Sunday, February 21, 2016
Mountain view
Beautiful warm sunny day today. Lately it has rained in the Valley and snowed in the mountains.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Collarbone hardware
I saw the doctor today for the first time since my surgery.
The nurse assistant took off the medi-strips over my scar. Their adhesive was so great the strips stayed on even after all these showers and getting wet. Even though areas around the scar are still numb I could feel the strips as she pried and pulled them off, pulling my skin as the strips came off.
The doctor was pleased with how my scar looks.
Here is how my scar looks after I cleaned most, but not all, of the adhesive off my skin. As you can see the scar is fairly long.
Here are before and after views of my collarbone. Notice: lots of long screws. Looks to be nine screws.
In the middle of the previous photo you can see the 5th broken bone below the middle of the plate. This is the bone the doctor left rather than cut around my bone in order to screw it to the other bone. The doctor said it will grown back together with the main bone.
In the previous photo you can see the gap between the main bones plated together. (Between the third and fourth screws from the left).
We'll look into starting therapy in a month after my next visit. Right now I move my arm everywhere but up. I keep the arm below shoulder level as the higher I move my arm the more I feel it in my shoulder.
Otherwise my shoulder is doing fine. No pain, but at times, usually as the day wears on, my shoulder feels 'annoying'. 'Annoying' means an odd combination of sore, ache and pressure.
The nurse assistant took off the medi-strips over my scar. Their adhesive was so great the strips stayed on even after all these showers and getting wet. Even though areas around the scar are still numb I could feel the strips as she pried and pulled them off, pulling my skin as the strips came off.
The doctor was pleased with how my scar looks.
Here is how my scar looks after I cleaned most, but not all, of the adhesive off my skin. As you can see the scar is fairly long.
Here are before and after views of my collarbone. Notice: lots of long screws. Looks to be nine screws.
In the middle of the previous photo you can see the 5th broken bone below the middle of the plate. This is the bone the doctor left rather than cut around my bone in order to screw it to the other bone. The doctor said it will grown back together with the main bone.
In the previous photo you can see the gap between the main bones plated together. (Between the third and fourth screws from the left).
My next appointment to see the doctor is in a month. Until then, don't lift anything with that arm.
He
wanted me to keep using the sling. The only reason to do so was so I
don't lift anything with my left arm. He relented when I said I am left
handed and the sling gets in the way of eating, etc.
Otherwise my shoulder is doing fine. No pain, but at times, usually as the day wears on, my shoulder feels 'annoying'. 'Annoying' means an odd combination of sore, ache and pressure.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Hay bale
The previous two hay bales lasted exactly one week. This afternoon it was time to put out another large hay bale for the cattle.
Only Beulah was in the corral but Mama saw me and came in the corral before I could close the gate. While Beulah can be insistent on having the hay now, I was able to carry the 60 lb hay bales with my one good arm to the feeders without dropping them. I didn't use my broken arm to carry the bales, and therefore no pain, but I could feel the muscles pull across my back from the right side over to the left side.
Once the bales were spread in the feeders I opened the gate and let the cattle, who were now patiently waiting outside the gate, into the corral.
Once the cattle were in the corral I closed the gate so I could now move a large hay bale into the north pasture without interruption.
It is warm and melting and sloppy. Time to move a metal feeder to a new location. Using my good arm I used a shovel to push snow away to make a clean circle in which to place a pallet, a bale on the pallet, then a feeder around the bale.
I was unwrapping the twine from the bale, and complaining to the sky when the twine would get wrapped up around one of my feet, when Donna showed up. I got a disapproving look at me doing all this by myself. She helped me unwrap the rest of the twine.
Then Donna watched the bale spear and guided me when it came time to flip up the metal feeder and move it over to the bale. With her help I didn't try to poke the spear through the side of the feeder.
I only put out one bale and not two as I didn't feel like shoveling a spot for another bale to go. I also didn't feel like switching the spear and bucket to use the tractor to clear an area. I should be good in three or four days to move another bale out myself.
Only Beulah was in the corral but Mama saw me and came in the corral before I could close the gate. While Beulah can be insistent on having the hay now, I was able to carry the 60 lb hay bales with my one good arm to the feeders without dropping them. I didn't use my broken arm to carry the bales, and therefore no pain, but I could feel the muscles pull across my back from the right side over to the left side.
Once the bales were spread in the feeders I opened the gate and let the cattle, who were now patiently waiting outside the gate, into the corral.
Once the cattle were in the corral I closed the gate so I could now move a large hay bale into the north pasture without interruption.
It is warm and melting and sloppy. Time to move a metal feeder to a new location. Using my good arm I used a shovel to push snow away to make a clean circle in which to place a pallet, a bale on the pallet, then a feeder around the bale.
I was unwrapping the twine from the bale, and complaining to the sky when the twine would get wrapped up around one of my feet, when Donna showed up. I got a disapproving look at me doing all this by myself. She helped me unwrap the rest of the twine.
Then Donna watched the bale spear and guided me when it came time to flip up the metal feeder and move it over to the bale. With her help I didn't try to poke the spear through the side of the feeder.
I only put out one bale and not two as I didn't feel like shoveling a spot for another bale to go. I also didn't feel like switching the spear and bucket to use the tractor to clear an area. I should be good in three or four days to move another bale out myself.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Chuck Suchy concert
Friday night Donna, her daughter, son-in-law, and I attended a free concert by North Dakotan musician/farmer Chuck Suchy held at the Flathead Valley Community College.
While Chuck has performed in the Flathead Valley over the years I have been here, this is the first time I attended one of his concerts since the mid to late 1990s back in Minnesota.
