I am in extreme pain. My arm clicks pops and HURTS! My doctor doesn't believe in pain meds. Now they are talking about the trauma unit putting a rod through my elbow! Maybe my bones are not strong enough.
2006-11-05 15:23:01 · 4 answers · asked by JustMe 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
Feel bad for you- forearm fractures treatment should not be too difficult unless your fractures were difficult in the first place. Probably you were allowed to use your forearm too early which is why there was implant failure or did you use your foream even without doctor's advise? At this stage probably the doctors don't have anymore places to put the screws in. Hence the need for intramedullary rodding or nailing. Good luck!
2006-11-06 22:11:30 · answer #1 · answered by Rene B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i work for a trauma unit in arizona.
the more attempts your doctor makes to surgically repair the forearm without the rod, the more your bones weaken and it also leaves you open for infection each time they have to open your arm back up to try and repair it.
the rod is harmless and will help your arm to heal properly and will also help stop the pain. the trauma unit is an icu so they will probably only put you there if you need to have a breathing tube put in after surgery to help you breathe until the anesthesia wears off or just to be able to watch you more closely after surgery. in an icu, your vital signs (heartrate,blood pressure,etc) are constantly monitored whereas on a regular floor-they are checked every 15 minutes for 30 mins, then every 30 mins for 1 hour, then every hour for 2 hours then they resume checking them every 4 hours or so.
i would stress to your dr that you are in pain and that since it's your body and you don't want to hurt until the surgery is done, you would like something for the pain. it's his job to make sure you are well cared for-this includes helping to relieve your pain. if he still refuses to give you pain medications-you might want to look into getting a second opinion or switching doctors.
2006-11-05 23:37:45 · answer #2 · answered by prncessang228 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you go to the ER, they are only going to treat you long enough to see your orthopedist. (which will be about 2 weeks). If you do not have an orthopedist, they will refer you to one,a nd it will be up to you to follow-up. The ER will not be your primary because it is not in your best interest because you never develop any decent patient/doctor relationship.
good luck
2006-11-05 23:28:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, if thats what they think, its better than amputation.
2006-11-05 23:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