i hate it when trial and error has that effect
--- On Mon, 1/3/11, bobby jim <elbobber...@earthlink.net> wrote:
From: bobby jim <elbobber...@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [TMIC] CINDY MCLEROY
To: "James Berg" <molokai...@gmail.com>, "JOAN FINK" <mafi...@yahoo.com>
Cc: tmic-list@eskimo.com
Date: Monday, January 3, 2011, 4:48 PM
Back in 1956 I broke my right arm in three places. Two compound fractures
below the elbow and one above. The ortho decided to put a rod up above the
elbow. It was made out of platinum and after a year, the doc wanted it back,
to 'use on the next victim'.....;>) It was so long ago I remember little but
I do recall that every time I rode an electric trolley, I'd get a small shock
when I touched the metal hand bars.
BobbyJim
From: James Berg To: JOAN FINK Cc: tmic-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 15:01
Subject: Re: [TMIC] CINDY MCLEROY
NOT FOR THE SQUEEMISH!
For those of you who do not know what Cindy is going through, I had a double
break of the femur in 1987 and was given a choice of a nail (rod) or a cast.
With the rod they can make your leg the exact correct length. With a cast,
probably not which means a limp for life. They drilled a hole through the bone
in the lower leg to install a 1/4" by 5" metal shaft to hook up the traction
ropes to stretch out the leg to the proper length as the tendons and ligaments
pulled tight after the break. After a week, surgery. They dislocated my hip
to insert the rod or nail into the center of the femur where the bone marrow
is. The nail is 18" long and 5/8" diameter, hollow with a slit down the entire
length,( mine is stainless steel) and has to be preshaped to the curve of the
leg. It's called a nail because they pound it in. Mine didn't fit and they
had to make another one so the surgery lasted 12 hours. With my leg broken in
3 pieces, they put 6
--2 1/2" screws to hold the pieces in place. Over a few months the screws are
removed. After a year or so they want to remove the nail. I decided to keep
mine in rather than go through the trauma of the removal.
It was over a year after surgery before I was able to walk without crutches and
it was a year later when I got my first infection. Apparently the Nail can
move once the screws are out and after a hiking trip the rubbing caused an
infection. It was very painful but after two weeks of anti-biotics I got over
it. I had two more infections after that but none for about 6 years. I am
happy that I went with the nail rather than a cast as I could walk and run just
fine until the TM onset.
Cindy, I hope they keep you stoned as much as you want because I know the pain
you have been through and understand what is in front of you yet. I just want
our people to understand that it is easy to say "they put in a rod and they
took it out" but it is so much more than that. I feel your pain.
God Bless You
Jim
On Sun, Jan 2, 2011 at 7:59 PM, JOAN FINK <mafi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR. THE ROD IN HER FEMUR HAD TO BE REMOVED
AND THE DR. FELT THEY WERE AHEAD OF THE INFECTION. SHE HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO
A REHAB FACILITY NEAR ST. JUDE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME....... WILL LET THE
LIST KNOW MORE AS IT HAPPENS.
SHE DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HER COMPUTER/E-MAIL. I HAVE READ HER ALL MESSAGES
SENT TO ME FULL OF YOUR WELL-WISHES AND PRAYERS. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT
ANY TIME.
A FELLOW TM'ER SINCE 2000
JOAN FINK
