It's a bit different this one.

So... I've just got out of hospital and I've had a bit of surgery to fix my shoulder as my collar bone or Clavicle was not attached at either end.
I had two options and think I chose the wrong one.

• put it back at both ends under a general anesthetic go home same day
• Cut open my chest cut whats left of the tendons put it back and suture it in place.

I wanted out and went for the first one and think its a mistake. I've a bone floating about and its starting to hurt. Keep bumping it which hurts.

I've limited time to get it done again I think If I even can.

I wanted out of the hospital I was scared and there is no promise it will work right.

What do I do?
Going to make an appointment at my GP tomorrow.

Up side I'm in very little pain now.



Owch Owch

Wouldn't you go straight back to hospital?

I'm not sure it would class as an emergency now?

I spent quite a few weeks in hospital last year, if you are prepared for spending a few days in there, then it isnt as bad as if you go in expecting to come straight home - you can pack your own bag, mentally prepare etc.

My advice would be to think long term and get the surgery done to rectify the ailment in the best way the professionals suggest. Most operations sound far worse than they are and often explained using medical terms which can be daunting too.

I was scared the first time I went in (emergency case). When I was told I needed surgery, I initially refused until it was explained that I wouldnt see the weekend through if I took more than 24 hours to make a decision. Not what you need to hear on a Friday afternoon!
A few months later I needed a similar operation which I didnt even hesitate over, as my fears had not come to fruition after the first surgery.
The more serious surgeries which followed afterwards didn't bother me in the slightest.

I found the fear was caused by my mind telling me to expect a lot more pain than I actually experienced.
You might not experience the same level of fear if you go back, as you will be familiar with the routines of the hospitals on the next visit, which sounds a strange thing to say, but knowing what to expect eases the mind no end.

I know some hospitals are better/worse than others, which can add to the anxiety of surgery, but I could not fault the care I received. The food left a lot to be desired though, as a result I developed an unhealthy addiction to midget gems!

I'm a contractor so thinking get back to work quick was really dumb too. going to have some time out to recover.

Been to the hospital. spoken to a surgeon who consulted with the chief upper limb surgeon between ops and I'm booked in for full surgery Monday with a walk in admission first thing as i'm healthy enough not to need the pre-op Observations.

Finding breathing really hard now so just going to sing out and do my last time sheet effectively ending my contract for the year.

Hope all goes well. Best of luck and try not to worry. Hope you make a speedy recovery!

So update time
Got up at 0530
hospital before 0800
Some one mentions a surgeon is injured so It will be another

at 1330 some one wakes me up to apologize that I was to have been sent home at 0800 as no surgeon and the others are of the opinion that its not required. But if I insist I can have something done Thursday. Which will fail and then they can send me to another hospital for the surgery I thought I was having today.

I've sat starving in a small plastic chair all morning in pain.

So now I've had a bit of a whitey

Hoping to be referred to another hospital and plated up and squared off properly before I heal lopsided.

Not a happy camper


Apparently unless I was a rugby player the preferred option is do nothing. After all I've got another arm what's the problem?

Bloody hell, Jack... from the state you were in at the weekend I can't see a day on a plastic chair being all that wonderful.

Had my left clavice plated few years back best option for injuries with large displacement/bad break. If not corrected you could very well have a lifetime of issues. If you have surgery good chance it will not pop out etc again with physio afterwards ...few mates have had issues with recurrent dislocations of joints which seem to dislocate repeatedly.

Crikey what a chapter of accidents a lot of folk have had....I can't imagine the look on your face when you found that out Jack

I guess you just have to press hard to get what you want and don't let them delay you any more than possible.

Fingers crossed!

Well I've found my surgery is now back to Friday.

Apparently most people don't request it.

Is this NHS rationing by not telling people?

They won't refer me for wiring or anything more serious unless this first stage fails. Also to see a specialist |I have to first refuse treatment then get a referral via my GP then an assessment then scheduled the opp.

So now waiting to go in on the Friday as I don't want to be down as having refused treatment.

What a state!

Well I've now had the surgery. from what I can tell so far this has only anchored the bone on top of the sternum to stop it moving rather than returning it to the right place.

Swelling will hopefully go down over the next day or so and I'll be able to tell but I may now have to pay to have the job done right.

Surely not? I suppose they would have good reason for this....

Well the bone still protruding from my chest and not flush. My shoulder is still forward and there is now a screw in my sternum with the stitches around that and the clavicle so it cannot move backwards or right.

Well I'm no judge as I wasn't there or indeed can't see it, but I'm thinking "2nd opinion"?

I'm feeling more optimistic today.
My clavicles are just about on the same level which is an improvement.
My right clavicle is not in front of my sternum but kind of on top, in front of my throat sort of. Its a little proud. Its now not hurting to breath in

There is a fair amount of swelling.
Optimistic that it may settle in to the right place as the stitches dissolve and the tendons heal.

