Do not freak out.

I am fine.

There is nothing wrong with me, and I have proof.

So the other night I was sitting at the bar at Rich O's talking with LaptopGirl. At one point during the night I leaned back from the bar and noticed that my left hand had fallen asleep.

This kind of thing happens to me all the time - especially on my left arm and hand since I screwed up that arm so badly years ago.

Usually the numb/tingling sensation goes away pretty quickly.

This time it didn't.

I woke up this morning still feeling numb in my left ring and pinkie fingers.

Once I got to work I noticed how difficult it had become to type anything. It's amazing how much those two fingers get used when typing.

I decided to call my regular doctor so he could make sure I hadn't caused any type of permanent injury to the nerves in my arm.

What happened next was my fault. I told my doctor's receptionist that I wanted to schedule an appointment for numb fingers. The receptionist asked if I was feeling any pain. Without thinking I mentioned that my left arm was hurting a little.

My left arm always hurts a little. It's done so for years.

But the receptionist didn't know that.

What she heard was "numbness" plus "arm pain" and she pretty much freaked out. She told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to get to the hospital NOW NOW NOW!

I could practically hear the gears in her head turning as she tried to decide whether to call life-flight for me.

So anyway, just to humor the poor thing, I went to the hospital.

After about four hours, most of which was spent waiting around either in the main lobby or in a little room they gave me, I was told to go home.

They had, just to satisfy their procedures, taken a blood test and did and EKG on me.

Everything came out fine.

I am not dying, at least not today.

It turns out that the type of nerve damage I've done to my arm can cause numbness that lasts for days or even weeks. It's not likely to get any worse as long as I'm careful about leaning on the nerve.

I was advised that if my fingers don't return to normal within a few days I should meet with my regular doctor so he can amputate my left arm.

Just kidding. Ha Ha.

I'm just supposed to check with my regular doctor so he can make sure that things are healing.