He is 67 years old now. He played two hours of his original songs with no break. Once he started playing a number of his songs I then remembered them from the Minnesota concert. People here are familiar with his songs as a number of people called out different songs as requests. A number of people also sang along to some of his songs.
It was a good concert. It was relaxed and felt like he was some guy with a guitar sitting in a living room singing a few songs to his friends.
http://www.chucksuchy.com/
Here is one of his songs (Cool in the Shade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFvQu9MJOgU&index=1&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Molly's Field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dkpWvukxH0&index=24&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Burma Shave Boogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AGXPkpt3PM&index=28&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Dancin' in the Kitchen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5R7_urF5S4&index=57&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
While Chuck has performed in the Flathead Valley over the years I have been here, this is the first time I attended one of his concerts since the mid to late 1990s back in Minnesota.
He is 67 years old now. He played two hours of his original songs with no break. Once he started playing a number of his songs I then remembered them from the Minnesota concert. People here are familiar with his songs as a number of people called out different songs as requests. A number of people also sang along to some of his songs.
It was a good concert. It was relaxed and felt like he was some guy with a guitar sitting in a living room singing a few songs to his friends.
http://www.chucksuchy.com/
Here is one of his songs (Cool in the Shade): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFvQu9MJOgU&index=1&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Molly's Field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dkpWvukxH0&index=24&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Burma Shave Boogie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AGXPkpt3PM&index=28&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Dancin' in the Kitchen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5R7_urF5S4&index=57&list=PLxSEEF5s06AJCuxnT0YyKS-pSJs4MrqB5
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Collarbone surgery
Sunday I put two large bales of hay out for the cattle. I had trouble getting the bale spear point under the second feeder and I ended up poking the second (new) feeder and bending out a piece of metal.
Now that I put enough hay out for almost a week it was time to get up early Monday morning. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am. I was the first person scheduled for surgery. Donna took me to the hospital and waited.
The nurse prepared me for surgery. The anesthesiologist stopped by. The doctor stopped by. The nurse shaved hair from my collarbone area. She put in an IV in preparation for the anesthesia. My shoulder was more annoying than painful. The IV needle stuck in my hand was more annoying than my shoulder.
The anesthesia was added. I waited. Not getting sleepy. Then I woke up and the operation was over. I believe it was between 10 am and 10:30 am when I woke up. The operation had taken several hours.
The doctor came by. He had found 5 broken bones once he opened me up. He removed one small bone. He screwed three bones together. The last bone was under the main bone so he left it. Otherwise he would have had to cut through a bunch more nerves to get to the last bone. The last bone should heal to the bones with a plate holding them together.
I got one pain pill. It helped with the pain, but... 45 minutes later I got a second pill. Two pills took care of the pain. Donna gave me some graham crackers and water as I rested and recovered.
I felt a little woozy so I laid there for a while while the pain pills took effect. I fell asleep for a while.
I went home Monday afternoon once I found out the hospital charges by the minute for time spent in the recovery room. Even though the health insurance was covering the cost, no sense wasting money. I also no longer felt woozy by that time.
Donna drove me home. Halfway home, all of a sudden, I was nauseous. Before I could get her car door completely open and me unbuckled from the seat-belt I threw up all over the inside of her car door. The only good thing was that it was just liquid.
Even though it has been many, many years since dad died, Mark the pharmacist, remembered dad and that he passed away in the store's parking lot while I was refilling dad's prescription.
The hospital sent me home with a sandwich, chips and cookie. So I didn't have to cook since I wasn't spending the night recovering in the hospital. The sandwich was good.
I didn't have much of an appetite. Sandwich was for a late lunch. Chips for supper. Cookie for evening snack.
I find that if I eat too much food I will get a little woozy and lightly nauseous. The effects are less with each meal. Donna brought me extra food. Patti stopped by with extra food. I have plenty of food as I don't have much of an appetite yet.
I mainly slept for 24 hrs after the surgery. Since then I sleep very late and sleep more often than not.
Tuesday was sunny and warm. Late afternoon I sat outside in the warm sunshine until sundown.
Wednesday was not so sunny. Having been 48 hours since my surgery it was time for a shower and to change the bandage. With only one arm it takes longer to do everything, including taking a shower.
I haven't used my recliner as I am comfortable laying flat and sleeping in my bed. No real pain. Mainly I feel pressure when the pain pills are wearing off. Sometimes it feels like pressure downwards against my shoulder as I lay. Or sometimes it feels like someone has wrapped their hand around my shoulder bone and is squeezing the bone tight. Not comfortable to sleep on my side yet.
The stitches will dissolve on their own. The skin around the bandage feels numb. Time will tell how large of a numb area I will have. Next week I have my followup visit to the surgeon.
-
 |
| Hay here and over there |
 |
| See her left side vs her right side? Looks pregnant. |
Now that I put enough hay out for almost a week it was time to get up early Monday morning. I had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am. I was the first person scheduled for surgery. Donna took me to the hospital and waited.
The nurse prepared me for surgery. The anesthesiologist stopped by. The doctor stopped by. The nurse shaved hair from my collarbone area. She put in an IV in preparation for the anesthesia. My shoulder was more annoying than painful. The IV needle stuck in my hand was more annoying than my shoulder.
The anesthesia was added. I waited. Not getting sleepy. Then I woke up and the operation was over. I believe it was between 10 am and 10:30 am when I woke up. The operation had taken several hours.
The doctor came by. He had found 5 broken bones once he opened me up. He removed one small bone. He screwed three bones together. The last bone was under the main bone so he left it. Otherwise he would have had to cut through a bunch more nerves to get to the last bone. The last bone should heal to the bones with a plate holding them together.
