Since writing”The ‘Oh Shit’ Moment” post, I had another appointment with Dr. Erpelding at the VA Clinic in Billings. This time, I was able to get a CD containing the X-rays from the visit. The CD auto-starts the X-ray viewer used by the doctors to view digital images. It is a really cool tool. When I travel, and hoping that occurs sooner rather than later, I will have the X-rays of my leg should anything happen to re-injure it.
Upper Break
Broken Screw
The Upper Break image, on the left, shows how the rod is attached at the top. It also shows the upper break, which is healing nicely.
The Broken Screw image, on the right, shows the lower break and the broken screw. When I last saw Dr. Wilson at the end of September, the screw was not broken and the break had not slipped. Up to that time I had been on a walker with a 50lb weight limit on the leg. During the appointment, Dr. John Wilson, who is with Ortho Montana, gave me permission to transition to a cane, and I was allowed full weight on the leg.
It took ten days, before I could move around in the house using just a cane. On September 15, I was approved for VA Healthcare. For my initial interview at the VA Clinic on October 13, I was still using the walker for longer distances, and the cane for short distance.
I eventually was using the cane all the time. At least until, my first visit with Dr. Erpelding at the VA Clinic on November 5. The November showed the broken screew, no bone growth, and the bone graft was missing. I don’t know what I did to break the screw, but Dr. Erpelding pointed out that there are two holes in the rod for a reason. The second screw is a safety screw to prevent breaking of a single screw. Dr. Erpelding put back on the walker with weight restrictions on the leg. The December 3 X-Rays showed signs of bone growth, but I was to stay on the walker. The January 21 X-rays, shown above, indicate positive bone growth. Four months later, I am back to where I was at the end of September. With one big difference, I am still at risk for the screw slipping and causing serious injury.
Dr. Wilson’s decision to one screw resulted in serious negative consequences for my recovery. It has delayed my ability to teach seminars for four more months. It has made difficult to visit the American Legion Posts in my District, and difficult to do the normal District Commander duties. The final result of the decision is that my leg is held together by a single thread, and my financial situation is also hanging together by a thread.
Tags: broken leg