Well, it's been a while since I have updated this. I'm still involved with pending litigation of this accident. That aside, people wanted to know more about my trauma exam experience.
The day of the accident (nightmare) started out normally. I mean noone ever expects to get into an accident. The accident wasn't something wild like a car pileup or anything like that, but it was definitely a safety issue that caused it. Keep in mind my friend and I were going for lunch when the accident occurred.
12:30 pm ish: Post accident, I couldn't stand up or put weight on my right leg which then I had to call the ambulance. The paramedics who showed up took my vitals: bp/temperature pulse oximetry and checked my blood sugar. (The first of many needle pokes!) The fire department assisted them in getting me onto the stretcher and I was strapped down and loaded into the ambulance, where they put the bp cuff around my arm again and the pulse oximeter too. (Must be standard procedure.) The ride to the hospital was uneventful and all of 5 minutes. (A very expensive 5 minutes mind you!)
They rolled me from the ambulance bay into the ER and took me right into one of those rooms separated by curtains where I transferred onto a gurney with much difficulty and pain. There, more vitals and I got admitted for evaluation and X-rays. Still in pain, I was wheeled down to X-ray gurney and all. X-rays were taken of both knees and there it was determined that I didn't fracture anything though right above my knee hurt so bad I could barely lift or move my right leg if at all. The doctor told me that since there was no visible break or fracture that it was just a very bad bruise and to go home and rest. They gave me some pain medicine around 1:30 pm and discharged me after wrapping my right knee in an ace bandage. (Uh, slight problem, I still could not walk or put any pressure on the leg at all but hey lets just discharge me because obviously “nothing” is wrong.)
5:30 pm ish: My friend who was with me that day drove my car home with me in the passenger seat (an hour and a half drive). Oh yeah and I still hadn't eaten since the day before so I opted for a quick drive thru meal so I wouldn't get sick on the way home. You would think this is fine, all is well, I got discharged and a rx for slightly beefed up ibuprofen.
7:15 pm ish: Got home and couldn't get up the stairs into my house. Felt more pain further up my thigh as i tried to use the bad leg to stand while I lifted my good leg up the stairs. Called the local ambulance team. When they arrived, they treated me like I was drug seeking. Legitimately the female paramedic sat on my steps and looked at me and asked “well what do you want me to do?” I was dumbfounded and aghast that they had the audacity to treat me like that. They gave me two options. They could help me up the stairs and inside or they would make sure I got into my car and my friend could take me to the ER locally here.
7:45 pm ish: I arrive at the local ER and now the pain is just irritating though the pain med they originally gave me in starting to wear off a bit. Of course it takes about 45 minutes to get processed and admitted into the ER. More vitals etc. They opt to do a CT scan of my hip/pelvis area to ensure nothing was missed. They should have also scanned my knee but what do I know. At this point, I'm hot, exhausted, still a bit hungry, in pain, cried way too much, and still can't move my leg that well if at all. CT comes back normal but because it is clear that I am having physical difficulties and because at this point my nice personality is nearly gone, the doctor admits me to the hospital on a “social basis” which is code for we have no idea what the hell is wrong but we're gonna see if you improve over time. I ask for some ibuprofen for pain because now the pain is definitely worse.
9:15 pm ish: I get an IV put in by an incompetent ass and finally taken up to the room for the night.
The following day a physical therapist came to see me and when I still couldn't lift my leg, he said, “oh nothing is wrong because you can move your toes.”
4 and a half days later I'm discharged after barely improving enough to get up 4 steps. Told to go home and “rest”.
For all the medical professionals on this board and non med people too…. Guess what was wrong.
I tore my quadriceps tendon. Accident occurred in May, tear was not discovered until August after I fought with the insurance company to allow an MRI after i didnt improve over 8 weeks and it took the insurance an additional 5 weeks to approve the scan.