Miss D. was defrosting the freezer this afternoon when she slipped on water from some melting ice, and landed very heavily on her right shoulder on the tiled kitchen floor. She was in a great deal of pain, so I took her straight in to the ER, not bothering with intermediate steps. If there’s a chance of a fractured scapula or rib, why fool around? Fortunately, there are no fractures, but she’s going to have a massive bruise over her right shoulder blade for a few days. The nice nurses gave her some painkillers, with a prescription for more, and put her arm in a sling. I just got home with her.
The best thing about this episode was the realization that our relatively frugal lifestyle, making sure that we have financial reserves, has proven itself once again. We’re in a new calendar year, so even with our relatively good medical insurance, we still have to pay for $5,000 apiece in deductible charges before it kicks in. With reserve funds in the bank, today’s charges were no problem at all, even though ER fees can be very high. Within two hours of her injury, we’d been through ER and X-ray, gotten first-class, first-world medication and treatment, and were on our way home. That’s worth the money, as far as I’m concerned; and to have the funds available for it, plus cover a few days off work if Miss D. decides she’s hurting too much to go in, gives great peace of mind.
Say a prayer for her, if you’re that way inclined, because I think she’ll be very uncomfortable for a few days; but, God willing, she’ll be back to normal (HELP!) by next week.
Peter
Praying she heals fast! Saw a great sign outside o a clinic in Yei, "we treat, God heals."
Prayer said.
Ouch!! Pain meds, ice for 48 hours then heat will help as will the sling. And it just reinforces the advice Mom passed along when I did the slippy-slidy across the floor due to the same reason: ALWAYS put down a towel when defrosting a freezer. Cause no matter how careful ya are, the stupid thing ALWAYS leaks on the floor. ALWAYS!! And if it doesn't, the worst thing that happens ys have an extra towel to wash. I was lucky, I had ahold of the handle so I just banged my head into the freezer.
Prayers she feels better PDQ!
Prayed.
Good planning on having the $ for the deductible….prayers sent for the better half.
prayers for complete quick recovery and healing. glad she is ok.
Thank God it was not worse! Still, not a good thing to happen. Hope she heals quickly and well.
I'm sorry to hear this, but glad it wasn't worse. Best wishes for Miss D's speedy recovery.
What they all said; prayers offered.
I've had very good experience with Arnica for bruises. Helped my elderly aunt a couple years ago when she fell and had one of those massive bruises the elderly get.
You can get a tube at most Walmarts.
You might check if there are any emergency care clinics near you. They may be significantly cheaper than the ER for trouble of this sort. Equipment varies from one to another, and staffing and hours. O'dark 30, you are most likely going to the ER.
Knowing ahead of time the location, what they can handle, and what they charge for common problems, would be a good thing. Maybe meet the normal docs that staff them.
Ouch!
But still, $5K is a serious chunk of change. Here in the UK, it would all be done at no separate charge as the NHS is funded through general taxation.
Best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.
Ouch! Hope she fells better soon!
Hope your wife is resting comfortably and feels better very quickly sir, not nice to watch your spouse in pain.
Oh no! Prayers here. I'm sure the cats are doing their best to add snuggles to the healing regimen.
Damn Global Warming causes melting ice. Speedy recovery to the hurt one and to your pocketbook.
Prayer said.
My wife had a similar incident but it turned out that she'd torn the rotator cuff, a muscle in the upper shoulder. This wasn't discovered for some time after the fall. Key-hole surgery (2 hours worth!) fixed it but she still aches in cold, damp weather. Best to have Miss D's shoulder musculature checked again, it's an injury easily missed.
FWIW, Sir Winston Churchill suffered the same injury when he was younger, it troubled him for the rest of his life.
Totsiens,
Steve
Done and done. Glad you were there to help.