Fractured shoulder

[Ian B (again)]

Not unexpectedly, my neuro couldn't be 100% certain it was epilepsy earlier today, but everything pointed to that and I'm being booked in for a MR brain scan sometime soon. He wanted to know how I felt about taking epilepsy meds, it's a no-brainer imo. If he thought I'd be worried about the possible stigma of being labelled epileptic by others, he was wrong.

As I live alone and had this happened at home and I'd injured myself more seriously I would have been in real trouble, so taking meds to prevent another episode is common sense, bad enough this happening at all but lucky it did in a shop where people could get help. I just need to wait for a letter to arrive from him (the same letter to my GP) then I need to see my GP to start said meds.

[Ian B (again)]

Not for the first time I've proven a health conundrum

The first set of x-rays seemed to indicate a fractured shoulder that *may* need pinning, but more likely it would heal itself in time. The second set a week later showed a badly damaged shoulder that would almost certainly need surgery, the conflict over these x-rays led to my having a CT scan on the shoulder today to find out exactly what is going on. I'm pleased to say it confirmed the first set of x-rays

There's damage certainly, amazingly imo the socket itself is totally intact but a large piece of bone has come off the ball, clearly visible on the scan result, but not bad enough to need surgery. The option was there had I insisted but having chatted at length to the orthopedic surgeon I decided against as in his opinion, while the shoulder will never be the same again I should be able to function perfectly well.

I slipped up by mentioning to him how sore my elbow and forearm were, instead of going straight home I was sent for x-rays of my elbow (for which getting my arm in the right positions were excruciatingly painful, I was on the verge of tears) then it was back into the queue to see him again. For all that, I wasn't in the fracture clinic as long as some other people today who are probably still there, one guy was told there were 16 people in front of him

The physio starts on 7th Sept, luckily it'll be done at my local Health Center which is literally only minutes away from my house, a huge plus for me but I'm still dreading it. I don't need to go back to hospital till 5th October for a checkup, by which time I will hopefully have made much progress in getting the shoulder going again.

[ddlooping]

Good news, I think.

[Ian B (again)]

Good news, I think.

It is tho' movement in this joint will be limited, how much I end up with is in the lap of the Gods. The orthopedic surgeon said he didn't think I'd ever be able to get this arm much above (if that) shoulder height, but as long as I can straighten the arm and it'll bear reasonable weight, I'll be more than happy.

I messed up when my local Health Center rang yesterday to arrange a date for my first physio session, I didn't think of asking should I carry on using the sling or do as much as I'm able (which is increasing slowly)? I'll only have to wait till this coming Tuesday to ask, but should have thought about it yesterday.

[Ian B (again)]

Just a quick update on the state of play regarding my shoulder.

It's getting better, albeit very slowly and the arm/muscles rather than the joint are still very, very painful, tho' I can do more and more with it, but it's still not much more use than a flipper most of the time. I should have started physio last Friday but they cancelled at the last minute so now I begin this coming Monday morning at 9am.............assuming my designated physio doesn't ring in sick like the first.

I took my guitar out of it's case this afternoon, the first time I've even so much as looked at it since I collapsed, more in hope than expectation of being able to play it, but I had a pleasant (if painful surprise)

Basic open chords are just about possible tho' uncomfortable, but barre chords are pretty much a no-no, not least because of the agony my arm is in within seconds of forming one. The arm is still strangely numb for lengthy periods, as is my hand and fingers which didn't help. Lead lines are much easier, tho' the numb finger problem soon kicks in but the signs are a whole lot better than I expected even if in the end my playing is even more limited than before all this happened.

I'm booked in for a MRI/brain scan this coming Saturday afternoon at 4am, which seemed a bloody funny time and day, but was correct when I phoned to confirm the appt.

My neuro, who is already treating my Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, is pretty much convinced the fit was epilepsy, no real surprise in that tbh, so I'll be on AED's for life as I've now had 2 confirmed fits and several strange, mostly short lived, blackouts inbetween that I put down to low blood pressure, but according to my neuro were more likely to have been minor fits. To be fair, my hands and fingers have been getting worse regarding co-ordination over the years, but that's down to my having HSP and my injured shoulder/muscles are probably making this particular issue worse.

I've not heard from hospital after having a 24 hour heart monitor fitted so I'm assuming nothing amiss was found.

[ddlooping]

Thanks for the update, Ian, hopefully the way to recovery will be short.
Have you been taking the "opportunity" to work on your right-hand technique (picking, finger-picking, etc...)?

[Ian B (again)]

Thanks for the update, Ian, hopefully the way to recovery will be short.
Have you been taking the "opportunity" to work on your right-hand technique (picking, finger-picking, etc...)?

Thanks I'm hoping there will have been major improvements before my next appt at the fracture clinic in early October (I forget the date atm, but think it may be the 5th)

As for right hand technique, it hadn't crossed my mind tbh. Worryingly, even tho' I'm only a hobby player and a lousy one at that, I expected to miss playing a lot more than I have.

[Ian B (again)]

I finally received the letter from my neuro today, detailing which AED he wants me started on > Lamictal. Like most people I would have googled any new drug for possible side effects, etc, but what really piqued my interest was the letter saying I should stop taking it immediately should I develop a rash.

F#ck me, google and Lamictal makes scary reading, the side effects/rash can be life threatening http://www.rxlist.com/lamictal-drug.htm and even tho' it's a very small minority of those taking it so affected, it hardly fills me with confidence.

I tolerated a far higher than recommended *safe* dose fo Baclofen for years pretty well with bearable side effects. As this has lost it's efficacy I've now reduced the dose and I'm also taking Zanaflex (not tolerated so well) so I'm hoping my luck hasn't run out regarding meds and side effects. I'll be making a appt to see my GP on Monday (assuming I can get in to see him that is) and will talk things over with him as he'll be in charge of my taking this drug.

[ddlooping]

Well, let's hope you're in the majority.

[Ian B (again)]

Well, let's hope you're in the majority.

Thanks, I can only that's the case. At least any warning signs there may be trouble seemingly show up early.