Verdict

This morning we drove through rain and pretty heavy fog in places to try to find the orthopedic surgeon’s office in Fort Smith by our 7:50 appointment. After driving like a rat trying to find the cheese with my poor husband agonizing each time we hit a bump, pothole, railroad track, speed bump, etc. due to his broken clavicle, we found it and checked in with a minute to spare.

We were seen quickly – amazingly quickly. We had two choices: 2 surgeries or none. The 2 surgeries would have included one to place a positioning plate and the second surgery to remove it later. Recovery time – 10 to 12 weeks. The surgeon told us the break would heal and would take almost the same amount of time, doing what we’re doing now, with NO surgery. The only difference is cosmetic – he’ll have a knot where the break was on his shoulder. He told the surgeon “he was old and didn’t mind getting uglier” so we will continue what we’re doing now, making him as comfortable as possible and letting him heal. The doctor said sleeping in our recliners was probably a really good thing until my husband can get up and down by himself without so much pain. He will get a follow up x-ray and see the surgeon again at the end of February.

My husband isn’t happy about the long recovery time, but he’s delighted that he will heal without surgery. He griped about my driving on the way to the appointment, but subsided after I bit him verbally. I just asked him to consider riding with me a character-building exercise, and to remember that I don’t say a word when HE’S driving, even when he scares my hair off.

Our doctor appt was so early that our mail hadn’t been delivered and the trash was still down at the bottom of the driveway when we got back. I’ll make a trip for groceries in a bit and will check those two things again.

We are relieved. This could have been a lot worse. We have agreed that in the future, we will just leave our trash in our garage, waiting for our driveway to clear, before risking anything like this again.