rehabing a broken arm

[dean]

I broke my right arm 3 weeks ago in Chiang Mai from a motorscooter accident. Specifically, I broke tht humerous bone near the collarbone. Ihave had the arm in a sling for 3 weeks but will discontinue its use on Monday. I was told taht the bone will take 2-3 months to heal completely. I have no idea if I also damaged my rotator cuff (I haven't had an MRI done yet). The shoulder doesn't hurt at all. I can raise my arm flexing bisecps but can only raise it directly away from my body a 1/4th of the way up. I still can't get much sleep, as I can not keep my right arm in one place for more than 10 minutes before it starts to hurt. I am assuming that, as my bone heals, my arm will get more movement (unless the rotator cuff was injured). I go back to Thailand on Sept. 21 and will see a Doctor then (no health insurance in U.S. and I will only see Doctor here if I am in dire straits). I do have 6 exercises that I can do that I printed off a website for re-habing broken arms). I really only have 2 questions: now that I don't have to wear a sling, can I be agressive in exercising the arm (without trying to lift anything remotely heavy) and is there any re-hab hospitals in either Bangkok or Chiang Mai that would be good for this kind of injury?

[cavanami]

I broke my ankle last year and was told by my BKK doctor that there were no rehab places in BKK.

 

Later, I found on the sign out in font of Sukhumvit Hospitsl, in Phra Khanong (about 61 Sukhumvit), between the Phra Khanong and Ekkamai BTS stations, saying that they do rehab.

 

They show a web address:

 

Ph: 02-391-0011, 02-714-130

 

They are not the cheapest hospital, but it is clean, english is spoke OK (but not super great) and the prices are OK. I had my yearly checkup/blood test (check sugar, fats, etc) and it cost like 1000 Baht for the test and two visits to see the doctor.

 

Hope this helps!

[dean]

I'll give them a try, thanks. By the way, if you are ever involved in a motorcycle accident (hopefully not or just a minor crash), it is a Thai custom to throw away your clothes that you were wearing. Four Thai friends urged me to do this as the clothes now had bad luck. I didn't mind throwing away the shirt but the pants were Tommy Bahama slacks and had no damage done to them. However, out they went, along with the helmet that I was wearing (a crappy old helmut that stayed on after the initial impact but then came off but saved me from having a head injury).

[..]

Any hospital will have a physical therapy department. I HIGHLY recommend having this done. I have broken several bones and know the importance. DO NOT blow it off, even though PT sucks balls (it is boring and hurts -- although that is a bad comparison as having your balls sucked is neither LOL).

 

Cheers,

SD

[New Petchburi Pete]

Hi Dean,

Sorry to hear about your accident; and, I hope you heal completely and quickly. I agree with suadum. I believe most hospitals in LOS have physical therapy departments. And, from my experience, PT is affordable here. With most physical therapy, it's important to begin it as soon as possible so as to not lose any range of motion or restore it if diminished. Bangkok Hospital (just off New Petchburi Rd.) in BKK has an excellent Orthopedics department. It's worth a visit just to see what they receommend for PT.

 

When able to place your arm behind (and against) your back, if moving the forearm upward (while against your back) is restricted or very painful, the rotator cuff may be involved; and, an MRI would be then be worthwhile ... also affordable here compared to the States.

 

If you're coming this way in September, Pattaya International is pretty good for PT. I had lengthy and comprehensive PT sessions there for about 650 Bt/session. I still go there for massages (not manipulative Thai massage) on my lower back if it's acting up. The masseuse is highly skilled. I also tried BKK-Pattaya ... brand new deartment; but, the masseuse was useless.

 

Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital does have a state-of-the-art MRI scanner ... priced similarly to the best hospitals in BKK though.

 

Again, best wishes for total recovery.

[dean]

The arm has been getting a little more motion but after reading reports on the internet from people that have had broken humerous bones, I decided to keep arm in sling for one more week (four weeks total). What I don't want to do is break bone again, so also no heavy lifting for 2 to 2 1/2 months. I am also taking vit C, calcium an zinc to help bone heal more quickly. I stil haven't seen a doctot in the states and have no intentions on doing so unless complications arise. I did print off a 3 page sheet of exercises to do and I am doing the least complicated of them for now. My main problem is, while wearing the sling, I have no pain either standing or sitting but have pain while lying down, so sleep has been sporatic. I get back to LOS on Sept. 23 (9 weeks after accident and bone should be completely healed by then) for a week in Phuket and then a week in Pattaya, before going to Chiang Mai and oversee the completion of my house. I'll try PT in both Phuket and Pattaya and then go back to the hospital in C.M. (McCormack Hos.) and arrange for extensive PT.

[New Petchburi Pete]

I had similar sleeping difficulty due to shoulder injuries/surgeries years ago. I couldn't get a decent night's sleep in a bed; but, had pretty good luck with a reclining chair ... top of the line, leather Lazy - Boy that I sure wish I had over here!

[Bangkoktraveler]

Dean, I don't know if this apply to you, but the doctors always told me not to smoke cigarettes if I wanted to heal right. I thought I would pass that on. Sorry to here about your accident. You have always seemed to be an interesting person, in my opinion, so when you return to LOS, I hope I can get to see you.

[cavanami]

Any hospital will have a physical therapy department. .

 

Cheers,

SD

 

Leave it to me...I found one in BKK that did not do rehab.

Lerdsin Hospital.

Near the end of the BTS, Saphan Taksin, about a 5 minute walk down Silom Rd, or so.

 

A few years ago I buumed up my knee. Went to Lerdsin, saw the doc, got and x-ray, doc checked the x-ray and the kne again, got some meds...$7.50 USD!

Ohhh....when I got there, they asked if I had insurance, I did not, so I was a cash customer and immediately went to the front of the line, zero waiting!

 

The costs are very reasonable here from what I found out. No experience with the other offerings of Lerdsin.

 

 

[dean]

Thanks, everyone, for the advise and the support. Smoking is not one of my vices (however, since I can't work with a broken arm, I may go back to my old ways and try to make some money playing blackjack at the local casinos; thank god casinos are illegal in Thailand). Unfortunately, I don't have a lazyboy recliner, so i'll continue to alternate between the couch and bed. I'll start the re-hab next Monday by doind the exercises offered on the internet for a broken arm. I'll start PT when I get back to LOS on Sept. 23. If anyone is in Phuket the week of Sept. 23 or Pattaya the week of Sept. 30, I'll have plenty of time between rehab for the bar scene.