I got one pain pill. It helped with the pain, but... 45 minutes later I got a second pill. Two pills took care of the pain. Donna gave me some graham crackers and water as I rested and recovered.
I felt a little woozy so I laid there for a while while the pain pills took effect. I fell asleep for a while.
I went home Monday afternoon once I found out the hospital charges by the minute for time spent in the recovery room. Even though the health insurance was covering the cost, no sense wasting money. I also no longer felt woozy by that time.
Donna drove me home. Halfway home, all of a sudden, I was nauseous. Before I could get her car door completely open and me unbuckled from the seat-belt I threw up all over the inside of her car door. The only good thing was that it was just liquid.
Even though it has been many, many years since dad died, Mark the pharmacist, remembered dad and that he passed away in the store's parking lot while I was refilling dad's prescription.
The hospital sent me home with a sandwich, chips and cookie. So I didn't have to cook since I wasn't spending the night recovering in the hospital. The sandwich was good.
I didn't have much of an appetite. Sandwich was for a late lunch. Chips for supper. Cookie for evening snack.
I find that if I eat too much food I will get a little woozy and lightly nauseous. The effects are less with each meal. Donna brought me extra food. Patti stopped by with extra food. I have plenty of food as I don't have much of an appetite yet.
I mainly slept for 24 hrs after the surgery. Since then I sleep very late and sleep more often than not.
Tuesday was sunny and warm. Late afternoon I sat outside in the warm sunshine until sundown.
Wednesday was not so sunny. Having been 48 hours since my surgery it was time for a shower and to change the bandage. With only one arm it takes longer to do everything, including taking a shower.
I haven't used my recliner as I am comfortable laying flat and sleeping in my bed. No real pain. Mainly I feel pressure when the pain pills are wearing off. Sometimes it feels like pressure downwards against my shoulder as I lay. Or sometimes it feels like someone has wrapped their hand around my shoulder bone and is squeezing the bone tight. Not comfortable to sleep on my side yet.
 |
| Bandage from the hospital. |
 |
| Under the bandage. I left that on for now. So I haven't seen the incision yet. |
The stitches will dissolve on their own. The skin around the bandage feels numb. Time will tell how large of a numb area I will have. Next week I have my followup visit to the surgeon.
-
Saturday, February 06, 2016
Five miles
I haven't ridden my bicycle for a week now. I know... a long time!
So this afternoon, after I went uptown to run a few errands, I got my bicycle out and rode five miles. I can ride with one hand. I can ride with no hands. The wind was really strong today so no hands was not possible. But riding with one hand was.
Five miles is my limit for now. I was ready to be done riding once I got back home. Still, it was nice to get out on my bicycle after so long.
And, yes, I still do have a broken collarbone. I figured riding wouldn't damage the bone any more ...unless I would fall on that side again. Which I did not.
My neighbor Curtis came over this morning and helped me carry my recliner back into the house. Tammy had banished it from the house years ago as it didn't match her furniture. The pre-op nurse suggested I sleep in a recliner for a few days after my operation. I'll see. At least the recliner is in the house in case I do need it.
So this afternoon, after I went uptown to run a few errands, I got my bicycle out and rode five miles. I can ride with one hand. I can ride with no hands. The wind was really strong today so no hands was not possible. But riding with one hand was.
Five miles is my limit for now. I was ready to be done riding once I got back home. Still, it was nice to get out on my bicycle after so long.
And, yes, I still do have a broken collarbone. I figured riding wouldn't damage the bone any more ...unless I would fall on that side again. Which I did not.
My neighbor Curtis came over this morning and helped me carry my recliner back into the house. Tammy had banished it from the house years ago as it didn't match her furniture. The pre-op nurse suggested I sleep in a recliner for a few days after my operation. I'll see. At least the recliner is in the house in case I do need it.
Friday, February 05, 2016
Collarbone xrays
Early this morning I had two more x-rays of my shoulder done and spoke with the doctor. The break is large and complex enough that surgery was recommended and a plate installed.
My friend Ted had a collarbone break in the past from a bicycle accident and he said his break was fixed with a pin which was removed after four weeks. A pin would not work on my break. My break has three bones and the alignment of the break also would not allow a single pin to work.
The Kalispell hospital is busy. I was willing to go to the Whitefish hospital so the doctor can do the surgery first thing Monday morning. The sooner the better.
Early Monday morning. 36 years ago when I had a plate installed to fix a broken arm I went in to the hospital the night before and stayed for two or three days afterwards. Not these days. I get to the hospital at 6:30 am. Surgery is about an hour later. I should be released to go home by late morning / early afternoon.
I most likely will have some meds - mainly for pain. I tried to get a prescription today so I don't have to go to a pharmacy to get the meds after the operation but that is not possible.
There are plates made for collarbones. Curved and different sizes. My arm plate has six screws through my bone. I asked how many screws for the collarbone plate. Eight. Maybe ten. Great. Just great. The most pain I have ever experienced was six screws screwed through my bone. I'm not looking forward to eight to ten screws.
I had to stop at the hospital for "pre-op". This mainly was getting registered, answering a few questions, and get the correct soap in which to shower the night and morning before. I also had to tell them what kind of sandwich and what I wanted on the sandwich. They will send me home after the operation with a sandwich so I don't have to cook that night.
Here are the two x-rays taken today. One is straight on. The other x-ray was taken low and angled up.
As you can see, not a pretty break.
My friend Ted had a collarbone break in the past from a bicycle accident and he said his break was fixed with a pin which was removed after four weeks. A pin would not work on my break. My break has three bones and the alignment of the break also would not allow a single pin to work.
