[KayBee]

I completely blew out my thumb from studying too much. I’ve been sitting at a desk flipping through massive text books and study guides for 4 years straight (once things got more difficult).

My FAR exam was supposed to be today but I rescheduled for 11/11 because I had to get pretty gnarly surgery to repair the thumb damage. I’m two weeks post surgery, I’ve got my fancy blue cast and feeling like a 10 year old, and I hurt.

So my question is, does anyone have recommendations for how to study through the pain? Right now all I can do is rest my arm on a pillow, but it’s hard to concentrate with the throbbing and the uncomfortable positions. I’m trying not to get discouraged but I have to choose studying over happy pills and I need some sort of solution. Meditation? A fancy contraption to hold my arm up? Magic Beans? Suggestions welcome.

KayBee
Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, concentration in public accounting
REG - 77
AUD - 71, Next one tentatively early November
FAR - Oct 1
BEC - before Jan 5

[livealittle]

can you take a lesser dosage of the pain medication to knock the edge off enough to at least review notes/read over material?

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[KayBee]

Some days I don't need it, but I try to only take half the recommended dosage when it gets bad. After work is when it's the worst. I try and avoid using it but it's such an important limb! I really need to find a way to make my study area more comfortable.

KayBee
Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, concentration in public accounting
REG - 77
AUD - 71, Next one tentatively early November
FAR - Oct 1
BEC - before Jan 5

[win2bet]

i would do ninja MCQ, and screenshot the questions you had issues with or feel are important to review later. This way can put minimal pressure on your hands

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[KayBee]

That's what I'm thinking. Maybe I should change my study style. Usually I go through the module's study guide and then the MCQs, but I might just switch it up so I can sit somewhere more comfortable. Wiley's MCQs have note options that will display the text so I can still reference that if I need to.

KayBee
Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, concentration in public accounting
REG - 77
AUD - 71, Next one tentatively early November
FAR - Oct 1
BEC - before Jan 5

[win2bet]

yea i would take that route then, good luck on a speed recovery

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[livealittle]

Can you take something near the end of the work day to help head off the worst of the pain.

I know when I had some extensive dental work done, I was on narcotic pain killers every 4 hours. As I started getting better, I could take a full tablet during the day and then switch to Advil for a few hours. I would take another right before bed. Can you ask your doctor for some advice on a pain management program to keep the worst of it at bay and still let you study some?

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[KayBee]

These suggestions have been helpful! Here's what I've been doing in case anyone else has an accounting injury.

I've started focusing more on the MCQ's as opposed to lugging around the huge study guide. I do pull it out when I need thorough review but I've been having success with the Wiley quizzes and some help from Ninja. I've switched up my study schedule as well. I either do 3 20-question quizzes or do one hour sessions and then sit somewhere comfortable for 10 or 15 minutes. I even set a timer so I don't overdo it and ruin my whole day/night. Sometimes if I'm feeling less pain I go for longer, but reclining with my hand elevated helps with the throbbing and it gives my mind some time to absorb what I've studied. I failed AUD but am now studying for FAR so we'll see how switching it up goes.

I'm off the pain meds. 15 years ago I would have said “Woo hoo!” when they were prescribed but now I'm too old for that s***. I'm on ibuprofen full time instead and while it works for the most part I'd rather ignore the pain that is still there than feel like a space cadet.

Position is everything. I keep a hand towel on my desk so if I don't want my arm in my lap I can set it there relatively comfortably. I also put a big sock over my cast. These fiberglass casts are no joke. They're really scratchy and mine goes from my knuckles and over my thumb all the way to my elbow. The sock helps it not scratch me or my nice desk and it's more comfortable. I have a big gel ice pack that I put on my hand towel to rest my hand on. It takes a while for the coolness to seep through the cast but it's lovely when it does.

So we'll see how this goes. 3 weeks post surgery I'm already feeling WAY better than pre-surgery when the throbbing was unbearable. 5 more weeks with this sucker and it happens to come off the day before my exam!

KayBee
Bachelors and Masters in Accounting, concentration in public accounting
REG - 77
AUD - 71, Next one tentatively early November
FAR - Oct 1
BEC - before Jan 5

[livealittle]

glad to hear you are getting some relief

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[Author]

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