Picto Diary - 13, 14, 15 August 2017 - Surgery
Above. Family gathering! Park City, UT. 13 August 2017.
Brother Dee and wife Shana, with their son, Michael and his wife Amanda. First time meeting Amanda since she married Michael three years ago. Also ours: B1B, FeeBee, Rudy Junior, and Portland. Five grandchildren our side running around the house; too hard to collect for the image.
Above: John Mayall and Bud. Egyptian Theater, Park City, UT. 13 August 2017.
Above: My recovery room. IHC Heber Valley Medical Center. Heber City, UT. 15 August 2017.
Surgeon, Dr.Davis reports he's very pleased with surgery. But, of course there's a lot of ground to cover between here and recovery.
11 pins one plate. in and around tibia plateau.
I now enter the opiod world. In pre op interview with somebody, I was asked about my threshold of pain. I was shown a chart showing a one to ten scale, each number having a description of the pain one is able to tolerate at that level. I wasn't sure how to answer. I mean, why wouldn't I want no pain? The nurse said that the more pain killer, the more risk of side effects... nausia, constipation, addiction etc. etc. I didn't feel like I had enough information to answer the question. I said "4."
If my pain medication was set for that level... "4"...but, after the operation, I didn't feel like I had quite enough. I was to take Oxycodone something every four hours. At about 3 1/2 hours, the effect would wear off and the pain would ramp up. A few people who had been through similar experiences... broken bones... said, "stay ahead of the pain....stay ahead of the pain."
I told Chuck, Dr. Davis' PA, about this and he said that each iteration of pain medication would ramp up the no pain plateau a bit. He felt I should keep on the same regimen
Everyone very nice around here... helpful... responsive.
Dr. McClure was anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist is kind of like being the bass player in a rock band. Well paid... essential to have well trained expert... but, no glory.
Pre op interviews. it seems everyone needs to get in the game. Surgeon, anesthesiologist, head nurse, others whose designations I don't remember. All interviews are separate and they all ask basically the same questions. I guess I can understand that... there is a legitimate need to flesh out any inconsistencies.
Dr. Davis was very careful to make sure there was agreement on which leg was to be operated on. He asked me... he asked TIMDT... we said "right leg." He then reached over to my right leg and touched it... and said, "this one, right?" On receiving agreement, he marked my knee with a yellow marker pen. Its just that I found the care he took to certify which leg was interesting in its own right. I mean, he had studied the x-rays and mapped out a surgical plan right? He surely must have known he was going to be working on my right leg. OK. I get it. I understand the need for caution on this account.
There was a little glitch we had to deal with pre op. Over the previous 36 hours I had noted an independent source of pain on my lower right leg. If there was some kind of break lower in the leg that we didn't know about than that should factor into today's surgical decision shouldn't it? Dr. Davis arranged for an x-ray. My pain source was deep bruising not a broken bone. So we proceeded with the plan.
I'm old. Most of the people I hang out with, apart from my kids and grand kids, are geezers like I am. So, sometimes its hard to come to grips with the fact that many of today's real world high achievers are really quite young. Dr. Davis walked into the pre-op prep area and introduced himself. He was younger than my kids!
Dr. Davis is a local boy. Salt Lake. East High. Undergrad at Utah. Medical school at Dartmouth. Orthopaedic surgical residency at Dartmouth.
The Park City based Rosenberg Cooley Metcalf firm of orthopedic doctors and surgeons, where Dr. Davis is a surgical partner, has kind of rock star status on its own. Tiger Woods is a patient. I was fortunate, with the aid of some professional contacts of my daughter, to get in to see them at short notice.
But, like I say...so far so good... a lot of ground yet to cover between where I am now and full recovery.
I'm very fortunate, and appreciative, to have TIMDT coordinating my life during this period. Car trips to doctor's office, prescriptions, assistance with movement around the house etc. etc. Its no easy burden, not to mention her having to deal with my periodic intemperateness.