The Kalispell hospital is busy. I was willing to go to the Whitefish hospital so the doctor can do the surgery first thing Monday morning. The sooner the better.
Early Monday morning. 36 years ago when I had a plate installed to fix a broken arm I went in to the hospital the night before and stayed for two or three days afterwards. Not these days. I get to the hospital at 6:30 am. Surgery is about an hour later. I should be released to go home by late morning / early afternoon.
I most likely will have some meds - mainly for pain. I tried to get a prescription today so I don't have to go to a pharmacy to get the meds after the operation but that is not possible.
There are plates made for collarbones. Curved and different sizes. My arm plate has six screws through my bone. I asked how many screws for the collarbone plate. Eight. Maybe ten. Great. Just great. The most pain I have ever experienced was six screws screwed through my bone. I'm not looking forward to eight to ten screws.
I had to stop at the hospital for "pre-op". This mainly was getting registered, answering a few questions, and get the correct soap in which to shower the night and morning before. I also had to tell them what kind of sandwich and what I wanted on the sandwich. They will send me home after the operation with a sandwich so I don't have to cook that night.
Here are the two x-rays taken today. One is straight on. The other x-ray was taken low and angled up.
As you can see, not a pretty break.
Thursday, February 04, 2016
Collarbone and bruising
I was feeling decent today so this afternoon I shoveled snow from the driveway for an hour. I pushed the shovel with my one good arm. Later I fell asleep on the couch. When I awoke my collarbone felt painful. I don't know if this was because of the earlier snow shoveling, falling asleep sitting up with my head slumped over, or the position I sat on the couch and how my back pressed against the couch.
I felt better after a shower. The doctor moved up my next appointment from 3:45 pm Friday to 8:30 am Friday.
Here are today's photos of my injuries. My ribs feel fine so I was surprised to see the bruise.
I felt better after a shower. The doctor moved up my next appointment from 3:45 pm Friday to 8:30 am Friday.
Here are today's photos of my injuries. My ribs feel fine so I was surprised to see the bruise.
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Moving hay with a broken collarbone
Late this afternoon the cattle finished eating their big bale of hay. Usually when the hay is done they congregate in the corral and wait for me to bring them a few small bales of hay. Today they lounged under several large pine trees in the north pasture and chewed their cud.
I closed the corral gate and decided to see if I could carry a bale of hay to their feeder. I was able to carry a 55-60 lb bale with my good arm. I carried another bale to the feeder next to the barn. I thought perhaps since the muscles interconnect in my back the weight would aggravate my injury. But it didn't to my surprise. But then today is a better day than yesterday pain-wise. The most annoying thing with my shoulder today is all the typing. The typing and mouse work is aggravating my shoulder.
By now Beulah saw me and stood outside the gate. She called the others over and I opened the gate and let them in to eat the hay. I closed the corral gate again. Then I went work with the tractor.
First I had to use the bucket to clear away snow for the new feeder location. Past practice makes perfect as I now can hook the bucket onto the tractor using just the tractor. The snow did cause a little problem as some snow got compacted between the bucket and one tractor arm. This prevented me from latching one pin. I had to tilt the bucket and with a screwdriver scrape the snow away.
Once I was done clearing snow I switched to the bale spear. Usually I lift the spear onto the tractor hooks. Can't do that now. After a few attempts I was able to hook the spear onto the tractor then latch it with pins. The spear is lighter than the bucket and moves away more easily when bumping the tractor arms against it when trying to get the arms hooked.
So nice I have a tractor to move the hay bales!!!
Once I got the hay bale's twine unwrapped and the bale set on the wooden pallet I used the tractor to lift and move the metal feeder.
Usually I tip the feeder over the bale by lifting the bottom end. However I need two arms to do that. Below is what happened when I used only one arm.
So I had to use the bale spear to push the feeder so the far end would drop over the hay bale. Did I mention how much I like my tractor?
I think I cleared enough space in the pasture for another bale later so I left the bale spear on the tractor. I just need to remember the spear is there when I get firewood and not trip over the spear sticking out of the pole shed.
I closed the corral gate and decided to see if I could carry a bale of hay to their feeder. I was able to carry a 55-60 lb bale with my good arm. I carried another bale to the feeder next to the barn. I thought perhaps since the muscles interconnect in my back the weight would aggravate my injury. But it didn't to my surprise. But then today is a better day than yesterday pain-wise. The most annoying thing with my shoulder today is all the typing. The typing and mouse work is aggravating my shoulder.
By now Beulah saw me and stood outside the gate. She called the others over and I opened the gate and let them in to eat the hay. I closed the corral gate again. Then I went work with the tractor.
First I had to use the bucket to clear away snow for the new feeder location. Past practice makes perfect as I now can hook the bucket onto the tractor using just the tractor. The snow did cause a little problem as some snow got compacted between the bucket and one tractor arm. This prevented me from latching one pin. I had to tilt the bucket and with a screwdriver scrape the snow away.
Once I was done clearing snow I switched to the bale spear. Usually I lift the spear onto the tractor hooks. Can't do that now. After a few attempts I was able to hook the spear onto the tractor then latch it with pins. The spear is lighter than the bucket and moves away more easily when bumping the tractor arms against it when trying to get the arms hooked.
So nice I have a tractor to move the hay bales!!!
Once I got the hay bale's twine unwrapped and the bale set on the wooden pallet I used the tractor to lift and move the metal feeder.
Usually I tip the feeder over the bale by lifting the bottom end. However I need two arms to do that. Below is what happened when I used only one arm.
