The Chronicle of the Juzo Sleeve

These are pictures of my arm. The first picture is of the back tricep area of my arm. There is a long scar running down it's length where the rod was inserted into my bone to hold it in place. The second picture is of the back side of my arm when my hand is on my hip if you're looking at the back of my head. The last picture is the front of my arm if you're facing me head on with my arm out to my side.

I'm taking and posting these pictures for the sole purpose of chronicling the healing process of the scaring of my arm. Right now, the scars are very tough, like alligator skin, and disturbingly discolored. The dark patches on my arm are the skin that was taken from my thigh during the skin graft surgery. The plastic surgeons basically shaved a long strip of skin off my thigh and cut it up to place over the open areas on my arm. The bright pink spots are scars from a surgical knife and/or metal/glass from the car. My therapist has ordered a therapeutic sleeve called a Juzo sleeve that will cover my arm from shoulder to mid-forearm. It's purpose is to put a strong amount of compression over the scarred area of my arm so that my scars will become softer, smaller, and less discolored. This will also aid in regaining the mobility and range of motion of my arm so that I will eventually be able to bend my elbow so that my hand touches my shoulder and straighten my elbow so that my arm hangs straight down by my side.

I think of the wreck every day. How can I not when I spend an hour and a half at therapy and when I see an arm that looks like this every day? It has changed my life in so many ways- physically, mentally, and emotionally. I've given up. From here on out, if I want to write, I'm going to write. Even if the only words that come out are about the wreck. I've tried to steer clear of writing about this subject for months, simply because I'm so sick of thinking about it and having it control my thoughts and actions. Why should it control my writing too? However, I can't stay away and neglect my blog any longer. I am a new person. I am a changed person. My blog may as well reflect that change.

I will take pictures of my arm every week beginning with the first day that my Juzo sleeve comes in and is put on my arm. Hopefully, I will be able to see a small difference in the appearance of the scars on my arm in each week that passes. I'm a goal-oriented person. If I can see something working, it boosts my confidence and perseverance. It gives me something to work toward. From this point on, I'm working toward a more healthy and beautiful mental, emotional, and physical state.

Note: Every night I rub Vitamin E oil over the scars on my arm. Since I have begun to do this, my scars have become slightly less tough. I will continue to use the Vitamin E oil along with the Juzo sleeve.