Addendum:
Hi Bust Bone Dog:
Not full blood Crow. However I am an enrolled member of The Crow Tribe, a card carrying member for when the government goes looking to 'round up the Indians using guys like Custer, thus the confusion. I've got some Sioux in the DNA, and am 1/2 Quaker white boy. So kind of a road mutt Homo sapiens. But home on The Crow Reservation is dead center, for the good, bad or indifferent nit-pickers out there LOL
Good write-up.
Hope the procedure today (Monday) went well.
Best,
Dr. G
Chief of the World Adventure Affairs Desk, CITY BIKE Magazine
Steve,
Heal quick & ride soon!
Bond,
Palm Beach, Florida
So sorry to read about your fracture. Heal quickly so you can be ready for ski season.
Good thing 70 is the new 60!!!
To hell with moderation.
Desert,
Palm Springs, CA
Hi Steve….Went on a bike ride with Jim today and he mentioned that you had an accident on a motorcycle ride. Hope you are well and heal fast.
Good Luck and take care,
Microchip, Park City, UT
Steve, so sorry to learn of the broken leg—It is a great story and despite the accident sounds like it was a great trip—remind me sometime to tell you my story of Rifle Co and Powder Wash Co (from the early 60s).
I’ll get up to see you soon—take care and keep smiling.
The Monk,
Salina, UT
I recall I get off down in Ecuador where you're tuck and roll skills were on display. Fortunately you took a good bounce and was not injured!
I hope your injury heals soon as I would like to join you on a ride in September/Oct.
I'm riding to you Eureka Springs AR Thursday for a small BMW MOA get away thing. From there I will be riding to Chicago and spending a few days with Burt and Diane.
My suggestion for a good recovery read would be the lost city of Z by David Gann. True story of adventure from the early 1900s to 1999 following the exploits of colonel Fawcett, A British explorer commissioned to survey the borders around Brazil five countries I think in 1910 or so and the author that is retracing his exploits. There are actual photographs picture in the book.
I'm sure you'll have a speedy recovery and be back on your bike much sooner than anyone would want you to. You're a big dog!
Sent from my iPhone
ITYW,
San Angelo, TX
I'll have to see what recovery entails, but, would love to ride with you.
Even with broken leg life is still good with Margaret and all your family, grands and friends around and caring about you. I hope that the operation goes well today.
Basketball,
Pelham, NY
Too true.
Hope your time under the knife went smoothly. Now hit the Power Healing button. Also, you get to eat lots of ice cream.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery,
Mrs. Driggs,
Promontory, UT
Sorry about your motorcycle mishap. Get well soon! And keep on trucking!
Bridge,
Palm Beach, FL
Steve.. I am so glad you are ok, and hope today's surgery went well. Had no idea you were spending your birthday in the hospital, but I like your positive attitude, and wish you speedy recovery. Big hug..
Espresso,
Washington, DC
Hope you are better Steve
Joe, Sydney, OZ
Hi Steve
I saw the pics of your fall and injury. I hope you OK and nothing serious. Please get well soon.
I have booked a 500 CC enfield which would be delivered to me at the end of this month and then I am getting it re-modelled by Rajputana Bike in Jaipur. I will keep you updated once I have made some progress.
Take Care and get some rest and lots of reading.
Cheers.
Mohan,
New Delhi, India
Send pictures of the bike as the job is done.
Steve, sorry to hear that the inevitable caught up to you. With all the riding you do I have often wondered if you have ever been injured and until now havent seen any comment in that regard.
Hope you have a swift recovery but listen to the Drs to not rush it!
Archbishop,
Big Sky, MT
Sorry to see the accident but maybe you’re in for a bono fide loving cup: "Good faith (Latin: bona fides), in human interactions, is a sincere intention to be fair, open, and honest, regardless of the outcome of the interaction". —
Manhattan,
Park City, UT
Celebrating a birthday? What do they say in show biz? "Break a leg." You took it literally!
Dick,
Los Angeles, CA
Steve,
I wish you a quick ,but more importantly, complete, recovery.
One addendum: City Bike is free-for-the taking.
Ahn Rhee, Larkspur, CA