contemplating arm surgery

jrhartley · Dec 2, 2013

I recently had arm surgery for a broken humerus in cmc , I have been told that I should have the plate out in the next few months , but have been told various stories about operations gone wrong.

Originally I thought it would be better to have the person that put the plate in take it out, but I am having doubts now.

Does anyone have experience of this kind of surgery in cmc or santiago

would the original surgeon be the best choice as he knows where he put it ;-)

dv8 · Dec 2, 2013

i have lost all hope for north coast doctors. if i were you i would head for clinica union or HIMS hospital in santiago. most dominicans i know go there for procedures more complicated than a stitch. and i am talking about normal working dominicans, not the rich folks.

following an accident (falling from the tree) daughter of one of our workers was operated in clinica union. it went very well and she seems perfectly fine now. all i remember is that the surgery was very expensive, even with health insurance. i think it was 42k pesos cash difference.

why do you even want the plate out? if you are worried about discomfort and occasional pain i am told this is normal. many years ago my mother (in poland) had a car accident and ever since then she has a small plate holding her bone together. the surgery was done by a team specializing in hand/arm surgeries, probably some of the best doctors we have in the country. mom never made full recovery, really, due to age and osteoporosis.

judypdr · Dec 2, 2013

Go and see Johnny Medina at the Hernandez clinic/hospital on 27 February in Puerto Plata. He is first class. My sister broke both bones in her right lower leg in a car accident and he put in a titanium rod. She is 100% now and has returned to the U.S. where doctors looking at her before and after xrays are in complete agreement that he did an exceptional job. Good luck to you. Follow his advice to the letter!

jrhartley · Dec 2, 2013

originally i was told it was my decision about having it out , but after falling over in the shower he decided that it was best for me to have it removed, I dont know which is best as I am not a doctor, but it still hurts when i lower my arm after having it raised and cant carry much weight with it

jrhartley · Dec 2, 2013

I understand that Dr reyes from cmc also works in either puerto plata or santiago so Im unsure what I should do a I dont know anything about any other doctors

Harleysrock · Dec 2, 2013

I agree with Dv8 I don't trust NC Dr's one bit for that stuff. Why take a chance when the hospitals in Santiago and SD are clearly better. It's not much of a drive to either place!
My wife went to CMC when I was away and they had no idea what they were doing with her torn ligament in her ankle area!

bronzeallspice · Dec 2, 2013

Hartley, I'm sorry to hear that. Hope you can find a good surgeon and all ends well.

Rattus_Rattus · Dec 3, 2013

As long as you dont grow a long beard, has big wild eyes and wearing a turban you should have only minor problems. Just dont rub your arm and start swearing in a foregin language when the airport police wants you to lift both your arms over your head.

retiree · Dec 3, 2013

It's the doctor not the place that is important but it is more likely to find a better specialist in Santiago or Santo Domingo. I went to a specialist at Homs and got a wrong diagnosis so be careful even at what are considered to be the best hospitals. You have to go on recommendations from people you trust and not rush.

bilko · Dec 3, 2013

jrhartley said:
I understand that Dr reyes from cmc also works in either puerto plata or santiago so Im unsure what I should do a I dont know anything about any other doctors

Dr. Reyes is an excellent doctor. I know of two people that used him with great success. Both of these people
met him at CMC in Sosua. Talk to him!

Harleysrock · Dec 3, 2013

I think it is pretty important to get a second opinion here with some things! Maybe even a third opinion and I am not a hospital or Dr person! I only go when it is a must for me, as in blood shooting out of my ears!

La Profe_1 · Dec 3, 2013

Derfish said:
And it would be a bitch to have to carry a note from your doctor when going thru the x-ray machine at the airport.
Der Fish

I travel with a photostat of the x-ray taken when plates were placed in my arm. Have never had to produce it at the airport.

The plates have been in my forearm since 2000. My US orthopedist strongly advised against having them removed.

jrhartley · Dec 3, 2013

Dr. Reyes is an excellent doctor. I know of two people that used him with great success. Both of these people
met him at CMC in Sosua. Talk to him!

I thought so too but people are putting doubts in my mind

jrhartley · Dec 4, 2013

Oh well no horror stories have emerged on dr1 yet - the only ones have been sort of second hand information so I have no way of checking

Harleysrock · Dec 4, 2013

Get a second opinion!!!!!!

dv8 · Dec 4, 2013

jrhartley said:
originally i was told it was my decision about having it out , but after falling over in the shower he decided that it was best for me to have it removed, I dont know which is best as I am not a doctor, but it still hurts when i lower my arm after having it raised and cant carry much weight with it

i presume it was you who fell over in a shower, not the orthopedist? i fail to see the connection between the fall and the removal. you fell because the sheer weight of that metal plate made you lose the balance? you fell and you hit the place and the plate was moved?

my mom occasionally drops objects from the "fixed" hand too. this is nothing unusual. i broke my toe 30 years ago, i think, and i still get occasional pangs of pain in that area. sometimes we do not heal as well as we should.

get a second or third opinion. removal of the plate means another surgery, full anesthetics and long recovery.

caribmike · Dec 4, 2013

"...i broke my toe 30 years ago..."

How is that? I always thought you are 20 something?

bronzeallspice · Dec 4, 2013

caribmike said:
"...i broke my toe 30 years ago..."

How is that? I always thought you are 20 something?

Nope, she's an old hag.:tired:

dv8 · Dec 4, 2013

i broke my toe as a kid

i tried to take the vacuum cleaner from the shelf, pulled and both the shelf and the vacuum cleaner dropped on my foot. my parents were glad it was not a head this time around as previously all my accidents involved my head. i can honestly said i had it examined more often than most people.

jrhartley · Dec 4, 2013

sorry for confusing you - I was not in the shower with the doctor.I fell directly on the area where the plate is, he said I didnt do any damage but he seemed more keen on removing it after that

contemplating arm surgery

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