<p>Is he using crutches as his one and only method of getting around?</p>
<p>I ask because I broke my leg several months ago, and I found it very convenient to have access to a wheelchair. You can do some things in a wheelchair that are impossible to do independently on crutches (like carrying food or drinks from the refrigerator or stove to the kitchen table). You can sit at a desk safely. (Trying to get onto or off of an office chair with wheels while you have a broken leg is a good way to kill yourself; wheelchairs have brakes.) You can travel longer distances without giving yourself carpal tunnel syndrome. You can use a library. (Carrying large books while on crutches is another good way to kill yourself.) You can shop. (Shopping on crutches is very difficult because you have to put the merchandise into a bag to carry it to the counter – something that store security people tend to frown upon. Wheelchair users can put merchandise in their laps.) Given tickets to the area with wheelchair seating and an able-bodied companion who can fold your wheelchair and stuff it in the car trunk, you can even go to a basketball playoff game. (I didn’t actually go to any sporting events, but I did attend two concerts with my daughter, who became adept at wrestling the wheelchair in and out of the car.)</p>
<p>One caution, though: If your son decides that he wants to add a wheelchair to his transportation options, he should tell his doctor. I had to get a wheelchair four days after I broke my leg because I sprained my wrist during physical therapy and couldn’t walk on crutches at all for several weeks. When my doctor found out about this, he lengthened my anticoagulant prescription because using a wheelchair involves less mobility and therefore a higher blood clot risk. (People who have had broken legs fixed surgically have a high risk of blood clots anyhow.) So if your son uses a wheelchair, he might need to have his medications adjusted.</p>
<p>Wheelchairs can be rented. In my area, they’re about $85 per month. Sometimes, your health insurance will pay for it; sometimes, it won’t.</p>
<p>jym, I’m so sorry to hear about your son. My DS (Jr in WRC @ Rice) was hit by a car (he was on a crosswalk) on his way to the airport to come home for Christmas. We ended up flying down and he was operated on at the Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston. Believe it or not, he was it right in front of the hospital! We all made it back home for Christmas. DH ended up flying back with him to assist in dealing with luggage. He was able to bring him to his follow up appt. with the surgeon and set up PT for him. Luckily, DS only broke two bones in his arm. </p>
<p>Have you been in touch with your S’s college masters? Ours were (and continue to be) extremely helpful as were/are the college coordinator and RA’s. My DH has also bonded with the Rice Police Chief who has also been extremely helpful. While we were in Houston in December and when they returned in January, he was provided with a parking permit for on campus. The masters also let him park at their house anytime he wanted. The WRC President also contacted us while we were there in December. That’s the nice thing about Rice and the residential college system. You have a whole family that looks out for one another. I’m sure there would be someone who would be willing to allow your son to live on a 1st floor suite. </p>
<p>One thing our DS had trouble with was asking for help. I think he soon found out that it was okay to ask for assistance and all were more than happy to help out.</p>
<p>Good luck to you all. If you want info on the trauma surgeon and/or PT location, PM me.</p>
<p>Hi everyone-
Thanks for al the kind thoughts and suggestions. I am briefly home with s#2 then off to Charleston at some obscene hour in the morning.</p>
<p>DH went with S#1 back to Houston. They arranged for him to have an electric scooter (which has to be left in the Hanszen commons) but I would imagine he’ll have no trouble getting people to drive it over there for him from the front entrance to his stairwell. (Free entertainment). We spoke to the masters right after it happened, so they are aware of what is up. The only handicapped room they are offering right now (the only one available) is at Jones, all the way across campus. He doesn’t want to do that. We will have to take it one day at a time.</p>
<p>Peariceparent-
I am SO sorry to hear about your son! That is terrible! Is he ok? How was Hermann hospital? The orthopedists he will be seeing are affiliates with Hermann, but I had heard it is the county hospital, and perhaps not the first choise. Were you happy there?</p>
<p>Marian-
DS was supposed to practice maneuvering the stairs with a backpack and crutches at the hospital ,but he only handles the stairs without a backpack. I am not happy about his trying to handle a backpack on stairs, but I have been called overprotective enough times in this past week that I could scream.</p>
<p>Gotta get some shuteye. thanks for all the suggestions and kind thoughts.</p>
<p>Any updates to share? I’m imagining jym626son scooting around campus, one foot up in front and the sun shining. I hope the world is smiling on him today. :)</p>
<p>I don’t think you’re being overprotective. If he falls and reinjures the leg, it’s going to take longer for him to get back to normal. Obviously, he would feel extremely frustrated if that happens.</p>