So I had to use the bale spear to push the feeder so the far end would drop over the hay bale. Did I mention how much I like my tractor?
I think I cleared enough space in the pasture for another bale later so I left the bale spear on the tractor. I just need to remember the spear is there when I get firewood and not trip over the spear sticking out of the pole shed.
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Orthopedic surgeon visit
Today I saw the orthopedic surgeon. First time visit, lots of paperwork to fill out. I am left handed with left collarbone break. Worst than usual handwriting.
The shoulder today is more swollen. This morning cleaning the wood stove then a shower was more activity than usual. I found than even though I only used my right arm the shoulder muscles are somewhat connected to the left side too and I felt pulling on the left side sometimes when using my right arm. Therefore more pain. I took two ibuprofen.
While waiting for the doctor the nurse had put up one x-ray image of the break. One bone looked to under the other bone by several inches. The doctor told me no, it just looks that way due to the view of the bone. The bone barely overlaps.
We discussed surgury vs letting it heal on its own. He thought the bone could heal on its own without loss of shoulder function.
Surgery and installing a plate will not speed healing. With or without a plate I won't be able to lift objects for the same amount of time.
Surgery and a plate will ensure the bone is straight and aligned.
I am concerned the bone will move before it completely heals. That is why my arm was re-broken by the doctor and a plate was installed 36 years ago. I was set back six weeks of healing time.
Plates are still fastened by screws. I had hoped a glue had been invented in the 36 years since my last plate. Those 6 screws caused me the worst pain for two days that I ever felt - by far.
A plate will make the bone more rigid and does not allow for flex.
The plate will not break in another fall but there is a chance the bone at the end of the plate will break, especially if the bone does not flex.
I would have a scar and the plate may be noticeable as the skin is thin in that area.
In the end we decided to wait till Friday. He'll take another x-ray and then I'll decide if I want surgery.
Here is an interesting article on the pros and cons of surgery vs no surgery.
http://www.darmage.com/clavicle_fracture_001.html
The shoulder today is more swollen. This morning cleaning the wood stove then a shower was more activity than usual. I found than even though I only used my right arm the shoulder muscles are somewhat connected to the left side too and I felt pulling on the left side sometimes when using my right arm. Therefore more pain. I took two ibuprofen.
 |
| Break and swollen area |
While waiting for the doctor the nurse had put up one x-ray image of the break. One bone looked to under the other bone by several inches. The doctor told me no, it just looks that way due to the view of the bone. The bone barely overlaps.
We discussed surgury vs letting it heal on its own. He thought the bone could heal on its own without loss of shoulder function.
Surgery and installing a plate will not speed healing. With or without a plate I won't be able to lift objects for the same amount of time.
Surgery and a plate will ensure the bone is straight and aligned.
I am concerned the bone will move before it completely heals. That is why my arm was re-broken by the doctor and a plate was installed 36 years ago. I was set back six weeks of healing time.
Plates are still fastened by screws. I had hoped a glue had been invented in the 36 years since my last plate. Those 6 screws caused me the worst pain for two days that I ever felt - by far.
A plate will make the bone more rigid and does not allow for flex.
The plate will not break in another fall but there is a chance the bone at the end of the plate will break, especially if the bone does not flex.
I would have a scar and the plate may be noticeable as the skin is thin in that area.
In the end we decided to wait till Friday. He'll take another x-ray and then I'll decide if I want surgery.
Here is an interesting article on the pros and cons of surgery vs no surgery.
http://www.darmage.com/clavicle_fracture_001.html
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Broken collarbone
Saturday night I had a bicycle accident. I think I know what happened, but I am not sure. I was riding my regular route starting at 5:20 pm after I put a large bale of hay out for the cattle. I think the accident was around 6 pm.
My route is 6 miles out and 6 miles back. I remember turning east at the 5 mile mark. I remember thinking about the road being slippery. I also remember my bicycle chain had been occasionally slipping due to wear for much of the ride though it slipped less the longer I rode. Was this combination the cause of my accident? I don't know for sure.
I think the accident happened around the 5 1/2 mile mark, give or take a tenth of a mile. I have a few vague recollections after the accident. It seems like a dream. Such as: someone in a pickup stopping to ask if I was alright and whether I needed a ride and me turning the ride down, then looking for my bicycle computer which came off onto the road. I believe I thought I was glad the pickup didn't run over the computer after I found it. I also thought about whether I should turn around now or continue to the 6 mile turn around. I believe I continued on. Later when I checked the bicycle computer mileage I did indeed ride to the 6 mile turn around point.
Around the 8 mile point I remember feeling confused. I have ridden this route hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times so it was familiar. But I now felt like I was in a fog and struggled to understand what was going on.
At the 9 mile mark I rode past Donna's house so I stopped. I left my bicycle at her gate, climbed over and went to her house.
I needed to sit down and gather my thoughts. Donna said I was pretty dazed. I knew it was Winter but I didn't know the date. Slowly I figured out it was January. Then after more thought I remembered it was the 30th and Saturday.
Less than an hour I cleared up. My left side was wet and my shoulder and hip hurt.
Donna took me home. I let the cattle out of the corral so they could eat from the hay bale. Then I had supper, took an ibuprofen, watched some TV with Daisy. Once Daisy got up and off me I went to bed at 1:30 am.
This morning my shoulder hurt. I realized I had fractured or broken it. Donna took me to the hospital emergency room to have it checked out. That took 4 and 1/2 hours. At one point I had to ask someone to tell the nurse I was still there and ask if they had forgotten me. In the meantime I had "neighbors" with a wrist injury, inner ear problem with balance, and a woman who had teeth pulled last Monday as prep for dentures and whom had gotten an inflection which the doctor then operated on to drain.