I'm trying to chill out and relax into my new sling, my shoulders look about square.

Still got a very big bump on my chest and still in a bit of pain but not in the same way and my back and arm muscles feel better.

I can now touch the area where the operation was.


So TLDR:
I'm trying to relax and let swelling go down.

Sounds much more optimistic

TLDR = Too long - didn't read

TLDR = Too long - didn't read

I'll try and get the same angle but its better but not right.

I'm arranging to go private now to see if there is anything more that can be done and the cost; which I expect will be terrifying.

I saw a physio today. Working till after 6pm; he had an appointment after me at 6...

I told him what had happened and found out more from him with no access to my xrays or history than anyone else. Just some one with the time to talk helps so much.

I've found the nurses in the NHS to be unbelievable in how they work, they don't know everything for instance I was told I had to have stitches out but have no external ones.

That's not their fault. they can only tell me what is passed on.

Ultimately at every level of the NHS people have to rush things.

There are not enough surgeons, consultants or nurses.

Selfishly I would ask the NHS to treat winners, Contributes and those with potential.

It's a painful choice to let some one die.
not easy to say no.

But should we waste Money on people who will never pay tax?


Because the NHS view my treatment as "acceptable" I have two options

• Accept I'll never be 100%
• Pay privately

Now I'm a higher rate tax payer and as a consultant I could legally wrangle my tax to 20% ish but I don't.

So I want to be honest, after all I only work in my circles because I am...

This sickens me. Why should I pay for this person to live?
Disabled man's cancer care criticised

It's a waste of money that could be spent treating me and saving a tax payer going private to be fixed to 100%.

I won't be the first person in my family to live to 100+ and I should not suffer as a sentient individual for the next 60 years so a cabbage can be kept alive at the tax payer expense!

Yes it is a sporting injury that I effectively did to myself.
Yes fat people with type 2 get treated they did that to them selves.
Yes smokers with lung cancer get treated yet they did that to them selves..


If that opinion upsets you, you need to take a long hard look at yourself. The NHS are already using it is in your head language and people are talking about anti-depressants for a physical injury.

WTF???

If that opinion upsets you, you need to take a long hard look at yourself. The NHS cannot fix every one so I'm going to kick up a stink.


The only reason I'm alive is one midwife who was from the commonwealth who shouted orders at the white staff kicked ass and got the consultant to leave his fancy dinner.
I have brain damage as a result of the birth and an IQ of 140. that is looking after potential.

Only hindsight and a C-section could have saved me/us Who knows what I could have done?

Ah, it warms the heart to see such a caring attitude.

Doesn't it. Strange that there does appear to be a correlation between this disturbing outlook and those that quote their IQ. Happy Christmas.

Although I understand where you are coming from i wonder what the parents of the child you linked to would respond with.

I do think some poeple are more deseving than others for the treatment they recieve, but it has nothing to do with how much tax they have paid and more attitude to life etc.

I was recently denied access to IVF treatment because my partner already had a child, yet my colleague got a sex change. It hurt I admit and took some understanding on my behalf, but IVF for me was a "Nice to have" as I could have easily continued a healthy and wealthly life without a child. (Although no I have a child IVF costs seem insignificant :))

TLDR
My slight injury was correctable if rare.
My Physios all rocked. NHS for the win.
I'm getting better and I'm still selfishly thinking of myself; if you don't you're lying.
My recovery has been a team effort: Surgeon, Physio, me, Physio, me. Without the work of each of them, no improvement.
Oh and I'm plenty generous.
/TLDR


Elder. I do not think you should be denied IVF. Your child could potentially pay my pension. (Selfish)
If you pay tax you should get treatment. If you don't then [cloud9] off. I could dodge tax. I pay tax, I PAYE what I Owe.

I'm alive because One person resuscitated some big [cloud9] baby because I was the largest thing ever born in the hospital at 24inches. I had a good chance and I'm doing the best I God dam can to repay that person. Isn't that the best we can all do?


So I'm going to post my selfish update! I'll probably be banned as I don't belong in PC Britannia.

I've not suffered a war wound or been in some kind of life changing event. I fell off a bike while getting some exorcise.
I'm not looking for sympathy. FFS it is a single broken bone. not hard to fix!
I was after some duck tape and a 'Pat on the head', told to 'walk it off', 'my team needs me', 'get in the [cloud9] scrum!' or what ever your rugby coach told you.


Not 'Oh well never mind nothing we can do now enjoy a life on benefits as a scrote.'



I don't know, perhaps its because I've friends who have served I see this as some thing very slight as they have either had or seen things so much more significant than a single broken bone.

It should not have been a big deal.


