Well it's
been 24 hours since my encounter with a 5'x5' mirror as it shattered.
Responding to the call was 2 ambulances and a fire truck. My shirt and
jeans were soaked in blood. About 4 minutes after the injury I began to go
into shock and pass out.......and when
I could no longer apply the pressure myself, my neighbour Gary got right in the mess and
applied pressure to keep things under control and prevent further bleeding. A pressure bandage was
applied by the ambulance crew to the 1/2" deep gapping wound and I was
packed onto a stretcher for the ride to the hospital. Oxygen in the
ambulance helped to keep me from passing out and put some pink back into my pale
face. After a 3 hour long pain filled wait in emergency and I was "wisked" into the
treatment room for further waiting. At this point I was given a morphine
shot that didn't do much for the pain....but I began to go into shock and saline
was added to my blood to bring my blood pressure back up. A doctor gently
removed the pressure bandage.....the air hit a severed nerves......the pain was
way off the scale.....I was laying down and kicking and screaming......I quickly
covered my mouth so I could scream at full force. The doctor backed way
off and decided to put me asleep. I had kept telling them the arm hurt
like a bugger.....the full volume screaming got my point across.
I was put asleep for
about an hour. No stitches were applied to the cut muscle ....apparently
this tissue can't be stitched and will mend itself. One stitch was applied
to the tissue under the skin. 20 stitches were applied to the skin to
close the wound...or so the doc told me.....I can't count them myself......weak
nerves I guess.
I was lucky.....no
tendons were cut......muscle damage was minimal......fingers all work fine and
have complete feeling
in my hand. Arm works although I'm not moving it. Wrist
works (although I'm not moving it) and the only nerve damage is for some skin on
my forearm from the cut to my wrist.....which might eventually heal.
My wife and
daughters missed all the gore.....which is for the best. All things
considered.....I was a quite lucky.
My wife and I just
completed the first dressing change....with strict care to avoid infection.
Below is a picture
of the stitches.
Steve
Click on
images to see larger images |
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It
may not look like too much.....but it sure does slow me down. |
I
don't know how people manage with only one arm. |
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