<p>I read jym’s quote about being called overprotective to my DS. He laughed, as although he never said it, I’m sure he was thinking the exact same thing during his recent ordeal. In the long run, I do believe that they know we are just looking out for them. (at least I have convinced myself that’s the case)
Before my DS left yesterday morning at 5:45 a.m. for the airport to head back to Rice, he gave me the biggest hug I’ve ever received from him. That was certainly worth being over protective.</p>
<p>Whew. Long 10 days. Finally back HOME! S # 1 is doing his best in Houston. Peariceparent- I will wait for that hig-- down the road. Right now I am still getting the curt conversatoin on the phone. I tried to tell him that your s went to Hermann (I’d still like to know how that was for you)- but before I could finish getting a sentence out he cut me off, as he thought I was telling him he willl get hit by a car crossing Main St. on that scooter thing (which he very well might… but…). Anyway- he got annoyed and handed the phone back to DH (who is now back home too…) I will hve to give S#1 some space and let him figure things out- he’ll come around. Right now there are still things he cant do, like lift his leg at all (its dead weight) - so that image of DS driving the scooter with his leg propped up will have to wait, anxiousmom! He cant easily get his pants on/off but he is working on this. There are a few other challenges I will leave unsaid…</p>
<p>Hard to believe its been a week already. He has a long road ahead of him-- wont even be allowed to put any weight on that leg for 4-6 weeks, and he may need a bone graft. We shall see…</p>
<p>As for Charleston - S#2 had fun visiting his friend, but didn’t really like the school. The honors class we sat in on this a.m. was not too exciting, and as soon as he heard the # of gen ed. requirements, the poor retention rate and the few # of students who live on campus, he seemed to close down. I am a true believer that the order that you visit schools makes a huge difference (we have discussed this previously), and having just returned from Pomona, CMC and USC (the Calif USC, not the South Carolina USC), College of Charleston didn’t have a fair chance, IMO. </p>
<p>Oh well, it was worth the visit, and Charleston is as beautiful as I remembered. I was last ther right after hurricane Hugo. The rebuilding on the beaches is incredible… But I am really tired of travelling. Ready to sit on terra firma for a while.</p>
<p>oops, typos! I will wait for that HUG (not hig…)
And Marian-
You are being logival-- unfortunately we don’t have that male gene that makes yus think we are invincible. I had suggested that they buy slip-on shoes (like the sneaker type with esastic on the sides so they will fit snugly and not slip) – but whaty did they buy- FLIP FLOPS. They dont call them that for nothin! I will be amazed if he doesnt fall! I swear…</p>
<p>jym, so glad that you made it back home and can get some rest now! I’ve been trying to IM with my son to see if he’s seen your son riding around (I had told him that he had a scooter), but he hasn’t been on IM tonight…and never responds to emails. I’ll keep trying and encourage him to seek him out.</p>
<p>Our experience with Hermann Memorial was very positive. They are part of the Texas Medical Center right across from Rice. They are a Level 1 trauma hospital that operates 24/7. When we went down with DS to pre-op, I couldn’t believe the number of ORs I could see, and I’m sure there were more. Not what I’m use to seeing in our local hospital. The ER ortho doctor was a Dr. Diaz. Don’t have any other info on him.</p>
<p>I’m guessing that you are looking for an orthopaedic surgeon who can follow up with your son first to take the staples out and then through his PT. I hope you have a copy of his medical records including x-rays. DS was home for 2 weeks at Christmas so we wanted to get his staples removed here rather than back in Houston. After having his records sent from Houston, I had a big run around with our local orthopaedic/sports medicine group who wouldn’t touch him because they didn’t perform the surgery. Liability issue. We ended up going to his PCP who had no problem with taking them out (except for one which was bent…ended up at the ER for that). </p>
<p>The surgeon DS had has her practice in Pearland, about 25 minutes outside of Houston. Laura Torres-Barre, MD, Elite Orthopaedics, 8603 Broadway St, Ste 101, Pearland, TX 77584, (281) 997-3717. DH said she had signed Houston sports team jerseys all over her office. He was able to bring him for his first follow up appt the week he returned to Rice in January. DS had another one the week before Spring Break which his college coordinator drove him to. One more is scheduled right after finals.</p>
<p>For PT he has been going to TIRR Rehab. They have locations all around Houston. I know DS had to take a bus to PT. I think the location he went to was somewhere around Target, but I could be wrong. Their website is <a href=“http://www.tirr.org%5B/url%5D”>www.tirr.org</a>.</p>
<p>Hope all that was helpful. </p>
<p>I’m curious how S#1 made out with flying. I know that they wouldn’t let DS fly until 48 hours after the surgery, and that was with just an arm fracture. </p>
<p>peariceparent-
Thanks for the info! The Dr. that sill be following DS is also with the UT Orthopedic group. I was just a bit concerned about Hermann as it is the county hospital that handles all the indigents, and if DS had to go to the ER, it would be a zoo.
