So, it’s official. I broke my arm.
Well, sorta. As I said in my cell-phone photo and audio posts yesterday, I fractured the radial head in my left elbow. (More info here, here and here.) It’s a very small fracture, but a fracture is what a “broken bone” is, so technically, I can say that I broke my arm. (eMedicine: “A broken or fractured arm means that one or more of the bones of the arm have been cracked.”)
This is, I do believe, the first time I’ve ever broken a bone. And what a (stupid) way for it to happen!
The fracture is, as I said, very small, and thus very hard to see on the X-ray. I think I can kinda sorta make it out, though I’m not 100% sure I’m looking at the same thing the doctor was. Regardless, the arrow points to the general area where he said the problem is:
(Full X-rays after the jump.)
The doctor could tell right away, upon initially examining me, that my elbow wasn’t dislocated, as I had thought. (I guess the elbow’s weird appearance yesterday was just a combination of swelling and the fact that it’s kinda crooked anyway; always has been.) He was initially worried that it might be a displaced fracture, which could have meant that I’d have needed surgery, potentially delaying our departure for Phoenix (or, alternatively, hastening it, and mucking up my exam schedule). But the X-rays ruled that out, thank goodness. So basically, I just need to wait for the bone to heal itself, and in the mean time, I’ll be wearing this for a while:
I start my summer associateship at Bryan Cave in two weeks, and it sounds like I’ll probably still need the sling at that point. Awesome. So I get to tell all my new co-workers about how I’m an idiot. Fantastic. (Speaking of which, the Domers and Longhorns are making fun of me. As well they should. Heh.)
Perhaps I should follow Casey’s advice, and come up with a better, less embarrassing, more manly story to explain my injury — like how I broke my elbow “defending a busload of orphans from a grizzly bear attack.” Heh. That’s even better than the one I’d come up with, saving a kitten from a burning building. Or perhaps I broke it in the process of personally capturing Osama bin Laden. You just haven’t heard about it yet because they’re secretly torturing interrogating him at the moment… but soon, my true heroism will be revealed… I single-handedly brought down the world’s most wanted terrorist, gallantly sacrificing my elbow for the good of this country… :)
Anyway, like I said, full X-rays after the jump.
P.S. Ow.
P.P.S. Incidentally, reflecting on my fall, I think this was roughly the sequence of thoughts that went through my mind, in rapid succession:
1. Oh sh*t, I hit the net, the camera is going to fall.
2. Oh sh*t, I hit the net, I’m going to fall.
3. Owwww!!!!!!
4. Dammit… this means I’m going to be in pain during finals.
5. Hey, I got that on tape!
That was all in the space of a second or two, mind you. But I’m pretty sure that’s the correct order in which those thoughts actually occurred to me.
Here are the X-rays (click for larger version):
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Categories: My Life
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May 9th, 2006 at 2:01:19 am
Just one question. Those bones have, like, stretched out a little since Oct. 30, 1981, right? Because, like, I don’t wanna think about it otherwise. Ow.
Mom
OXO
May 9th, 2006 at 3:14:42 am
Nutritional recommendations to help healing: get lots of calcium via supplements if neccessary. Also get Vitamin D in good amounts. Extra protein also helps bones grow. Oh and also avoid nets of any kind.
May 9th, 2006 at 3:17:01 am
Oh and also avoid nets of any kind.
LOL
May 9th, 2006 at 8:21:43 am
but a fracture is what a “broken bone� is, so technically, I can say that I broke my arm
Just like I can technically say that I broke my back. Ok, so it was a fracture in the lower lumbar, and not the actual spinal column…but still, you should see the look on people’s faces when I say I broke my back, once.
May 9th, 2006 at 9:52:32 am
Is it me, or does anyone else notice how the IT tactfully wears a ND jersey on every pix taken after “the jump.” This is a nefarious act that associates ND to a “goofy” act. Simply clever.
May 9th, 2006 at 9:52:32 am
Is it me, or does anyone else notice how the IT tactfully wears a ND jersey on every pix taken after “the jump.” This is a nefarious act that associates ND to a “goofy” act. Simply clever.