One chest x-ray and four shoulder x-rays later and the doctor told me I had a broken clavicle. One part of the break is under the other part. The doctor was amazed I wasn't in more pain as apparently collarbone breaks are very painful. I had one ibuprofen at 11 am that morning and no breakfast. He referred me to an orthopedic surgeon that I am suppose to call tomorrow to find out what is next.
Apparently this is a common injury for bicyclists. And yes, I do know not to put my arm out to catch me in a fall. It is my instinct to tuck my arms against my body and try to use the outer meaty part of my arm and thigh to take the blow. This isn't my first fall.
My arm is now in a sling to restrict movement. The injuries are on my left side and I am left handed. I can move my arm though some positions are painful. Putting on and taking off my shirt or coat is no fun.
The other injuries:
For more info on broken clavicles: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00072
This situation is annoying. The only good thing about it is the timing. Better now for healing than during Summer. Back in 2000 I had a non-displaced fracture of my right collarbone when a car hit me so I know that it takes a while to heal.
My route is 6 miles out and 6 miles back. I remember turning east at the 5 mile mark. I remember thinking about the road being slippery. I also remember my bicycle chain had been occasionally slipping due to wear for much of the ride though it slipped less the longer I rode. Was this combination the cause of my accident? I don't know for sure.
I think the accident happened around the 5 1/2 mile mark, give or take a tenth of a mile. I have a few vague recollections after the accident. It seems like a dream. Such as: someone in a pickup stopping to ask if I was alright and whether I needed a ride and me turning the ride down, then looking for my bicycle computer which came off onto the road. I believe I thought I was glad the pickup didn't run over the computer after I found it. I also thought about whether I should turn around now or continue to the 6 mile turn around. I believe I continued on. Later when I checked the bicycle computer mileage I did indeed ride to the 6 mile turn around point.
Around the 8 mile point I remember feeling confused. I have ridden this route hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of times so it was familiar. But I now felt like I was in a fog and struggled to understand what was going on.
At the 9 mile mark I rode past Donna's house so I stopped. I left my bicycle at her gate, climbed over and went to her house.
I needed to sit down and gather my thoughts. Donna said I was pretty dazed. I knew it was Winter but I didn't know the date. Slowly I figured out it was January. Then after more thought I remembered it was the 30th and Saturday.
Less than an hour I cleared up. My left side was wet and my shoulder and hip hurt.
Donna took me home. I let the cattle out of the corral so they could eat from the hay bale. Then I had supper, took an ibuprofen, watched some TV with Daisy. Once Daisy got up and off me I went to bed at 1:30 am.
This morning my shoulder hurt. I realized I had fractured or broken it. Donna took me to the hospital emergency room to have it checked out. That took 4 and 1/2 hours. At one point I had to ask someone to tell the nurse I was still there and ask if they had forgotten me. In the meantime I had "neighbors" with a wrist injury, inner ear problem with balance, and a woman who had teeth pulled last Monday as prep for dentures and whom had gotten an inflection which the doctor then operated on to drain.
One chest x-ray and four shoulder x-rays later and the doctor told me I had a broken clavicle. One part of the break is under the other part. The doctor was amazed I wasn't in more pain as apparently collarbone breaks are very painful. I had one ibuprofen at 11 am that morning and no breakfast. He referred me to an orthopedic surgeon that I am suppose to call tomorrow to find out what is next.Apparently this is a common injury for bicyclists. And yes, I do know not to put my arm out to catch me in a fall. It is my instinct to tuck my arms against my body and try to use the outer meaty part of my arm and thigh to take the blow. This isn't my first fall.
My arm is now in a sling to restrict movement. The injuries are on my left side and I am left handed. I can move my arm though some positions are painful. Putting on and taking off my shirt or coat is no fun.
The other injuries:
- Two bumps on left side of my head.
- Sore neck muscles on left side
- Swollen left shoulder
- Bruised left ribs
- Sizable abrasion on my left hip.
For more info on broken clavicles: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00072
This situation is annoying. The only good thing about it is the timing. Better now for healing than during Summer. Back in 2000 I had a non-displaced fracture of my right collarbone when a car hit me so I know that it takes a while to heal.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Late January sunset
Late afternoon I was shoveling the snowfall from a few days ago from the yard when the sun came out. Its been a long time since I seen the sun. Here are a couple photos.
 |
| Swan Mountain Range |
Friday, January 08, 2016
Moving
After all this time Jan's daughter finally found an apartment and I helped move some of her stuff - since I have a pickup. First I had to get a large wooden entertainment center and large bed headboard Jan had bought at the Veteran's Pantry. Both were used and had scratches so that made moving them a little easier even though both were large bulky and heavy.
We also loaded a sofa and two heavy wooden side tables into my pickup. I tied a bed mattress and box spring on top of Jan's SUV. Off we drove to Whitefish. Jan in the lead; me following; and the daughter bringing up the rear. I would watch that the bed and box spring did not come off Jan's SUV and the daughter watched that nothing came off the back of the pickup (as I couldn't close the tailgate and still get everything loaded).
We didn't lose anything. I was glad we didn't have to go further as the mattress did move a little to the back when Jan drove 50 mph.
I asked if the front door and then the elevator or stairs was the way to go and was told yes. I got the mattress squeezed in the elevator. We had to carry the box spring down the stairs as I couldn't bend that. Then we were told that a back door on the first / lower left would be better to use as we would avoid using the elevator or stairs.
