12 replies to this topic

[rachelrhin0]

Hi everyone, I'm Rachel and my dad is a quad. He had his accident back in 1987. He has has some new issues lately. Broken ribs all the time is a new issue that has been going on. He also he had a pressure sore come up on his bottom after sitting for HOURS and HOURS on end for SEVERAL months at a time. My little brother suffered a severe TBI and my dad was at his bed side as much as possible. That is what caused sure a horrible bed sore but he refused to leave my brother's side. This was in 2008. It has since got better but comes and goes but hasn't beed quite as bad as it was then. So now he has to get off his bottom as much as possible (as you all know I'm sure) and he tilts back in his chair or lifts his bottom with his lift in his room. So the other day he got on his lift whhen no one was home with his and managed to lift himself up but somehow he slipped and fell forward on his lap. He couldn't get himself back up and thought he was hearing his back pop. Come to find out today it was his hip breaking. Now he is in the hospital awaiting hip surgery.

Has anyone here experienced several broken bones? How about a broken hip? How was the surgery and the recovery. I'm such a daddy's girl and I never worry about anything in life except for my dad.

I would love it if you (anyone) could offer me or my dad advice or life expierences.

-Rachel

[goose]

Hey Rachel

It sounds like yall have had enough problems. I'm so sorry things have been difficult. My sci was in 1986 so I know you all have had plenty experience with this. Unfortunately, our bones start to thin and breaks happen. We tend to be slower healers too. Is there a spinal rehab center close by? They may have more experience with this and know exactly how to deal with both problems. I would at least give one a call. Shepherd spinal center and Piedmont Hospital are side by side in Atlanta. I know they work together. I'm not sure how far yall are but it might be worth the trip. I'm sure he'll need rehab after the hip is stablized. With the location of the sore, please take extra precaution.

You are a good daughter for helping your dad. Yall are lucky to have each other. Keep us posted.

There is that chamber for wounds may check to see if it helps with bones too. I'm blank on the name but I'll check it out and get back to you.

[rachelrhin0]

Hi and thanks for replying. My dad is currently in a small hospital near his home. The hospital where he went when he had his sci is one of the leading hospitals around which also has a rehab center that he and my little brother (tbi) went to. I would like for him to be transfered to that hospital for the surgery regardless but at times he is a little hard headed. That one is only about 40mins from where he is now so maybe they will transfer him. I'm going to be talking to him about heading over there when I go to see him tomorrow.

[Simba]

goose, on 29 May 2011 - 03:12 AM, said:

Hey Rachel

It sounds like yall have had enough problems. I'm so sorry things have been difficult. My sci was in 1986 so I know you all have had plenty experience with this. Unfortunately, our bones start to thin and breaks happen. We tend to be slower healers too. Is there a spinal rehab center close by? They may have more experience with this and know exactly how to deal with both problems. I would at least give one a call. Shepherd spinal center and Piedmont Hospital are side by side in Atlanta. I know they work together. I'm not sure how far yall are but it might be worth the trip. I'm sure he'll need rehab after the hip is stablized. With the location of the sore, please take extra precaution.

You are a good daughter for helping your dad. Yall are lucky to have each other. Keep us posted.

There is that chamber for wounds may check to see if it helps with bones too. I'm blank on the name but I'll check it out and get back to you.

Yes due to not weight bearing for many years your father will have lower bone density and be susceptible to breaking bones easier than an AB person would. Good advice here from Goose, it might help others give better advice putting in some more info on you father's SCI level if you know it Rachel and also your location for those in the US so they might be able to direct you to places for help.

Do make sure he is careful about pressure sores and hope the surgery goes well for your father. Do they know what the injury to the hip is? I agree if you can get him to a spinal injury centre over there that this will be much better for his care & recovery.

And also welcome to the site to you and I am sure lot's of people will try answer any questions you will have - there are many very experienced people on here in terms of SCI amongst carers/spouses who can also relate to the emotional side of things you will be going through and offer support.

[rachelrhin0]

Thanks Simba. I don't know much about where his break is or what kind of break it is yet. I just got the call from my brother a while ago. I will be going to see my dad in the morning while my husband watches our son. I updated my info. We are in North Carolina and my dad's sci is a c5.

[HaYn]

goose, on 29 May 2011 - 03:12 AM, said:

Hey Rachel

It sounds like yall have had enough problems. I'm so sorry things have been difficult. My sci was in 1986 so I know you all have had plenty experience with this. Unfortunately, our bones start to thin and breaks happen. We tend to be slower healers too. Is there a spinal rehab center close by? They may have more experience with this and know exactly how to deal with both problems. I would at least give one a call. Shepherd spinal center and Piedmont Hospital are side by side in Atlanta. I know they work together. I'm not sure how far yall are but it might be worth the trip. I'm sure he'll need rehab after the hip is stablized. With the location of the sore, please take extra precaution.

