FIXING BETTY'S BROKEN BACK
**If you do not have a good mental picture of a lumbar vertebra, go first to the following site which illustrates the back bone involved and shows where a typical compression fracture occurs. Betty has three vertebrae broken like this. One is an older injury, but the other two are recent, and are the ones causing her such pain.
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/nsg/images/pic_scf.jpg
**While we were in Alaska, Betty fell on a kitchen floor, landing hard on her bottom. Very soon it was clear she had caused some damage. A chiropractor woujld not treat her, and a urgency clinic doctor sent her straight to the hospital for x-rays, but was not willing to become her doctor since we were not local residents (and Medicare was our primary coverage!).
**After returning home in early June, we fought for weeks to get appointments, to see a doctor who would provide treatment beyond prescribing potent pain killers, and to obtain corrective treatment. An MRI was required, and finally we actually saw a neuro-surgeon who (1) actually examined her, and (2) will surgically treat her broken back bones (after the holiday weekend and a week of personal vacation!).
**The following site at OHSU illustrates the procedure: Let the animated clip load, then select the narrated version for an example of how he proposes to place a cement cast inside each broken vertebra.
http://www.ohsu.edu/health/page.cfm?id=10149
**IF the surgery, now scheduled for July 13th, comes about as planned, it will be 60 days between the injury and the surgical treatment. Sadly that is the reality of modern American medical care these days.
**We ask you to remember Betty and her doctors in your prayers.
posted by Papa John @ 10:38 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Wow! This was fascinating. Thank you for finding and posting the site with the video about the surgery. The visual aide was really helpful in understanding the full surgical procedure.
Betty, you are in my prayers everyday. I hope that the surgery goes as scheduled and without complication. I also pray for continued healing and pain relief.
John, you are a kind and loving husband. I know that it is very painful and frustrating to watch your spouse suffer and struggle with the medical industry. I pray that God with continue to give you strength and patience during this time.
We love you so much and are looking forward to seeing you and Betty soon. We pray that it will be with a recovered Memaw.
John , I'm so sorry to hear about Betty's fall! Just sitting here, in my comfortable chair, I am starting to ache, thinking about the pain she must be in! Yes, yes, yes! She will be in our prayers, as will this one doctor who is finally willing to treat her appropriately. Please tell Betty that I love her and will pray for a successful resolution.
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