In the last post I did there was a picture of a large butterfly stitch. A friend asked me what that would be good for, since it was so large. So here's the explanation of what I used it for....
First, a little background on what was happening. I was hit from behind, totalling my car; and separating my shoulder. They wanted to do a total shoulder replacement which I refused for specific reasons.
They did a laparoscopic repair, and I began treating the shoulder myself. First, I used a similar butterfly to close up the tendon that holds the actual joint together; since it was popping and trying to come out of joint. This system relies on a fomentation (a poltice made with a tincture) of comfrey tincture being applied to the damaged area after it's returned to original spacing! The comfrey is a healing accelerator with about a 15 to one speed advantage. Note that the fomentation must be kept moist, to function properly. So one day with comfrey is like fifteen days of regular healing! I kept it on for 4 days, and the tendon was fully healed. I believe it's always best to use GOD's medicine, because it works quickly, with very few side effects! Every time I buy a car, I buy a repair manual; with myself the repair manual is the Bible, from the original designer....
Here is what a factory butterfly stitch looks like:
I like these, because they're fast to use! I'm not endorsing any of these products directly, these are just was handy in the first aid kit that is stored under my bed for home use. I have no affiliations with any of these except as a customer!
I always use a skin protection pad:
They look like an alcohol pad, except they won't sting a wound, and they leave a protective layer over the top of the skin. This layer allows the tape a better surface to grip, while keeping the adhesive from attacking the skin itself!
This is an OTC supply for covering a fomentation:
These are also for convenience, and speed. I usually use a piece of plastic to cover the fomentation, unless it's critical or in a bad place. Then I use a clear dressing covering that is also self adhesive, but that's hard to find; and not OTC for sure.
Moving more recently, the bicep tendon tore in half entirely; and the doctor said the only way to fix it is by replacing the full shoulder. Based on past experience, supported by his admission of failure; I went to work again!
Here's that huge butterfly on my shoulder:
The long piece going left is taped to my bicep muscle, with the open part over the painful damaged area. Once secure, a friend pulled the torn tendon closed, and taped the remainder down my shoulder blade! I them applied the fomentation of comfrey to the gap area, with a plastic cover to force it to stay wet. I left it on for 24 hours to give the Alantoin compound in the comfrey time to work. Normally, I give the area under treatment a break, because the skin doesn't like Long applications of comfrey tincture. It's a trade off that you must decide for yourself. When I broke a bone in my hand last year, I left it on for four days continuously (rewetting the fomentation with a needle), and the skin was unhappy with me. Got some oil back into the area, and the soin was fine; with a break that healed in 4 days!
My bicep began working again, because of a successfully healed tendon! The one inch gap that was there at the tear, is closed, and pain free now. Surgery avoided, and I still have my original equipment shoulder, ROFLOL! To test it I spent half a day feeding a wood chipper, and the shoulder was fine. The bicep worked hard enough to make the muscle sore, but not the tendon!
I have one more to fix, so I can do the chicken dance at Octoberfest, then the shoulder will be 100% again. Doing it last, because it's small and still functional...just painful.
One cute side note, the doctor that gave up on my bicep tendon; was bragging on how tight he got the rotator cuff tendon that was the first butterfly repair!
We have to learn to be able to do serious repairs, because the medical system is breaking down as we speak. Keep on learning, and prepping!