Broken Arm Again - 3rd Time the Charm?

[tribdog]

The source of payment for care doesn't prevent the incompetents from opening a practice. Unfortunately, it is part of why health care costs increase, because the incompetents are the ones driving up the malpractice insurance costs.

I don't think it is the incompetents driving up the malpractice insurance costs as much as it is the courts awarding millions of dollars to a bunch of sue-happy crybabies. Doctors do an amazing job 99.9% of the time and don't deserve to be sued for honest mistakes. I can't do anything perfectly 99.9% of the time. I'll bet I have to retie my shoelaces at least 2 or 3% of the time. I was brought up taught not to blame someone who makes a mistake as long as it was an honest mistake. If doctor's didn't get sued over so many stupid things and didn't have to pay insurance costs then health care cost would go down, doctor's salaries would go up and more competent people would become doctor's. The incompetents would be weeded out by the market.

 

[mgb_phys]

Not sure how it works in Canada, haven't had to use any here.
In the UK they introduced walk in clinics to try and deal with a shortage of GPs (family doctors) but they are still operated/staffed by the national health service. They are just quicker because you are triaged by a nurse and then a doctor looks in on you if needed.

The is also a nurse staffed helpline as an alternative to calling 911 for minor problems, it received a lot of bad press because to avoid litigation they went through a long prescribed script/disclaimer before any answer - this famously involved asking 80year old women if they might be pregnant or injecting illegal drugs.

Suing the NHS has become very popular now that no-fee lawyers are allowed, they are seen as a soft touch since being 'for the people' they didn't defend themselves as strenuously as a business might. They amount paid out though is still hugely less than in the USA.

 

[Evo]

Exactly how I don't want my health care system to run. Anyone and everyone can get help here.

I had to go see the doctor today and only waited like 15 minutes. Long wait times only exist in busy hospitals, which would happen anywhere in the world.

There are no wait times. It was me, him and a wife that brought in her husband. I was sitting in the waiting room waiting for my daughter to pick me up, she had left so she wouldn't have to wait, I told her I'd only be about 30 minutes (x-rays and doctor consultation).

The guy that wasn't feeling well was sitting in the waiting troom after he was done waiting for his wife to pick him up since he was too dizzy to drive (he was also finished in less then 30 minutes). The wife and husband were waiting for results from his blood tests.

 

[~christina~]

I hope you'll be fine. By now I'd think you'd have a body chart and x's on the parts that have broken before.

Are your bones weak? (It's odd to break things whenever you fall)

Which type of fracture is it? =>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1096.htm multiple choice

I think the only time that I had close to a remotely stunning fall was that time that I posted it on PF and luckily, I was in my puffy down jacket that cushioned my top half of my body. I had a rip on jeans since my knees did most of the sliding. I don't know how I slid across concrete. (ah, it was raining)

 

[Evo]

No, I keep re-breaking the same place because they have never set it properly and it's weakened.

 

[~christina~]

No, I keep re-breaking the same place because they have never set it properly and it's weakened.

That's bad..so I assume that this is the same arm that broke the last time, when you tripped over a barbell?

 

[Evo]

That's bad..so I assume that this is the same arm that broke the last time, when you tripped over a barbell?

No, from what little the doctor told me today, it's my humerus which would explain my lack of humor at this point. Apparently it is also pinching a nerve and/or cutting off blood supply to the rest of my arm as I have numbness and swelling from above my elbow down to my wrist. They got me an emergency appointment at an orthopedic surgeon Monday morning, but if it feels worse tomorrow, I am going to the emergency room.

The Evo Child and I tried to find a pharmacy with a sling that straps the arm to the body since the doctors's office was out, they told me to go buy one. Seems that no one has them in stock. I guess I should buy some duct tape and tape my arm across my upper abdomen.

GREG IS STILL MOVING THE SMILIES!

 

[berkeman]

No, no duct tape -- that's for us professionals!

Here's directions on making an arm sling:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-an-arm-sling

You can use any fabric material -- I made my spare triangular bandages out of an old sheet (cut it into medium-size rectangles).

Numbness is bad. Are you icing your upper arm near the break? Try that, and see if that helps. I'd say to use a compression bandage as Moonbear suggested earlier, but it may be too late for that now, and may just aggravate the numbness and poor circulation at this point. If the swelling is causing the numbness, then ice and elevation (lay down) will hopefully help enough to get you through the weekend.

If your lower arm and hand stay numb or start to go blue, head to the ER please.

 

[berkeman]

No, from what little the doctor told me today, it's my humerus which would explain my lack of humor at this point.

OMG, I'd say you still have at least a sense of humor!

 

[Moonbear]

No, from what little the doctor told me today, it's my humerus which would explain my lack of humor at this point. Apparently it is also pinching a nerve and/or cutting off blood supply to the rest of my arm as I have numbness and swelling from above my elbow down to my wrist. They got me an emergency appointment at an orthopedic surgeon Monday morning, but if it feels worse tomorrow, I am going to the emergency room.

Uh oh! That's a really common fracture location for the type of fall you described, and yes, it can impinge upon the blood supply to the forearm and hand. It presses into the brachial artery, and if it's close to the elbow, there's not much collateral circulation to the rest of the arm to make up for it (higher up the humerus closer to the shoulder, there's collateral circulation so if you pinch off an artery, you still get blood supply to the forearm and hand, though you can lose some to the upper arm muscles). If I was on my own computer right now, I could send you pictures of the bone and the place where the fractures occur (I'll be giving lectures on that in two weeks).

