2nd Specialist review (14.3.07)

14 March 2007

It has been a month since my first specialist review on 15.2.07. For the past 1 month, my fingers are still swollen, but not as bad. Aching, numbness and inconsistent pain was experienced at the vicinity of the fracture. Movement of each finger was very restricted as I cannot bend the fingers individually. The middle finger was the worst, being shaky while I tried bending it on its own.

Upon arrival, I was referred to the Orthopaedic Room to have the cast removed. Although it sounds stupid, I feel a little unbearable to remove the blue cast, because there were several times when I incidentally bang my left hand against objects and this cast protects my left hand from further injury. But as part of recovery, removal of cast is unavoidable. The nurse warned me that the removal process is a little noisy, but it will not hurt. While I'm still interpreting what she was trying to say, she took out a machine that looks and works like an electronic saw and she started cutting the cast. Now then I start to understand what she was trying to say earlier on. While sawing, the vibrating sensation extends all the way down my spine and the noise produced was really loud. I was a little frightened that the saw might cut into my fresh, but luckily nothing happened. After about 5min of sawing, the cast was removed safely and the nurse wipe the casted area with antiseptic to remove dead skin cells, which helps to reduce itching.

As my left hand had being casted for too long, I'm not able to lift it up normally without support from my right hand. This constitute an awkward posture. I proceed to the Radiology Department to have my X-ray taken. While waiting for my turn, I spendt the time peeling off dead skin from the casted area, which started to itch. Lesser X-rays were taken this time and I returned to Clinic B1A to wait for my turn for consultation.

Dr Saiful Nizam Bin Subari is my specialist today. After examining the X-rays, Dr Saiful explained that there is recovery, but not as fast as the 1st review. My left hand will be cast for another month in order to meet the 6 weeks norm for casting (conservative) treatment. Dr Saiful also referred me for occupational therapy to reduce inflexibility after the removal of cast. Due to the cast, my left hand becomes very dry and scaly, so Dr Saiful prescribed a moisturising cream "AQUREA" to moisturise, hydrates and soothes the skin. As I'm unfit for duties, Dr Saiful issued me a 31 days MC till 13.4.07.

After the consultation, I went back to the Orthopaedic Room to have my left hand cast again; this time with a yellow-orange cast. I asked the nurse that whether the colours indicate anything (e.g. type of injury, duration of injury, status of recovery etc.) and he replied the colour is solely for fashion and aesthetic purpose only. I returned to Dr Saiful for him to inspect the cast and he suggested casting my left hand further till the cast is above the large knuckles to further restrict movements of the fingers, which he believe will up speed up recovery. Therefore, I'm back in the Orthopaedic Room again to modify the cast.


yellow cast

After payment procedure was done (but I don't to pay, as it is a service injury, TTSH will bill MINDEF directly), I registered for my first occupational therapy appointment before going to the pharmacy to collect "AQUREA". When everything was done, I have a late lunch at TTSH Kopitiam food court, eating cai fan.

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