Tuesday, January 13, 2009

shoulder update

I saw an orthopedic surgeon today. This doctor specializes in shoulders and I had him checked out. He has a very good reputation. He is an ex Olympic runner who represented the UK in the Olympic games in Los Angeles (not sure what year it was). He finished 10th over all and later finished #5 in the world games after that. Anyway.....Basically he said that the repair on my shoulder has "completely fallen apart". So I need surgery again. I haven't got a date yet but I may know when tomorrow. He will go in and try to do the repair laproscopically but may have to open it up and put in a prosthetic patch which covers the ball and keeps a space between the ball and the clavicle.
Now this is what he says about the previous surgery.
#1. The metal fragments in the joint are most likely from the shaver the surgeon used to shave down the clavicle bone. Evidently the surgeon actually hit the tool itself with the blade of the shaver and sheared pieces of the blade off, then didn't clean the fragments out of the joint.
#2. Shaving down the clavicle was not necessary and based on a theory that is over twenty years old and no longer accepted as common practice.
#3. My arm should have been immobilized in the sling for at least 6 weeks and then followed up with very delicate and slight movement building up to a full regime of physical therapy over time as healing took place. My original surgeon removed the sling and started me on a full aggressive physical therapy regime 3 1/2 weeks after the surgery. I'm also convinced that had I been back to his office the following week after surgery he would have started it even sooner.
#4. And finally he was amazed that I was on the operating table for 5 hours. He said he will be blocking 90 minutes of o.r. time regardless of whether he does the repair key hole or open incision.
As far as the MRI's are concerned, he says that an MRI on a shoulder with no contrast is almost useless and that he would use an ultra sound. I explained that I had an ultrasound and my surgeon ordered two MRI's without contrast.
He also said that he was surprised that they tried to do a nerve block on my shoulder while I was awake. He will block the shoulder after I am asleep using an ultrasound to guide the needle. He said that way you can see the nerve and the needle and it is 99.99 % successful.
The surgeon doubts that the fall I took down Eileens dangerous and potentially deadly stairs had anything to do with this because my shoulder had begun to heal and then started to develop pain again over time.
So that is the whole long story.
I'm going to have the surgery. See what he says after the procedure and then consult with a "med mal" to see if I have any recourse.

5 comments:

Jim Laverty said...

Keep me posted. Also add 10% for my worrying about you. Ha Ha Call it a worry fee.
Love ya Bro

Sandypants said...

Wow! What a drama! Sounds like you definitely have grounds to sue your first dr! Good luck..i'll be thinking of you!

Debbie said...

Like I said before - sue sue SUE!! This family and especially you Rick, has been through enough! You should get pain and suffering and punitive to wake this guy up. This certainly was a case of malpractice!
Good Luck - don't forget my birthday is May 4th :) At least make me some drop earrings from the shavings!!
Love ya,
Deb

Jim Laverty said...

Rick,
Question.....how are you going to get through the metal detectors at the airport? I stay up at night thinking of these things. Like can you rust? Are you now p[art Bionic, is your half brother the Tin man. Bad show that Wizard of Oz even Dorothy was a thief she took the wicked witch's ruby red shoes.
Goes to show you you can't trust anyone, exept me of course and remember it is Debby's Birthday but I still have a mortgage to pay off Bro

Jimmy B Laverty said...

Hey Rick, I wish you the best. I'm sure you'll write the next episode of the drama as soon as you are able to type agaiin. I really do wish you the best!