Arm at 3 weeks

It's been 3 weeks since the operation in Paris to repair the injury to my left arm and the stitches have been out since day 15. Today was my first appointment with a surgeon in the UK, who took new x-rays of my arm and who is pleased with the repair. The radial nerve damage will repair at the rate of a millimetre a day. My first appointment with the physiotherapist is on Saturday.I am to excercise the joints gently and regularly and wear a splint for the wrist. I next see him in a month. Full use of the hand should return in around 5 to 6 months if all goes to plan.

I found this account on the net today -

Re: Radial Nerve Palsy after arm surgery


I feel I'm somewhat an expert on this subject . I fell on August 30 of last year (o7) and ended up with an arm broken in 3 places and radial nerve palsy. I had surgery the next day with a titanium rod and screws inserted from my shoulder to elbow. My hand and arm were completely useless! My doctor told me not to expect anything for at least 4 months and as long as 6. I'm happy to report the radial nerve palsy is almost gone and I have 80% use of my hand back & 85% use of my arm back. I only need to wait for the palsy to leave my knuckles and fingers and continue strengthening exercises on my arm. I had 97 therapy sessions with my hand and wrist (I had drop wrist). I was able to write my name again after 4 months, tie shoes after 4 months and finally drive with 2 hands on the wheel at 5 months without alot of pain. I was on pain killers the first three months pretty much every 4-6 hours, slept only in 2-3 hours spurts because of the pain. I thought I'd never recover but I should be 100% by April they say. I've had 26 sessions with my arm therapist so far. I did encounter a non union though that I'm hoping will show signs of healing next week when I have an xray. I've been using a bone stimulator 20 minutes a day for 5 weeks now and my doctor says it may take 6-10 weeks before we see results. It's common for non unions in the upper arm bone and with my 3 point break it's makes it even more difficult. I was out of work for 6 1/2 months because I couldn't do lifting or have much use of my hand until recently. I can now lift up to 20 pounds and do most of the preschool jobs at my workplace such as cooking, cleaning, art projects, diaper changes, teaching, etc..Everyone heals differently but I've seen over 20 people at therapy and the majority that had injuries like me all returned to 100% with therapy and time. Patience is key and good support from your loved ones. My husband and daughter were my rocks as well as my therapists. I still see my arm therapist but have been discharged from my hand therapist as all I have to do now is wait for the palsy to leave my hand on it's own.I hope this has been helpful to you.

fabric atc's

vintage sewing

this atc uses a genuine 1930's dress pattern packet which i stuck onto matt board and coloured with 2 shades of twinkling h20's. the number is from an old day to day calander and it's made from tissue paper. the press stud is very old, the images are from collage sheets, the scissor charm is brass. the rubber stamps are by see d's, i also used chalks in various colours to add interest and give a distressed look. leave a comment if you want to! it's for the yahoo advanced artist trading card group swap, hosted by heather.

BETTY PAGE PIN-UP SWAP

I'VE POSTED A SWAP ON THE YAHOO 'ADVANCED ARTIST TRADING CARD UK' GROUP SITE TODAY, (THE LINK IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE)FOR A NEW SWAP ENDING 10TH MAY 08, ENTITLED 'BETTY PAGE PIN UP'.

I ADORE BETTY PAGE - THE FIRST ART CARD I EVER MADE FEATURED HER!

IT'S A 4/4 SWAP - MAKE 4 AND GET 4 BACK. IF YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED ARTIST, ENJOY PUTTING YOUR ALL INTO CARDS AND LIKE THE IDEA OF JOINING IN THE FUN THEN PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE UK.

le jardin atc's

GOTHIC ARCHES AND VINTAGE TEA TIME

11 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT

HERE'S THE SCAR ...

paris photos

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS I TOOK ON THE SATURDAY WE GOT TO PARIS, JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE MY ACCIDENT.

