The shingles virus and gross things all over my hand seems to have cleared up, Glory be.
So, what is left to take care of (in this arena)? My sprained hand. The joint is still painful, and writing is extremely painful. Thankfully, typing isn't too bad. :) My doctor just submitted the paperwork for occupational therapy to take care of my wrist.
In trying to take care of my sprain, I put the splint back on my wrist. It sorely needed it, because when it bends freely, it is painful. Last night I put the splint on again (it hurts at night). This morning, HUGE puffy red swollen rash... again. I am now less convinced that the last bout of that awful rash was shingles (although just yesterday, another doctor who saw the pictures I have also said it looks exactly like shingles.). I am thinking that maybe I *am* allergic to latex now?
That would be very bad for someone like me who has numerous doctors appointments where latex gloves are required, never mind talking about all the surgeries. How do you know if indeed it is an allergy (sure seems like it is), and if it is, to what, exactly?
Even at this moment, 7 hours after I took off the splint this morning, the rash looks like it is getting worse and is swollen and angry red.
Back to the doctor.
This is exactly what I need, right?
You go to an allergist to get an allergy test done. I think Kyra's was a blood test.
ReplyDeleteOy vey - it's never over till it's over...and then it's not either. Or maybe the latex has some infection embedded on it? Disinfectant maybe in order? Or a layer in between your skin and the latex?
ReplyDeleteI'd buy another (totally clean) splint and see how that goes. You can also try putting on latex gloves for a couple of hours and see if you get a reaction.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, Michele. I may try that. And I do have a another one, in fact I have three, but I've worn them all. I don't want to buy another. I may try putting a soft cloth in between my skin and the brace. I suppose, though, that I have to get rid of this one (rash) before attempting that. This whole thing is taking up *wayyy* too much energy.
DeleteI hope the rash and the pain go away quickly. I really doubt it's a Latex allergy. It's most likely something caused by the moist conditions of the brace. Just curious. Have you seen a dermatologist? They're the best ones for sorting out various rashes. Finally, do you have cotton wool (cotton puffs) you can put around your wrist to keep the moisture at bay?
ReplyDeleteI know this is no help but I have been getting rashes from toe to top of my head randomly for the past 6 months. It is enough to stand on my porch for 10 minutes or water the plants or go for a walk in the wind...etc. So finally had app't with allergist and I am NOT allergic to anything...nothing even reacted in the slightest bit...hah... but he gave me antiallergy pills (Aerius) to take as needed. Perhaps you need a good antihistamine? good luck
ReplyDeleteLeah got a rash under the end of her splint when she had one for a recent broken finger. It spread to an adjacent finger, but was due to the moisture getting under the splint and not drying properly. Triamcinolone cleared it up. You may want to try leaving the splint off (if you can) if there is time during the day/night when you can do that. I get that rash under my one ring at times, especially when I don't take the time to dry under it properly when I wash my hands.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, Kathy Coulter Eckman, I think you are right. I think it wasn't shingles at all, but a bad rash that got infected. My only question remains, why did the anti - viral meds work?
DeleteDidn't you take your splint off then? Maybe it was that. As far as I know, shingles doesn't usually start in an extremity nor would it come from an irritation. Shingles affects the nerves and you would have to take great precautions to make sure it didn't affect your optic nerve. Are you able to take the splint off and let your skin breathe during some part of the day or night?
DeleteI had to take the splint off because of the rash. It was an impossible situation.
DeleteAnd yeah, Shingles is not from an irritation, as I naively said earlier. But, it *can* appear on any extremity. Someone has tole me he got it on his hand, another on his leg. And one other person who got it on an unmentionable area! Ouch!!!
Anyway, I am not at all convinced I had shingles. My doctor said it doesn't really matter, unless I want a shingles vaccine. It's complicated. :/