I now know what I need from therapy.  I have worked on my own all around the edges of resuming activity.  I reason that if I can return to some portion of my life, my hand will be active (up to its limit) all day long, typing, playing piano, and so forth.  This has to be better than stopping 5 times a day to exercise the hand and staying immobile the rest of the time.  Each day, I have introduced something new.  At the end of the day, my hand is tired.  I know from Crossfit that recovery is just as important as exercise, so I take time each day for rest.  I have continued my special dietary adjustments, supplements and herbs.

Still, the 4th finger is extremely weak.  I cannot lift it to stretch my hand flat - it droops.  Range of motion of that finger does not equal the other hand, although range of motion of other fingers and my wrist seems normal.  I now know what I need from therapy.

I meet my therapist, Erin Olson, of Healing Hands (an auspicious name!).  The fit is right.  She's a triathlete and so understands my need to push the envelope physically.  We discuss many subjects including:

• all my many questions
• reducing swelling
• condition of the rest of the body including arms and shoulders
• specific exercises for the injured finger

We make a list of questions for my next surgeon's visit.