a message for work.  Noticing the ant bite rash swelling up near my stupefied numb elbow, I get to my task fueled by a sweet and creamy cup of coffee. 

By 10.30, I make it into class as the lecture about air polution descends to its end when I can turn in my assigned essay about the application of technology for preserving the rain forest. Its good to be refreshed and reminded about such matters every now and then.

While I started using the public bus and walking more often the past month, I do take a cab sometimes when I’m in a rush like today, feeling guilty each instance.

By noon, I left uni and made it to my friends apartment, just a block away from my own, only meters from the scene of my accident. There is a swimming pool at this particular apartment, and so I figure it’s about time I give hydro therapy a go. Better late then never.

In the direct mid day summer rays, the pool felt good, especially considering its been months since my body has been fully emersed in water. My arm seemed to able to do some movements under water, but I realize it was mostly stemmed from my trapezius and shoulder’s efforts. Nonetheless, it was fun flopping it around without stressing out my good arm. I think I may have even felt lots o f stretching type ache sensations where I hadnt previously.

It was good to know I am still able to swim under water, albeit slower without the arms wading. I knew I was due for a big burning having been mostly cooped up inside the last few months, but this one would be worth it. Though ar this moment, it’s starting to take its toll. My pain capacity is definitely much larger than ever before.

After a few hours in the pool, I begin leaving. A 30 something man in the parking lot points at my arm and says something.  I figured it was the typical ‘What happened? When will it heal?’ inquiry. When I told him it was a nerve damage from a bike accident, he pointed to his own left arm and confirmed his injury being the same.

His accident was ten years ago in Chiangmai. His affected arm seemed to be a third the size of his normal right arm, as if most of his muscles had long experienced atrophy..  He showed me his scars from surgery which he had nerves transferred from his leg and pectoral to his bicep and wrist.

He could easily flex and extend his skinny arm at the elbow now, though his wrist and hand were completely defunct, the full rising of his arm at shoulder also unable. He told me how all of his arm function nerves were ripped at his spine except one giving his eight private hospital surgeons  something to work from in at least sparing his bicep via nerve grafts–though it would prove to be a matter of years to regain that from absolutely nothing. Now he does everything he did before including driving a motorbike occasionly.

After two months, I can say that from absolutely feeling nothing in all my arm initially to now where I can grip my fingers to a fist, halfway open my hand, as well as flex and pronate my wrist-forearm, I’m filled with just a wee more hope in my recovery path.

As for the rest of my arm, it is still tender, flabby, numb and with zero motor power at my biceps and triceps in addition to my sublaxated deltoids at the shoulder.  Function wise, I can not flex nor lift my arm, nor can I extend or supinate my wrist suggesting the radial nerve to be most affected.

Waiting to do the EMG test next week to confirm full extent of the injury which I am expecting at least one of my nerves to be avulsed from the spinal root. Keeping my fingers crossed for the best, yet preparing for the worst.

To say the least, it was interesting to finally meet someone who had been through what I’m going through now when he was roughly my age. A decade ago, surgical intervention made a noticeable difference for him. Considering that many published sources claim that cases involving multiple avulsed roots are hopeless, there is a patch of blue sky just beyond these clouds that hover above my head.

In the meantime, can only continue to eat my B vitamins, do stretches, assisted exercise movements, electric pulse therapy and start to regularly hit the pool to maxamize my recovery potential. Stay tuned.

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