IF your s sees my s PLEASE DONT LET HIM SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SEEING THIS INFO ABOUT HIM ON CC!! My s is intensely private and HATES that I talk about him. So actually, if you don’t mind, it would be wonderful if your s wants to offer him help, but PLEASE don’t let him say anything about “knowing” who he is from CC. He can say he also hurt himself recently and knows how it feels to be limited, but please-- mum’s the word about knowing anything about him from this discussion. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Marian-
No cast, no brace-- just two incision marks-- one at his hip and one at his knee, held together with staples. Leg is all purple, though.</p>
<p>And though he may be a bit of a spectacle in that cart thing, he doesn’t like me telling too much of his personal business here. Oops…</p>
<p>jym, I’m a bit late in reading this thread so I’m glad to hear that things are going well for your son. Thought you’d enjoy this story from our local English language paper (we live in Indonesia). It was about a woman who had difficulty walking because one of her LEMURS was shorter than the other. The lesson is if you’re going to keep lemurs, make sure they match. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, peariceparent! I am sure DS will appreciate the support form someone who has been through what he is going through (and they can compare experiences with the orthopedic group at UT) but I REALLY appreciate your son not saying he knows anything from us parents. </p>
<p>momtrath-
LOL! Gotta love the English translation snafoos!</p>
<p>“Overprotective” mom, resistant son. Sounds like you are both doing your jobs ;). </p>
<p>Of course, he feels invincible and there is some good in that. From my experience with DH after his femur fracture, I think there is one thing that you should be “overprotective” on: reassuring yourself that he is following doctor’s orders - doing the PT, NOT doing things the doctor tells him to avoid, NOT overdoing it. DH had a fabulous recovery and he religiously followed PT protocol and religiously avoided taking things too fast too soon. His hospital roommate (DH was there 3 weeks, needed traction etc.), another “adult” male, did none of the above. His recovery did not go well and his leg was never the same.</p>
<p>I honestly think you can let the everyday detail issues go (easy for me to say :D), knowing he and suitemates etc. can handle it all. Maybe if you tell him the only thing you’ll helicopter about is that he’s following doctors’ orders, he’ll accept that. Maybe.</p>
<p>jym626 - My DD doesn’t every read CC, and I haven’t mentioned your son’s injury to her. If she sees him she will know nothing. Mums the word here!
Wow, I would have thought that they would have a brace or something just to prevent the leg getting banged in transit. Ouch. Hurts just to think about it :(</p>
<p>Anxiousmom-
I am not sure why they have no air cast on it, other than perhaps because of swelling, and also because his leg is heavy enough as it is (he has to lift it with his hands to move it). They also want him to be able to bend his knee, which he can a little bit. Hopefully he’ll do more when the swelling goes down.</p>
<p>Also, I appreciate that mum’s the word. Even if your d said you told her about his injury, he will probably get a tad upset with me. :(</p>
<p>jmmom-
good advice-- I’ll try to pass it alosg…if he’l listen. He tends to push himself-- may have overdone it with the exercises they wanted him to try and now the leg is really swollen. He is concerned that he might have pulled/torn a muscle or something as the swelling and discoloration increased, but he wants to wait until he sees the Dr. Thurs morning. Sigh… I guess if he is miserable enough he’ll go to the health clinic, but this is way over their heads, and they’ll probably just send him on to the orthopod.</p>
He cant easily get his pants on/off but he is working on this. There are a few other challenges I will leave unsaid…</p>
I will wait for that HUG (not hig…)