The Recovery

The doctors have told me this injury takes a very long time to heal. Six months minimum. They have also warned me that full recovery will not be possible, but some of the damage will remain permanent. The reason for my bones breaking so easily is in fact turning out to be osteoporosis, that in turn is caused by coeliac. The blood tests on coeliac turned positive and I had more tests to confirm that. Before the final tests on Jan 17th the doctor told me to keep my normal diet so the coeliac would still be seen. Until that I was to eat rye bread and cake, doctors orders. But now I am on a gluten-free diet. Diet needs to be lifelong.

First 3 weeks (Nov 9th to Nov 29th 2006) the only cure was the sling that I was wearing always except when sleeping. It kept my wrist so that the bone was as stable as possible and the gravity was moving the parts to their proper positions.
The only exercises allowed were flexing the elbow joint, wrist and fingers.

Second 3 weeks (Nov 30th to Dec 20th) were pretty much the same, except I didn't wear the sling any more and was allowed to flex and relax the shoulder.
The idea is to keep the hand moving, but not to load it. Not to lean on it or carry anything with it.I was not allowed to drive a car.

I am supposed to get some compensation from my insurance company Fennia, but not even close to the amount that I and my company is losing because of this accident. They paid almost 1000 € for the first 3 weeks and 2000 € for the second. Also our housing association is going to pay something, but only after it is clear what the insurance company will pay. In Finland accidents of any kind are always also a financial burden to the victim.

Weeks 7 and 8 (Dec 21st 2006 to Jan 3rd 2007) started to exercise. There are muscles that have not been used for 6 weeks and they resist heavily the idea of having to work ever again.
First the goal is to increase their length back to normal and later concentrate on strength and endurance. My doctor called and told me the laboratory tests on coeliac turned positive. Next the final diagnosis, a small bowel biopsy, will be performed to find if I have the villous atrophy typical for coeliac.

Weeks 9 and 10 (Jan 4th to Jan 17th 2007). Jan 4th I went to bone mass measurement (also called bone mineral density or BMD test) to test if I really have osteoporosis. Got the results next week confirming that. Usually bone loss can only be slowed down, but since I am so young (for a 53 years old this sounded more like a compliment) it is possible to get some of the lost bone mass back through medication. Jan 17th I was in Malmi hospital for a small bowel biopsy investigation. I was without food the whole day. The biopsy involved having a tube (with light and camera) pushed through my throut to stomach and finally to small bowel. My throut didn't like that at all. The damage to the villi in my small bowel was not as complete as I remember it was to our son, but microscopic research give the final results. The doctor told me that it is quite clear I do have the coeliac desease and should start gluten-free diet immediatelly. So no more wheat, barley nor rye for the rest of my life. But it also means I am going to get better from now on.

Weeks 11 and 12 (Jan 18th to Jan 31st 2007).

Progress can be measured by the things I can do again.
First days I couldn't do much myself, I needed help in getting washed, with clothes. During the first week I left home 4 times and 2 of them were to the hospital.
The second week I was able to cloth and wash myself and go to sauna (very important to a Finn), started to type with one hand.
The third week it was getting easier to travel by buss and train, sitting down and standing up was much easier.
The fourth week started to type with both hands and to use my left arm again in general. Still have to be very careful with it.
The fifth week I was able to stay up longer without having to lie down. I was preparing to get back to work.
The sixth week I was already waiting to start working. I visited my office and customers.
The seventh week happens to have Christmas, so I don't have to work full week. That can be called soft landing. Was able to drive car again, that helps a lot.

The accident

Thursday Nov 9^th 2006.

I was coming home from work. I parked our car to our parking lot.

It had snowed on the previous night and the heater had melted it from the top of our car. Since the temperature was below zero centigrade, the water falling from the roof froze when it hit the ground forming an ice-ridge. There was no sand, so I fell when I stepped there. And I fell directly to the ridge on my shoulder.

First I thought my shoulder was dislocated. It hurt so I was barely able to stand up. I walked home, but decided to return and get treatment. It turned out I better get directly to a hospital. My son Markus drove me there.

