Yesspaz's Leg

[podakayne]

Yesspaz!

...thank you.

[sharcnorris]

Stepped into a basement stairwell on a job once,No Stairs! My face looked so colorfull !!! We all have our moments.........how about a sock?

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by sharcnorris
Stepped into a basement stairwell on a job once,No Stairs! My face looked so colorfull !!! We all have our moments.........how about a sock?

Uh, you see that metal thingie that's to the inside of that ankle? That thing happens to be FIRMLY ATTACHED by LONG METAL SCREWS to the BONES IN HIS FEET, ANKLE AND LEG!!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeuuuughgggggghhhhhh*twitch * *scratch furiously*

Skeeve. Just ... Skeeve.

Roger -Dot- Lee, hoping y'all will excuse him while he goes off and has a professional, world class, top of the line case of the heebee jeebies.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Uh, you see that metal thingie that's to the inside of that ankle? That thing happens to be FIRMLY ATTACHED by LONG METAL SCREWS to the BONES IN HIS FEET, ANKLE AND LEG!!!!!!!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeuuuughgggggghhhhhh*twitch * *scratch furiously*

Skeeve. Just ... Skeeve.

Roger -Dot- Lee, hoping y'all will excuse him while he goes off and has a professional, world class, top of the line case of the heebee jeebies.

...and that's only a single break!

In '78 I was hit by a car while riding on a motorcycle. I broke 34 bones in a single day (to quote from TLLDOB: Evel Knievel, you got nothing on me). My left leg was crushed into a 24 piece compound fracture. Many of the nerves and arteries and veins were severed. Many hours of neuro and vascular surgery took place before the leg was ever set. To this day I have limited sensation in the leg (made it really interesting to learn to walk again) and I get phantom sensations too... it feels like bugs crawling on your skin.

Anyway, back in those days they still used plaster. I had a full leg plaster cast for 2+ years. To hold the pieces of the leg in place, surgical steel rods were driven into each piece of the leg and held in place in the plaster of the full leg cast. The protruding bits of metal were covered with white rubber "test tube cork" like safety covers to keep me from injuring myself or others on the 1 inch "spikes".

The accident occurred 5 days after I graduated High School (en route to look for a summer job). I spent 2 months of the summer in traction in the hospital. I was released on my birthday in August. Believe it or not, I started college in the fall against my Dr.'s and parents wishes. Locomotion via crutches isn't much fun -- especially, on a college campus where there is typically much walking. I had to come home every weekend for X-rays to check that I wasn't injuring myself while away at college. That put a damper on weekend college parties for the first semester.

In that brief few weeks at home, I found time to paint my cast to cover up all of the graffiti my friends wrote on my plastered leg. Shaving mirrors and paint brushes extended with chopsticks and masking tape aided me in painting the cast. Here's pix of the cast about a year after the initial accident. Most of the metal spikes had been removed (I had to touch up the pix every time they did that). Only about a 1/2 dozen remained at this time. You can barely make out 2 around the knee and 2 at the ankle in the pix. http://www.tmesis.com/cast/

Showering every day was a real ritual. I had to cover the cast with a heavy plastic bag and tape the top to my leg with surgical tape.

If you want a case of the "heebee jeebies", come look at the compound fracture scars on my leg and see how straight it is... it looks like this:

\
/
\
/

Physical therapy after the cast was removed was a joke. First session I was hoisted from a wheel chair into a seat in a pool. I was made to sit there for 15 mins and then they pulled me out and sent me home. I thought to myself that I'd never get on my feet that way and I never went back. Two of my friends at the time came over each day and picked me up by the arms and helped me as I attempted to walk. By the end of that last month of that summer, I had enough leg muscle to almost stand on my own without aid of a cane. I spent another year on a cane learning to figure out where my leg was spacially as I learned to walk again. The most difficult times being after a couple of drinks.

[Rick and Roll]

Nice Budgie picture.....a great band. Oh that's right, not prog!

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by VAXman
...and that's only a single break!

That type of thing is likely the single reason that I won't ride a motorcycle. It's not that I don't trust my own abilities, it's that I don't, ever, under ANY circumstances, trust the other chowderheads on the road. The advent of the cellular phone has increased the risk astronomically.

Showering every day was a real ritual. I had to cover the cast with a heavy plastic bag and tape the top to my leg with surgical tape.

Been there, done that. It put a serious crimp in my routine after my back surgery.

If you want a case of the "heebee jeebies", come look at the compound fracture scars on my leg and see how straight it is... it looks like this:

\
/
\
/

ouch.

In case someone didn't get that, let me reiterate:

OUCH!!!!!!!!

