Today was the first day it was over 60 this spring - nearly 80 and windy. They ran out of water at the stops and for a while at the end - well, for $2 you could buy water from a vendor. In the past it was a free beer race, so those who run the race for that reason assumed it would be the same - but no, $3 a beer.
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| The above view of my left wrist was taken with my thumb up. It shows the 3 inch plate inserted in my wrist on 4/26. It looks like 7 screws are holding in to the bone. This plate will remain. |
As to the 3 of us running:
Jacob finished in 42:30 - he died the last mile. Susan - dnf - after 4 dizzy, stopped, taken to emergency room for iv (o.k. now) me - dns - while warming up I tripped on a curb. I put out my left hand to break the fall - 3 broken bones in the wrist. I have a temp cast but the emergency doc said I need surgery - a pin and a plate.
The hospital got a kick out of 2 family members being felled in one race. I was just happy Jacob decided to come so neither Susan nor I had to attempt driving home.
Monday, April 23: I went to my primary care doctor who referred me to a surgeon who then referred me to a head surgeon. I met with him and surgery is scheduked for Thursday.
Post to list on Thursday 4/26: Thanks so much for all the messages people sent me. I hope I can be the expert in the future when someone falls down, but it is pretty simple really - try to avoid it.
I am so out of it after the surgery and reading 100+ pieces of mail so I just hope I make sense.
I got to the hospital at 9:00 for 10:30 surgery. By 9:20 my surgeon is in the pre-op room saying lets get moving. I listen to several people telling me things and wanting me to sign papers saying I realize I may die or whatever. The anesthesiologist asks me if I want local or general. I spend about 5 minutes before deciding to get put out. I am very curious and would like to have watched but I also squirm around a lot.
I talk to my surgeon and ask about running, telling him I don't feel like running but as a runner I feel it is my duty to ask. He says we can waiti till my appointment on Wednesday but it will be a lot sooner if he doesn't have to place the 7 inch plate on the outside (he didn't).
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This view was taken with my hand palm side down. The 2 pins were needed to keep the joints in proper alignment. They will come out after 6 weeks, around June 6th. |
At 10:00 I get wheeled into the or and suddenly it is nearly 2:00. Something happened in there as I am very sore and have this big cast. The surgeon was long gone to another hospital but I was told I was in there for 3 hours and all seems well.
I stayed in the hospital till 5:30, probably because I was so groggy I could not stand.
I will wait till next week before asking about if the joints could all be rearranged 100%. I am on 3 medications and have been told not to go to school till next Thursday. If I twist my wrist too far in a clockwise direction I feel a sharp pain.
Post, Wednesday, May 2: I saw the surgeon this afternoon. The cast was removed, stitches taken out, x-rays taken, and a new cast put on.
The plate is on the underside of my wrist. It is weird looking in x-rays as it seems a few inches long, an inch (?) wide, but its "prongs" dig over a half inch into the "stuff that is inside the wrist."
There are also 2 pins near where the thumb meets the wrist. They will come out, either in 4 weeks. That might be done in the office, but I may have to go to the hospital.
I have been given permission to ride a stationary bike, but since I don't have one, I will just sit around. He thinks I can start running again in 2 - 2.5 weeks. He will tell me when he sees me 2 weeks from today.
I can go back to work on Monday.
Wednesday, May 16: I went to the surgeon today - 3 weeks (minus a day) since surgery. I got depressed looked at my wrist when the cast was removed. It hurt without the compression, especially along the outside. It also looked pathetic and I cannot straighten my arm (at the elbow) or bend my wrist backwards m
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| In this x-ray one can see the pin has moved to the left and both ends are under bone - more surgery is required to get it out |
I now have a splint on the bottom of my wrist. I have to call my primary care doc to arrange for 4 weeks (3 times a week) pt. They will make a removable cast.
I misunderstood when I thought the pins would come out today - I still have 3 weeks before they come out. That will be when I can start to run again (so I will miss about 40 days of running). I can do something like a stationary bike but I have desire to do that yet. Maybe I will feel like exercises when I get the removable cast.
Right now I am sore without support on the top of the wrist, but it is time to stop pampering it if I want to get "full" range of motion back.
Between May 18 an June 5: I went to physical therapy. They only worked on range of motion as the surgeon did not want any strength training till the pins came out. I had to answer, "How is your wrist doing?" perhaps a million times at work. I rode a stationary bike about a half hour a day.
One of the pins started bothering me near the end of May. It must have been near a nerve. If I moved my wrist or hand the wrong way I would get a shooting pain from wrist to thumb. I went to pt only once a week instead of three times.
Thursday, June 7: My comeback will be delayed just a bit. I went to the doctor's office last evening and told the nurse right off - I want the 2 pins out or I will cry like a baby till the doc removes them.
Many people who have had pins inserted were surprised when I told them that my 2 pins were below the skin. Usually, they stick out making removal easy. I don't know why mine were below the skin. Maybe it gave my delicate wrist more support while healing. Most people who break wrists don't require as much surgery as I had.
Anyway, the doc said he planned to remove the pins. He pressed my wrist to feel where the pins were. Sharp pain occurred when he "found" them. He gave me novocaine, made a cut, and then started exploring blindly with his pliers. To make a long story short, he was able to get one pin out after 10 minutes but not the other. He keep trying, shoving the pliers into the insertion and trying to grab the other one. After 40 minutes, he finally gave up and took an x-ray. The pin had moved to the left, completely into my bone, and expending into another bone. There wasn't anything sticking out for him to grab.
I now have to go to the hospital (no time set yet). He will numb my entire arm, make an incision on the other side of my wrist, cut a bit into the bone, and push the pin out till he can grab it from the other side - or something like that. Seems complicated.
On the positive side, the sharp nerve pain I was getting 10-12 times a day in my thumb was due to the pin that was removed. I don't have that anymore. :) Yeah!!! On the negative side, I can now pronate my wrist to the point where the other pin hurts.
I think I will wait till I have the other pin out or till Saturday, whichever comes first, to run.
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This was removed on June 6. The medical people call it a pin - I think it looks more like a nail |
Friday, June 8: I ran 4 miles after school. My hips, lower back, and inner thighs were very stiff and sore.
June 13: I had the remaining pin taken out. I have a slight infection.
June 15: Antibotic kicking in - no more fever
June 18: PT started me doing wrist curls and reverse wrist curls with a 3 pound weight.
July 19: The only sore spot is where the pins were pulled. PT is finished but I still have a ways to go to get back strength and full flexibility.