@sueinmn
Sue, I had awful physical therapists. They were more interested in their phones and laptops than their clients. Then covid-19 came about. My last visit there I decided it was my last visit. They were really not helping me. I could do more at home on my own than there. I looked around that last visit and noticed they did not wipe down equipment after a client used it. One exercise was to put bolts, washer and nut together... move from one side of board to other. It was helpful, but many like me often dropped them on the floor. Another was a tray with clothespins to put on wire lines and it was helpful, but the bottom of the tray had about a quarter of and inch of dust and debris in the bottom of the tray. None of this ever got cleaned between clients. Not sure they ever got clean.

I have looked at many videos online to find exercises to help me. Some I could not do because the trigger thumb was causing so much pain. I believe the trigger thumb was there before the cmc surgery. I described all pain to my surgeon.. I am thinking she should have recognized the trigger thumb during exam. The bone on bone arthritis was very evident on x-ray.

I should have researched my symptoms more before surgery. My mama was so much on my mind though. She had a mild stroke the first week of December. She needed more care than I could give her at home. She spent a week in the main hospital and then moved to another building the hospital has. She stayed there three and a half weeks as we searched for a rehab place. Just no openings. We we lucky that mama was in the hospital between outbreaks of flu and they had a room. We found a rehab place in another town about an hour drive from us. They covid closed the nursing home down for visitors in March. She had c-diff in nursing home in February. She seems to have totally recovered from that. Three weeks ago she had another mild stroke. I got to see her a couple of times while she was in hospital. She is doing better now and is able to speak again. The nursing home seems to be short staffed and it is difficult to get a phone call through to speak to her... dialing three different numbers,

Our mind plays a part in how we recover. I hope to try the Tai Chi soon. I have an ear infection that makes some movements difficult... the drops make me dizzy. I did the hand exercises again this morning and they have awakened my hand better than any other exercise routine in the morning. My surgeon told me to try and use my hand as normally as possible. I listen to my body and if it hurts a lot to do something I don't do it. I try again another time.

I have done as you say with the laundry and sometimes I can search pants that way and sometimes not.. depends on how the garment it constructed. Sometimes I turn the garment upside down and give it a shake and hope the washers, screws, etc, and paper towels fall out.

I have a bad wrist on same hand as the bad thumb.. and more arthritis through other fingers ...and I have always limited the time of sewing or crochet or any project that requires lot of wrist movement. I wear an elastic brace that will support my wrist some and I can still move my hand when I crochet. Most times I only crochet for 30 minutes... or until I start feeling pain. This is the time of year I do the small projects like hats, toys, and potholders. Bigger projects are just too hot to work with.

ZeeGee