5/3/07 Elbow Surgery
Almost 7 months to the day Nathan had surgery on his elbow.
Of course there was much waiting which seems to be the norm. He was taken to surgery about 5:00 (Denver time). I got a call from Dr. Morgan at 6:40 and he said that the surgery went really well. He was able to take all but one screw out of his arm. I'm so amazed. To think that 7 months ago it took 5 doctors 9 days to even start to figure out how they were going to put it back together and now he only has 1 screw left. Incredible!!! He said that he has great range of motion and is able to twist his wrist (which he hasn't been able to do). He told me that there was some risk to a nerve and that Nathan was aware of this going in. Not really much choice there. If you hold your arm out straight with your palm down and then lift your wrist back toward your elbow that is what he may not be able to do. He said he'd know when he woke up but Nathan says he's so bandaged up that he has know idea if he can do it or not.
The doc was going to numb him up for 6 to 12 hours after the surgery. However, when I talked to Nathan at 8:00 (Denver time) he was still in recovery and having a great deal of pain. They were having a real problem getting it under control. I guess they considered admitting him but he wanted to go back to the dorm. Diana took him back to the dorm, she said he looked like death warmed over. Sounds like he got back to the dorm close to 11:00 his time. Long day, short night.
Didn't talk to him again until 3:00 today and he'd been sleeping off and on. Was still in terrible pain but was dealing with it.
I feel terrible that I can't be there to mother him. But I guess he's surviving.
He starts hand therapy next week. Doesn't that sound like fun.....
Just wanted to keep you all up todate and what is happening. Hopefully this will be the last surgery. Wouldn't that be great!!!! Ever the optimist that I am %-}
Love to you all, Steve, Bev & Nathan
Of course there was much waiting which seems to be the norm. He was taken to surgery about 5:00 (Denver time). I got a call from Dr. Morgan at 6:40 and he said that the surgery went really well. He was able to take all but one screw out of his arm. I'm so amazed. To think that 7 months ago it took 5 doctors 9 days to even start to figure out how they were going to put it back together and now he only has 1 screw left. Incredible!!! He said that he has great range of motion and is able to twist his wrist (which he hasn't been able to do). He told me that there was some risk to a nerve and that Nathan was aware of this going in. Not really much choice there. If you hold your arm out straight with your palm down and then lift your wrist back toward your elbow that is what he may not be able to do. He said he'd know when he woke up but Nathan says he's so bandaged up that he has know idea if he can do it or not.
The doc was going to numb him up for 6 to 12 hours after the surgery. However, when I talked to Nathan at 8:00 (Denver time) he was still in recovery and having a great deal of pain. They were having a real problem getting it under control. I guess they considered admitting him but he wanted to go back to the dorm. Diana took him back to the dorm, she said he looked like death warmed over. Sounds like he got back to the dorm close to 11:00 his time. Long day, short night.
Didn't talk to him again until 3:00 today and he'd been sleeping off and on. Was still in terrible pain but was dealing with it.
I feel terrible that I can't be there to mother him. But I guess he's surviving.
He starts hand therapy next week. Doesn't that sound like fun.....
Just wanted to keep you all up todate and what is happening. Hopefully this will be the last surgery. Wouldn't that be great!!!! Ever the optimist that I am %-}
Love to you all, Steve, Bev & Nathan
posted by Nathan's Mom at
6:46 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home