Medical Notes: Carpal Tunnel

What’s in a Name?
The baby doctor, he was at the hospital on Floyd Curl Road. The blood doc, his group was on Floyd Curl, too. Last doctor appointment I drove Aunt Bernie to? Same. The hand doc? Floyd Curl.

I discovered that switching the trackball around, or, at one point, using a mouse instead of a trackball, that relieved some of the pain.

The other form of relief? Transcendental Meditation. No, seriously, it works. Works well, even. The only time the pain would subside completely? In that thoroughly relaxed state. 20 minutes a day, twice a day.

Doctor Hand:
I knew it would happen, eventually. Had to happen. Inevitable, almost. Last time Mercury was retrograde, I felt it start. It’s been close to 20 years since this has flared up, but the old “carpal tunnel syndrome” was back. After excruciating pain in my left arm with some tingling sensation and partial numbness, I figured I might as well use what’s left of the health care coverage I’ve got – while I can still afford it.

In the examination room, a very youthful Dr. “David” introduced himself as a junior associate and he ran the tests. I was much amused as he examined me, at first, just like a practiced palmist would. Looks at the palms, then the back of the hands, tests limberness and agility, talked softly, tested various angles, inquired as to the problem, and filled out a huge number of documents with pinpricks here and there, and with my eyes closed, I could describe the sensation, one or two, and then he hustled out.

Dr. Hand was excellent, good bedside manners. He’s also the author of a book about San Antonio Names. I’d picked the book up in the waiting room, and I was trying to idly figure out what Floyd Curl meant. Which launched into a discussion about the name, and why he got interested in the source of names in San Antonio.

I got a shot, two, I think, one to numb it, and one with guava juice, or papaya juice, maybe he shot me with a fruit smoothie. Who knows? The anesthesia left my hand numb, so it’s not like there was a big improvement over the original problem.

When I went to check out, it was $20 co-pay and then, $60 for left-handed “gamer-hand” brace. That’s $80, total.

I also got a good prescription for pain-killers. Off to Wal-Mart to get dope. Dope is dope; it’s cheaper at Wal-Mart, even if it is politically incorrect.

The Problem with Health Care industries:
I liked the good doctor. His young buddy was, other than really young-looking, quite nice, apparently really knowledgeable and the kid fostered that kind of sense of security I have with my friend the palm reader.

Pain meds cost ten bucks. While I was waiting on the prescription to get filled, I found some new lures in the fishing aisle. Interesting, but not interesting enough to buy. If they don’t work on me? Probably won’t work on fish, either.

I went back to gather up the pills, and I noticed a display of braces and ace bandages. I saw one just like the doctor’s office sold me. Price? Just under $15.

Carpal Tunnel pain hasn’t come back, but those pain pills help ease the feeling about the cost of health care.