Extended break

[Scottietottie]

Hi

I'm still struggling to spend much time on my laptop. Sjogren's has not been uppermost in my mind recently. A broken arm has.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/Scottietottie/image.jpg[/img]]  This x-ray was taken on Thursday. As I broke my arm in August I was pretty disppointed that it wasn't looking better than that. I was told that I'm stuck in the humeral brace until at least Dec 27th.

There have been discussions in here about slow healing.  I wonder if that plays a part - or whether the doctor just messed up by not pinning it.
Anyhow - I'm sorry I have been away from Wednesday chats for so long but if I use my hand for long my arm aches.

It is getting better. I can actually tear toilet paper and butter toast again now!!

Take care - Scottie 

[Joe S.]

If slow bone healing is a problem related with Sjogren's, then that may be why my leg has been slow to heal.

Heal strong Scottie!

[lynnmarie219]

Hang in there Scottie...slowly but surely your arm is healing.... and I know it's much more slowly than you would like! 

[genko_b]

Oh Scottie - That x-ray looks ghastly! The docs haven't tried to bring the broken parts of that bone together more? Perhaps I don't understand what I'm looking at, but that doesn't look right to me. I feel for you.

Many many years ago when I was in graduate school I broke my right wrist attempting to ice skate - an "onion fracture," where the outer layer of bone on the ball joint somehow separated from the inner layer. After most of a term with my writing arm in a cast, the hospital docs removed the cast and sent me home. The wrist still hurt but I figured it was just weak.

I got home to find an urgent message from the hospital - the head radiologist had just looked at the films and determined the wrist had not healed right. I returned to the hospital where they re-fractured the wrist, re-set the bone, and installed me in another cast. I can still easily recall the pain from the procedure.

In the years before and since I have broken numerous bones that have taken their time to heal. I've had severe osteoporosis since my 40's but I've often wondered if the Sjogren's wasn't a factor. My rheumatologist says osteoporosis is more common in those of us with autoimmune issues. I imagine the body's immune system to be pre-occupied with other things, and not focused on healing bones.

Joe I hope your leg gets stronger soon as well.

Everyone take care,

Genko

[Scottietottie]

Your leg has been taking a while now too Joe!

I dislocated an elbow once and felt pretty disabled with that but it was my left arm. This has been a whole lot worse. Ee drops have been a nightmare and showering, drying and dressing. I've had to buy new clothes that will fit over a shoulder brace. At least I know I will end up with a working arm eventually. I'm very aware that many people these days are not so lucky.

Take care - Scottie

[Scottietottie]

Hi Genko

I suspect it might have healed up by now if they had pinned it. They said it was lined up enough not to.

I sincerely hope it doesn't have to be re-broken! I'll see how physio goes when I'm able to do it. I have a DEXA scan scheduled. I don't think I have osteoporosis though. I'm sorry to hear that you have had it for so long. This is the first bone I've broken apart from the top of my coccyx when I fell down stairs once. I didn't realise just how much they hurt!

Take care - Scottie

[Sleepy In Seattle]

  YOUCH!

I'm sorry this is dragging on and on...hopefully the docs know what they are doing. I broke a leg about 5 years ago and they had to put a plate and a bunch of screws in it - it was no fun...but the bone did heal beautifully. They told me not to take any anti-inflammatory drugs while it was healing because they impede bone knitting. This was all before I got really sick from the autoimmune stuff (I had some symptoms but nothing major before then). Pain from a bone break is so awful....I hope you are not in too much pain. 

[Scottietottie]

Now that is really interesting. I have been using paracetamol and Ibuprofen for pain relief and, of course, Ibuprofen is an NSAID. Have cut right back on them now though. The doctor knew that was what I was going to take. He suggested codeine but I said I couldn't cope with the effect it has on my moods.

Maybe the healing will be faster if I ditch the Ibuprofen. I was in a lot of pain. It is much more manageable now. It has reminded me that pain is relative .

Take care - Scottie

[Katybarstool]

Scottie

I'm sorry to hear you are still having problems with your arm. We don't realize how much we use them 'til we don't have full use of them, do we?

Sending you healing vibes and a hug.

Kathyx

[Sleepy In Seattle]

Yeah - I had never heard that before my leg break either. Most of my pain was from inflammation, of course, but it was a nasty spiral fracture (hard to heal) so they were pretty strict - no tylenol (paracetamol), ibuprofen, etc... - just narcotic pain relievers. I am allergic to codeine so they had me on oxycodone and oxycontin...I HATE narcotics (can't understand now anybody could get addicted to them - they're awful!) but the pain was so bad I didn't care. I took them as long as I had to, then got off as quickly as I could. If the pain flared up, I'd take half a tablet of oxycodone, but I did stay off the NSAIDS. Hard to believe they were worse for me than the narcotics, but I guess in this case it was true.

Here's an article from a reputable source that gives some info.... http://www.arthritis.org/nsaids-fracture-healing.php

[lighthouse33]

The orthopedic surgeon told my mom that it would take a year for her bone to heal from her broken hip.  Three months for the muscles to come back.  She and my dad both have osteoporosis.  I'm doomed by genetics!  LOL!  Now she has quit doing her exercises, told the home health nurse flat out she wasn't going to do them.  The physical therapists have quit coming.  So, I bet it's going to take longer than a year. 

Hope you are back to your old self soon, Scottietootie!

[mebog]

AAAAAA, Scottie,  So sorry to hear that.  I hope and pray it gets better soon.

[hootyhu1]

Scottie, so sorry to hear about your arm! I think any AI disease has an effect on our healing, our bodies can't figure out what to do/fix/or leave alone.  Feel better soon!-hootyhu

[slccom]

Scottie, I'm so sorry you are healing  so slowly. Have you considered getting Dragon software so you can speak rather than type? That would be much more comfortable for you.

At least you have an excuse to not host Thanksgiving!
Hugs, Sharon

[Joe S.]

Last years version of Dragon does not seem to work well with the forum for me. There seems to be some interaction that hangs my computer. The new version $80US direct from the company may have solved that issue.

A year to heal, that may be why I feel like it is taking so long. I have almost five months left to make a year.

I hope that it does not take you a year to heal Scotty.