Arm injury update #3...News not good...in need of advice

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softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
I was at the bone doctor with my dad and my brother and figure I'd update you guys. I had my cast off. Two thoughts came through my mind. One, how quickly my arm shrunk...and from what I'm told it'll shrink some more. Two was just how much my arm stunk from being in there. But anyhow, after my cast was taken off, I was wheelchaired down to imagery to have x-rays taken and a MRI taken of the arm. We went down to Starbucks in the hospital and went back up to my exam room. We waited for the doctor to get the scans and read them. When the doctor came in, she shook my dad, my brother's and my hand. She told us that she looked over the picture and it does not look like my arm is healing the way they would like it to. She is recommending I undergo surgery to have two plates and screws installed in my arm. I asked if surgery could be avoided. She thinks I could go without it...but that spot would always be weaker than the rest of my arm and that I could be more prone to osteo-arthritis. So my options are having the surgery and it healing right or just having it casted and be open to having future problems. So I ask this...should I...

One...just have the surgery done. Start the healing over again and miss field hockey season?

Two...make an appointment with the specialist in Philadelphia and get a second opinion on the arm. If she says I need surgery...get it done there?

Three...just have it casted and risk further problems when I'm in my 40's or later?
 
Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
Being young it's hard to imagine a life time of pain and discomfort. With life expectancy above 80 you are talking about living 1/2 your life that way. As an middle aged person with those pains I'd lean towards getting it fixed. AS for actual medical advice, I don't know of any posting Drs. There may be some but they don't identify so defer to your Doctors for advice.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
Being young it's hard to imagine a life time of pain and discomfort. With life expectancy above 80 you are talking about living 1/2 your life that way. As an middle aged person with those pains I'd lean towards getting it fixed. AS for actual medical advice, I don't know of any posting Drs. There may be some but they don't identify so defer to your Doctors for advice.

I don't like the idea of just letting it go and heal in a cast if it means the injury never heals right or I'm going to have problems for half my life. Heck who knows...it's not plausible...but I could picture me trying to have to throw a ball hard and fast to get a runner at second and the bone breaking again.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
As someone in the second half of an 80+ expected life-cycle, I vote strongly towards getting things fixed right the first time. Being able to be active with my kids is a big deal. Getting a second opinion is a worthwhile effort, but the intent should be in helping to determine the right fix, not the fastest fix.

My 2 cents...
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
For surgery I do like a 2nd opinion.

Would you do option 1 and have it done by our local specialist, or option 2 and get a second opinion from the other orthopedist in Philadelphia? I didn't state it in my original post...but I'm opting to have the surgery. Ultimately though it's up to my parents.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
As someone in the second half of an 80+ expected life-cycle, I vote strongly towards getting things fixed right the first time. Being able to be active with my kids is a big deal. Getting a second opinion is a worthwhile effort, but the intent should be in helping to determine the right fix, not the fastest fix.

My 2 cents...

I agree with you. I'm very active and the thought of having problems in the second half of my life isn't something I want to do. I am scared to have the surgery done...but I think it would be the best option. But it's ultimately my parents decision.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
I would always, always get a 2nd opinion if the treatment recommendation is major. My dad told me a kind of semi-joke once:

What do you call the guy who finished last in his medical school last?
Answer: Doctor.

So yeah. Get a second opinion. As a 40 year old, I will suggest that though it may be hard to accept it now, you really don't want to do things that will make life harder or more painful when you're older. I'm so sorry it seems to be going this way but you should, IMO, look at the big picture, whatever that may be. Surgery is definitely scary so I don't blame you for how you feel.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
I would always, always get a 2nd opinion if the treatment recommendation is major. My dad told me a kind of semi-joke once:

What do you call the guy who finished last in his medical school last?
Answer: Doctor.

So yeah. Get a second opinion. As a 40 year old, I will suggest that though it may be hard to accept it now, you really don't want to do things that will make life harder or more painful when you're older. I'm so sorry it seems to be going this way but you should, IMO, look at the big picture, whatever that may be. Surgery is definitely scary so I don't blame you for how you feel.

Thank you for your advice. Speaking as a teen...we don't have a good track record of taking advice from adults. The ball as far as where we go from here is in the court of my parents. But if left up to me...I'd go ahead and have the operation. Yes, it's going to suck to be in a cast that I can't get wet. Meaning no showers and no swimming. But as much as that thought sucks...I'd rather lose a summer of fun than have pain for the last half of my life possibly. But I'm scared to have the surgery as I've never had to go under the knife to the best of my knowledge. What's it like to be operated on and having to have surgery?
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
It's scarier in theory than reality. I've only had minor surgeries (wisdom teeth out for example). But they put in an IV and tell you to count backwards from 100. You get to about 98 and the next thing you know you're waking up in recovery. You literally remember nothing, it's like a very, very deep sleep with no dreams. Then, done. So once you're through it you realize you were scared for no good reason, but if I had to do it again I'd still be nervous even knowing that! Just human nature :)
 

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