Finding the chase and cutting to it

I landed, and checked my arm.  My hand was pointing backwards and there was a lot of swelling.  I knew I had to straighten the wrist so grab my hand and yanked it straight.  No one had noticed I’d fallen, but it was suddenly very quiet and Willow’s mum came over with Chantel’s mum and asked if I needed any help. I asked my being wedding ring and my watch to be pulled off.  I knew if my wrist swelled much more, I’d never be able to get them off.

My husband took my son to one side and pulled his skates off, he took my shoes and my bag out to the car.  Lots people then came over to try and help.  I kept my hand on the floor, I figured keeping it as stationary is possible was the best thing I could do.  I knew it was broken though I am not sure how; I’d always thought there’d be a snapping sound if I ever broke anything and there was nothing like that.

The manager came out to check the situation and a sling and some ice were presented.  Jon had gone back home to get our family car.  Everyone asked if there was anything they could do and almost like a proper parent, I finally worked out I was heading to hospital and what on earth were we going to do with our eight year old for the duration.  Casualty (ED) on a Saturday afternoon was probably not going to be a fun place for him!

The parents of the birthday girl oftered to take our son home at the end of the party, which was fantastic.  All I had to do was cope with the pain and wait for Jon.

Oh, wait, I came to the sports centre on my motorbike: what on earth was going to happen to that?  When the manager came over to check I was OK, I got him to promise not to clamp my bike – the sports centre had a locked down car park, and he was fairly happy with the arrangement.  The manager then took a lot of persuasion not to call an ambulance, in my bike gear I didn’t fancy taking up their time as this was completely my fault and while was really painful but let’s face it, not life threatening.  Also, while they might get me some very decent pain relief (yes, I was thinking about that) my fingers had circulation, so waiting for Jon was the best course of action.

While I am always happy to see my husband, the elelation I felt allowed me to get back on my feet; strangely the pain made me feel really naucious.  I was still shoeless, but the car was going to get me to people who would help so that was fine.  The sling was now really soggy, but I was so grateful I had it: as a means of allowing you to move a broken arm the sling is awesome.

So we drive to hospital: I felt every bump, the people who decide the emergency department should have speed ramps before it our saddists: especially if there is no speed over which you can cross them without moving the car.  Jon dropped me off and I checked in with reception.

I got triaged and some pain relief, and then was sent back to wait for the xray.  The pain relief took the edge off but it was still insanely painful.  The swelling hadn’t increased which agian was comforting.

Casualty is all doors, you do get help, but it is a lot quicker if you ask for it.  You go from being almost comfortable in the waiting room through to the queue for the xray, whcih is where Jon caught up with me.  It was so good to see him again.  The xray was taken and I asked to have a look.

There wasn’t an obvious break!  I couldn’t quite believe it but both arm bones from the lateral view: fantastic, I have never been so grateful to be wrong.  This meant the arm would heal without too much intervention and pain would be short term :-).

So, feeling a bit confused about why my arm was still very painful, I returned to Jon with half a smile on my face: I was going to be fine.  I was just waiting to be sent home.  Jon had gone back out to extend the parking ticket time, I was waiting for someone to tell me I could go home.

The nurse who was treating me came back out and didn’t look as relieved as I was feeling.  He asked me to come and look at the x-rays.  I’d only seen the lateral view which was completely aligned: the AP wasn’t.  I had a dislocated distal radial fracture, while I had almost certainly saved a lot of problems by pulling it straight it would need to be relocated along the anterior–posterior axis.  This was not an easy job, but he was one of the best trained people in the hospital and he could do it.  First job would be some pain relief.

I am diabetic and am used to injections: when the nurse came back with a huge syringe and a massive needle and began drawing up the brown liquid my colour faded!  Jon was no where to be found and this looked like it was going to hurt before it got better…