You are a good daughter for helping your dad. Yall are lucky to have each other. Keep us posted.

There is that chamber for wounds may check to see if it helps with bones too. I'm blank on the name but I'll check it out and get back to you.

Hyperbaric chamber- promotes healing for wounds and broken bones by way of oxygen. Gets circulation going into deep tissue and areas where poor/low circulation are evident. In a nutshell! Look it up youll want to do it.....aloha

[goose]

Rachel

I still think finding or at least talking with a spinal center is your best bet. I don't want to scare you but since it is his hip and he does have past problems with a sore that is going to be a tricky location to treat. My limited experience with hospitals is they aren't as sharp as they need to be with sci. The nurses have little or no experience with sci. I would hate to see him have more problems due to their lack of knowledge. Most sci patients get bed sores in hospitals if they aren't careful. PLEASE be proactive with his hospital care.
I have a friend who developed a sore in the hospital 3 years ago and just this week is having to have some bone removed ,scrapped of infection and put back in . He's been in bed 85 percent of the time for 3 years and he's on that sand bed [forgot name of bed] which he paid many thousands of dollars for. This can be serious.

I know your dad maybe hardheaded but you need to know all the dangers. I'm really not trying to upset you I just want the BEST for your dad. Most spinal centers have cheap living quarters for the family. Talk with your dad and find out the exact reason he doesn't want to go to a better place.

[wheeliebear75]

I pretty much 2nd everything the others already said. And wish you all the best of luck.....your family as a whole certainly has a lot on the proverbial plate.

[andypandy17]

Hi Rachel

I have no experience of this but just wanted to send best wishes from the UK and hope things work out for you and your family

[rachelrhin0]

Just a quick update. I went to the hospital this morning to see him and was unaware that he gave them the go ahead for surgery. He woke up during the procedure while they were hammering the rod in and he said they kept talk about how something was no good. They finally noticed he was awake and went ahead and removed his vent. He is in massive amounts of pain and also fighting a kidney infection. (He has tons of problems with his bladder and kidneys anyways). The nurses are slack with pain meds and I was really having to stay on them. Praying he has a better set of nurses tonight. They haven't mentioned sending him to rehab but I will talk to his doctor tomorrow.

Thanks for all your replies. Please just pray for his comfort and quick healing.

[Simba]

I'll keep him in mind and hope for a good recovery for him.

Let's hope he gets referred for some rehab too.

Best wishes & luck to you both.

[Millard]

rachelrhin0, on 29 May 2011 - 01:29 AM, said:

Hi everyone, I'm Rachel and my dad is a quad. He had his accident back in 1987. He has has some new issues lately. Broken ribs all the time is a new issue that has been going on. He also he had a pressure sore come up on his bottom after sitting for HOURS and HOURS on end for SEVERAL months at a time. My little brother suffered a severe TBI and my dad was at his bed side as much as possible. That is what caused sure a horrible bed sore but he refused to leave my brother's side. This was in 2008. It has since got better but comes and goes but hasn't beed quite as bad as it was then. So now he has to get off his bottom as much as possible (as you all know I'm sure) and he tilts back in his chair or lifts his bottom with his lift in his room. So the other day he got on his lift whhen no one was home with his and managed to lift himself up but somehow he slipped and fell forward on his lap. He couldn't get himself back up and thought he was hearing his back pop. Come to find out today it was his hip breaking. Now he is in the hospital awaiting hip surgery.

Has anyone here experienced several broken bones? How about a broken hip? How was the surgery and the recovery. I'm such a daddy's girl and I never worry about anything in life except for my dad.

I would love it if you (anyone) could offer me or my dad advice or life expierences.

-Rachel

Hello Rachel,

I am a C5-C6 from 1967. I am 6'3" and weight about 220. I have always fallen down but around 2000, I started breaking bones when I fell. So at urging from my OS, I gave up walking and use a power now. Last year in physican therapy, I broke my left femur again. I had a metal plate put on, went to rehab for about ten days and came home. I had no problem healing at all. Just get him on a high protein diet until he heals.

Good luck.

[sh1wn]

That's terrible about how there treating him, I have found that unless I have somebody with me they will pull that kind of shit. It sucks but it has gotten to the point where my mom stays with me any time I go in, there are a few times were I probably would have died if she wouldn't have been there. I'm not trying to make you worry, but the more you are able to be with him the better.

Depending on how deep the sore has been he may have gotten ostiomylitis(sp?) so be sure to make them check for it.