PatD's Broken Arm

[Magicman]

She did not like hearing "4 weeks" but that is something that she needed to know.  We all want to "take an aspirin" and be well the next morning.  :  Her followup appointment with the surgeon is Thursday.

We are on a 4 hour schedule with her pain med so we are using the alarm at night for the midnight & 4:00 doses.  She had one episode of pain last night, probably caused by a sleep position.  She has good pain free movement of her fingers which are a bit more swollen than yesterday but not puffy swollen.  She is keeping it elevated.

[Don P]

Best wishes and Don't skip the stool softener and liquids!

[Magicman]

Yup to both. 

[doc henderson]

Lynn, I think Don meant for Ms. Pat!   8)  

[doctorb]

Magic-

Forearm fractures (which is basically what she now has) are usually stabilized with plate and screws.  These bones are hard cortical bones that don't heal quickly.  The confounding element here is that the plates and screws stabilize the fracture quite well, so that, in a few weeks, it FEELS healed to the patient.  It's not.  Expect to still see the osteotomy (fracture) on X-ray at the 6 week mark.  That's normal.  Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to prevent the patient from doing something strenuous that might alter the fixation. Patients  generally feel like they can do most normal things after a few weeks.  So avoid lifting gallon milk jugs from the fridge until the osteotomy is healed.

[gspren]

Best wishes for Pat, and isn't it great to have some caring Docs on here to give advice!

[Magicman]

Thanks Gary and yes, it is awesome hearing from doctorb with real time information.  She had been given the milk jug illustration, but it is nice actually reading it and also the why.  Thank You Bobby.

[Ron Scott]

Hoping that the healing continues well with less pain.

[RetiredTech]

Sorry to hear about Ms. Pat's arm. We're praying for a complete and speedy recovery.

[Magicman]

Thanks Ron and Wes. 

I'll be sawing for at least a half day tomorrow depending upon the heat.  I'll have household stuff to do when I get home so I did change the bed today and got the sheets washed & dried.  I'll have clothes washing to do tomorrow evening.

I made a deli run today for a "to go" plate lunch so I am doing well in the food department.   ;D

[Magicman]

PatD got what we consider a "good report" at her follow-up surgical visit today.  The X-Ray clearly shows the Ulna now being shorter than the Radius and not in direct contact with the Lunate as it previously was. 

[thecfarm]

That sounds good!!!

[Jeff]

Im so sorry to not pipe in here. The last 2 weeks ive either been in a backhoe or under one and completely missed this.  Heal quick Mis Pat. Tammy and I love you!!

[Magicman]

I understand.  She knows that she has an extended recovery time ahead.

I am trying to finish the sawing job that I am on so we can take a bit of a trip, but the logs are multiplying plus it is too HOT to make much productivity.. 

[Don P]

A friend should be rolling in right about now. I built 3 sets of stairs up into that cabin, she stepped off the smallest, a 2 step , Friday evening. She had stepped into Bill's oversize slippers to grab the laundry, slipped on a step and badly broke her ankle in 2 places. They should be up in Maine with 2 other couples right now but she is down hard for at least 6 weeks. Its usually the little dumb stuff that gets us. More and more I have to remind myself to slow down and stay focused on the moment.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Wishing a speedy recovery from the swamp from Linda and I

[Magicman]

Thank You Pete, and all.  I am trying to finish the sawing job that I am on but it keeps growing.  Two more jobs came in today.  We need to be traveling and enjoying, and now I am dealing with a health issue. 

[Magicman]

PatD had a followup visit with the surgeon today and he said that her arm is healing nicely.  She is to exercise her wrist and fingers and she still needs to wear the arm splint.  She is scheduled to return in one month.

[Old Greenhorn]

Super news!

[WV Sawmiller]

She is to exercise her wrist and fingers and she still needs to wear the arm splint.  

Lynn.

   Maybe you need to buy her a milk cow or a herd of milk goats. She can get her therapy and you can get fresh milk. ;)

    Do you think she would appreciate all our attempts to help with her therapy?

    I hope she continues to recover quickly and completely.

[SwampDonkey]

She'll come through, it's just not as easy as it is at 30. I remember my grandmother, she'd jokingly raise that right hand in a fist, bring it close to your nose and say, 'smell your master'. That was her way in telling you that you better behave. :D

[Magicman]

PatD had a followup visit today with the Surgeon.  He was pleased with her progress and will now allow her to do whatever she wants to do as long as it does not hurt.  She does not need to wear the splint except at her discretion. 

He did explain that an accidental break would heal faster than a sawed off and rejoined bone.  The brain knows what to do with a broken bone, but it is not prepared to deal with a sawed and rejoined bone.  It just takes more time.

She does not go back for two months.

[customsawyer]

Great news.

[RetiredTech]

  That is great news. You guys have been on my mind lately. I'm glad to hear she's doing so much better.

[thecfarm]

Good news it is.