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Post by kelabar on Aug 30, 2022 22:07:38 GMT -6
I have asked around but never got a really good answer. Has anyone broken a bone? What happened and more importantly how did it affect your capability. I am more interested in things that you couldn't do while healing and how you worked around them. Please no "I broke 84,000 bones and I'm tougher than anyone" tales, just aids, methods, ideas on working and living while healing.
Also pros and cons of plaster based immobilisation vs surgery and pins/screws to fix the bones. TIA.
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Post by drhenley on Aug 31, 2022 6:53:49 GMT -6
I broke my index finger on my right hand. I could not write with that hand, so I had to write left handed. The knuckle joint is still stiff after many decades. On my left hand I can curl my finger down to where it touches my palm. On my right hand it won't touch. They used my middle finger as a sort of splint.
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Post by twp on Aug 31, 2022 11:53:49 GMT -6
I broke my right femur (car accident) and had a flexible (walking) plaster cast for three months after six weeks in hospital traction. This was about 49 years ago. I also broke my right arm ulna and that wasn't discovered until I woke up in the hospital and complained about the arm pain... It was too late to reset the ulna and to this day I cannot twist my right hand (rotate) as far as I can with the left. Nothing which I cannot deal with.
The doctors told me that they would not put a metal pin in my femur because it would take up too much space which would have displaced the marrow (blood producing tissue). Even with a metal pin, I'd still have been placed in a plaster cast for the same length of time.
One problem with the plaster cast; I had to go back to work wearing the cast and after a month or so, the foot plaster began to crumble and put my full weight on the top of my foot. This was more painful than the broken bone. The Orthopedist gave me grief for breaking "his" cast... I had no sympathy for him.
Overall, it took me well over a year before I could run again. Insurance is a good thing...
I missed my college graduation ceremony while laying in the hospital (no great loss for me).
Given the choice, I would still go with the plaster cast and avoid the surgery needed to install a pin.
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