Folks Of Interest Don't worry, he's 'Armless.............

Sorry about the news Doc. Not very good options there. I worked with a WW2 vet back in the 60's. I guess his arm was "fused" because he could only move it at the shoulder. He worked as a mechanic until he retired. He never would say what happened other than he left alot of good guys there.

 

X2 on this one Doc. After a severe closed head injury I'm left with chronic (severe) headaches. All during my rehabilitation (3+ years) learning how to walk, write my name, dress myself, and get food on a fork and into my mouth without dropping in in my lap I sometimes wondered it it was going to be worth it. IT WAS!!!!!
I've experienced first hand the result of excellent medical care but without the intervention of God through prayer given up by hundreds of fellow believers I'm convinced my outcome would have been far different. I'll be offering up prayer on your behalf for your current crisis.

Frank

 

Chiropratic, nuerolink, acupuncture, and above all prayer to the Father that created all for healing.
My wife had female problems that the doctors wanted to solve by removing her parts. She lived in pain for 15 years rejecting the medical doctors solution before going the route mentioned above. After about 2 years the pain is gone.

Doc don't let them do something that leaves you with permanent regret. Too many times medical doctors discount the solutions they cannot explain.

Andy

 

As a person who has had a limb amputated I guess that I will weigh in with my 2 Cents.
Yes there are alot of people out there that do amazing things after the loss of a limb I personally know some of them.
When ever you see an article about some body mountain climbing or or sking after an amputation what they don't tell you is that the prostetics that the person is wearing is A.Specifically designed for that activity. B.Extremely expensive. I know people that are wearing computrized legs that cost in the range of Fifty Thousand dollars.

Yes Phantom pain does happen. That is the question I am most often asked. You would have to figure out a way to deal with that. I deal with it by looking at my missing limb and saying to it out loud. You MotherF**** your gone and so is the pain,and it stop's

As far as Doctors go the "healers" want to heal and the "cutters" will always want to cut. The only reason that I had my leg cut off was that the gangrine was crawling up it and I was told that even if they could save the leg there was guarantee that i would be able to walk on it.

So my point is that unless this a life threatening situation with your arm, I would seek out other forms of treatment before I fell asleep with a surgeon in the room.
Be strong.
Karl.

 

prayers sent. i say leave the arm in case they can do something with it in the future

 

Best of luck Doc, I am sure you will esplore all the paths of repair. You know all your pals on here are praying for positive results for you. Healing beams from the Midwest to you brother. Keep us posted. ~sololobo~

 

O.K. we need a joke about here. A sailor (don't kill the messenger, this is how my dad told it to me-but he was in the Air Force), goes the ship's doc with a bad dose of the crotch rot. Doctor says " I have never seen a case as bad as this. We have to cut yer hangy down parts off today: you waited too long to come and see me, there is no treatment available." Well, the sailor is not happy with that opinion, so he goes to civillian doctor, who tells him the same thing. After three or four more doctor visits and the same prognosis from each one, he asks an old chief what to do. The CPO says "go see a Chinese doctor - they have an entirely different outlook on healing and methods that Western doctors won't consider." So our hero goes to see a Chinese doctor. After the examination, the sailor says "Doc, the only option the American doctors give me is immediate amputation. What do you think? The Chinese doctor says "Oh theses Aamerican doctors...all they want to do is cut, cut, cut.There is no need to amputate." "REALLY?", the sailor said, overjoyed. "Sure thing," the doc said, "in a couple of weeks, that thing is just gonna fall off."
Hang in there with both hands, Doc.

 

X2 here! -Mike

 

X3 Hang in there Doc!

 

Hey, Doc;

If worse comes to worst, there is a European co (I think) that make a very neat replacement arm. It's getting used - sort of - in the States. I just read about it yesterday, but the article is at work. I'll try to remember to get the info from it for you on Monday. Insurance is covering some, amount to be determined (argued over... ), but still, the cost is ~ 100k. (cough, cough...). When I read the article, literally, the 1st thing I thought of was: the Bionic Man, & Luke Skywalker technology is here. ???

Hope you can find a way around this dilemma, & I'd bet, along w/the other folks, you'll have to go outside the norm - aka "alternative care".

Marcus...

 

Doc,
I'm lucky and don't have health issues, but my wife has found a lot of pain relief through acupuncture and herbs. Check into Eastern medicine. They can do a lot without being invasive. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
RB

 

Doc, I don't know what the original injury was or what the reconstructive surgery attempted to do. All I can do is echo all the good advice that has been sent to you and leave the final decision to you and a higher power. Therapeutic exercise, eating right, and a positive attitude are a must.

If the injury is closely a kin to a sports injury, perhaps a visit to a sports surgeon is the right way to go. Search the world over. Get other opinions from all the industrialized nation's doctors. Find out who the best, most innovative, cutting edge doctors are and seek them out.

Don't give up! As has been said, "Don't give up before the miracle happens". You are worth it.