Physical therapy after the cast was removed was a joke. First session I was hoisted from a wheel chair into a seat in a pool. I was made to sit there for 15 mins and then they pulled me out and sent me home. I thought to myself that I'd never get on my feet that way and I never went back. Two of my friends at the time came over each day and picked me up by the arms and helped me as I attempted to walk. By the end of that last month of that summer, I had enough leg muscle to almost stand on my own without aid of a cane. I spent another year on a cane learning to figure out where my leg was spacially as I learned to walk again. The most difficult times being after a couple of drinks. [/b]

Imagine my surprise.

Boy, I get those creepy crawly feelings down my legs all the time, especially during thunderstorms or after doing anything physical. Nerve damage sucks big time.

[sharcnorris]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
Nerve damage sucks big time. [/b]

As I said, we all have our moments, I hope this isn't a painathon

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by sharcnorris
As I said, we all have our moments, I hope this isn't a painathon

Painathon: GY!BE, Tarental and Don Caballero for 24 hrs.

This thread hasn't gotten that bad... has it?

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by VAXman
Painathon: GY!BE, Tarental and Don Caballero for 24 hrs.

This thread hasn't gotten that bad... has it?

Depends on what you consider 'Bad'. If you compare this to 24 hours of those illustrious ever-so-prog bands above, then I'd have to register with an emphatic NO.

ObPeeve, related to my ObBack: One of the wonderful joys of living here in God's Country is that, on occasion, we get visited by those lovely little ditties known as 'Tropical Depressions'. These joyous visitors from the jungles of western Africa are, by and large, harmless.

Unless they make landfall in the gulf. Then they're known for following I-85 up and setting up shop in the most inconvenient place.

They do it just to annoy me. I know this for a fact.

Roger -Dot- Lee, ouch.

[sharcnorris]

Originally posted by Roger Lee
The advent of the cellular phone has increased the risk (of car accidents) astronomically.



[/b]

As long as this tread is Wandering so much,
People used to rush yellow lights, now I have to break heavy at yellows because the person WANTS to STOP!! so they Can YACK!!!! SHEEEEEEEEESH!,
a couple of years ago before EVERYBODY had a cell, I saw a guy in the Mens room at the trough, One hand talking and the other...well, I knew we were doomed to the cellgods then

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by sharcnorris
As long as this tread is Wandering so much,

Who, Us? Wander?

People used to rush yellow lights, now I have to break heavy at yellows because the person WANTS to STOP!! so they Can YACK!!!!

Personally, I'd rather have them stop and yack instead of continuing on through a light that has obviously turned red (I've seen it happen. MANY times).

Although, when all is said and done, I'd rather they pull over in a nice safe location to prattle. There's nothing more important involving cell phones that safe driving has to take a back seat (if you'll pardon the pun).

SHEEEEEEEEESH!,
a couple of years ago before EVERYBODY had a cell, I saw a guy in the Mens room at the trough, One hand talking and the other...well, I knew we were doomed to the cellgods then

He must have been a lawyer.

[Yesspaz]

Originally posted by the Watcher of the Moon, Watcher or All
...and that's only a single break!

In '78 I was hit by a car while riding on a motorcycle. I broke 34 bones in a single day (to quote from TLLDOB: Evel Knievel, you got nothing on me). My left leg was crushed into a 24 piece compound fracture. Many of the nerves and arteries and veins were severed. Many hours of neuro and vascular surgery took place before the leg was ever set. To this day I have limited sensation in the leg (made it really interesting to learn to walk again) and I get phantom sensations too... it feels like bugs crawling on your skin.

Anyway, back in those days they still used plaster. I had a full leg plaster cast for 2+ years. To hold the pieces of the leg in place, surgical steel rods were driven into each piece of the leg and held in place in the plaster of the full leg cast. The protruding bits of metal were covered with white rubber "test tube cork" like safety covers to keep me from injuring myself or others on the 1 inch "spikes".

Well, I'll one-up ya again! My break HAD to be worse, because though it took 3+ years to heal you in '78, they were able to do it. In 2003, they thought they might lose my leg, and I was in fact told that if it had happened even ten years before, in 1993, I'd have lost the leg at the knee. The technology just wasn't there in '93. And if it wasn't there in 1993, it wasn't there in 1978. Oh, and my dad can beat up your dad.

PS, I couldn't listen to 24 hours of GYBE! and Don Cab, but I've got no problem listening to Tarentel all day. I can see and understand the GYBE and Don Cab stuff, but not the Tarentel (with the exception of "Welcome.")

