Column: My unnatural spring break surge

It’s spring break 2020 and my chosen endeavor may top the all time list of things not to do: have an LRTI (ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition).

In short, a new left thumb joint has left me in a plaster cast for weeks. 

I’ve had a lifetime of manual labor and work with my hands, especially camera work. About two years ago I developed chronic pain and went through the usual route of primary care, orthopedic specialist, e-rays, pain specialists and steroid injections, but nothing helped the problem. 

Then I met a fellow geezer student in my art class with a cast just like the one I’m now wearing now. This was his second rodeo since he had a thumb joint reconstruction done the year before.

So, I hooked up with his surgeon to pluck a bone out where my thumb attaches to my hand.

To do this they had to cut down my arm starting from my wrist to harvest a tendon to make a pad for my left thumb bone.

The new joint should function as well as the original but without constant pain. With one surgery done and one more to go plus Covid-19 transforming me from a geezer student to a geezer hermit, this spring break was unforgettable!