We barely got the sofa through the initial corners. We turned it this way and that before finally getting it through the doors. I only had the entertainment center left to move inside when a guy told me another door would be better to use. No corners to get inside the building. Now someone tells me!
Most things I manhandled but a few items were too big and bulky and I needed a person to guide the other end. Moving the furniture was me, 70-something Jan, and her 50-something daughter, neither with strength or endurance. I'm glad neither dropped dead from the effort. They were pretty tired.
The apartment complex residents are either senior citizens or disabled people. In the beginning a number of old ladies with their walkers were loitering about to watch the activity. (Guess nothing else goes on for excitement there). A few were in the way as they were slow in comprehending we would be carrying stuff down the hallway past them, else slow to move due to age. After I almost ran one old lady over they finally got the idea that hanging in the hallway to watch the activity was not a safe place to be and left.
It took four hours from start to finish. Jan treated me to supper at Nickel Charlies for helping.
We also loaded a sofa and two heavy wooden side tables into my pickup. I tied a bed mattress and box spring on top of Jan's SUV. Off we drove to Whitefish. Jan in the lead; me following; and the daughter bringing up the rear. I would watch that the bed and box spring did not come off Jan's SUV and the daughter watched that nothing came off the back of the pickup (as I couldn't close the tailgate and still get everything loaded).
We didn't lose anything. I was glad we didn't have to go further as the mattress did move a little to the back when Jan drove 50 mph.
I asked if the front door and then the elevator or stairs was the way to go and was told yes. I got the mattress squeezed in the elevator. We had to carry the box spring down the stairs as I couldn't bend that. Then we were told that a back door on the first / lower left would be better to use as we would avoid using the elevator or stairs.
We barely got the sofa through the initial corners. We turned it this way and that before finally getting it through the doors. I only had the entertainment center left to move inside when a guy told me another door would be better to use. No corners to get inside the building. Now someone tells me!
Most things I manhandled but a few items were too big and bulky and I needed a person to guide the other end. Moving the furniture was me, 70-something Jan, and her 50-something daughter, neither with strength or endurance. I'm glad neither dropped dead from the effort. They were pretty tired.
The apartment complex residents are either senior citizens or disabled people. In the beginning a number of old ladies with their walkers were loitering about to watch the activity. (Guess nothing else goes on for excitement there). A few were in the way as they were slow in comprehending we would be carrying stuff down the hallway past them, else slow to move due to age. After I almost ran one old lady over they finally got the idea that hanging in the hallway to watch the activity was not a safe place to be and left.
It took four hours from start to finish. Jan treated me to supper at Nickel Charlies for helping.
Monday, January 04, 2016
Snow on mountains, etc.
It appears to have finally stopped snowing. Yesterday I finally finished shoveling the snow off the driveway and yard.
The last couple of weeks in 2015 my bicycle's front tire leaked air. At first I only had to add air every three to four days. Then every two days. Then the last half week, every day. Over the weekend I patched the inner tube. My first attempt didn't stop the leak. So I took my time, and several days, on my second attempt and that appears to have solved the problem. The cause of the leak? I found a very thin wire sticking though the inside of my tire. It looks to be from a wire brush. Over the Summer, in the backyard, I had used a wire brush to clean one of the cattle water troughs. I had to use pliers to remove the wire from the tire. That thin of a wire going through the tire is like a straw driven through a board by tornado winds.
Moved another bale of hay for the cattle today. I am getting better at scraping the snow. Very little dirt gouged today. When I let the cattle out of the corral to go to the bale tonight one of the cows was walking slow. I couldn't see a limp. Also in the dark I couldn't tell if it was the same cow that was walking slow a week or so ago.
This afternoon's view after the inversion weakened.
Here a photo of Lake McDonald from the Glacier Park Apgar Mountain webcam today. Notice the temperature was 33.8 F on top of the mountain. In the Valley, under the inversion, we barely made it up into the 20s F.
The last couple of weeks in 2015 my bicycle's front tire leaked air. At first I only had to add air every three to four days. Then every two days. Then the last half week, every day. Over the weekend I patched the inner tube. My first attempt didn't stop the leak. So I took my time, and several days, on my second attempt and that appears to have solved the problem. The cause of the leak? I found a very thin wire sticking though the inside of my tire. It looks to be from a wire brush. Over the Summer, in the backyard, I had used a wire brush to clean one of the cattle water troughs. I had to use pliers to remove the wire from the tire. That thin of a wire going through the tire is like a straw driven through a board by tornado winds.
Moved another bale of hay for the cattle today. I am getting better at scraping the snow. Very little dirt gouged today. When I let the cattle out of the corral to go to the bale tonight one of the cows was walking slow. I couldn't see a limp. Also in the dark I couldn't tell if it was the same cow that was walking slow a week or so ago.
This afternoon's view after the inversion weakened.
 |
| Far mountains are in Glacier Park |
Here a photo of Lake McDonald from the Glacier Park Apgar Mountain webcam today. Notice the temperature was 33.8 F on top of the mountain. In the Valley, under the inversion, we barely made it up into the 20s F.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
6250 miles
Happy New Year!
The year is about over and my bicycle mileage is set. For the year I rode 6,250 miles. That is:
No bicycle tour or big event rides. I never rode more than 210 miles in a week or over 50 miles in a day. Just steady and consistent riding almost every day, even throughout the Winter. With all the "fix it" projects around the ranch, and fence work, and cattle work, etc., etc., until it snowed and made the road icy, often I would ride after the sun set. My evening route is one that I can vary from 12 to 17 miles.
The last few weeks have been a challenge with all the snow that fell and colder temperatures. Today I had to ride 12 miles in the cold to reach my goal.