[sharcnorris]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
(with the exception of "Welcome.")

no please,........not..Welcome
and just to be on top by being on the very bottom..
I'd match my mental scars from my Father to any of yours to the flesh

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Well, I'll one-up ya again! My break HAD to be worse, because though it took 3+ years to heal you in '78, they were able to do it. In 2003, they thought they might lose my leg, and I was in fact told that if it had happened even ten years before, in 1993, I'd have lost the leg at the knee. The technology just wasn't there in '93. And if it wasn't there in 1993, it wasn't there in 1978. Oh, and my dad can beat up your dad.

I was told that it might be amputated. The vascular and nerve damage was really bad and the major portions of my tibia and fibula were outside of my leg. Two of the best neuro and vascular surgeons were called in from Philadelphia and worked on the leg. The orthopaedic surgeon was top notch and in the Lehigh Valley. I never cared for his so called "bed-side manners" but he was determined to try to save the leg. There was little bone growth after the first 6 months. So the cast was opened and one of the pieces of bone extracted and pulverized. This was then injected into the voids about other bits in the leg to help aid in bone formation/growth. In addition -- remember those "spikes in the bones"-- an electrical stimulator was attached to the surgical steel rods in hopes that this too would stimulate growth. At about 1 year into all of this there was still only marginal bone healing and the "amputate" word was again uttered. I asked the Doc to give it a couple of more months... It wasn't hurting to try.

I went on a super high calcium diet... milk (bleachk!), salmon (with bones) and other cold water fish high in calcium. Extra vitamin D too. I worked on getting "circulation" increased in the leg by lifting weights with my toes (still protruding from the cast) and lifting the leg as much as I could whenever I could. After about 3 months there was sign of bone mending and 6 months a real significant improvement. It even surprised the Dr. After 26 months in the cast, the leg was free. I had a specially moulded removable brace ( a hard plastic shell with a pivoting foot piece) made then that allowed me to have the leg supported and protected which I wore for another 9 or 10 months. As the leg muscle began to increase, I had to get a new brace
made. I had 4 made over the years. I still had one of them in my garage. I just tossed it the weekend I was hit in the head with the brick. I should have taken a picture first...

The real *fun* part was trying to walk when you can't sense where the leg is spacially. I no longer drive a standard transmission because it's near impossible to feel the clutch. I have some pain sensation in the leg. If you hit me in the leg or step in the foot but no real "feedback" as to where the leg is. Thanks to the perseverance of myself and my friends, that brace and a cane, I can walk again. ...and I was hell bent on walking as normal as possible too...

Anyway, just because a Dr. says amputate doesn't make it better or worse.

FWIW, I didn't wear shorts for a LONG time being self-conscious of how the leg looked. But that vanity wore off and the scare has faded some. It's no longer blood red, faded to a brownish more skin-tone.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally posted by sharcnorris
I'd match my mental scars from my Father to any of yours to the flesh

Now that's scary.....

We all have had harrowing experiences. After a particularly bad 2004, I just hope mine gets better. I'm not into comparison. Now if something happens to my THIRD leg, well maybe.....

At least we've set the record for the most re's in one thread

[Yesspaz]

Rick with three legs? Are you one of those aliens from "War of the Worlds?"

Vax, I had one of those electronic bone stimulators too, but mine was external. I'd take it out of the box, put this goo on my leg, place the electrode on the main break, and turn it on for twenty minutes-twice a day every day for about six months.

I guess the main thing is that we can still walk!

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Rick with three legs? Are you one of those aliens from "War of the Worlds?"

It might explain our new friend ThreeGonads...

I guess the main thing is that we can still walk!

I think that sums it up perfectly.

A friend of mine used to work in construction. He was on the roof, next to the crown, of one of the local proto-houses (*) and was coming down due to an incoming thunderstorm. Well, right at that moment a Microburst hit, throwing him off this two story roof and landing him 25 or so feet down on the ground below. He's already had one leg amputated, and they're fighting frantically to save the other one.

Yeah, I piss and moan about my back, but:

1. I can still walk
2. I still have all of my natural equipment (even if it doesn't function optimally).

Roger -Dot- Lee

(*) His word for houses still under construction

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Rick with three legs? Are you one of those aliens from "War of the Worlds?"

He only wishes is was a leg... hell, he probably wishes is was a foot or even half a foot!

Originally posted by Yesspaz
Vax, I had one of those electronic bone stimulators too, but mine was external. I'd take it out of the box, put this goo on my leg, place the electrode on the main break, and turn it on for twenty minutes-twice a day every day for about six months.

I guess the main thing is that we can still walk!

Precisely! Having spent 2+ years of my life on crutches, there is nothing like being able to around on my own 2 legs; whether they function fully or not.