Jen broke her hand

Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive February 2004: Jen broke her hand

She called me when I got home and she was hysterical, wanting to know which hospital my insurance covers. I asked her what was wrong and she said *I did something to my hand and it hurts a whole lot*. Well, she drove herself to the ER and her dad met her there. She broke the outside bone in her right hand (the bone from the pinky finger, that's in the *hand* part) completely in half. How did she do this, you might ask?? She punched a wall! Can you believe?!?! She was upset with her boss, whom I have met several times, and he's a jack***.

Anyway, X called me and said he saw the actual Xrays and the bone is not just fractured, it's in 2 pieces. It was too swollen for anything to be done about it so they splinted it and gave her prescriptions for pain meds and anti inflams. She has to see a hand surgeon tomorrow.

She really needs to quit this job, this guy she works for is really a jerk and I have been witness to it first hand. I hope this convinces her. I also told X I think she needs counseling if she's doing stuff like this when she's upset or angry, and he's going to talk to her about that too.

It's hard when you have to let go. She's lived with me her whole life until August. Things have been rocky with us - her immaturity vs. her struggle to be an adult, she is hardheaded, so am I, lots of things, so when she started school in August, she went to stay with her Dad, we both thought the break would be good. So now, this is the very first time in her life I haven't been there in person when something happened to her. It makes me feel sad.

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 10:59 pm:

Oh ouch!! And most likely she is right handed?? I hope it heals fast and correctly. I know this is probably hard for you too.....especially being the *first* time you haven't been right there. I'm sure everything will turn out fine.
(((Karen)))

By Bobbie on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 11:24 pm:

AWWW Karen.... Breaks my heart just reading about it. Big hugs to you.... And I hope Jen heals up well. And she needs to quit that job. Oh and I broke my hand in the same manner when I was 17 by the way... Maturity and children changed me a lot. More hugs to you.........

By Bea on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 11:35 pm:

Poor Jen. Poor Mom. Hope you both feel better soon.

By Feona on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:41 am:

Well at least she didn't punch the dumb boss!

Hope everything works out for her. You can get post tramatic stress from working for a creep.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:57 am:

Ouch! Hope she feels better soon, too. Will keep you all in my prayers.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:30 am:

{{{Karen and Jenn}}}

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:51 am:

Thanks.......

She called me late last night and said the bone is not only broken in half, it's *shoved* forward, so to set it, it has to be pulled into place. And there's the possibility she will have to have surgery to set it.

I hope she learns a lesson from this, but that probably won't happen.

Feona, LOL about punching her jerk boss - I wouldn't put it past her!

By Texannie on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:07 am:

Yikes, sounds like it really hurts!

By Sue3 on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:35 am:

{{{Karen}}} hope her hand heals quickly.

By Andi on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 11:13 am:

OUCH, I have never broken anything but I can just imagine how much that must hurt! Hope she feels better soon and I have a feeling she learned her lesson and won't be punching any walls anytime soon.

By Melanie on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 11:16 am:

Poor girl!!! (Because of her hand AND her boss!) (((HUGS))) to both of you.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 02:07 pm:

Well, this day has gone from bad to worse. She has to have surgery in the morning. They're going to put a plate and pins in her hand, plus an anesthetic pump for 5 days, then cast it on March 1 for 6-8 weeks. She's miserable right now and can't take the pain meds because she's nauseated. Part of me feels so sorry for her and part of me feels like she got what she deserved from doing something so stupid. I think she' probably regretting what she did at this point.

Plus, Jeff put his truck in the shop this morning after putting it off, and it's going to cost about $1000 to fix it this time, which of course, he doesn't have. So I've been reading him the riot act about maintenance on the truck, and told him he has to pay us back.

By Clair~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 02:12 pm:

((((((Karen)))))) I am so sorry

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 04:38 pm:

(((HUGS))) Keeping you all in my prayers.

By Happynerdmom on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 05:04 pm:

Gosh...this job sure doesn't stop when they're 18, does it? lol

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:53 pm:

Just spoke with her again, she's hurting a lot now and is trying the pain meds again. She tried to cook herself dinner! I told you she was hardheaded! I don't know why she didn't wait until her dad got home. He's dropping her off at the hospital tomorrow and I'm meeting her there and staying with her. She wants me to wash her hair for her after she gets home. LOL My guess is she'll just want to sleep.

Goofy child told me to bring my camera tomorrow so I could take pictures of her bruised hand. Go figure!

By Cat on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:05 pm:

What an ordeal! I hope she learned something from this. Like hit a pillow next time! lol {{{{{Karen}}}}}

By Amy~moderator on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:19 pm:

(((Karen))) and (((Jen)))

I hope things start getting better, Karen. When it rains, it pours. It's always like that, isn't it? I'll be thinking of you all.