Long overdue perhaps but I've been patiently working hard to recover and anyway I'm right. I always am.
Oh and I've been a little bit busy with work and making money.
So here is whats what; if you care.
If we are going to ration resources me being able to do what I do for my country is more important than some one who wears adult diapers. Shit I was told I would not be able to button up a [cloud9] shirt or put on socks! A single broken bone!
How do you come to terms with that? You don't you demand to see life's manager. You give the lemons back.

I've been patiently improving following the surgery that I fought for.
I've paid for a few appointments, spent thousands on equipment spent hours using it to work out on, its OK if you've got the money, aye.

I've sweated. Oh have I sweated.

So the MD I paid was:

• Impressed someone had tried the operation I needed its a very rare injury!
• Surprised the work was not that not that bad, the MD who had the courage to do it must have some 'leet skills!
• Pointed out that to have any chance of recovery surgery was the only option
• Surprised that the MD who did the op and the person who botched the first go had not referred me to a specialist, there is only one place in the UK that does these normally.
• Had never seen as bad an injury from a pedal bike accident
• spent the time to talk about the actual injury, explaining what was wrong and showing me the scans which showed the exact details that were pertinent.
• Adamant that all the treatment I required should be on the NHS!

So I'm going to again say that the Docs just don't have enough time. I may have said that to some of you I've spoken to, if its not above.


So the details of the injury.
To recap.
What I had was my clavicle displaced over the second rib and in front of my sternum which meant every breath hurt on top of the pain from the broken clavicle. Deep breaths or laughing was seriously painful. As was any jolts or bumps. Every step hurt.
Can you imagine going from some one who can ride a bike 6 miles to work, run 6 miles and get a shower and lunch in 1 hour and cycle 6 miles home every day to be unable to even walk? 1 mile in 45 minutes! Never be able to do press-ups let alone the fifty I could do.

What I was told 1.0
The clavicle (collar bone) was broken near the shoulder
What was true 1.0
The clavicle (collar bone) was broken along its length from the Sterno-curricular joint to about half way.

Meaning?

The back of the clavicle (collar bone) was still attached to the tendons an the sternum.

Meaning that if the bones were juxtapositioned (Close to each other) it would heal with sufficient strength. The main part of the bone had to be stabilized surgically for healing to occur. In fact even though the bone still protrudes today, because it was close enough and immobilized by the operation healing could occur.


What I was told 1.1
My shoulder was dislocated
What was true 1.1
My shoulder was not dislocated by the crash.

Meaning?
I was subjected to additional injury to my Rotator cuffs from the botched first operation because my X-rays and CT were incorrectly read.
I'm now 99 % recovered from that so no harm in the big picture mistakes happen

What I was told 1.2
You will never lift your arm above head height let alone do the things you are saying. You will never be as strong as you were.
Surgery is not required.

What was true 1.2
What a load of bollocks! They have no idea how hard I will work at what I want.
I've spent a lot of time and had some really good team of physios who worked with me to regain my full range of movement.
I'm now benching 60KG. My external rotation is 80-90% of what I can do with the other arm, that's only because of the botched first operation. Where I do need to work on is the front delt and upper clavicle potion of the peck as these had to be cut to gain access to the Clavicle and relocate it.
I can press and lift anything I want, within reasonable limits.
I'm almost pain free and hardly notice it.

The MD I paid to see said




So I continue to work hard in the gym I built and I'm now riding hard again and getting big air. Driving again. Back at work.
My physio really encouraged me to push it and not be a pussy, which I was being.


My operation took about an hour of the NHS time and I've worked really hard.

If none of that had been done and I was an Idle & Lazy [cloud9] I would be on bloody benefits for the next 60 years unless I [cloud9] topped my self as there is no [cloud9] way I could deal with having to be dressed!



What does all this mean to me?
Well I'm back at work, working on a multi-million pound contract. I'm leading a small troupe of mountain bikers as they try to get as fit as this wont be cripple.

What does that mean to you?
I'm paying your pensions

If that upsets the snow flakes grow a pair!

Also I now have a really cool scar! If nothing else that in its self was worth it.


PS I'm pissed and one of the most dyslexic people know to man I scored 5.5 out of 5 on an assessment; so I apologize for spelling and grammatical errors.
PPS that was quite cathartic.
ppps Being able to get an average IQ of 140 on the dyslexic test is significant if you understand the two tests. My lower was 110. You have no idea how hard I work to deal with the cards I'm dealt. And no idea how angry it makes me when retards are said to have a learning difficulty or are just behind. I have a difficulty and I work hard. I've checked my spelling, I've checked my capitals after '.' and when I say I, I've also made dam sure I've checked the apostrophes in my text. I might have missed some, or even words in some sentences.


Edit: I'd rather have had "or even some words in sentences." but I jumble some times.