I dive into my textbook on healing fractures.  It is full of technical terms I don't understand like "anatomical" and "callus".  But I still get a lot out of it.  I understand for instance that fractures can and do actually heal even if the bone segments aren't brought into perfect contact as in surgery.  This explains why Dr. Gelb said he considered not doing surgery on my hand, although I feel certain it was necessary.  I understand that, even though the bone may bear full weight at 8 or 12 weeks or whatever, in fact the healing process is not fully complete for several years.  Biological changes still take place.  Finally, I see that all the drawings show swelling around the healing area.  So, as I first began to suspect, and Dr. Gelb confirmed, the swelling of a fracture site is part of a natural process, and no matter how much care you take, it cannot be fully brought for quite a few weeks.

I also see that of all the methods of immobilization (i.e. cast, pins, and tiny screws like I have), weight bearing is "delayed" for me.

Why do I need to understand all this?  Do I not trust the doctor?  On the contrary - I have followed his instructions to the letter - pushing the envelope with the thumb-and-forefinger lift question notwithstanding.  

It helps me fill in the margins of my therapy if I understand a little about the process.  Just enough to be dangerous?  Possibly.  But, for instance, it helps to know that waiting until summer instead of two months to return to surfing might make sense, and continuing nutrition measures for a long time, up to two years, might also be a good idea.

I also see in many places in literature that osteoporosis is a risk factor for fractures.  Given family history, I ask Dr. Gelb about a bone density scan, and he orders one.