MY FALL

ON 8TH MARCH 2008, MY HUSBAND & I WENT ON EUROSTAR TO PARIS FOR A WEEKEND BREAK. IN THE EVENING WE WENT TO A BAR. I WAS STYLISH, FASIONABLY DARK. BEFORE I'D EVEN TAKEN A SIP OF MY COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAIL I DECIDED TO FIND THE TOILETS. THEY WERE UP A DARK WINDING STAIRS, LIT BY FAIRY LIGHTS. VERY ATMOSPHERIC, I THOUGHT. THE STAIRS OPENED DIERCTLY ONTO THE TOILETS AT THE TOP. WHEN I LEFT THE BRIGHTLY LIT TOILETS INTO THE RELATIVE DARKNESS, I COULDN'T MAKE OUT IF THERE WAS A STEP DOWN OR NOT . I REACHED FOR A RAIL BUT THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ONE AND I FELL FORWARDS AND DOWN IN A FLASH. FOR A MOMENT OR TWO I WAS STUNNED. I LAY IN A CROUCHED BALL ACROSS 3 STEPS. I COULD FEEL BLOOD RUNNING DOWN INTO MY MOUTH AND FEARED I'D BROKEN MY TEETH. EVERYTHING WAS HURTING. I DID A QUICK CHECK - TEETH FELT FINE, THANK GOD FOR THAT. THE BLOOD WAS COMING FROM MY NOSE WHICH HAD MET THE MIRRORED WALL WITH SOME FORCE BUT NOSE AND GLASS WAS NOT BROKEN. MY SHINS WERE HURTING BADLY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE. A FRENCH LADY WHO HAD BEEN IN THE TOILETS WAS ATTEMTPING TO LIFT ME BUT I WAVED HER AWAY. 'TISSUE' I SAID TO HER, POINTING TO MY NOSE BUT SHE DID NOTHING. MAYBE IT WAS TOO DARK FOR HER TO SEE MY PROBLEM. 'TISSUE' I SHOUTED, THE BLOOD DRIPPING ON THE BLACK CARPET BY THIS TIME. STILL SHE DID NOTHING. 'MON MARI' I SAID, HOPING IT MIGHT BE THE WAY TO ASK HER TO GET MY HUSBAND WHO WAS IN THE BAR. I KEPT REPEATING AND POINTING WITH MY RIGHT HAND. IT DIDN'T WORK. SHE WAS LIKE A RABBIT CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THERE WAS NOTHING FOR IT, I MUST GET MYSELF UP. STILL CROUCHED, I TUCKED MY TOES UNDER MYSELF TO EASE UP INTO A KNEELING POSITION. ' THAT'S GOOD' I THOUGHT ' LEGS AND ANKLES STILL SEEM OK'. ALL I HAD TO DO NOW WAS LEVER MYSELF UP WITH MY LEFT HAND...'THAT'S STRANGE' I THOUGHT, ' WHEN I MOVE MY ELBOW OUTWARDS THERE'S A GRATING FEELING JUST ABOVE IT IT SEEMS TO LEAVE MY FOREARM BEHIND!..SHIT...IT'S BROKEN...WELL AND TRULY'. STRANGELY, AT THAT TIME IT DIDN'T HURT TOO MUCH, MY BRUISED AND GRAZED SHINS HURT MORE. A MAN CAME UP THE STAIRS AND I REPEATED ' MON MARI, RICHARD..IN THE BAR' AND HE DISAPPEARED. I CRADLED MY ARM AND GOT TO THE BASIN WHERE THE FRENCHWOMAN HAD RETREATED TO - PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE HADN'T WANTED TO STEP OVER ME AND THERE WAS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. 'TISSUE!!' I SAID AGAIN AND THE PENNY DROPPED AS SHE GRABBED A HANDFUL OF TOILET ROLL. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A FULL FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE FALL THAT SOMEONE FETCHED MY HUSBAND. 'I FELL...MY ARM'S BROKEN...IT'S BAD' IS ALL I COULD THINK TO SAY TO HIM. NO BONES WERE PROTUDING THROUGH THE SKIN BUT AS I SAT WAITING IN THE LOBBY FOR THE AMBULANCE THE MANAGEMENT WERE SLOW TO CALL, MY ARM WAS SWELLING AND TAKING ON AN UNNATURAL 'C' SHAPE. THE MANAGER WAS CONCERNED, SMILING, BUT NO ONE APPEARED TO HAVE FIRST AID SKILLS. IT WAS MY HUSBAND WHO MADE A SLING WITH HIS NECKTIE. WHEN HE ASKED FOR ICE, IT CAME IN A BUCKET RATHER THAN IN A PLASTIC BAG OR TEA TOWEL. HE INSTRUCTED THEM TO GET TEA TOWELS FOR AN ICE PACK AND A SLING. AFTER 10 MINS AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED. THE AMBULANCE MEN WERE IMPRESSED WITH MY HUSBANDS' EFFORTS. THEY GAVE ME FIRST AID AND GOT US IN THE AMBULANCE. IN NO TIME WE WERE AT C. BICHARD HOSPIAL, IN NORTHERN PARIS. I WAS SEEN WITHIN A FEW MINS. ONCE MY INJURY WAS ASSESSED AND X RAYED I WAS TOLD I HAD 3 BREAKS TO THE ARM JUST ABOVE THE ELBOW - A TWISTED BREAK. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE WRIST AND HAND AS NORMAL WHICH PROVED THE RADIAL NERVE WAS IN TACT. I WOULD NEED SURGERY TO PIN AND PLATE THE BONES. I WAS TERRIFIED. WHAT? AN OPERATION? WHEN? WHERE? SURELY NOT HERE IN THIS SHABBY LOOKING FOREIGN HOSPITAL WHERE I COULD HARDLY BE UNDERSTOOD? JUST SLAP A PLASTER ON - WE'LL GET A CAB BACK TO THE HOTEL AND BE ON EUROSTAR IN THE MORNING - I'LL GO TO A&E IN LONDON, SORTED. 'YOU HAVE TIME TO ZINK ABOUT ZEEZ' THE YOUNG RATHER SERIOUS DOCTOR SAID ' TONIGHT YOU STAY E-ER'. NOW I WAS PANICKING. THIS ARM WAS LOOKING SERIOUSLY WIERD, IT WAS ABOUT MIDNIGHT, I NOW BEING WHEELED INTO NEW AND RATHER SMART ORTHOPEDIC WARD ON THE 15TH FLOOR BY A WINDOW GIVING ME A FABULOUS VIEW OVER TWINKLING PARIS, MY HUSBAND PUTTING CLOTHES AND PERSONAL STUFF IN LOCKERS, REASSURING ME I'D BE FINE, HE'D BE FINE, EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. THEN I WAS ALONE - APART FROM AN ELDERLY LADY IN THE ONLY OTHER BED IN THE ROOM, WHO HAD BEEN AWOKEN BY MY ARRIVAL. I WAS TAKING IN EVERYTHING THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THE LAST TWO HOURS. THIS WAS A NIGHTMARE. I WAS AT THE MERCY OF THESE PEOPLE - WERE THEY EXPERIENCED? DID THEY UNDERSTAND? DO I REALLY NEED AN OPERATION? CAN'T I JUST GET OUT OF HERE? THE PAIN WAS STILL NOT TOO BAD, IT WAS QUIET IN THE CORRIDOR, MY HUSBAND HAD LEFT ME WITH A LITTLE MONEY, NO CLOTHES....BUT I HAD A DISPOSABLE GOWN AND MY JACKET WAS WITHIN REACH.....IF I COULD JUST TAKE THIS DRIP OUT OF MY 'GOOD' ARM, GRAB MY BELONGINGS, GET PAST THE STAFF, DOWN THE LIFT AND ..OUT!..GRAB A TAXI (I THOUGHT I KNEW WHERE THE HOTEL WAS)..I'D BE FREE!

