News and Views From my kids accomplishments, to my heretical perspective of the world

Went back to see the physician (actually the PA) after my surgery.

Looks good. I can start to use my arm outside the sling for very light activities (nothing heavier than a remote control, mouse or fork). That’s a big improvement! He still recommends that I sleep in a recliner, though I can try a bed if I want.

He showed on the original x-ray how one broken end of the bone was very near, and almost punctured, my lung. I’m glad that didn’t happen!

No pain anymore, just an occasional little ache that acetaminophen easily covers.

Come back in two weeks, and then start some physical therapy. 7 weeks till near normalcy, 11 or so to sports.

Surgery went well yesterday, though about two hours behind schedule. We got home about 5:00pm.

I had a total nerve block on the right shoulder from neck to finger tips. My arm was literally like a numb, wet noodle, just lying there in the sling. The greatest force of concentration could not get the slightest motion from finger, wrist or elbow.

I slept pretty well in a recliner. The doctor warned me to take pain pills before I went to bed in case the block wore off in the night. It didn’t. This morning when I got up it was still numb, but I was able to move the fingers slightly.

By mid-day full feeling was pretty much back, and it hurt. Two 7.5 Percocets cut the edge, but it was still there.

Now this evening it feels quite a bit better, but I think it’s about time for another pain pill.

Here’s an x-ray taken while I was still in the OR.

Doc says about 4 weeks in the sling and about 12 weeks to resume sports. There may be some physical therapy in there to ensure I maintain full range of motion and don’t lose strength.

I asked him if the plate on top of my collarbone is going to bother me when backpacking. He said for some it does, for others not. But if it does it’s a simple procedure to remove the plate once the bone has set. We’ll see.

I’m all set for Tuesday mid-day surgery. How come it’s always nothing to eat or drink after midnight, whether your surgery is at 6:00am or 4:00pm? They are obviously trying to have one simple set of instructions instead of trusting people to be able to calculate time differences.

So here’s what’s going to happen. First, a sample xray of a similar break to mine (I don’t have my own xrays for any of these so I found some similar ones on the web)

You have to imagine that you’re seeing this from behind, since it’s my right shoulder. This is similar to the xray I saw in the surgeon’s office. There is no way these bones are going to grow back together, and even if they did it would be a strange non-functional arrangement!

Here’s a picture of a similar plate that gets screwed into the bones after they are lined up:

And here’s an xray taken after someone has had the procedure done, and I hope what mine looks like in a few days:

There is an alternative procedure that is sometimes done that involves drilling out the center of the bones and inserting a metal rod, similar to what Dale has in his leg. It can sometimes be done arthroscopically, which is a lot less invasive and leaves much smaller scars. My procedure will involve an incision longer than the plate, but fortunately there are no muscles and very little tissue to be cut, as you can tell by feeling of your own collar bone — it is right under the skin. One problem with the “intermedullary” rod approach is that the round rod does not prevent the bones from rotating before they set. Also, the rod is usually removed after the bone has set, involving more surgery. All things considered the plate approach is still the predominant method and the one my doctor chose for me. The doctor did tell me that the plate is not made of adamantium, so I won’t be like the Wolverine.

I’m still hurting much more from the broken rib than the shoulder. Since they are on opposite sides, I’m feeling pretty crippled. Two nights ago Gisele had to help me out of bed so I could go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I’ve discovered a method of sliding out of bed onto my butt on the floor and standing up from there, so at least I am able to get up by myself. But it hurts and I’ll be glad when the rib heals. I’m probably going to go through a very unpleasant few days right after surgery when both sides will be very painful. I hope I don’t get addicted to the pain pills…