MikeWa

[EasyRider]

Just heard about your ordeal on another thread which included the Dr's advice. From personal experience it can never hurt to get a second opinion and sometimes can hurt not to. The limit on pain med's may be to make you aware of a secondary issue you might otherwise ignore. It was 8 days from the incident to my hospital stay of three (push the pain button) days with a lung drain. At least I think it lasted three days!!!! I'm thinkin that instead of adding all the led's like yours to the bike I'm gonna get an outfit like the Electric Horseman in neon green. Best wishes for your recovery and enjoyed talking to you at The Dalles.

[MikeWa]

Hey EasyRider nice to hear from ya.

 

It is hard to determine if a complaint about the VA medical is warranted or not. I have often said the VA is bipolar. There have been times I have had to wait months for a basic diagnostic test. There have been times they were right there for me. The plane truth is they are overwhelmed, short staffed, and short on equipment. But those are excuses not treatment.

 

The ER in Seattle gave me a very thorough look over. They used x-rays, cat-scan, and ultrasound. I am extremely grateful for that. There isn't much that can be done for bumps and bruises. You just have to grit your teeth and rider-up. Since I actually have a pretty high tolerance for pain that is ok by me. The x-rays clearly show messy fractures of the clavicle. One two or three inch section of bone is completely separated, free floating and moved out of position. One end is considerably below what is left of the main structure. The other end is way above the other side of the main structure. Bone shards are hanging down in various places. I have a large bump where the bone fragment is on top of the main clavicle and my whole shoulder is dropped down over an inch and a half.

 

Some years ago the VA came under fire for prescribing to much pain medication. So now they almost won't give you any. In my case there is clearly a need for it and a one day supply is not enough. Also I don't like the idea of having to beg for medication that is clearly needed. I wouldn't treat my dog that way and I don't expect to be treated that way either. Sympathy while nice does not help.

 

So it comes down to trust. I may be getting absolutely the best advise and treatment in the world. Or I might be being put off. I have had it both ways in the past. After looking at the x-rays I was very surprised that the bone doesn't need to be reset. That there is no course of treatment, everything will take care of itself. I did finally get a ten day supply of pain medication. Enough to take me up to my next doctors appointment.

 

So. What to do? We have an old family doctor my wife sees. I will take my copy of the x-rays in for a consult with him. If he concurs with the VA's course of no treatment than all I can do is be sorry I mistrusted them. If he disagrees and thinks surgery or some form of intervention is required then things should get interesting.

 

I like my led tail lights but they only work for cars behind you.

 

Mike

 

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Edited June 28, 2014 by MikeWa
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[MikeWa]

It finally happened. I was wrong and that's for the second time in my life.

 

After consulting with an outside doctor. (My wifes family doctor). I am confident the VA is providing proper treatment for my clavicle injury. Even though my injury has separation and tenting and shards I now believe their stand back approach is probably best. After todays consultation I know what questions to ask and how best to assist my recovery. I am glad I got the second opinion. It feels like a big relief.

 

Mike

[djh3]

Mike , while I luckily have not had an accident I am sort of the same boat. I have a back problem I had surgery on in 09. Its acting up again and the VA doc say no way to fix but fuse bones. Well As of now I dont care to go under the knife. I am going to seek a second opinion from the doc that did the cutting the first time. So what if it costs me a few bucks. Its kind of like the guys with answers on here to a problem. You get the best info you can and go from there.

hope you have a good recovery.

[MikeWa]

Dion, I know those back problems can drag on and on.

Yes, it is worth the few bucks for a second opinion. I hope you can get your issues resolved.

 

Mike

[djh3]

Thanks man you too. Few people understand the plight of the VA. Its one of the first places congress and senate look at cutting$$. I dont think they have had a restructuring and reorganization in better than 15yr. So the management practices are way out of sync. I dont have a big enough degree to "fix" it but I would gladly sit on a committee to help look at some fixes and ideas. Over all I would have to say they do me well. But compared to most that use the facility where I go I'm a whipper snapper. I bet most of my fellow Vets are WW2, Korea and now Vietnam era guys