Broken Bones: What Do I Need To Know?

[mythusmage]

"

Joe, you look your mom straight in the eye and you tell her, "Woman, after all those years of making me eat crap you knew I loathed, I'm now getting my revenge.

"Off your butt, lady, we're going for a walk!"

If she tries the "But I'm your mother." gambit on you, tell her in return, "That's why I'm doing it."

Be cruel, be nasty, delight in the pain. Triple her clothing budget! (Quadruple if she loses weight.) Get her out of the house and lengthen her stay in the world. (Now that's revenge.)

And when she's kvetching up a storm tell her, "You're going to live even if it kills you."

 

[Nellisir]

Good lcuk. My mother-in-law broke her ankle/leg this summer, and I spent awhile at her place this summer taking care of her (groceries, etc). On the bright side, she was up and walking far, far, far faster than I or my wife expected, so maybe you'll luck out too (my mother-in-law is 75).

 

[Shadeus]

It sounds like she is a very independent woman. She will learn to do things with one arm; you always adapt. I've broken five finger, my hand, my knee, and my ankle (soccer player, rough sport); you learn to adapt.

Diaglo is probably right on with the healing time. I was thinking 8 weeks, but he would have a better estimate.

Best of luck.

 

[JoeGKushner]

The arm is holding so far.

Bad news is that it was 'crushed' according to the doctor and will probably require some surgery and that there will be complications due to the arthretis

Can't give an estimate on healing time yet and she'll have to go to the therapists every week for monitoring by X-Ray. Have to find a day to do it where I don't have to miss work. I don't make enough to be missing that much work unfortunatly.

 

[diaglo]

yup surgery is gonna make things more complicated. i'm only guessing here. but it sounds like she will have some pins put in. which look nasty when you finally get a chance to clean/wash the area. they will tell you all about infections and what to look for and avoid too. they may even have her take some prophylactics (antibiotics). make sure she completes the full course and takes them on time and as instructed (with food or before bed or whatever it says)

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well the good news is that the arm is still holding. Just up there Tuesday.

The 'interesting' news is that she might not need surgery at all. The doctor wants to wait and see how it comes along and how impeded she'll be and mentioned that the type of surgery he was thinking of was 'mostly' cosmetic.

 

[megamania]

As a diabetic- Once this is over don't go easy on her about her diet and excercise. Keep at it. She won't admit it, but she'll feel better and have more energy for it.

 

[jaerdaph]

Don't forget about calcium sources and supplements. Very important for keeping bones strong, especially women as they get older.

 

[Rel]

I didn't see it mentioned so I'm guessing it isn't a factor but if she smokes that will vastly increase the healing time for a broken bone.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Doctor says the arm is holding steady and that he'll be able to give her a new cast next week. The original one was covering almost her whole hand and past her elbow. The new one should be covering just the forearm itself.

She gave up smoking about... ten years ago. Had a (baby) heart attack and stopped cold turkey. Still not having a lot of luck getting her to exercise though. She's a very stubborn woman.