Thoracoplasty: A remodeling or reshaping of the thorax; especially, the operation of removing the ribs, so as to obliterate the pleural cavity in cases of empyema.
This is what the orthopedic doctor wants to do, along with an open biopsy. An open biospy involves making an incision and cutting out a piece of the rib that is protruding. A closed biopsy would be making a tiny incision and using a small tube to get the biopsy. I believe the doctor wants to do the open biopsy because he also wants to do the thoracoplasty procedure. He thinks a lot of my pain will be relieved by cutting and resetting the rib lower - to take pressure off of the nerve.
He ordered a CT scan to try to either see better what it is or get an idea of where it's located (exactly) for the surgery. Ack. SURGERY. Another medical term I dislike. Don't get me wrong - if this surgery gets rid of the pain I'd let Ted do it. :) I just have never had 'real' surgery - ya know, the kind where they knock you out. In a stroke of luck I was able to get the CT scan done today (just got home). The doctor should get the results by Wednesday. This was at the second imaging center I called. The first one couldn't give me an appointment until next Friday. That's Friday the 13th. Now I'm not usually a superstitious person but I don't go around juggling mirrors either. There was no way I was going to have that test done on Friday the 13th.
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Here's a SHOUT OUT to all those lazy people out there, "IT REALLY IS TIME TO TAKE DOWN YOUR CHIRSTMAS DECORATIONS!" C'mon people! The crazy thing is the ones I've seen are the ones that only put up like 2-3 bows and one string of lights. I guess that makes sense - they were lazy putting them up, too.
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