In May of 2004, I decided go skydiving, which has been something I've always wanted to do since I was a child. I completed two tandem jumps successfully, and with one more day of ground training, I successfully completed my first solo.... well almost. Due to communication problems with my radio, I took an alternate landing pattern, and landed more oddly than I had intended, and at some point I "sprained" my wrist.

The next day I went to the doctor and the X-Rays showed every thing normal, and determined it was just another sprain. I had pain in my wrist and limited movement for months and months.

In February, 2005, I went to the same doctor for an eye issue and pointed out that I still had trouble with moving my wrist. Second X-Rays 9 months later tell her everything still looks fine, but she referred me to a hand specialist to find out what the real problem was.

I met with the hand doctor and he took a look at my X-Rays, and before I could finish explaining what she said, he said it was Keinbocks Disease and proceeded to draw pictures, and get out the text books, and he did a very good job of explaining everything about the disease. He ordered me to get MRI and CT scans and then return.

Returning with the scans, he diagnosed me at stage 3a/3b. He gave me three options in order of best to worst. It was already too late for radial shortening. Option 1: Scaphocapitate fusion, excision of lunate. Option 2: Full unit fusion. Option 3: Scapho-lunate-capitate fusion. Option 1 sounded the best to me and seemed it would get the job done the first try with the opportunity of best wrist movement.

Almost a week later, the three hour surgery was performed and since it was done so late in the day, I stayed in the hospital overnight. I had a thick cast for the first week, then had that removed, and a fitted plastic brace made, and put on to allow the incision to heal. Another two weeks later I had the 14 staples removed and x-rays showed everything was looking the way it was supposed to, and another week later was put into a hard cast. I will be in this cast for 3 weeks and then a change of casts for probably another 2-3 weeks to allow for the fusion heal properly.

The doctor was honest in saying he did not know how much movement I would regain, but did say the pain would be a lot less. I play guitar in a band and the summer tour may turn into a fall tour, but I am confident that more of my range of movement will return in the next few months.

I'm learning even more patience with this cast, but very glad the surgery is behind me and this discomfort has been taken care of. I hope for the best.