Busted Limbs

Posted on Thu Aug 5th, 2021 @ 8:10pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone & Lieutenant Commander Michael Ki

Mission: By Artemis' Bow
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: following "Mud Mates"
1317 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

True to his word, Mason sauntered into sickbay with a pained expression on his face. Even getting dressed had been a painful endeavour and Mason was actually starting to get frustrated as this ongoing injury kept spoiling most of his fun time and even some of his duty time.

As he walked in, he spotted a new face instead of the CMO he'd priorly got acquainted with. "Doctor?" He queried, assuming this was a new medical officer, given the pips on his collar.

Michael had yet found time to get to his quarters to settle in. It has been nothing but a rapid influx of patients since he boarded. He longed for some downtime and hoped that it would come soon. Just when he thought he would have that time he heard a new voice call as the person entered Sick Bay. Michael silently cursed himself for not leaving sooner. "Yes Chief what can I do for you?"

"Shoulder injury sir... It's a persistent one. I overstretched or something, hauling Lieutenant Keating up a wall. We were doing an obstacle course on the holodeck. I really wish it was permanently fixed sir, I'm in security now and I really need the use of my left arm." Mason realized he was babbling and paused to check himself. "Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone sir," he added sheepishly.

"I am Dr Ki. It seems that I am meeting everyone as patients since coming on board. I hope that is not the way of things to come." Michael smiled as he picked up the Tricorder. "Have a seat on the bed over there and we will take a look. If it is a persistent injury you will most likely need surgery to get rid of it permanently. Do you recall how your got the injury initially." Michael began to scan the shoulder and could see the muscle strain. He configured the tricorder for a deeper scan to see if it was a bone or tendon issue.

"Yeah..." Mason sat on the bed, grimacing as he used his already injured arm to push himself up on the bed. "Pitching at a baseball match, a few years ago. Not quite sure what exactly happened though, but I couldn't really rest it what with all the training we had to go through with the corps. Obstacle courses, field training.... and of course more baseball to wind down. I was our team's pitcher." He rubbed his left shoulder, looking thoughtful. "Surgery?" he queried carefully, "what kind of surgery."

"It seems that your coracohumeral ligament is torn. The tear is tiny and only inflames when you strain it. To repair it would be a simple and minor surgery. We have to suture the ligament." Michael spoke as he showed Mason the tear and demonstrated what would have to be done for the surgery.

While the medical jargon -despite his linguistic talent- was very much beyond him, Mason found the images to be very helpful. "Can it be done now? Or would I have to make a new appointment," he asked, "and how much will that put me out of the running?" He was sure he'd have to rest his shoulder and that would severely limit his activities.

"Set up an appointment and we can get it done. Right now I am still settling in. I just arrived a little while ago and was thrust into duty. But such is life in the fleet eh... But yes once the surgery is done you will have about two weeks of rehabilitation and will have to limit your duty and use of the shoulder." Michael replied as he added some information to Mason's file.

"Oh..." He wasn't really looking forward to be limited but if that regained him the use of his shoulder.... "And I'll be able to properly play baseball again?" he asked, casting hopeful eyes on the CMO, "and obstacle courses without having to compensate?"

"Yes you should have total and normal use back. However, the chance of reinjury is always there." Michael replied with a word of caution.

Mason nodded. "As long as I can play again and train," he muttered, "when would you have time to do this? How long would it take to do? Do I need to arrange time off to recover? Or can I still work?" A look of concern crossed his face. "I'm not someone who can sit still and do nothing sir, I need to be able to work."

"I suggest waiting until the current cri... mission is over. Then we can schedule the surgery. The surgery itself will only be about an hour or so. However, you will need to do at least two weeks of rehabilitation. During that time you will be relieved of your duties so you can heal. Of course this would be totally elective. It is up to you if you want to have the injury permanently taken care of." Michael spoke with feeling, but also with a clinical tone.

"I can't do desk work?" Mason all but begged of the new CMO, "I do want this taken care of, I really do. But surely there's something work related I could do, that doesn't put a strain on me?"

"We would have to see how your body takes the surgery. Everyone reacts differently, so I suggest a wait and see kind of attitude. Our first step is to schedule the surgery." Michael spoke with an even tone. He did not understand why people were so gung ho to return to duty. Some time off is always good as far as he thought.

Mason nodded, noting the even tone as the CMO spoke. "It doesn't have to physically tasking work, I could just sit at a desk and do reports, or translate stuff...." he ventured carefully. "I can't just do nothing, I've never been able to do that."

"This would be purely elective surgery and as such it could also have more complications. I am not ruling out the possibility of having you perform light duty. However, I am also not ruling out the possibility of you having to be off duty to recuperate. It is simply something we will have to address when the time comes." Michael smiled. "The healing process for a surgery like this is quick. So you will be back at it before you know it."

"I need this fixed. I can't have my shoulder bug out on me on every exercise, it's very painful and super inconvenient to constantly have to keep it in mind. While I'm not a marine anymore, I'm still in security which expects a certain level of physical fitness from me too." Mason's face turned serious. "When would you have time to do this sir."

"Give me about a week to settle in and then we can start with the preliminaries. In the meantime I can give you something to help with the pain." Michael replied.

"And stabilize my shoulder until then?" Mason asked hopefully, "I'll take it easy. No strenuous exercise," he promised, "but I'm left-handed, I need to be able to use my arm."

"Yes... Your arm is stable and can be used for minimal things at the moment. The pain medication will allow you to used it with little to know fuss." Michael said as he pressed a hypospray to the other man's neck.

"Thanks doc. I'll come back in a week then." The former marine rubbed the spot where the hypo had been pressed to. "Do I get a prescription for that? How often do I use it?"

"Once a day should do it Chief." Michael replied as he handed the hypospray off. "Now off with you and go relax. Doctor's orders." He smiled broadly.

"Yes sir," Mason answered as he accepted the hypo and tucked it away. Giving a smart salute as he stood, he then disappeared from sickbay.