May 9th, 2006 at 9:54:42 am
Hey! how can this have been posted X2 at the same split second?
May 9th, 2006 at 9:57:24 am
Lots of stupid stuff goes through your head before something like that… I love how your mind works :-P Only you would think about your camera first!
::ahem:: Your devotion to your camera reminds me of your “date” to Junior Prom …
May 9th, 2006 at 10:39:59 am
WALLBALL!!
Oh, the memories that just came flooding back. Remember when I was going to be a tightrope walker … your fence was my favorite place to practice. Thank you Leanna for not crushing my dreams and for allowing me to “train�.
Oh yeah, sorry about your elbow. ;) But that clip is hilarious.
(I decided to re-post this higher up so it wouldn’t get lost)
May 9th, 2006 at 10:40:47 am
Ahem, you mean my “date” to the eighth grade dance… not only did I have a real date to the junior prom, but she was the reigning Homecoming Queen! Give me some credit here… :)
May 9th, 2006 at 11:35:55 am
So, the only question that remains is . . . do you plan to record and liveblog your own death?
May 9th, 2006 at 11:40:46 am
(1) You poor kid. May your Elbow have a swift & full recovery.
(2) But will this prevent you from Bending it at The Backer when exams are over? {shudder :} [No, I didn’t Think so ;]
(3) The mind runneth back to early days, of Forehead whacked upon the concrete steps of Hartford, Nose walloped against the sidewalks of New York, Fingers caught in door at post office of Newington, visit to Hop-In Clinic with injured Toe…then of course in the Modern era, there was the Terrorist Scorpion… / Again do your loving parents Feel your Pain. / Well. Sort of. :> Figure of speech, Senator, figure of Speech. ;]
(4) but now on Another note: you peerless Big Fat Get. :> [This one merits spelling it out. ;] FISH are supposed to get caught in Nets ye silly ould fyool; and your videoclip impression of a Bigmouth bass, whilst Not Implausible, is incomplete. No Scales. :)
(5) Obviously you inherited your old man’s native gracefulness & athleticism. But at least the McNamara Lefthandedness trait Skipped a generation this time around, otherwise you would be up the proverbial creek & unable to go into town to pick up yer Oars. [Apologies to Tommy & Dickie & Leannie :] On the other Hand (so to Speak :) now David & Dane & the Cloistered Mousie & the rest of the Irishtrojan Sinister Caucus ;> can say “SEE? SEE? Didn’t we always TELL ya his Left Wing is crippled?” :)
(6) But look on the Bright side: better you should break your Elbow than your Ass. / Diagrammatic illustration of the Difference follows separately. :} waw haw haw NOOOO nonono… ;>
(7) no Bones about it: Get Well Soon, old kiddoe. :)
May 9th, 2006 at 12:27:05 pm
LOL
And while everyone points to the elbow–well, did Brendan mean to kick that ball to the side of the net or straight some unknown path. In any rate, had he kicked w/ accuracy, would this elbow wrecking experience had happened? Right foot missed to clear net about 6 inches short. On the brighter side, could have broken *something* else.
May 9th, 2006 at 12:30:08 pm
Can we get a promise that by the time you need your first colonoscopy, we *won’t* have to look at the entire DVD (or whatever is will be by then), PLEASE ?
(grin)
May 9th, 2006 at 1:10:38 pm
That damn fanny pack…
May 9th, 2006 at 1:39:10 pm
So when do the caption contests start, for the various pictures ?
(anticipatory grin)
May 9th, 2006 at 3:25:28 pm
It seems we may need Federal legislation, or at least a Presidential Directive, mandating protective gear for Brendans while they are away from their keyboards …
May 9th, 2006 at 5:46:27 pm
lolol, live blogging a colonoscopy, might be tough, i just fear what becky might do to him when he attempts to live blog the birth of their first child.
May 9th, 2006 at 7:56:47 pm
jar jar - if ANYONE is likely to liveblog the delivery of his kid, it’s our Brendan ! Becky, at such a time, is likely to be concentrating on other things …
Now, afterwards, on the other hand, the fair Mrs Loy is likely to find revenge a dish best eaten cold … and savoured at leisure …
{moi-ha-ha-ha-ha}