Re: in NY

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky,

Yes, I am definately following doctor's order's this time around.

I'm sure I've learned my lesson.

The last time, I had to get an operation to my elbow to fix the

problem.

On that occasion, I didn't speak up loudly enough and tell the

therapist, (the prescription said nothing about working with

weights).

The inevitable happened, I ended up badly tearing my epicondyl

tendon in my right elbow.

It is sometimes also known as " tennis elbow " only a bit more severe.

When the surgeon opened up the elbow, I was wide awake and watching

the operation(he didn't want to " put me under " with an anesthesia

because of a serious lung disease I have)so he used a local

anesthesia, several shots right into the elbow area.

He had my entire right arm wrapped completely tight with, what

looked like an ace bandage, but it was not that9 I looked like a

partial mummy). He then made a hole over the area to be operated on.

I was watching him cut open the elbow and pin back the skin, the

operating room nurses held both sides open for him to get at the

tendon.

When he said; " MY GOD, look at that tendon " , I almost passed out

(fainted, ha, ha, ha), it was torn all right, and very white in

color. It should have been a pinkish color.

He then scraped the tendon away from the bone, drilled another hole

in my elbow ( I can't get rid of that smell memory),an inch lower in

the elbow, then put the end of the tendon into that hole and sutured

it there. He had me move my middle finger to check if it was in a

good location and performed correctly. Then he stapled it closed and

gave me a prescription for regulair plain old Vicodin.

I was already taking Vicodin ES, so I stayed with a winner, you

know, Ha, ha, ha?

After several weeks of at home physical therapy, (he knew I

didn't want to see another therapist), I was fine. I used a hand

held ball called the 'dyna-flex', it is sort of a gyroscope device

that, once you begin to rotate it by hand, it strengthens the

muscles in your wrist and forearm. It worked great too.

My elbow has never been happier.

And that was the last time I didn't speak up while at or under a

doctor's care.

Take care and feel better.

/New York