AH! NO SHOES!

MY HUSBAND HAD TAKEN MY BOOTS AWAY.

I HAD TO STAY.

AS I STARRED AT THE PARIS STREETS BELOW, THE EIFFEL TOWER, THE TALL GREY BUILDINGS I GAVE UP ON SLEEP. THE PATIENT NEXT TO ME HAD SOME KIND OF MACHINE CLUNKING AND WHIRRING LOUDLY AT THE BOTTOM OF HER BED WHICH MADE SLEEP IMPOSSIBLE. THE PAIN IN MY HAD BECOME INTENSE AND I FIGURED I HAD THE RIGHT TO CRY, AND CRY I DID. I CALLED FOR THE NURSE AND, UNDERSTANDING MY PAIN, SHE ADMINISTERED AN INJECTION 'C'EST QUE CE?' I ASKED. 'MORPHINE' SHE SMILED, AND I SMILED TOO.

BY MORNING I HAD DECIDED IT WAS BEST, BY FAR, TO STAY. MY HUSBAND WAS FURIOUS TO THINK I HAD EVEN CONSIDERED LEAVING AND ASSURED ME ALL WOULD BE WELL. THE STAFF WERE PLEASED I WAS STAYING TOO. TRAVEL COULD HAVE DISTURBED THAT ALL IMPORTANT NERVE TO THE HAND. SO BY THE EVENING - LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER ADMISSION, I WAS OPERATED ON. A VERY NEAT PIN AND PLATE OPERATION AND YES, A SCAR! OVER THE NEXT 4 DAYS I GOT TO KNOW MY SURGEON, HAD ADVICE AND A SPLINT FROM A YOUNG PHYSIOTHERAPIST, WAS SEEN BY TWO OTHER DOCTORS AND NUMEROUS NURSES. THE WARD WAS EFFICIENT AND SPOTLESSLY CLEAN. THEY TRIED HARD TO SPEAK ENGLISH TO ME AND BY THE END OF MY STAY I HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE AND ADMIRATION FOR THE SERVICE I RECEIVED. IN FACT I FEEL EMBARRASSED THAT I SHOULD HAVE DOUBTED THEIR CARE

RECOVERY WILL BE GRADUAL. I WAS TOLD I SHOULD MAKE A FULL RECOVERY IN TIME. I'M TYPING THIS WITH ONE HAND, HENCE THE CAPITAL LETTERS. I HAVE HAD TO CLOSE MY SHOP FOR THE TIME BEING AND LIVE OFF MY SAVINGS TILL I CAN WORK AGAIN. BUT I HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO WANDERED THE WET AND COLD PARIS STREETS ON HIS OWN WHEN HE WASN'T KEEPING ME COMPANY IN HOSPITAL. AND I HAVE MY FAMILY TOO. FRIENDS HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH OFFERING GOOD WISHES.
I WAS THE PERSON THINGS NEVER HAPPENED TO. WE HADN'T TAKEN OUT HOLIDAY INSURANCE AND I'D FORGOTTEN TO TAKE ON HOLIDAY THE EU INSURANCE CARD. YET I HAD WHAT I CONSIDER BE THE BEST TREATMENT, WITH NO MENTION OF COST. I AM A VERY LUCKY PERSON - I COULD HAVE BROKEN MY NECK ON THOSE STAIRS.

I WEEK LATER - CHECK OUT THE BRUISING -

Funny Girl Vintage Nudes and Mona Lisa's Bad Hair Day ATC's

Here are photos I've done this week for the above swaps....