Broken Finger

Remember how I broke my wrist about 20 month ago?  This time I broke my finger. Yep, playing hockey, again.

This one is not as bad, I did not skate into a goal post or anything.  I just happened to be blocking a shot.  The puck hit me right on the fingers, essentially smashing my finger between the pick and my stick.  I shoot left, so the fingers on my left hand are more 'exposed'.  And yes, I was wearing a glove.  I guess the shot was hard enough, or just hit the perfect spot, to smash my finger.

Taken about nine hours after initial impact

My fourth finger took the most of the impact, the fifth finger also sustained minor bruising.  Oh, this happened in the first game of a double header that day.  I still played the second game, but never got a shot on goal as there was discomfort...pain...in that area.

That was 9 June 2012.  I watched the bruise form and fingers swell up.  Did not think anything of it at first.  A week went by, bruising and swelling went down...yet the pain and discomfort was still there.  I kinda had a feeling it was broken, but since I could move the joint, I just ignored it.  Besides I had a DeLorean Convention to go to the next weekend.

A doctor's appointment was scheduled when we got back from Orlando.  The appointment was not until Monday.  So naturally, I played the game on Saturday, 23 June.  Why not?  Hey, I even scored two amazing goals, including the game winner.

Yesterday, I go see the same doctor, Dr. Steven Shin at Kerlan Jobe, that repaired my wrist.  They already have my record on file and I know the doctor.  Results, broken finger...achievement unlocked!

Broken fourth finger, at the tip

Luckily, the impact was at the very tip of my fingers.  If it had hit the joint, I would have needed surgery to repair joint damage.  But if I was going to be cut open, I was at the right place as they service all the professional sports teams in the Los Angeles area.

Dr. Shin tells me there was nothing they could do about the break.  I knew that, not like they would put a cast on just the tip.  He even cleared me to play hockey.  I just need to tape it up, which I did last game, so there is some support for the finger.  I can feel the bone move when I bend my finger.  I guess it has not quite fused yet.  Dr Shin said to give it time, about four to six weeks, and it will be fine.

On a side note:  I may or may not have broken a rib. Although it has only been a few days, I still feel a little discomfort...pain...when I move my core.  It even hurts a little when I take deep breaths or sit up too fast.  It might be a bruise, but there are no signs of discolouration on the surface, nor is there any swelling.  

Titanium is 22 on the Periodic Table of Elements

Twenty two weeks of having titanium screwed into my bone.  Pretty awesome!



It says Titanium, but looks like wood to me.


Last night I got a comment on here...yeah, someone else actually reads this.  How she found this place, I have no idea.  Anyways health food soul recently had surgery to repair a broken wrist.  Same wrist and pretty much the same break and hardware was installed. She has one more screw at the top of her implant...but I have a slightly larger plate.  I think we have about the same amount of titanium in mounted to our left radius.  I have a new Titianium Friend!

She broke her wrist whilst snowboarding, I did it while playing roller hockey.  Funny, her sports injury is based on the streets and brought to the cold...while my sports injury is based in the cold and brought to the streets. You can read her 'how it happened' right HERE.  She also has a great blog about Bone Food.  Wish I knew some of that stuff about twenty weeks ago.

Oh, you can see her post about her surgery and cool hardware HERE.  She has great X-rays of her hardware.  I wonder if she just has a great camera, or she actually has the physical X-rays.  Maybe I should ask the doctor for copies of mine.  They are $15 a copy, so I just took pictures.

HealthFoodSoul, if you are reading this, I wish you a speedy recovery.  I will be checking for updates on your blog...I want to see some scar pictures.

If you want to experience my surgery, you can start here.

Titanium Update

Went to the doctor for my final check up.  Once again, I headed to the x-ray room and took another set of x-rays.  I think they have a total of three rooms for x-rays...I have been in all three.

Final X-ray - Three-quarter View

The doctor said the bone has completely healed and gave me the go ahead to do whatever I wanted.  There is a little chip of bone floating at the top of the ulna, but that is no concern.  It will just stay there, just hanging out...like a satellite.