By Gammiejoan on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:28 pm:

Oh, Karen, I'm so sorry about Jen's hand and Jeff's truck. I'll be thinking about you and Jen in the morning and saying a prayer that the surgery will go well.

By Dana on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

Man that hurts. At least she is keeping her wits about her (wanting a photo to remember the moment LOL). Well wishes for her and you as well.

I can't even imagine what it will be like when DD is old enough to be on her own.

By Juliem on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 08:11 pm:

Good luck with the surgery. You and your daughter will be in my prayers!

By Sunny on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 09:25 pm:

(((hugs)))

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 07:53 am:

Send good vibes our way please......I'm getting ready to leave for the hospital.

Poor thing was scared to death last night and called me because she couldn't sleep and wanted me to stay on the phone with her till she fell asleep. LOL

She asked me how long I could stay after I brought her back to her dad's (she doesn't want to come back here because *her car is at dad's*), and I told her I'd have to leave pretty early - it's Mardi Gras weekend here and if I don't get out of there by 3, I'll be stuck in the City till late. She said she just wanted to know *how long she'll have me for* today. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

I'm bringing the huge stuffed monkey I got her when she had to go to the ER last July 4 with strep/tonsilitis. And yes, I have my camera all packed up and ready to go!

I guess I'll post later after this is all over. Thanks for the good wishes!

By Marg on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:00 am:

Good Luck (((Karen)))!

Wishing and praying for the best;)

By Tunnia on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:02 am:

Poor thing! I hope all goes well with the surgery and that she is on the mend and isn't in too much pain real soon!

By Kernkate on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:40 am:

{{{Karen and Jen}}} Hope all goes well. Thoughts and Prayers are with you! Please keep us posted!

By Colette on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:46 am:

Good luck Karen. Hope it all goes well.

By Amy~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 10:39 am:

Best Wishes for a smooth surgery!

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:10 pm:

Oh, Karen. It never ends, does it? Heaps of sympathy for Jenn, and heaps more for you.

Want to join my team of people who didn't know it was a lifetime job when we got into this parenting thing? And sometimes wail about it?

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:16 pm:

......and a long day was had by all........

First, they took her 3 hours late for the surgery. Then afterwards, the doctor came in to talk to me and told me the bone was actually broken into 4 pieces and was splintered. His words: *she really pulverized it*. So she's got a plate the length of the 5th metacarpal and quite a lot of pins in it. There's an epidural pump into her hand with marcaine in it.

They gave her 3 shots of dilaudid in recovery and it did nothing to touch her pain. She has to keep it iced and elevated for 48 hours, the pump has 5 days worth of marcaine and she's on antibiotics for 5 days. They gave her VicodinES and Phenergan and that has finally helped the pain considerably.

She's here tonight, I had to bathe her and wash her hair. Made her dinner, gave her the meds, got her settled in and she's hopefully going to sleep well tonight.

I'm glad this day is O-V-E-R!

Thanks for the well wishes!!!!

By Sue3 on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:17 pm:

LOL Ginny ! Sending good vibes your way Karen. Please
Keep us posted.

By Sue3 on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:20 pm:

Oh ! we must have posted the same time.
Glad all went well and it `s over.
What a relief I bet.
Hope you all sleep well.

By Andi on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 08:21 pm:

I will be thinking of you this weekend. Keep us posted!

By Karen~moderator on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 09:58 pm:

Thanks Andi. To make things worse, Hal's best friend is arriving from D.C. in the morning for Mardi Gras.......this should be interesting......LOL

By Kernkate on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 11:51 pm:

Karen what a mom you are!! The best!!!
Hope all goes well. Have a good time at Mardi Gras!!! Have a drink on me...LOL

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:12 am:

Hopefully she is on the mend tonight. That sounds so painful. I hope the pain meds help her sleep tonight.

By Bea on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 01:03 am:

KAREN!

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 07:19 am:

UGH!

Needless to say, I didn't sleep much last night, was up with Jen. She finally fell asleep around midnight - too early for another dose of her meds - and she woke me up 5 hours later hysterical with the pain. The meds had worn off, the ice had melted and she couldn't handle it. She's experiencing a lot of nerve pain too, a first for her. I gave her a dose of the meds and 30 minutes later gave her another half a dose because she hadn't stopped crying. Now she finally seems to be settling down.

Her dad is picking her up in a few hours, so I'm going to tell him they need to set a clock tonight and not let the meds totally wear off so she's not in as much pain (hopefully!)

I wonder if she's learned anything from this? She said she wants to go to anger management. Sounds like a plan to me!

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 07:55 am:

Poor Jenn. I bet she'll never punch a wall again! More hugs and prayers. I hope the pain subsides soon and recovery goes well.

Hmmm, I wonder what's in the future for my strong willed girl!