It was a busy day at the hospital.

Several other people had slipped on ice. But within two hours I was interviewed and examined by a doctor, x-rayed and instructed to take pain medication 3 times per day. It turned out I had a proximal humerus fracture (a fracture that occurs near the shoulder joint).

As in most cases it will most likely heal without surgery. So I got a sling that holds my wrist to keep my arm in right angle. And I got instructions to keep it as stable as possible. For starters they gave me sick leave for 3 weeks.

O
V\

Friday Nov 10^th 2006.

It was not easy to sleep, but I managed to get some. Tried to inform everybody about what had happened and how little I would be able to do during the coming weeks. Got a lot of symphaty and some instructions. The hands-free on my mobile phone turned out to be of great help even when not driving. Stayed home all day. Reserved time for research by orthopedic surgeon.

Saturday Nov 11^th 2006.

Had to do some more work to get the invoices out so we would not end up going broke.

Stayed home all day.

Sunday Nov 12^th 2006.

Went out first time since I came from the hospiltal. Attended church area conference and one friend of ours, who is a doctor, pointed out that if my bone had broken so easily, it is possible that I have osteoporosis, that could in turn be caused by coeliac. And since my brother and one of my sons have coeliac, that will need to be tested.

Monday Nov 13^th 2006.

Went back to the hospital to get a copy of my x-ray pictures on CD. http://www.dataanne.fi/mustonen/xray/edestvm.jpg and the whole list http://www.dataanne.fi/mustonen/xray/ if you want to see more.

My arm is showing interesting colors.

Tuesday Nov 14^th 2006.

I am learning to be carefull and yet do more things without help. Have to rest a lot and eat well.

Wednesday Nov 15^th 2006.

I went to see orthopedic surgeon Vesa Savolainen. Got more x-rays.

He confirmed that it is still possible to treat me without surgery and gave more instructions on how to make sure it heals. But he also pointed out that I will not be able to do everything with my left arm, that some of the damage will be permanent.

Went to theater with my wife. The title was "Hyvin päättyy kaikki" (It will all turn out good). Just perfect. http://www.ryhmateatteri.fi/index.php?id=10

Thursday Nov 16^th 2006.

I wrote this blog up until now today. Have not been able to do it this far for obvious reasons. Had to learn to use only my right hand in typing. Terribly slow.

Friday Nov 17^th 2006.

I went to the hospital for follow-up. Got more x-rays.

The treatment has worked well. Gravity has set the bone straight and after two more weeks it will be stable enough to start treating the muscles etc.

Saturday Nov 18^th 2006.

I went to see our construction site with my wife. Was not able to do much.

My elbow has collected all bruises and is also showing interesting colors.

Sunday Nov 19^th 2006.

I went to church with my family. Can't drive so my wife was driving.

Monday Nov 20^th 2006.

Last day on pain medication (I was reluctant to take any at the first place, but the doctor said they will also help against infections). Went to see one of my servers that needed a new motherboard. My son Markus was driving and another friend Jason Brower did the actual work. I was pretty much just an innocent bystander. But ther server is running again.

Tuesday Nov 21^st 2006.

First day without pain medication and I feel a lot better. Broke my headset, so had to get out (by buss) and find a new one (and easier to use with just one hand).

Wednesday Nov 22^nd 2006.

Attended a meeting at work. Two hours was as much as I can take now. Travelling (by buss) is still quite difficult. Went to see the orthopedic surgeon Vesa Savolainen again. Got more x-rays (will get to web-site later). He confirmed that the bone is healing as well as could have been expected. It seems pretty clear now that no surgery is needed and most of ther damage can be healed. He also confirmed that there was no point in making me take the pain madication and in stead of helping preventing infections, it could have made it worse if anything.

Thursday Nov 23^rd 2006.

Yesterday appeared to have been too busy. Had to rest most of the time and stay home the whole day. We finns are so fortunate to have sauna, feels so much better after sauna.