So, I hope you had a great year and were able to meet some good goals, and that next year is ever better for you.
The year is about over and my bicycle mileage is set. For the year I rode 6,250 miles. That is:
- 520.8 miles a month
- 120.2 miles a week
- 17.1 miles a day
No bicycle tour or big event rides. I never rode more than 210 miles in a week or over 50 miles in a day. Just steady and consistent riding almost every day, even throughout the Winter. With all the "fix it" projects around the ranch, and fence work, and cattle work, etc., etc., until it snowed and made the road icy, often I would ride after the sun set. My evening route is one that I can vary from 12 to 17 miles.
The last few weeks have been a challenge with all the snow that fell and colder temperatures. Today I had to ride 12 miles in the cold to reach my goal.
So, I hope you had a great year and were able to meet some good goals, and that next year is ever better for you.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Broken hydrant
Well... that didn't last a year. (http://tallpinesranch.blogspot.com/2015/02/faucet-fix.html) Last week the cattle broke the pipe coming from the well's hydrant.
While the pipe was on the cattle's side of the corral fence I thought it was solid enough and the pipe didn't stick out much for the cattle to break. But prior to Christmas they did. The fitting coming out of the hydrant head was broken off and the pipe ended up in the water trough. Thankfully the hydrant and it's pipe wasn't broken.
Once I cut the broken fitting out of the hydrant head using a hacksaw blade, I found new pipe fittings to use. After I worked on the house well this past Summer I ended up with a few more pipe fittings. The pipe still sticks through the fence into the corral but now it hugs the fence. I wrapped, with wire, two parts of the pipe to the fence rails to secure the pipe. When it gets warmer, or in the Spring, I may look for more fittings to see if I can route the majority of the pipe outside the fence and only have it go through the fence into the water trough at the very end.
While the pipe was on the cattle's side of the corral fence I thought it was solid enough and the pipe didn't stick out much for the cattle to break. But prior to Christmas they did. The fitting coming out of the hydrant head was broken off and the pipe ended up in the water trough. Thankfully the hydrant and it's pipe wasn't broken.
Once I cut the broken fitting out of the hydrant head using a hacksaw blade, I found new pipe fittings to use. After I worked on the house well this past Summer I ended up with a few more pipe fittings. The pipe still sticks through the fence into the corral but now it hugs the fence. I wrapped, with wire, two parts of the pipe to the fence rails to secure the pipe. When it gets warmer, or in the Spring, I may look for more fittings to see if I can route the majority of the pipe outside the fence and only have it go through the fence into the water trough at the very end.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Moving hay in the snow
It is good to have a tractor to move hay. I think back to last year and the deep snow and the struggles using my pickup to pull a hay bale through deep snow. Much easier to move bales with a tractor.
First I put the bucket on the loader and pushed snow away for a path. I was able to easily drive through the deep snow but I decided not to do so when carrying a large heavy hay bale. Plus I wanted to make a wide path for the cattle to walk. Earlier they had made a single file path through the deep snow but I found that when we shared the path I was the one who had to get off and walk through the deep snow to get past a cow.
I also cleared an area for the new bale and feeder and tried to make it large enough so the cattle could also lay nearby on the ground and not in the deep snow. And I made a path to the river for the cattle.
This was practice for my scraping snow using the tractor's bucket. It can be too easy to gouge the ground and I need practice where a gouge doesn't matter much.
The bales somewhat block the view when carrying them.
Next year I will clean out the hay shed so I can store the bales in there and not have to scrape snow off them before feeding them to cattle.
Later I noticed animal tracks in the path I had cleared from the hay bales to the yard. In the time I had cleared a path out to the pasture some animal went from the hay bales to the yard over my newly created path. It wasn't Daisy as she was inside the house. The tracks didn't look to be a dog's tracks either. I don't what animal it was but it looked to be some sort of animal the size of Daisy or a small dog.
First I put the bucket on the loader and pushed snow away for a path. I was able to easily drive through the deep snow but I decided not to do so when carrying a large heavy hay bale. Plus I wanted to make a wide path for the cattle to walk. Earlier they had made a single file path through the deep snow but I found that when we shared the path I was the one who had to get off and walk through the deep snow to get past a cow.
I also cleared an area for the new bale and feeder and tried to make it large enough so the cattle could also lay nearby on the ground and not in the deep snow. And I made a path to the river for the cattle.
This was practice for my scraping snow using the tractor's bucket. It can be too easy to gouge the ground and I need practice where a gouge doesn't matter much.
The bales somewhat block the view when carrying them.
Next year I will clean out the hay shed so I can store the bales in there and not have to scrape snow off them before feeding them to cattle.
Later I noticed animal tracks in the path I had cleared from the hay bales to the yard. In the time I had cleared a path out to the pasture some animal went from the hay bales to the yard over my newly created path. It wasn't Daisy as she was inside the house. The tracks didn't look to be a dog's tracks either. I don't what animal it was but it looked to be some sort of animal the size of Daisy or a small dog.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
My 2015 Christmas gift
For Christmas, Donna's friend Wendy made for Donna, to give me, this awesome wall hanging.
Other than using a pattern for the cattle, it is all original. It has the features of my ranch: cow and calf, large hay bales, fence, and tall pines. Very clever and original. One of a kind. And the cow and calf are all black. No Holsteins for me! (And no red cattle as Donna is not too fond of Mama cow.)
Other than using a pattern for the cattle, it is all original. It has the features of my ranch: cow and calf, large hay bales, fence, and tall pines. Very clever and original. One of a kind. And the cow and calf are all black. No Holsteins for me! (And no red cattle as Donna is not too fond of Mama cow.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