Final X-ray - Front View

While my movement is about 90%, my strength needs a little more work.  I skated and shot the puck around a few weeks back and it felt great.  Other than the first two wrist shots I took, everything felt strong, even slap shots.  Cycling, however, will take some time.  All the weight, and stress (vibrations of the road) on the wrist is too much for now.  I tried to ride last week, but had to turn off early due to pain.  Doctor says it will be a few months before I can fully ride a bike.  But, I am cleared to play hockey!

Final X-Ray - Side View

 

Titanium Plate

I snapped a photo of the X-ray when I went to the doctor yesterday.

Mugshots of the titanium plate and screws

Yeah, I know.  Pretty cool, huh?

Doctor says things are healing fine.  Bone mending is a little better than expected.  Damaged nerves are healing as expected.  The good news, my range of motion is way better than expected.  Especially, considering the damage I initially did to the area.  So good in fact, he said that there is no need to report to physical therapy anymore. I have to say that my therapist really helped the progression of my recovery. 
Strength conditioning can be done at home.

After looking at the X-rays and seeing the range of motion I regained, he said I could pretty much do anything right now and the wrist should be fine.  More strenuous activities, like pull-ups, should not be attempted for about a month.

I tired driving the other day.  There was pain when making sudden moves or trying to pull into a parking spot.  This is a strength issue that will improve with time.  Damn it, this means I have to wait a while before I can drive the DeLorean, again.  I plan on starting my strength training at the beginning of the year.  Some bike riding, Insanity and P90-X should get me ready for a return to hockey in June.  Heck, I may fit in a century ride, just for fun.

Random Thoughs III - And Update On Recovery

Went to the see Dr. Shin today, he said everything was fine.  I had concerns because of pain in the palm of my hand...and not much pain in the wrist area, where all the action took place.  Well, if the doctor says there is nothing to worry about, I am going with it.  To quote a great movie, "you're the doc, Doc".

The best part is, he prescribed me more painkillers (morphine) and sleeping pills (ambien).  Woo-hoo!  And, I only need to go to physical therapy two times a week, instead of three...but for six more weeks.  Even the physical therapist says my range of motion is coming back faster than expected.  Oh, one of the exercises I do at home is stick handling with a ball.  Never too early to start conditioning for the next season.

I am doing fine, and everything looks good.  Feeling is slowly return back to my numby thumby and index finger.  Tendons and nerves are healing and 'rebooting', that is sending signals as pain. So, the pain is a good thing, feeling pain is better than feeling nothing, as in damaged nerves.  And, I am going to have a very cool scar.

Yes, I have a Tauntaun sleeping bag.

 Thanks to everyone for your well wishes.

---

I have lost eleven pounds so far since my injury.  Eleven pounds in five weeks, and I am not even trying.  Find me a diet plan that can achieve that...and throw in a piece of titanium.  

I am physically unable to grip anything with any real strength, so I am unable to drive.  I could drive one handed, but who are we kidding here, ahem..Asian driver.  This sucks, because the DeLorean is just sitting in the garage.  Sometimes, I will just sit in it and listen to my Back to the Future soundtrack.  I think I will start it up tomorrow, just to feel and hear the engine. Yeah, pretty sad.

---

Okay, let us get one thing straight.  Speaking of Back to the Future...okay, I promise this is the last Back to the Future post for a long while...26 October is NOT the anniversary of the release of the movie.  People, this was a summer movie.  Last time I checked, October is not a summer month.  July is a summer month, the movie to be released on 3 July 1985.

So all you nerds out there thinking you were celebrating the 25th Anniversary last month, you were only celebrating the date when the Time Machine first traveled through time...in the movie.  Oh, and it was the Blu-Ray release date.  One more thing, notice what date and time I started this post...who is the nerd, now?

---

X-ray of titanium plate and screws (also titanium)

One last thought.  I thought about getting a tattoo on my wrist of the silhouette of the titanium plate.  But, I am sort of a wuss.  Besides, I think I have had enough pain in that area.  And, it cost money.  Yeah, I know what is another hundred or two compared to the thousands already spent on that area?  Instead, I am going to somehow mark my hockey gloves of where my scars are.  Like with stitches or just marker it.  Maybe I should get a silhouette of the plate in vinyl and stick it on my car, like this Hot Wheels sticker I have on my door.

