President, Senior Scribes
Hip-Hip-Hooray
By Delbert Blickenstaff 

It is very unusual for anyone to cheer for a hip fracture, but I will try. Monday morning started out normal for us. We got up around 6 AM and got ready to go swimming at the “Y.” The Greenville High School swim team works out from 6 AM to 7 AM and we try to get there as they exit. 

We enjoyed our usual swim and then went to one of our favorite eateries and ate breakfast with Helen, one of our swimming buddies. We came home and rested a bit before our next trip. Louise works in the BRC library each Monday so I drove her up to the main building and then came home. 

While Louise worked I spent my time reading, writing in my journal, and maybe even taking a short nap. At 11:30 AM the phone rang and I was certain that Louise was calling me to come and get her. I was in my comfortable recliner. I stood up and tried to walk across the room to answer the phone. My feet didn’t cooperate and in one second I was on the floor, having fallen on my right hip. 

I knew immediately that I had a serious injury. I scooted to the phone and told Louise that I was on my way. Then I wondered how I was going to get there. I could have called 911 but then I realized that our outside doors were all locked. I could have called the BRC operator and asked her to call 911 and send someone to unlock the door. But, stubborn Dutchman that I am, I decided that I could handle this problem myself. 

So I struggled to my feet and steadying myself by leaning on the furniture I got through the kitchen, the utility room, the garage and into the car. I was surprised that I was not in severe pain. I drove to the BRC main building and picked up Louise. I told her that I had fallen at home and that I needed to go to the ER. I was having very little pain so I kept on driving. 

When we arrived at the ER Louise went in and asked that someone come out to the car with a wheelchair to bring me in. The nurse who came out headed for the passenger side until I opened my door and yelled that I was the injured person. She took one look at me and said “You’re crazy.” I thought that she made a valid point so I didn’t argue. 

The ER nurse put me in bed 4 and took my shoes off, asked me how I was feeling, and took my vitals. Then the ER doctor came in, took one look at me and said, “Your sox don’t match.” Remember when your mother reminded you to put on clean underwear every day because you never know when you were going to end up in the hospital? I had clean clothes on but my sox didn’t match. This doctor had seen me on some of my previous visits so it was OK that he tried to lighten the atmosphere. He got my story and then ordered X-rays of my right hip. 

So I was wheeled to the radiology department and pictures were taken. I told the X-ray people that I wanted to see the films. They said that there are no films because all the information is in the computer. They couldn’t take me to the computer, so I didn’t get to see the pictures. However the ER doctor gave me the radiologist’s report: a compression fracture of my hip where the femoral head joins the neck of the femur. Thre was no displacement, and that explains why I had almost no pain. 

So I was admitted to room 213 and my family doctor was informed.  Arrangements were made to have the orthopedic surgeon operate on the hip that evening. As long as I lay flat on my back and didn’t try to move I had no pain, which is almost unheard of for hip fractures. In fact, one of my friends said “I think he’s faking it.” 

I finally got to meet the Orthopedic Surgeon and was favorably impressed with his understanding of what needed to be done and his ability to transmit that understanding to me. The anesthetist came in and we agreed on a spinal anesthetic. After that was done the surgery took only about 45 minutes and I was in good shape when I got to the recovery room. Except that it seemed cold in there. Maybe it was the medications that I had. 

Back in my room I was almost pain free, but the bed was not as comfortable as mine at home. They never are. I asked for one pain pill to help me sleep, and that’s the only one that I took in the hospital. 

On Tuesday I was introduced to the Physical Therapist and her student. They were very gracious and helpful in getting me back on my feet. I should say foot because they didn’t want me to put any weight on my right foot when I was up moving around with the walker. They put me through a series of exercises while I was lying down and also sitting on the edge of the bed. I soon learned that my knee was more painful than my hip. Nine years ago I had had a total right knee joint replacement and I got along well. When I am able to walk and swim on a regular basis the new joint works just fine. But when I had to lie in bed without moving it, I found that it stiffened up and became painful. 

The PT girls got me up walking with the walker, and on the following day they even took me up stairs to their exercise room and had me go up two steps and back down. I passed their test with flying colors and that convinced those in charge that I was able to go home. So after two days in the hospital I came home in the emergency truck. I told the men that I would drive but they wouldn’t give me the keys. 

Now here’s what I have to cheer about. My hip is almost pain free. I had excellent care while in the hospital from the nursing staff, the doctors, the PT people, and everyone else.

I had lots of visitors including family, friends, clergy, etc. So I can honestly say “Hip-Fractured Hip-Hooray.” 

Delbert Blickenstaff