Oh, Dem Bones...and Haiku Wednesday..

Haiku Wednesday
Annoyance


 One ought not complain
Many lose extremities
or are disabled


But my new pet peeves
are quite exasperating;
Splints, casts and air boot


What an annoyance 
so awkward and cumbersome
Dems my lucky breaks


by klr









You may not be old enough to remember the original song "Dem Bones..", written 

in 1945 by James Waldon Johnson and then copied by many an artist since.  However many are familiar with the popular ditty in learning how 'them bones' are connected. Since I have been dealing with a few bone issues recently, I thought I would elaborate a little bit... 

The biblical source for this phrase comes from Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, with history 
all its own; it includes three other pious men, Shadrack, Meeshack, and Abednigo,  for whom another spiritual song was written.

I loved studying physiology!  Recently though, I've learned first hand more about the human
 skeleton and how it is repaired.  The ankle bone is connected to the foot bone - the foot bone is where bone spurs can grow on the heel and eventually tear the Achilles tendon, causing great pain!  For this to (heal), one must immobilize said foot in an air cushioned boot for up to 5 weeks; one must follow doctors orders by sticking with a physical therapy program for a month or so, icing and exercising all the muscles that have anything to do with the support of the tendon.  Lastly one needs to have special orthotics made from molds of the soles of the patients feet .  Then one can begin to walk short distances with little or no pain at all.    Amazing!! This also gives one the opportunity to catch up on one's reading as one is limited by 
not being able to drive while wearing the boot.

            Achilles tendon

                            Heel spur

The arm bones (ulna and radius) are connected to the wrist bones - the metacarpal bones of the hand 

are connected to the phalanges (this I knew) and the thumb metacarpal joint is connected to the trapezium.  When degenerative arthritis destroys the base thumb joint and one then falls on it, further damaging it, an orthopedic doctor must perform an angioplasty to re-establish the joint.  Without going into  more detail, assorted tools are used for this, including pins and a drill.  Amazingly, again, the continuous aching pain of arthritis of the thumb is gone..relief!!!  There is only the pain of the incision.  Now again, one needs time to elevate and rest the entire arm in a splint for 4 weeks and a cast for 5 more weeks.  Again, plenty 
of  time to find other things to do like write, read, and paint using the good hand.  Of course, 
there are months of therapy ahead.

    In 2004 I fell, in the dark, stepping where there was no step...as you know the arm bones, the ulna and radius, are connected by the elbow joint to the humerus bone. Again, amazingly, if the elbow is fractured, it can be replaced with a titanium prosthetic!!!  If you are right handed and it happens to that arm, you will have to let all housework go unattended, as well as painting, but you still will have time to read.  After 6 months of physical therapy it will be as good as new with full range of motion!!  The time recuperating is advantageous for reading, writing, and watching old movies.

Of course, pain is managed with pills the first 3-4 days post surgery, although you are expected to 
be able to withstand up to a level 7-8 on a 1-10 pain scale at times.  It is most tolerable at the 5-6 range, 
as anyone who has had any kind of surgery can attest to. These procedures are innovative and incredibly proven to help many an athlete or person in need of joint replacement. Tools of the trade include hammers and knives, saws, rods and bolts and pins.  Amazingly, hips, knees, backbones,  wrists and ankles can be made to work again quite easily these days.  Miraculously, one can return to the lifestyle one was living before the injuries or incidents occurred, except for heavy duty work.  I have every confidence in the 
                world that one can survive even horrible accidents by turning one self over 
to the care of the bone doctors and their nursing staff.   

                                         
Bones can be lovely, aged and brittle, can hide 
secret evidence of homicidal nature, or bear genetic clues, (CSI). Medicine has become bionic in nature.
The medical profession has come a long way in all fields, it is true. I read fewer books and watched more movies during these times - 
Unless one is isolated, no longer does one have to suffer the excruciating pain of having 
a leg amputated as a result of an infected injury or snakebite with only a jug of whisky to anaesthetise the 
patient, an unsanitary bed, and whoever might be at hand to perform the deed - with the proverbial 
soap and water boiled on the stove, if lucky!   Perhaps you saw 
Robert Duvall perform the same scene in the movie " Lonesome Dove"?!