Hot Wheels decal on passenger door.  Only seen when door is open.

Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated - Part IV

With the dislocated wrist popped back in, the next step was to see a specialist.  The breakage in the bone was not lining up easily.  It could possibly slip or shift if not set right and may require surgery, that is where the specialist comes in.  We got out of the ER around 7:30.  Hey, just in time for work.

Needless to say, I went home to get some rest.  An appointment was set up in the afternoon at Kerlan-Jobe, these guys are the shit when it comes to sports injuries.  They work with all the major sports teams in the area.  Heck, on their site, they list the Kings, Ducks, Dodgers, Angels, and Lakers as their clients.  Uh, wait...what about the Clippers?  Yeah, they do not get any love from these guys either.

So, another trip to the x-ray room.  This is the fourth time I have had x-rays in the past 12 hours...I am pretty much considered radioactive by now.  Dr. Steven Shin is my doctor, he is a hand and arm specialist.  We take a look at the x-rays and for the first time I look at the damage I had done.  Dr. Shin said I "did a number on this one", not only was it broken...I had multiple fractures.  Hmm, did not know about the fractures.  This is when I realized that I had an "injury hat trick".  Broken, fractured, and dislocated.  See, when you wait this long in life to break a bone, you gotta go all out.

I was informed that I would need surgery and that a plate would be put in to secure and brace the bone.  I asked if said plate was going to be titanium.  When Dr. Shin said yes, that actually got me excited.  You know I love the titanium.  The thought of having a piece of titanium fused to my bones is just awesome!  Only thing that could have been better was adamantium...and maybe get some claws installed.

Surgery would have to wait a week.  The swelling in my arm has to go down first.  For those of you keeping track, this is still Wednesday, 6 October, about 3:00PM.  I was prescribed some pain killers and given pre-operation instructions.  Until the following Tuesday, 12 October, I am just sitting at home and checking email and posting random thoughts.

Oh, apparently when the people at work found out about me being sidelined for a while, there was mass hysteria as they tried to find people to cover for me.  That kinda makes one feel a little better about one's job when they set up an 'emergency meeting' so deadlines can be met.  Yep, that is job security.  I should be safe for now...also helps when I am the only one in the company that does what I do...and I am fucking awesome!

-----

Go to Part I - Part II - Part III - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII

Broken, Fractured...and Dislocated Part II

Our first stop was at urgent care.  Yeah, I said first stop.  This is located about four miles from the rink, just north of the airport.  I have taken two classmates there while I was at Otis.  They do good stitches there...but that is about it.  The only thing they could do was take x-rays of my wrist.

I love how the receptionist questioned me on whether or not there was a break.  Hello!  Arm going this way, hand going that way...I think this is more than a little sprain, bitch.  Ah, health care...gotta love it.  We were told that they do not have the facility to do anything, and I would have to go to another a real hospital for treatment.  We should have left right then.  But, they can do x-rays.  Heck, we were there, it is almost 1AM, why the hell not.  Take some x-rays for facebook.

Before they could snap the Superman photos, I had to remove my elbow pad, which was helping in keeping my arm up.  The nurse also had to cut my slashguard, there goes ten bucks.  Once the gear was removed, you could clearly see that there was a problem.

Taking the x-rays was a little uncomfortable painful.  I had to hold my arm in various positions, and my hand was sorta flopping around.  Hey, did you know that (at least for guys) they place a lead apron over your crotchial region. I think this is to prevent radioactive balls.  I guess it would suck if I ended up having a glowing sack...but the potential of radioactive super powers is interesting.

After reviewing my x-rays, the doctor informed me that I had a break and a dislocation.  At the time, I though it was just a break.  I opted not to see my x-rays, he gave us a disc and referred us to another hospital.   My adrenaline was beginning to wear off, so the nurse gave me a shot of pain killer...in the butt.

So, we are off to the ER...

-----

Go to Part I - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII