A while back, I posted a scan of my daughter’s fractured elbow — Skatje had gone on a trek across Siberia and broken it, but soldiered on. In case you were wondering, she’s now had it treated: doctors broke it again, put her through surgery, bolted it all up, and she’s now recovering, with drugs and a sling and a supportive husband.
Just think: every time her joints ache, every time alarms go off as she goes through airport scanners, she’ll be reminded of her glorious Russian adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
If only my aches and pins had such a glorius origin. She’ll get better soon.
I have a plate in my right wrist, it does not set off metal detectors. With my former job, I was always going through detectors and was afraid that I would be setting them off. First chance I had, I had a guard run a wand over my wrist. It did not go off.
Though it has been over twenty years and, from what I can tell, the surgeon did an excellent job; while there is not an ache there, it still does not feel quite right.
The screw holding the bone in place is probably made of titanium, so it won’t set off metal detectors, as it won’t respond to magnetic fields.
Good to hear Skatje is healing. Thanks for the update.
I’m no medical expert but I think that is called a Monteggia fracture. The only reason I know this is because my brother managed to get himself one falling off a polo pony (regular horses being far too common for my brother). The good news is that he had all the metalwork removed and against all medical opinion he has full movement in it.
I have no idea how Skatje managed to carry on, when I drove over and picked my brother up after the fall my first words to him were “don’t be sick in my car”, he definitely had a greenish hue and was in stunning amounts of pain.
I’m allergic to nickel so I end up with large brass belt buckles that need removing before going through the metal detector. Something always sets the bloody things off so I often end up standing with my arms up and my trousers round my ankles while the little metal detector is waved over my body to discover some silver paper (aluminum foil) or something.
I used to be able to get to my local airport 40 minutes before a flight and leave on time. Now I need at least 3 hours. If this is the same across the 2billion flights a year we waste 6000 lives every year in the extra security since 9/11. Statistically that is like killing twice as many people each year as died in 9/11.
Best of luck to your daughter. Can you still buy Swiss army knifes in duty free after they’ve taken a small pair of nail scissors off you in ‘security’?
I have a three metal plates and assorted screws holing my left arm together and I bring copies of the x-rays when I fly. At least one of the rods can be easily seen and palpated. I’ve never had a problem- even going to a presidential speech.
I once had a friend (past tense refers to incident only, not thr friendship) who had pins holding his ankle together after a severe motorcycle accident. One day the pin decided to vacate the premises. ewww
Hmm… ok, late new year’s resolution: All future scars must have excellent memories associated – no more “and this is where I almost lost a finger on a teacup” crap.
At least she was doing something interesting when she had to get screwed back together. (Bolts are unlikely.) I was just putting up Christmas lights and fell off the roof.
I bet it would have been easier for her and her purse if she would have discontinued her trip and would have gone to the US for treatment ASAP.
One of the requirements to get a Russian visa (at least the one I had) is travel insurance that covers emergency medical treatment.
@11 jefferylanam
That’s only currently required for the visa if a Russian citizen travelling to YOUR country is required to have travel insurance. Since the US doesn’t require that, Russia didn’t require it of me.