[The Duchess]

So sorry to hear of your accident Mark. Things like that happen all too easily. For a full recovery her is a word of advice....( some old tarts think they know everything).....

SOme years ago Mr. Duchess had a similar accident...well the result was Similar. he was walking into a restaurant and put his hand on the revolving glass door. SOmone came the other way, not looking where they were going and in a rush. The result was Mr. Duchess's hand going striaght through the glass an causing injuries much like yours. Neuro surgery was needed and he was stitched to the hilt! ( he did make a full recovery eventually ) When talking to the surgeon before surgery he told rather a large white lie. He said he was a musician and played the violin. He's no and doesn't. COnsequently even more care was taken that he getback full use of his hand and wrist.

He spent the next weeks doing physio, the most important part being done constantly at home. He had sponge balls...no laughing thank you. The sort children play with. They were of differnt solidity. The first he used were quite pliable. When he was sitting watching TV or playing music or just chatting, he always had a ball in his hand. To start with he sqeezed them in the palm of his hand. Then he manilulated them with 1 finger and the thumb making the ball travel from index finger along each one in turn to the little finger and back again. He gragulally built up the strength in his hand by increasing the solidity of the ball. Once h e was FULLY recovered he reconned he actually WOULD be able to play the violin...and rather well as his manuel dexterity was better than it had been before the accident.

SO ...dear boy..and this is NOT joke and NO laughing matter...if you want to get FULL recovery and use of your wrist and hand...keep sqeezing the balls.!!! HONEST ...this is NOT a joke!