Towncrier
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
- Messages
- 10,334
A lot of people have been asking how my recovery is going. Physically I'm getting better each and every day. Mentally, I'm going stir crazy not being able to get out of the house by myself. I visited my surgeon last Thursday and he told me that the X-rays of my leg and ankle show that healing is progressing nicely. I am scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday morning to remove one of the nine screws in my leg. This screw is allowing healing of the ligaments that were injured when my fibula broke and pulled away from my tibia. Ouch. Once the surgery is complete, my ankle will be placed in a half cast for a few days. Sometime in the week after Easter, I will have the half cast removed and I will be given a split cast to wear to protect my still weakened ankle and leg. I will begin range of motion exercises in order to free up my ankle which has been immobilized since Feb 26th when the accident occurred. My doctor wants my fibula to heal from the screw hole before I put any weight on my leg.
That's the good news. Now for the bad. When I was in the hospital, I noticed that my abdomen didn't look quite right to me. I didn't pay much attention to it as I was hooked up to tubes and my right leg was always elevated. After I got home from the hospital, I still thought that things weren't quite right, but I didn't give it much thought. Until today. As I was getting dressed, I realized that, during the fall, I may have ruptured the left side of my abdomen wall. I did a similar thing 20 years ago and had surgery back then. I contacted my surgeon's office and they will take a look Wednesday prior to my surgery. My DW Sue had an unrelated appointment with our family physician today. She described my condition and our doctor believes that I may indeed have a hernia as a result of my fall.
So here I sit wondering if what I am feeling today is indigestion or something more serious. I am upset with myself that I never mentioned the bulge in my abdominal wall to either the nurses or doctor when I was in the hospital. Or at any of my followup visits to my surgeon.
Oh well. At least my cast is coming off a day early. Hooray.
****************************
Surgery went well today. They were able to remove the screw without having to use a general anesthetic. That meant that I spent less time in the recovery room.
The other great news is that my injury to my abdomen is not a hernia. I tore the oblique muscle in my abdomen, but that will repair itself over time and with some exercise. I can't tell you how pleased I am to NOT have to face another surgery.
My temporary cast is much lighter than the fiberglass one that has been on my leg for a month. My surgeon wants to see me in 10 days to remove my half cast and fit me for a pneumatic cast. That's when I will begin 8 weeks of physical therapy. That means that PT should end just before we head to Florida for vacation.
Thanks again for all your prayers and encouraging posts and PMs. They really have made a difference.
That's the good news. Now for the bad. When I was in the hospital, I noticed that my abdomen didn't look quite right to me. I didn't pay much attention to it as I was hooked up to tubes and my right leg was always elevated. After I got home from the hospital, I still thought that things weren't quite right, but I didn't give it much thought. Until today. As I was getting dressed, I realized that, during the fall, I may have ruptured the left side of my abdomen wall. I did a similar thing 20 years ago and had surgery back then. I contacted my surgeon's office and they will take a look Wednesday prior to my surgery. My DW Sue had an unrelated appointment with our family physician today. She described my condition and our doctor believes that I may indeed have a hernia as a result of my fall.
So here I sit wondering if what I am feeling today is indigestion or something more serious. I am upset with myself that I never mentioned the bulge in my abdominal wall to either the nurses or doctor when I was in the hospital. Or at any of my followup visits to my surgeon.
Oh well. At least my cast is coming off a day early. Hooray.
****************************
Surgery went well today. They were able to remove the screw without having to use a general anesthetic. That meant that I spent less time in the recovery room.
The other great news is that my injury to my abdomen is not a hernia. I tore the oblique muscle in my abdomen, but that will repair itself over time and with some exercise. I can't tell you how pleased I am to NOT have to face another surgery.
My temporary cast is much lighter than the fiberglass one that has been on my leg for a month. My surgeon wants to see me in 10 days to remove my half cast and fit me for a pneumatic cast. That's when I will begin 8 weeks of physical therapy. That means that PT should end just before we head to Florida for vacation.
Thanks again for all your prayers and encouraging posts and PMs. They really have made a difference.
Remember: This too shall pass.....Faith.
Next time (hopefully there won't be one!!), try for a tush landing, okay? 
