Hematoma

I have some friends who have been asking me the progress of my hand, and therefore, I guess it should be time for me to make a short post regarding to it.

The initial report from the neurologist have shown that this has something to deal with the vein and nerve. Therefore, I have made an appointment with the radiologist in a medical centre. I have been told to do the 2 types of scan, (1) X-ray and (2) MRI. X-ray represents a short term for the electromagnetic radiation and the long form for MRI is magnetic resonance imaging.

The X-ray scan is a very quick process to determine the fracture / dislocation in the bone whilst the MRI scan is a more thorough scan (in the picture below) and should take approximately 2 weeks to get the results. The X-ray scan detected a slight scar on my right wrist, and I assume that the scar was there since I was still a teenager (I recalled once I accidentally broke my wrist when playing with my friends).


Caption: radiology department


Caption: MRI scanning

One of my best friend, Dr. Rui, believed that this should be a minor injury, and predicted that this should only has something to do with the tissues in my wrist, i.e. tissues not fully grown yet. So he asked me to use wrap a hot towel (around 60 degree celcius) around my wrist for 30 minutes everyday. He also suggested me to sleep from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM and I have not been doing that since then. That should help to absorb some abnormal tissues from the fractured wrist.

The result from the X-ray scan has proven no abnormal tissues found. So, Dr. Rui's prediction is definitely wrong. Ok this has narrow down the neurologists investigation. I have discussed with Dr. Rui and from no where, the hematoma term occured. We were worrying that this is the initial symptom of the existence of the hematoma since the collision of both pieces of bones in the wrist may result a simple fracture (this may also be our simplistic understanding). I als observed minor bruises around my wrist and so, the neurologist and i were both worrying if that is an initial sign of the hematoma.

Originally, the term 'hematoma' (or haematoma) derives from a localized swelling filled with blood. The collection of blood from a person's blood vessels, causing the skin to have a black bruise. In a more productive term, it means a leak of blood from the blood vessel due to blood pressure.


Caption: x-ray of my wrist

Hemotoma usually derives from a long-term bruise (I will use my wrist for explanation) in a person's wrist. The bruise will slowly cause internal injuries if that person's bone, in his wrist if is not handled with proper care. Very slowly, the crack in wrist will enlarge, and that is what we called as internal crack in a person's bone. Normally, hematoma will occur in different circumstances, such as the dislocation of bone, fractured bone, pressure from blood vessels, causing blood black liquid to leak, and etc. I managed to capture a picture from a movie of a broken hand. I wonder if this is the best picture to depict hematoma (except hematoma should happen behind a the skin and produces bruises). This is obviously gross.


Caption: a broken hand

Somehow, it is my own fault for not taking good care of my wrist. For 2 consecutive months, suffering from the pain and not looking for a doctor. I thought this is a very minor injury, probably twisted my bone, and that should recover by itself when the tissues rebuilt (this is what usually happens to me) and since I will be leaving the country soon, why not looking for a chinese than a western doctor when it comes to the dislocation of hand? At first, it is just a minor dislocation, then different doctors telling me different stories. Some have said that the bone is dislocated, while some believe it has somethign to do with minor swelling in the bone.

According to Dr. Rui, normally we can only observe hematoma from the MRI scan. The cause of hematoma is either a serious fracture (internally) in the bone or the pressure in the blood vessels. If this is the sign of a hematoma, then I will be in serious trouble since the pressure produced by the hematoma will cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, and therefore will have some possibilities in concussion (temporary damage to the brain). Therefore, I could not wait for the scanning results to be released. Yet, there is something I am aware of, that is the starting point of the injury comes from my arm, and not just the wrist. I believe everything started when I was teaching (at least 8 hours perday) back then, dashing from one building to another after every sessions, and sometimes holding more than 1000 pieces of papers on hand for my students. This has something to do with damaging the tissues in the vein (when holding something very heavy) and nerve (due to the stress and pressure from something, i.e. working). I also recalled when my arm once got hit by a door when someone is rushing out from the entrance of a building (dislocation).

Certainly, there are different treatment methods for hematoma. The blood in a hematoma will normally be absorbed by the body, but in some cases such as infection it may remain, and effectively, a surgery maybe of importance. With contusions (bruise), ice packs may be applied to reduce bleeding and swelling. Elevating and resting a limb with a contusion may also help to reduce swelling and avoid additional injury.


Caption: termites

Recently, i found something really odd. Although it is not something very special to see a person eating bugs, but this can be really gross. I called this chinese doctor as Mr. Termite (he still prefer people calling him termite king, lol). He is a very humorous person though. He explained that eating these termites will increase their strength internally, producing power to them to help massaging their customers better (it sounded just like watching the X-factor, except this is a real scene).

Caption: termite and some chinese wine (eatable termites)

I have also read some articles. Originally, termite consume wood. When you find some holes in wooden furnitures at home, then there are possibilities that termites are hiding somewhere around your home. Wherever there is cellulose, you can find termites. There are different types of termites, and I just realize that some are eatable because they are very nutritious :O yucks.


Caption: my sexy cousin brother

Anyway, not important when I started to think of my cousin brother's face, especially when he was wearing a sunglasses lol, so cute. What we found so special is that this age 6 guy knows how to drive a car (automatic transmission) :O He told us, and even showing us of how to drive a car. Seriously, this is the first time I have ever seen a boy at age 6, teaching adults to drive a car. He sat in the car, fasten the seatbelt, and said "step one is when you have to control the gear to reverse the car, and of course, both your hand must control the steering well or you will bang the wall". Surprisingly, he included "I know how to drive because I have been observing my mom when she was driving, but worst is, I am not tall enaugh to step on the accelerator to accelerate the car, or perhaps three more years (age 9)when I grow taller" and my dad said "you have to be age 18 to drive a car". LOL!