My husband fell three weeks ago

[Malva Zebrina]

he simply caught his jacket on the handlebars of his bicycle and, bump. went down. He has been limping for three weeks and kept saying it was getting better. He has a part tine job in the local supermarket, cleaning the toilets and doing janatorial work.

He saw the doctor yesterday, after three weeks of suffering trying to do his job and had an Xray today.

The call we just got said he has a fracture in the shaft of his thigh bone.

He is seventy years old.

and here we are,with Medicare and the basic aarp crap and I am certain he will need surgery and care for at least a month.

and I am very worried. I can care for him if surgery is necessary as I am certain he will not accept admission to the nursing home to recover.

Scared

[laruemtt]

1. what kind of fracture is it?

it could very likely not require surgery.

[MnFats]

2. Ouch! isn't there some agency that can help you?

seems like a home health aid could come buy, check dressings & meds, and such.
(admittedly, many of these programs have been cut since * assumed office, but .... )
in any case, you have our best wishes. If your husband was out biking at 70 he must be in pretty good shape, yes? That will help speed his recovery, I hope!

[Lars39]

3. Good grief! He's tough.

I hope all goes well and that his recovery is speedy, for both of you.
:hug:

[UrbScotty]

4. At least you have health insurance. I don't. (nt)

[Malva Zebrina]

8. I am really sorry that you don't

and hope that nothing happens to you

I am grateful for the responses here on DU. I am really scared, but know if surgery is necessary I can cope with it and care for him at home and I will do it.


AFter that, we will need to review our priorities. Without his job, unfortunately, we will be hard pressed to survive with the basic necessesties, such as heating bills in this frozen north of Maine.

Thanks to all though for your kindness and concern.

We will see what will happen tommorrow when we coference with the doctor and the orthopedic man

Thanks

[bigwillq]

5. He may not need surgery

Make sure they do all they can and use surgery as the last resort. HE might just need therapy and rest.

Hope all goes well! TEll hubby to hang in there. He seems tough if he went three weeks before he saw a doctor.

[Malva Zebrina]

9. well , he does not listen to what I tell him

so we will see what happens tommorrow. He is tough but it hurts me to see this toughness. Thanks to you and all.

[bigwillq]

11. Yes, I would wait and see what the Doc says

They know best, well better than you and I at this point. It's better to wait and see and to listen to all the doctors options before you or your husband get so worked up over how to pay for medical bills and all that stressful stuff.

Again, hope all goes well and keep us informed.

[Unperson 309]

15. Just Read the Center For Independent Living Comment & Wanted to Add...

Also you can contact the state Department of Vocational Rehabilitation! They have more resources. Also, if you have straight
Social Security and it's not enough, you can get Social security Supplemental Disability checks as well as your regular retirement check. SSDI is a hassle to apply for, but armed with a letter from your local assemblyperson or Congresscritter, you CAN get the extra help.

Also, if you need "durable medical goods" such as a wheelchair or crutches, and the government is giving you shit about buying them, contact the Salvation army or Goodwill. They frequently have such things in their thrift stores and will give or sell them to you CHEAP.

This whole thing just STINKS and I will pray for you and your dear husband. Hang in there.

309

[childslibrarian]

6. This is a tough one

But the decision can be made with you, the doctor and the hospital social worker after surgery. Ask for help!!

[flamingyouth]

7. I'm so sorry, Marianne

I'm going to PM you now.:hug:

[WilliamPitt]

10. Tough bastard walked around on a broken leg for three weeks

I'm sorry this has happened, and I wish you the best...but I have it in the back of my leg that a man who can walk around for three weeks on a busted leg is something of a hoss. I believe he, and you, will be OK.

[KamaAina]

12. As soon as anyone even says the words "nursing home"

drop whatever you're doing and contact your local Center for Independent Living. There's one near you (if you're in the U.S.), over 400 in all. They should be able to help your husband stay away from the nursing home.

List: http://www.ilru.org/jump1.htm

I know an attorney who got more grief trying to see his client in a nursing home than he would have gotten from prison. Nursing Homes -- Just Say NO!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Will be praying for you folks! *hugs*

[Unperson 309]

14. Try Here...

http://www.modestneeds.org or if that link doesn't work, try googling modestneeds and see what they can do to help.

This makes me furious! A couple in their seventies, part of the lately termed greatest Generation, who did so much for this country and you have to work with a broken f*cking LEG to make ends meet!

Pardon my blasphemy, but GOD DAMN this administration and all the previous ones who have not stepped up to ameliorate this shit!

This shit simply REEKS in a nation as wealthy as ours was! Yes, *was*... I fear the pigs have licked the bottom of the trough clean and left the rest of us to starve.

God DAMN them ALL to HELL!

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