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: [email protected] 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 <[email protected]> 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
