After two weeks spent with the half-cast on, we returned to the clinic for another appointment. It followed the same pattern as the previous one, with x-rays, a meeting with a doctor, and a visit to the Body Shop.
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Instead of meeting with the head orthopedic surgeon, we met with one of the residents, which suggests that they're not considering this case all that worrisome. It was actually nice to get a chance to talk to a resident, because he was eager to explain things to us, and willing to go into more details when we asked questions. He suggested that it's possible or even likely that BR did not damage the periosteum around her bone, which is quite encouraging because it should be quite helpful in reshaping the bone and protect the rest of her arm (nerves etc) from the sharp edges of the bone. I have to say I have learned so much about the human bones and their development in the last month than I ever have in school. I guess I am paying a lot more attention now :)
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The doc told us that we should put the half-cast back on (it was removed for the x-rays), but we should start removing it daily and gave BR some exercises to do without the half-cast to help regain a full range of motion and work on regaining strength and flexibility. And after 3-4 weeks, we would be able to take the half-cast off for good.
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BR was super happy to hear that we would be able to re-use the existing half-cast, because she was quite worried about having to deal with another cast setting and heating up. She complained a bit about her arm hurting, but couldn't articulate whether it was more of an itch or a pain, so we figured it was just a bit tight and would work itself out.
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Our next appointment was scheduled for two months later. That meant that taking off the cast and working on all the physio would have to be done on our own, and she'd be back in school before we saw the doctors again. It's a good news/bad news situation, good because it gives us confidence that things are proceeding well, and bad because we don't really get a chance to ask questions or check how things are going until September.
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When we took off the half-cast the next day, we discovered that the two parts of the cast had pinched the skin on BRs upper arm. It now had a big bruise and a long cut and was just great for the parental guilt. We covered it up with a bit of ointment and some gauze before putting the half-cast back on. We tried to air it out as much as possible (bandaging up around it), and finally after two weeks it all healed up. It's quite interesting how much slower the skin heals when it's covered up all day and night.
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And so now you're all caught up. It's been two weeks since the last appointment, we've built up to having the half-cast off for the whole evening without pain or discomfort. BR alternates between feeling better and appreciating the progress she's made and being bored and annoyed at not being able to do things and being asked to take it a little easier. She misses spending time with other kids and having some time away from her parents. But she's a trooper and really we can't complain much about how the last 5 weeks have gone.
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