How to: Clean Pin Sites With An External Fixator Frame
Ilizarov, Taylor spatial frame, external fixator, Ci’ara Ray, pin site care, cleaning frame, cleaning external fixator, cleaning pins, cleaning, infection, dial soap, qtips
How to: Start to take steps in an external fixator
Taking steps is really hard on the beginning, and it’s excruciating while turning, well, it was for me anyway. I couldn’t put more than 20% or so weight into an active step, you know the kind you roll onto your ball of your foot push off and go? Yeah, that kind. However! I’ve started to … Continue reading
How to: Get Dressed in an external fixator
Alright! This is fun, how to get dressed with an ilizarov frame, or Taylor Spatial Frame! It’s pretty easy to get a shirt on. The hard part is pants, underwear, socks, and shoes. I have separated the post into two sections, before you can bend your knee, once after you can bend your knee. Before … Continue reading
How to: Shower in an external fixator
Showering, wow. Where to begin? It’s not easy for many many reasons. Here are the ways I have showered from the beginning most painful times in my frame, to the recent less painful times. Some basic tips: You can purchase suction cup hand rails for the shower, these can help you tremendously! I was told … Continue reading
How to: Sleep in an external fixator
Sleeping is by far the hardest thing to do when you’re in an external fixator. However, there are some solutions! Because of the pain, for the first couple of weeks you’ll want to sleep on your back with a wedge pillow under your leg with a very squishy pillow on top, this was most certainly … Continue reading
How to: Turn struts on an external fixator
I have a hybrid frame, meaning, I have Taylor spatial rings, wires, and pins, but I have ilizarov struts. The struts are what pull my bone apart. Below you’ll see a video of me turning the strut from .. To … That means I’m going from 2 to 3 points, once I get to 4 … Continue reading
Cold as ice…inside my bones!
Today it’s cold as ice! It’s my first fall day with temperatures under 60° since I had the frame fitted. And, it aches in my bones! It started out well but as the day has progressed it’s as if the cold is quite literally creeping into my leg and subsequently, into my bones…which it is, … Continue reading
Not so welcome news
So, I think I’d posted that I was half way there in the beginning of October and that I’d be done by the end of November! Which was awesome! Then… It wasn’t. I was told today that I’ll be in this apparatus until January, at the earliest. Wait…? Earliest? Yeah. I’m upset. I want to … Continue reading
Another month down!
Whew, hello mister illizarov month number 2. It’s been a big one! 1) I am still lengthening, which is disheartening because I was supposed to be WAY done by now 2) No more pain meds! 3) I can weight bear with my crutches more! 4) I can’t sleep…unless it’s random 5) I get extremely tired, … Continue reading
Life with a n00b 