And, absolutely, if it gets worse, go to the ER. You don't want to chance that the broken bone cuts the artery.

 

[Evo]

Yes, the fracture is right above the elbow.

I want you as my doctor! They probably killed the poor guy that broke his foot.

They made me drive over to the urgent care clinic to get a copy of my x-rays and radiologist report and when I got to my doctor, he already had the report and they swore he would not have it, even though they are the same business.

I still want to know what made him say "wow, this is really interesting" when he read the report. I thought he'd tell me since we sing together in my visits. I forgot to ask.

 

[Moonbear]

Yes, the fracture is right above the elbow.

I want you as my doctor! They probably killed the poor guy that broke his foot.

I'm afraid I'm not licensed to actually practice medicine, I can only teach other people how to do it. I hope the people with that other guy had the sense to take him to an ER when they sent him home from urgent care. They can do a lot for stroke victims nowadays, but they have to get treatment quickly. If it's delayed, the damage is so much worse and some of the neuroprotective drugs they can give to prevent permanent damage won't work if treatment isn't within a very short window of time (I think it's 4 hours maximum).

 

[GeorginaS]

Where did you ask about doctor malpractise insurance in Canada, Moonbear? I have an answer for you and I can't find where I'm supposed to answer you. Maybe I'll just message you. How's that?

 

[Tsu]

...neuroprotective drugs they can give to prevent permanent damage won't work if treatment isn't within a very short window of time (I think it's 4 hours maximum).

3 hours

Geez, Sis - with that kind of fracture, how the hell are you even typing?

 

[Borek]

Geez, Sis - with that kind of fracture, how the hell are you even typing?

Aren't Sisters supposed to be tough as nails?

 

[Evo]

I fell and ended up spending several hours in the emergency room last night.

It appears I may have broken the left broken arm in a different place or really screwed it up, and broke my right hand. My right hand is in a cast from my fingers to my elbow. I have one finger I can type with. I can't move my left arm higher than my waist. So to pick things up or get food into my mouth, I have to use the fore & middle finger on my right hand like pincers to get pills and food in my mouth. I have to bend my face down to drink from a cup with a straw.

Last night The Evo Child opened all of my pill containers and laid my pills out, and put opened containers of food in the fridge so I can pull pieces of food out with my two fingers.

The doctor said I might have cracked my tale bone, but that's just going to hurt until it heals.

Here's the right arm.

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6057/camerapictures417qh2.jpg

 

[turbo]

Oh Man! What are you doing to yourself? Are you having blackout spells? Such frequent falling points to something more serious than clumsiness. I'm worried about you.

 

[Kurdt]

Evo you are unbelievable! I really hope you get better and stop having horrible accidents. *works quicker on duvet motorcycle suits*

 

[berkeman]

Oh Man! What are you doing to yourself? Are you having blackout spells? Such frequent falling points to something more serious than clumsiness. I'm worried about you.

In an effort to save Evo some typing...

There has been a water line break problem at Evo's apartment complex, which resulted in a slippery, slimy area that caused the fall. Heal soon, Evo!

 

[Evo]

In an effort to save Evo some typing...

There has been a water line break problem at Evo's apartment complex, which resulted in a slippery, slimy area that caused the fall. Heal soon, Evo!

Thanks Berkeman!

I have to protect my one typing finger.

 

[Math Is Hard]

oh, good heavens! By next week you'll be typing wiith your nose if this keeps up.
Get well soon!

 

[JasonRox]

Man, it's truly unbelievable.

The doctor is seriously going to be like...

"Evo is here. Get the usual."

 

[Lisa!]

I just had the time to read the OP and it says that Evo's broken her arm again! I'm so sorry to hear that and hope it gets well soon!
Anyway I think a broken arm would be better than a broken heart!

 

[Andre]

Worrysome, How terrible unlucky. Hope you get help and get well soon.

 

[mgb_phys]

Could the forum sw have a box showing time since last evo accident?
Get well soon.

 

[Redbelly98]

I just had the time to read the OP and it says that Evo's broken her arm again!

If you only read the OP, here is some news. She has broken her arm again, again. And broken the other arm as well.

Evo, do I have that right? Wow, what a string of bad luck. Hope things heal up reasonably soon!

Mark

 

[Moonbear]

It's a good thing you don't have a husband or boyfriend...with this many breaks in such a short time, they'd be throwing the poor guy in jail on suspicion of abuse!

That's it, you're not allowed to walk anywhere. If you can't get somewhere by crawling on your belly, you're not allowed to go.

 

[Moonbear]

If you only read the OP, here is some news. She has broken her arm again, again. And broken the other arm as well.

Evo, do I have that right? Wow, what a string of bad luck. Hope things heal up reasonably soon!

Mark

Well, more like one arm thrice, and one hand once.

 

[Evo]

It's a good thing you don't have a husband or boyfriend...with this many breaks in such a short time, they'd be throwing the poor guy in jail on suspicion of abuse!

Yeah, at the emergency room they always take you away from the person you are with and ask if there is any abuse. I told them, just from my cat.

 

[turbo]

It's a good thing you don't have a husband or boyfriend...with this many breaks in such a short time, they'd be throwing the poor guy in jail on suspicion of abuse!

That's it, you're not allowed to walk anywhere. If you can't get somewhere by crawling on your belly, you're not allowed to go.

I never thought of that! Surely, doctors would get pretty darned suspicious of all of the injuries. If a child came in repeatedly with broken bones, I would condemn any doctor that did not file reports of suspicion of abuse.