Thursday, August 25, 2011

My Broken Wrist

So let me just re-cap how this all happened... (And let me just warn you, it may be a little graphic!)

~Slipped on wet tile floor in Havasu on Saturday (our first day there) while getting Kim a Hop, Skip, & Go Naked cocktail (or like Morgan says... a Hop, Skip, & Fall Down)
~Went to urgent care for x rays & they informed me that it was broken.


~Went to the orthopedic doctor in Havasu Monday morning. After looking at the x rays he recommended I have it reset because it wasn't perfectly lined up after the break and if I left it that way I could look at having problems with it down the road.  I was SO not prepared for something like that especially on vacation so he informed me that I had 2 weeks to do it, so if I decided to do it once we got back to Colorado I was still able to. He put me in a hard cast and off we went to enjoy the rest of our week in Havasu!


~I then called my dear client Carolyn whose son is the head orthopedic doctor for the Rockies. She gave me his number and I called to get in with the hand and wrist specialist in his office for as soon as we got home.
~I was able to get in Monday to see Dr. Kummer. They took off the hard cast and took new x rays. I didn't mention anything to her that the doctor in Havasu said. I wanted to see what she had to say and get her opinion. Well, she said the same thing he did. So as much as I was not wanting surgery it made me feel better that they both recommended me do the same thing. She informed me that it was something I didn't have to do but with what I do for a living and as much as I use my hands she HIGHLY recommended me to have it reset. So she explained the whole process. It would be an out patient surgery that I would be put under for. Its called a closed reduction because no incision is made. Then there would be 2-4 pins put in to keep it in place during the healing time. And, OH MY GOSH, I got the ebby gebbys thinking she had to re-break and then the thought of having pins in my bone coming out of my skin... And then she informed me that 2 weeks after surgery I was going to have to clean the pins twice a day. Oh it was a bit overwhelming! But I knew it had to be done. So I scheduled surgery for thursday.
~So Thursday morning came and Morgan brought me to the surgery center. I must say, I was a little nervous! Morgan was so great though! He stayed by my side till they put me under and brought in to the operating room. And then as soon as I woke up and was in recovery he was back and ready to take care of me. I was in pain but thank goodness for the pain pills. So for 2 weeks I was in a soft cast and I just took it easy and really didn't do much. And let me just say, it was quit depressing!


~2 weeks after surgery was my post op appointment where they took the soft cast off, re x rayed it, showed me how to clean the pins, put me in a hard splint, & saw the therapist who gave me some exercises to start doing with my fingers. I was a little nervous to see the pins for the first time cause I wasn't sure what to expect. It was definitely pretty crazy to see metal coming out of my skin.



~So I'm 3 weeks since surgery now and I am counting down the days to get these pins out. And then therapy begins!
~I will update this as things progress. I am a little nervous about getting the pins pulled out but several people have assured me that it's not that bad! We'll see!

1 comment:

  1. Has your wrist totally healed or have you still got pain?Hope you feel better.

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