Surgical ward

orthodoc · 05-23-2013, 07:14 PM

My third son, who fractured his talus last weekend, had his surgery today. The news could have been worse, but it wasn't very good. He took a big chunk of cartilage off the top surface of the bone, but there wasn't enough bone on the underside of the dislodged piece to make it viable if the surgeon tried to pin it back on. So she had to remove it and leave a big defect in the joint surface. It's a little to the back of the weight-bearing area, which is good, but it will still articulate with the tibia whenever he plantar-flexes. It means guaranteed arthritis. He's only 23! Very very upsetting.

My son is in smallville with his dad. I'm having my final (I hope!) surgery tomorrow here in M'town, so I'll drive to the hospital for 5:30 am and check in. It's a five hour procedure so that'll give my husband time to make sure son #3 is all right in the morning, drive the 3 hours here, and pick me up. Then, as long as I'm not throwing up or otherwise unable to travel, we'll head back to smallville. There isn't anyone to stay with son #3.

And then, for the next week, we'll have a small surgical ward at our house! At least they've promised there will be no drains this time. Last fall I had four. For a month! And a fifth one after my second skin graft.

I never want to see a drain again.

Chocolatl · 05-23-2013, 07:33 PM

Good luck tomorrow, and lots of healing vibes to you and your son!

Clodfobble · 05-23-2013, 10:48 PM

Hope everything goes as smoothly as can be expected, ortho. Just remember, someday you'll look back on this time and think... "Well, thank fuck that's all over!"

footfootfoot · 05-24-2013, 07:07 AM

As a good friend of mine who spends far too much time at AA meetings reminds me, "No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse."

Here's to seeing them get better!

orthodoc · 05-24-2013, 10:54 PM

Thank you! Got through the surgery and all I can say is ow. Oww. Owwie. This is nastier than a mast with four drains. But - no drains. Win!

My son is doing much better today, thank goodness. Last night he was in agony. All of these bloody insurance companies that don't authorize a night in hospital after major surgery so that people can get parenteral pain meds - their CEOs should be forced to watch a family member in agony and be refused the means to relieve it.

limey · 05-25-2013, 01:30 AM

Glad things are moving forward to health for you both!

Sent by thought transference

05-23-2013, 07:14 PM	#1
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Surgical ward My third son, who fractured his talus last weekend, had his surgery today. The news could have been worse, but it wasn't very good. He took a big chunk of cartilage off the top surface of the bone, but there wasn't enough bone on the underside of the dislodged piece to make it viable if the surgeon tried to pin it back on. So she had to remove it and leave a big defect in the joint surface. It's a little to the back of the weight-bearing area, which is good, but it will still articulate with the tibia whenever he plantar-flexes. It means guaranteed arthritis. He's only 23! Very very upsetting. My son is in smallville with his dad. I'm having my final (I hope!) surgery tomorrow here in M'town, so I'll drive to the hospital for 5:30 am and check in. It's a five hour procedure so that'll give my husband time to make sure son #3 is all right in the morning, drive the 3 hours here, and pick me up. Then, as long as I'm not throwing up or otherwise unable to travel, we'll head back to smallville. There isn't anyone to stay with son #3. And then, for the next week, we'll have a small surgical ward at our house! At least they've promised there will be no drains this time. Last fall I had four. For a month! And a fifth one after my second skin graft. I never want to see a drain again. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

05-24-2013, 07:07 AM	#4
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	As a good friend of mine who spends far too much time at AA meetings reminds me, "No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse." Here's to seeing them get better! __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-24-2013, 10:54 PM	#5
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Thank you! Got through the surgery and all I can say is ow. Oww. Owwie. This is nastier than a mast with four drains. But - no drains. Win! My son is doing much better today, thank goodness. Last night he was in agony. All of these bloody insurance companies that don't authorize a night in hospital after major surgery so that people can get parenteral pain meds - their CEOs should be forced to watch a family member in agony and be refused the means to relieve it. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

05-25-2013, 01:30 AM	#6
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	Glad things are moving forward to health for you both! Sent by thought transference __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

05-23-2013, 07:33 PM	#2
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Good luck tomorrow, and lots of healing vibes to you and your son!

05-23-2013, 10:48 PM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Hope everything goes as smoothly as can be expected, ortho. Just remember, someday you'll look back on this time and think... "Well, thank fuck that's all over!" __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

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