Wednesday, September 23, 2009

dem bones


The ice cream, as the orthopedic guy so colorfully put it, is halfway off the cone.

A little over two weeks in the sling and all for nothing - mom needs surgery. I'm going to lobby hard for a entire joint replacement instead of them patching things together with plates and screws and hoping for the best. Better living through technology, I say.

So we'll have two bionic women in the family - what of it?

17 comments:

Robb Allen said...

Ugh.

As someone going through some similar osteo-type issues, I'm starting to dislike bones almost as much as I do pants.

Hope things work out for her.

Quigley said...

Look at it this way.

After they make her better, stronger, and faster, she will be able to leap up onto high ledges in slow motion...even though it appears that she is leaping backwards off the ledge and the film has been reversed...and she will be able to fling objects way off into the distance while making a cool "funn na na na na" sound...

Okay, okay, I watched way too much of the $6 Mil Man and Bionic Woman as a kid. Just don't let them turn her into a fembot. hehe.

Joanna said...

To quote a get-well card I saw once: Tell her to hurry up and get well. I want to see the two of you pick up a car. ;-P

Tango Juliet said...

Better clear it with Team Obama first.

:)

Ken said...

So we'll have two bionic women in the family - what of it?

Resistance is fallacious.

Mike W. said...

I'm going to agree with the joint replacement route.

Orthopedic surgeons can do great stuff, but much of what they do is a calculated guessing game.

You've also got the issue of your mom's age and screws/plates etc. might not work well with more brittle bones.

Good luck to you and Mom Fallacy.

drjim said...

OUCH!
man, that hurts just looking at it.
I wish you and your Mom all the best for a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

I do hope this is as easy as possible for you and your mom.

Jim

Smart Dogs said...

Ouch. Sending good thoughts your mom's way.

I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder 6 freaking months ago and as of about 2 weeks ago I *finally* have something approaching normal use of my right arm. (in a couple of months I *get* to have the other one done too - yay...er, gag)

Shoulders suck. The a*hole that invented them had to have been the evil one 'cause when you bung up your shoulder you're in for a good (oops, bad) year of pain, inconvenience and rehab.

Based on my experience - FIND THE BEST GODDAMN ORTHOPOD YOU CAN and deal with him/her and only him/her. Leave the GP/family doctor/etc out of it. Even if you have to kick in a big fat co-pay.

This is her body. Find the person that will get it fixed right the first time. Be picky. Be VERY picky.

Also shop around for physical therapists. They were not all created equal either and a good physical therapist is worth every bit as much as a good surgeon.

Yuri Orlov said...

You and your mom have my deepest empathies and well wishes. *hugs*

Borepatch said...

Best of luck to her, Breda. Dad got a new shoulder, and all it did was take 3 or 4 MPH off of his fastball ...

OrangeNeck said...

Oh man, that sucks. I'm sending all the best to her (and you) and praying for a speedy recovery.

Roberta X said...

Ow. Hugs to all. And I'd think replace, too. We need more bionic women!

On a Wing and a Whim said...

As someone with five shoulder dislocations and interesting complications, I highly echo Smart Dogs' advice - a good PT is worth their weight in gold-pressed latinum.

I hope for the smoothest, fullest recovery possible, and know she'll get an extra 10% on top of that by sheer determination alone!

P.S. If they're bribable with mochas or lattes, give them the bribe after the session, not before, or you'll get the caffeine-fueled thumbs of titanium hurting you for your own good... don't ask how I know...

phlegmfatale said...

After 22 years of joint problems and multilple surgeries, my brother finally had his hip replaced at 34. Was a good move. All the best to yer ma, and here's to avoiding the misery of half-measures.

Christina RN LMT said...

OUCH!

I hope everything works out beautifully, and FAST, for your Mom!

My best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

NotClauswitz said...

They do that complete repalcement stuff to shoulders?? I kinda figure that, with all the axial suspension stuff going on and the arrangement of connections in there, it precluded bionics - it's a lot more complicated than a knee anyhow. At least the sling held the floating parts together.
When my grandma was hit by a truck in Texas the local Hospital put her in double leg casts that were unnecessary.