The
Surgery
© 1998 Doug Plummer
25 August 1998
The day after surgery. I'm in a Percocet swoon. I don't understand the appeal, some of my friends actually enjoy being stoned this way. I hate it. But my shoulders are square for the first time in 2 weeks. There's erector set parts in my clavicle now, holding it straight and firm. The surgeons were pleased, my bones were in good shape and the procedure took less time than expected.
If you missed part one, here's the synopsis. A little over 2 weeks ago I took a spectacular spill on my bike, breaking my clavicle and scapula, and a rib. Lots of strangers helped me as I lay moaning on the street, I waited a long time at the Harborview ER, but I got patched up and sent on my way.
Since then: Last week I had my follow-up appointment at Harborview, at the overcrowded orthopedic clinic. My appointment was for 9:30am. At 10:30 I get x-rayed. At 11:00 I get put in an exam room, where at 1:30pm someone finally sees me, a harried resident who knows nothing about my history or condition. But he wants to operate, and he makes it sound like it will be an arduous and long convalescence. I'm not comfortable with the answers I'm getting and want a 2nd opinion.
My appointment at the UW Medical Center Bone Clinic goes far smoother--I see someone within 20 minutes, even though I was overbooked. Dr. Kevin Smith, who only works on shoulders, explains to me just what is going on in my shoulder. It's the first time I've had a clear understanding of what happened to me. After 10 days the weight of my arm has been bending my broken clavicle, which is why it's been feeling more and more uncomfortable. It's pinching nerves that are making my arm numb. A plate can straighten it out and provide structure for the whole area. I'll just be in a sling afterwards, with more mobility and faster healing. These are real different answers than I was getting over at Harborview, and I feel confident about my treatment for the first time. My surgery will be in 4 days at University Hospital.
Surgeries, like plane trips, are one of those things you hope will be utterly uneventful. Anxiety-producing, but mundane. The day before Robin did some work on me to reduce my anxiety (through EMDR we cleared out all those childhood medical traumas that I was busily reliving--it's handy being married to a brilliant therapist), and I went in feeling pretty good. It helped that I was preoccupied explaining to a medical student how to operate my camera while they were inserting my IV. The next thing I remember was being wheeled into my hospital room and hearing Robin's voice.
I hurt less the day after surgery than I did going in. My shoulder is a lot more stable. My back is free from pain and spasm. I feel hopeful that a full recovery might be possible, something I hadn't been so certain of before. It'll take several months, but I ought to have 95% of my shoulder mobility back. Two days later now, I'm off painkillers and the fog in my head is gradually lifting.
Thanks to all of you who have called and e-mailed and wished me well.
Regards,
Doug Plummer