John

 

I think seeking medical advice here is like seeking engine advice on the Mayo Clinic website. I'm surprised nobody has recommended installing Heim Joints and a pressurized lubrication system!

A HS friend of mine was racing another friend on graduation night. He lost control and hit a guardrail which detached and passed diagonally through his car, taking his arm with it. The emergency services guys took 45 minutes to find the arm, which was lodged in the rear wheel well area of the trunk. His arm was reattached in one of the earliest such surgeries back in 1981. He was and is glad that they reattached it. Over time he regained some limited use of it.

Anyway, the point is that medical science is constantly improving if you can bear the wait and keep looking. if you let it go it's gone forever.

 

Damn straight Doc! Here in the U.S. our VA doc's seem to have the attitude of "cut it off or kill the pain with pills. You knew the job was scary when you took it, now you know why!"
Chiropractic and accu-puncture has kept me going for longer than I want to admit to.
Prayers going up from here as well.

 

To echo all of the above, seek better help. In my microcosm, had I stayed in the hospital after wiping out on the dry lake, I'd be missing my right foot and ankle. A good friend of mine, who rode in the ambulance with me, rented a car, checked me out and drove me 400+ miles, the one of the best hospitals on the West Coast of the US.

A spinal surgeon took on my case there. He carefully reassembled what was there, along with a ton of aftermarket parts. The result: 98% function, 90% feeling, 100% satisfaction.

This may not relate directly to your case, but, point being, care GREATLY varies. Don't hesitate to get a 4th, 5th, 59th, or 101th opinion. Your results should NOT depend on a random doctor's capabilities.

 

Hey, Doc;

I found the article. St. Paul Pioneer Press.
"Prosthetic wizardry restores man's life"
Device is called the Michelangelo Hand
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_19731218

These are the folks that did the work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XubWt4k0xjge

The company:
http://www.ottobock.com/en

& this one is almost unbelievable:
http://www.ottobock.com/cps/rde/xchg/ob_com_en/hs.xsl/32040.html

HTH.

Marcus...

 

Get a second or third opinion.

Do you know what they call a doctor that graduated last in his class?




ANSWER, Doctor......Make sure you get a good one.

 

Oh, I thought he would be a proctologist.

Take care doc, hope you get better news form one of the sawbones there.

 

how goes the battle Doc?

 

Dunno Doc, up to you, get those live cells & enzymes into ya- raw/ warm ( not cooked) tucker. Good luck man.

http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/cognitive/Breathwork

 

Doc, don't take bullshit from the docs in Qld. The bastards wrote my brother off. Convinced him come back to Vic and see a specialist in Melbourne, he has his life back and getting on with it. The system is well and truly stuffed in your state.

 

Gotta agree with Wreckingball mate. Too many bastards on the shonk up there.

 

I will echo what oithers have said. Try to do everything to keep it and min. pain while max. quality of life.

I am a GM for a Prosthetic Company and it is truly amazing what a good prosthetist is able to do. Don't write the amputation off but explore all options before going down this road. I am sure that you have thought about this but quality of life and ability to perform daily life activites is important and you might be able to acomplish this best with a prosthesis. Good luck and i wish you the best.

 

I fought severe back pain and painful left arm for years. About 3 years ago a friend of mine recommended a place that teams send their million dollar athletics. I went and 3 back MRI and a few x-rays latter, I was sent to do specialized physical therapy. It along with continuous follow up exercises at home and in the gym has given me 3 years of pain free life. I can go to cars shows, work all day in the shop, all with out the pain. Find where all of the big names get sent in your country and look into it. I'm glad I did. And the 1/2 hour to hour every day doing the followup exercises is a small price to pay for a drug and pain free life.

 

Jeeze Doc, those are shitty options all around! Best of luck to ya. I hope a second or third opinion generates a more favourable option. Take care.

 

Sorry to hear this. Best of luck to you Doc.

 

I'm with you Doc I'm sitting here with my right wrist in a cast and an uncertain future. I have a bone problem and just the few weeks I've spent in the cast hs been frustrating. On top of that I'm right handed so I have been learning to do things left handed. I haven't been out to my shop for a few weeks and am getting annoyed. My prognoses is better than yours but sugery is most likely in my near future.
Not in anyway trying to hijack your thread just letting you know I can sympathize with you and know where you are coming from. Good luck and keep us updated n what is happening.

Steve

 

I love the humor in the title.... Me personally, not only would I get many more opinions from Dr. who others with great recomendations reffer, I would also look into other types of treatments.

Perhaps Acupuncture, Tai Chi, or Yoga. I dont know the extent of your arm damage, but everything I mentioned help alot of people with pain, and range of motion.

Good luck, and I will keep a positive thought for you.

 

If you work on your own cars, which I'm sure you do, then the second arm would be helpful, even if your range of motion is limited. I think you'd want to keep the sore one as long as you could. With a name like Doc, I'm sure with the good Lord's help from above, you can figure out what is best for you. The rest of us do not know how much your pain is though. Good luck and may God bless.

 

Best of luck to you Doc!