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 09:48 am:

Yeah, giving the meds on a schedule would help to keep on top of the pain, even if it means waking her up. Ouch! This sounds worse than C-section pain, or the pain I had when I had the bone spur by my big toe removed.

By Kernkate on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:26 pm:

Hopefully in a few days the pain will be gone and she will be back to herself...Its so hard to be a parent and see your kids in pain like that.
I bet she will never hit anything again like that. Sounds like a lesson well learned.

By Conni on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 04:36 pm:

KAren, I am so sorry for Jen! I hope she heals quickly!! VERY quickly.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 09:10 am:

Geez.....another few phone calls last night......the last one she was sobbing again because of the burning nerve pain which is spreading up her forearm......it had only been 2 hours since her pain meds. I told her to tell her Dad and she said he would just tell her she had to wait for the next dose...so I told her to put in an emergency call to the doctor. I know there's nothing he can do until tomorrow but if that catheter is irritating a nerve, he can pull it out or move it.

By Marg on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 10:12 am:

(((Karen)))

I am so sorry, I am praying this gets better as soon as possible.

I'm so sorry this had to happen to your family. I worked for a boss for almost 16 years, many times I felt like putting my fist through a wall, he was degrading, manipulative, nasty, lying, etc. He was of a certain religious sect that he always turned things around to make it look like he was right and good and innocent. To this day he fools a lot of people.

I know your daughter may have an anger problem, but the more beneficial lesson is if and when she quits this job it will build self-confidence after a while that she does not have to put up with people like this.

I'm sorry I just had to vent. I feel so bad for all of your family.

By Bobbie on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 10:30 pm:

Karen she might want to think about medication if she ever has to go through child birth. LOL Sounds like low pain tolerance. Poor thing. Hopefully as time goes on she can cope with some of the pain. Sorry you both are having to go through this

By Insaneusmcwife on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 11:26 pm:

Ouch! How did she do today? I'm sorry to hear that she is in so much pain. I agree with Marg that she needs to change jobs. No job is worth that pain. I hope she starts to feel better soon.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 12:00 am:

Bobbie, I don't really think it's low pain tolerance, since she's been living with a back problem for over 2 years now. This was bone surgery and the doctor even said it would be incredibly painful.

However, the last time I spoke with her today, she said the burning pain had eased up and now the pain was at the incision and the bone and all the muscle/tissues surrounding it, and that she could deal with that. So maybe she's on the mend now. I certainly hope so!!!!!

By Amy~moderator on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 01:24 am:

I hope so, Karen. This sounds so tough for her.

By Feona on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 07:14 am:

Did she get her bone density checked? I am just concerned since she broke the arm in 4 places.

By Kernkate on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 09:16 am:

Hopefully she is on the mend and the pain will ease for her.

By Fionadeassis on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 10:13 am:

WOW!!! I am just reading all of this now! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}}....{{{{{{{PRAYERS}}}}}}}}}}.....Dh dropped a big piece of iron on his foot last year and crushed it. The pain was excrushiating and he was on the bed rolling and crying(this was WITH medication!)....The doctor said that the tissue damage can be incredibly painful. That wasn't even surgery or broken bones so I can't imagine what your daughter is going through. Coupled with her age and the fact that she probably feels really angry at herself for punching that wall. Hope everything heals well and fast!!!

fiona

By Bobbie on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 11:05 pm:

How is she doing now, Karen?

By Shellyg on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 12:26 am:

Oh Karen.... I did the same thing except I punched a person. Did they say it is called a "boxer's break"? The Dr. said it is called that because the break happens from hitting wrong. I did not nearly do as much damage as your daughter, but I can tell you it hurt like hell. It also hurts for about a year after because of the nerve damage and healing time. I have a high pain tolerance (had my babies with no meds, au natural) and I can tell you it hurt like heck!

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

She's doing better now, I think. The burning nerve pain is gone, although her fingers are swelling more, which may be something to be concerned about. The ER gave her a prescrition for Bextra (an anti inflammatory med), so I told her to start taking that. She told me last night she thought it *might* be helping the swelling. Today is Mardi Gras so it will be near impossible to get a doctor today. But I told her if the swelling continues to worsen to call him in the morning. She was thinking about calling him anyway on Wednesday to see if she could go and get the IV epidural thingie removed. Her pain isn't as bad now, so that's a good thing! YAY!

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 01:03 pm:

Wow.. I haven't been on line for a few days. I'm soo sorry to hear about Jenn's hand. I'm glad to hear she is doing better. I'm a wreck when one ofmy kids have a bad cold, so I can't even begin to imagine what you are both going through. Hang in there Karen, and I pray Jenn will only continue to grow stronger and heal quickly.

By Bobbie on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 11:23 pm:

Glad to hear she is doing better. Hopefully things continue to go smoothly. And when I broke mine I was in a lot of pain too. I was only teasing about the childbirth.

Did you go down to Mardi Gras??