What I do at occupational hand therapy...

Many people ask me what I do at OHSU occupational hand therapy, so I will tell you here. :)  Occupational therapists are very similar to physical therapists, but they also focus on fine-motor skills and desensitization.  Here are some examples:

• Usually at the beginning of my treatment appointment, I stick my affected left arm in this machine that blows out warm air and dried, ground corn husks as a way of desensitizing my nervous system.  Pretty cool. :)
• I'm a violinist, but I haven't been able to play for two months now.  So, one time, my OT spread thera-putty on this long plastic piece, and I had to hold it like a violin, while pressing my fingers into the putty and "playing" music scales like I'm pressing into my violin strings.
• Sometimes, I practice picking little things up (marbles, keys, buttons) with the finger that hurts the most and dropping them into this paper cup.  Occasionally, this can get pretty difficult to do because my fingers shake severely sometime!
• One of my favorite things to do at therapy is play catch with my OT! :)  It hurts my hand, but he makes it enjoyable!

As an ending to this post, I want to leave this poem with you.  May you be refreshed and encouraged by it!

"When you pass through the waters"

Deep the waves may be and cold,

But Jehovah is our refuge,

And His promise is our hold;

For the Lord Himself has said it,

He, the faithful God and true:

"When you come to the waters

You will not go down, BUT THROUGH."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,

Bitter anguish, fiercest pain,

Rolling surges of temptation

Sweeping over heart and brain---

They will never overflow us

For we know His word is true;

All His waves and all His billows

He will lead us safely THROUGH.

Threatening breakers of destruction,

Doubt's insidious undertow,

Will not sink us, will not drag us

Out to ocean depths of woe;

For His promise will sustain us,

Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!

We will not go down, or under,

For He says, "You will pass THROUGH."

by Annie Johnson Flint