You are not going to believe this, but last night, I fell and broke my left arm. I spent the night in the ER on morphine and in excruciating pain. The doctors cannot put a cast on the fracture because it is so close to my shoulder that they cannot immobilize it. So I have my arm in a sling and I can feel the ends of the fracture moving around in there and the pain is so terrible that it makes me vomit. But there is good news: it doesn't require surgery.
- Log in to post comments
More like this
Sweden is shaped like a ski, and people live mainly in the southern quarter, but in the other three-quarters there are many skiing resorts. I've been going there every few years since I was three. I'm not a competitive or particularly elegant down-hill skier, but I enjoy it and I can get down all…
Image: Orthopod.
I saw the orthopedic surgeon this morning and he said that my fracture does not need surgery. I asked to see the x-ray and here's what I saw; the proximal end (the "head") of the humerus was broken off, but still in proper alignment. I'd draw a picture for you, but don't have a…
Since I've been complaining about credulity in the media reporting on cancer this week, in particular the way local reporters Carol Robidoux and April Guilmet published articles that were nothing more than regurgitations of propaganda from Stanislaw Burzynski, I figured I might as well go all in…
Many are the bizarre, dubious, and downright crappy acupuncture studies that I’ve deconstructed over the years. Just type “acupuncture” into the search box of this blog, and you’ll soon see. (If that pulls up too many results, try typing “acupuncture” and “study” or “acupuncture” and “clinical…
Oh my, sympathies abound. The frau had her foot run over by a taxi and is going through a R01 renewal too. Which pain is worse is still under debate.
Ouch!
But at least no surgery bills.
So do tell. What caused the fall, hopefully not the bathroom floor still not being fixed; I'm hoping that your bathroom is now repaired.
Ouch, sounds bad.
Hope you get well soon!
If you can feel your bone ends instability, then the sling either application isn't correct or the right treatment. You shouldn't be in pain to the extent that you are vomiting, either. I hate to tell you, but you need to revisit the emergency department unless you have an orthopod's office/ cell contact number. There is risk of vascular and nerve damage/destruction, so it really can't wait.
I'm so sorry, Grrl. Contact me off list for my cell # if you'd like it. See if you can get a referral to the Hospital for Special Surgery which does the best work with troublesome and complex orthopedic problems.
Ouch! That sounds awful.
Oh, how awful! I'm sorry to hear it. Hopefully you're right handed? I've broken several bones and know the pain is terrible at first, but it usually gets better after a few days. Hang in there, and best of luck in treating it and healing!
I have broken more than a few bones (my collarbone is still displaced), and I want to implore you to heed the comment by Annie (#4). If things are moving, that is a Very Bad Thing as I understand it. You are one of my favorites; please take care of yourself.
Please take care of yourself and get better!
OUCH! Honestly, you've been having such a run of bad luck.
I agree with Annie and Anon. You need to get that thing looked at again and properly taken care of ASAP. If it keeps moving around, the best that can happen is that it will set itself crooked, and there's even a small chance of it "healing broken" - the broken ends could start to heal separately and not knit back together. Either way, you'd be in for surgery.
Hang in there. BTW, I'm loving all the pictures you're posting these days. I'm going to be really sad when you run out of subway critters. I can't believe the artist(s) and/or the museum didn't include plaque tiles identifying the various species.
Take care!
Oooh, horrible. Like everybody else is saying, have someone look at it again. If it's going to need surgery bills, then tell us how much it is. I've honestly little what sort sort of costs are involved, and we should be able to organise a whip-round for some spare cash.
I also hope you're only typing with your right hand.
Take care. Make yourself comfortable. Get in contact with Annie or somebody else who can put you in contact with the best options for fixing this. Let us know.
Please go see an orthopod. If the bone is moving then the sling isn't adequate treatment and if the bone heals twisted it can set you up for serious shoulder problems later. I recommend a big beanbag for sleeping on slightly propped up, you can nest into it and it supports you comfortably.
I'm late to the, ah, party(?), as usual, but nonetheless please let me also offer my sympathies.
Three years ago, I suffered something similar. I dislocated my right shoulder while simultaneously breaking the bone just below its head. They tried to fix things without surgery, but they couldn't re-seat the dislocation since there was nothing to pull on. So, they fixed my arm surgically, including using a steel plate to join the bone. I had told them I was going on an 18 hour flight less than four weeks later to get married, so they wanted to be sure.
I bring this up because the surgical option might not be so unpalatable. They hooked me up to a morphine dispenser for my two days in hospital, but I never once activated it. The injury was inconvenient, but not painful enough even to need aspirin in order to sleep. Even though it took several months for the break to return to normal density on an X-ray, I was able to wear a backpack, swim, and move around normally 5 weeks later.
Now, I live in Canada, so the choice of how to treat this is based solely on what the doctor thinks is best for the patient, and I have no idea what a surgical stay costs when not covered by insurance.
Get well soon! Hope the pain is not as bad anymore.
Best wishes from Peru :)