High-Octane

Bike crash today...broke my colarbone. I'll try to post details tomorrow. 

So I'm out for a while. I went the the Ortho Doctor today and there's not much he can do. He mentioned surgery but didn't recommend it. The collarbone is broken in a couple of places near the center. It's in alignment and should heal properly. I'm supposed to go back in in two weeks. In the meantime I ask if I could walk and he said yes. I take that as green light to go as fast as I can without causing additional pain. I'll probably start that in a couple of days.

    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. 

Had to post something so you guys won't forget about me!

My collarbone is still popping as the broken ends rub against each each other so I haven't been able to walk (exercise). I'm hoping within the next few days I'll be able to do something.

 Psalm 6:2

Below are the latest x-rays of my broken collarbone. Now I'm scheduled for surgery next Tuesday.

I'm not feeling good about how all of this has come down. When I went to the doctor on Monday, after the Saturday accident, he did not take any additional x-rays. Reviewing the x-rays he said "I don't recommend surgery on a break like this". In the x-ray it seemed the bone was somewhat in line but there was only one x-ray (angle). I told the doctor I wanted to do whatever was best to help it heal properly. I told him I was very active. (I feel like he didn't take me seriously. I'm sure his definition of active and mine are much different.) But he again said he would not recommend surgery.

Today they took the two new x-rays and as you can see the fractures are very much separated and broken in two places. As the doctor discussed the break he said "it seems to be more separated than the original x-ray showed but I would still not recommend surgery". I must have had a perplexed look on my face because I was also looking at the x-ray thinking, "man that thing looks bad"! The doctor then said something like, "well, what do you want to do, do you want to go ahead and plate it?" I again told him I just wanted it fixed the best way but that I'm not a doctor so I'm not sure what's best. Finally he said "well then, let's just go ahead and schedule you for surgery".  

Now I'm feeling really nervous and anxious about the whole thing. I am planning to go ahead with the surgery though. I believe the thing was always separated greatly and the only reason you couldn't see it on the first x-ray was because of the camera angle. (Why didn't he take any more x-rays two weeks ago?) I'm also upset because on the first visit, after we had talked and he had given his opinion, I asked about pain medication and he said "Do you think you need it?" Well $%#$@#% yes I do this thing really hurts! (I didn't really say @%$%^$.)

I was able to talk to my brother in law today (he is a pediatrician) and after looking at these x-rays said he would recommend surgery with a displacement that bad. 

The more pain the more I know I'm alive...that's why I like to run! 

Surgery Tomorrow Morning.

Surgery today to fix my broken collarbone. It was actually broken in three places and there were two floating bone chips that had to be removed. A plate was put on the collarbone and screwed in place. I go back to see the doctor on Friday for a check-up and hopefully get some more information about healing time, etc.

The doctor had to re-break the collarbone as it had already started to mend. It had overlapped itself about an inch or two so my left shoulder was not only dropped down a couple of inches but was also pulled into my body so I was about two inches narrower on the left side. Thankfully he got everything back in position and I now look normal again (at least my body frame:-).

I'm actually entering this entry on Thursday but wanted to enter it on the actual day of the surgery. Today I am feeling much better than even three weeks after the break. Before, every time I moved, I could feel the bones grinding and moving in my shoulder. I don't know how to describe it but it was just irritating. Now, even though I'm sore, when I move it does not grind and it feels like things are moving the way they should. I am so relieved to have this thing fixed properly!

One funny thing is I've gained 10 pounds since the operation :-) I've always wanted to be 170 lbs. but didn't know I had to break my collarbone to get there! Actually, I think, it's just swelling and water retainage. I've been drinking a lot of water to try and flush out my system.

Proverbs 17:22 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

I went to the doctor today for a check-up on my collarbone break. The doctor said he got it aligned very well but it was in 4 pieces (seems every time I talk to him the it's broken in more pieces). He aligned the two large bones but could not get screws into the smaller pieces. He said it should heal very well but because of all the fragments I should be very careful not to put any pressure on it for a while. I have another appointment in 4 weeks and at that point they will take another x-ray.

The doctor said I couldn't run for the 4 weeks. He does not think the jarring will be good for it and may break it loose. I pressed him and he kinda said it would be okay to walk. I will start walking when the major pain is gone and the incision is somewhat healed.

In the meantime, can you guys run a few extra miles for me? J

Ezekiel 37:6-8 

And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.