Tuesday, August 18, 2009

IMPACTED FRACTURE!

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 was the perfect day for tennis and running. My daughter Eia announced in the morning that she'd like to play tennis after school. It was their last day of exams and will be dismissed earlier than usual. Perfect! From Eia's school we proceeded directly to the tennis court and there Eia enjoyed having the court on her own (her Kuya Gio was dead tired to go with us).

It's OK for me even if i couldn't play. I figured I could still run after I bring Eia home and change my shoes. But after 50 minutes, Eia declared to Coach Sonny that it's my turn. And so I complied and took over the tennis court.

I was only getting warmed up when I excitedly ran backwards to hit an overhead ball. The change in pace happened so fast that I suddenly felt out of balance. By instinct, I tried to support myself with my left hand (was holding the racquet with my right hand) to prevent a bad fall. The next thing I knew, I was down on the ground struggling with the agonizing pain in my twisted wrist. Strange . . . in my mind, I thought "Lord, thank you it's not my leg or feet." Coach Sonny yelled for help and in an instant, Coach Pitik was wrapping ice on my hand which he carefully placed on a bamboo splint. He also made an improvised sling to support my left arm. Since it was impossible for me to drive, I called Ate Ella to come over to take care of Eia then we requested the tricycle driver to bring us to Perpetual Help Hospital. I was immediately given an intravenous pain reliever (which didn't work so had to be given a much stronger dose an hour later) when we arrived at E.R. After securing my arm with the medical sling, I was wheeled to the X-ray room for a diagnostic picture of my forearm. The resident physician contacted the orthopedic surgeon accredited by Philamcare but unfortunately, he was about to board the plane for an overseas trip (the other orthopedic surgeon accredited by Philamcare operating in Perpetual Hospital passed away last week involving a car accident along a flyover).

The advice was to cover my arm with a temporary cast and follow it up with an orthopedic surgeon. And Dr. Lopez did just that.

My friend Mimi recommended other orthopedic surgeons based in Perpetual Help but nobody had clinic hours the following day, Saturday. Yesterday morning, I had the chance to consult with Dr. Edgardo Sevilla. I showed him my X-ray results which read: IMPACTED FRACTURE ALONG THE DISTAL RADIUS. AVULSED FRACTURE OF THE STYLOID PROCESS OF THE LEFT ULNA.

Dr. Sevilla suggested a procedure called "closed reduction" to remedy the problem. However, I need to present to him a C/P (Cardio/Pulmonary) Clearance before he could implement the procedure. This, according to him, is necessary for patients 40 and above (ouch!) undergoing a General Anesthesia. I thought getting the clearance was easy but I was advised to have a chest X-ray, ECG and 2-D ECHO before I'll be given one. I already finished the first 2 but will still have to wait until tomorrow for my 2-D ECHO. Thank you Jay and Jaymie for the get well wishes over RUNRADIO. Take care, everyone!