My first surgery in US - MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

The surgery was at Beth Israel center at Union Sq. I was there before 11 am, 2 hrs before surgery as suggested (surprisingly... very unlike me). I was alone, all by myself. They had me fill this huge 10-20 paper form with my injured hand, funny!! Then this lady filled all info on computer, which was using DOS based system, with me. She told me that  I NEED to have an escort or somebody to pick me after surgery. Thanks to my roommate Eddie who agreed to come.  I had to wait little more before they took me in & asked me to change into hospital clothes. They gave me free Beth Israel bag & asked to put my stuff in locker. Now i waited in this small room with a TV for more than an hour. Then nurses, anesthesiologist & my doctor came asking same questions & filling more paper. In another hour, we were ready to go for surgery. I go in surgery room & start feeling cold even before anesthesia. They cover me up with blankets & stuff & sedate me. Sedate me fully to make me asleep & nerve block on right hand to do the surgery. I remember talking to anesthesiologist & assistant surgeon (I was asking if I am talking too much or everyone does that?.. r u angry/pissed at me?.. good luck!!) and then passed out. Next I wakeup, I am in recovery room surrounded by nurses/doctors & with no feeling in right hand. And suddenly it starts hurting, a LOT - 9/10. Nurse gave me some injection & I pass out again. Then I wakeup with 8/10 pain. Injection again & passout, wakeup again with 8/10. She forces me to take percocet & now i feel 6/10 for few mins. But then 7/10 again. The nurse says I can't leave with pain like this. I am smiling. She asks a question from her Nursing stuff: 2 patients saying 8/10 pain, one is smiling & other is crying/screaming. Who you treat? BOTH... Different people can have different pain thresh hold & reaction, but all need treatment. Good Point!! So now I lie to nurse that I am feeling okay, so I can leave. They do let me leave after this, with my roommate Eddie who was there by then. We first went to pharmacy to get my prescription medication & then we go for dinner at Coffe Shop Union Square - I hadn't eaten since last night. It's nice place & I got nice burger but I am in pain again. So we take a cab to go home. Takes almost an hour in cab to go to Hell's Kitchen from Union Sq. But finally I got home, straight to bed. That was my day of my first surgery in US.

I had hand surgery... MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

This is just a quick note for all of you who must(?) be worried about me. Surgery is done & was successful as per the doctor. I am back home & resting. I do feel moderate to severe pain right now. Also the pain medication is making me drowsy/groggy. Right hand is not usable atall, which kinda sucks & has to be kept elevated. Its fully wrapped from fingers to below wrist. So I am just resting. Anyways, All izz Well overall. Thanks to everyone for your help (although I did take care of this myself), support (expectedly/unexpectedly offered/not-offered)  & well wishes.... All the Best, to ME!! (U realize this is all written by left hand only. I'll provide full details of surgery tomorrow..)

I need hand surgery... MCP Joint RCL tear & subluxation

of my right thumb injury from last weekend. I have a grade III tear which mostly can't be successfully fixed by casting/immobilization, so requires surgery to fix. How do I know all that? Cuz I am smart & awesome. And also because I went to Hand Orthopedist at Beth Israel in NYC today. He did a review, some X-Rays (no MRI) and said that surgery is best solution to ensure (although doctors never 'guarantee' a fix from surgery, it just mostly works) full recovery/fix where they'll do an incision at the RCL joint of MCP, put the dislocated joint together properly and sew/fix the broken ligament, then put a pin in there to stabilize it, immobilize it with a cast. Then they take off the pin in 10 days & keep hand in cast for another 3-4 weeks. After that they take off the cast & put a splint/brace on & I start occupational therapy/rehabilitation to gain strength back. And after all this, I am back in motion. If I don't do surgery, it might heal by itself with the splint/cast/brace (at least it looks cool) they have put me in. But it might heal crooked or with bump. I might not get full range of motion or have pain or even future arthritis. All "might" happen (or I might get totally fixed!!), kinda SUCKS!! Doctor's suggestion is surgery & I am not very excited about it. But 2-3 months of pain for lifetime of no problems (guaranteed?) isn't that bad. I am still thinking of getting a second review... Any suggestions/comments??

The week & weekend was spent mostly relaxing & taking it easy, still working though. Got outta bed after 4(pm) on Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday. Sometimes its just god top lay in bed to feel that it's really a day-off, I felt good. Went to Sheep Meadow in Central park for sun-bathing; I love central park & I am even a member & do donations to them. It's so big & confusing though sometimes, need to explore more. Also went to Bryant Park which is small & cool & nice. That's it. Will keep posted of new updates, until then.... Good Luck to me, & U!!