Ouch!

Backblip


So, just when you think things are back on an even keel, Sod and his Law pop up yet again to take the piss.

Woke up feeling great. 

The worst of the building work is behind us, the two weeks of the build that I was dreading the most (central heating replaced) are behind us, Alan's flare up is under control and he is on the mend and David finally managed to get back to work after his cut short boys weekend and unexpected week long hospital stay with Alan.  I even managed to get some Christmas shopping done.  Woo hoo!  :-))

David got in from work around 6.30, we discussed what was for dinner and he was just about to go upstairs to get changed out of his work suit, when we heard Ed talking very gently and calmly to Alan in Alan's wee sitting room.  Nothing unusual in that, it was what he was saying that was the problem.

"Okay Alan, is your finger stuck?  Try to open your mouth gently.  Try to release it"

and our hearts sank.

David went to the room and quickly called me through.  The middle finger of Alan's right hand (yes the same one as this!) jammed between his teeth and he was biting down hard.  

Despite feeling completely panicked, we spoke to him calmly and gently, trying to help him relax his jaw and release his finger.  It's a very delicate negotiation as due to his cerebral palsy, he has tonic bite reflex*  and your gut instinct to pull on his finger to get it out of his mouth but doing so would cause his jaw to tighten further.

After what seemed like ages (Ed reckons it was about two minutes so in the grand scheme of things, it was ages!) his jaw relaxed and we were able to get his finger out of his mouth.

It was pure white due to blood not being able to flow whilst it was clamped in his mouth, but the blood quickly returned and we could see two lacerations, the one in the blip and the one behind made by his bottom teeth. 

I sat with him, talking to him calmly and distracting him, whilst David gathered some essentials and Ed got the car out the garage.  Within 10 minutes they were on their way to Perth Royal A&E and I was left sitting in the quiet house wondering if my boy is ever going to get a break from pain.

Thankfully they were seen really quickly as A&E was quiet.  David texted me to advise it wasn't as bad as it looked, a laceration this time, no deep tissue or bone damage.  We assumed it would be cleaned and dressed but after cleaning, the nurse insisted on leaving it open to let the air at it to prevent infection.

Now I understand her logic, but we're taking about Alan here, who has involuntary movement and can't keep his hands still for great lengths of time.  Not only would he be bashing it against his chair, bed, table, his fingers also reach the wheels on his wheelchair so it could rub against that.  A sure fire way to pick up germs.  But still she insisted on leaving it open.

When they got back we put some savlon cream on it and a plaster (or two) and I will speak to the Community Nurse tomorrow for further advice.

They returned to find me sitting in the chair, looking like a wet rag.  Alan was smiling happily.

He'll be the death of me that boy!



* This is jaw closure accomplished by forceful, sustained upward movement of the mandible. It occurs following stimulation of the teeth or gums. It is accompanied by increased abnormal tone in the jaw muscles. It is difficult to release. Damage to the teeth or to the object placed in the mouth may occur. The tonic bite increases if the item is pulled on.