1-13-2022 Updated update - Not-so-lucky Linda...

 (Tricia)

Even though the x-ray had come back clear after her fall, Linda was in so much pain in her right hip that NHC's nurse practitioner suspected there might still be a fracture. She called yesterday afternoon and told me that, to get the fastest diagnosis, she recommended that Linda go to the ER to be evaluated.

Linda was transported to Missouri Baptist at around 5:30 yesterday evening, and I met her there. Over the next six or so hours, she was scanned, poked, and prodded, and while she was OK if she didn't move, she was in great pain every time they had to shift her, poor thing.  But after two x-rays showed no fracture, the doctor ordered a CT scan, which showed a nondisplaced fracture of the right hip. We actually weren't surprised, because given the pain she was in, it seemed far worse than a bruise.

When she got to the ER, they also noted that her heart rate was sky high, and they had trouble bringing her heart rate down with her usual medication for atrial fibrillation. So, the doctor changed her medication for that.

Linda was admitted to the hospital after midnight, so that's when I headed home. This morning, she will be evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon for her hip and by a cardiologist for her heart. The ER doctor said that a nondisplaced fracture might not need surgery, but he wanted to wait to see what the orthopedic surgeon's recommendations are. We'll post an update once we know more.

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