Re: Hi Deb

[Guest guest]

Hi Deb,

How are you doing? I guess you have decided to wait on the foot surgery?

When my pain was really bad and I knew there was a surgery that had a

good chance of easing the pain I had to have it done. I pushed my

doctors in all cases and told them I was sure it would help. So far my

luck has held out and they have all helped except the one where I let the

ortho take out the bone spur and do the arthroscopy because I thought he

would do what I wanted him to do once he did what he wanted to do and saw

it didn't work. I was wrong and he wrote me off after that because he

said he couldn't justify another surgery. I still have a feeling there

is something wrong at the ankle that needs to be addressed surgically but

am now more willing to live with my current level of pain than with what

I had which drove me crazy.

Once I have completely recovered from this surgery, around Christmastime,

if I am still having problems with the ankle then that doctor is waiting

in the wings. He put everything on hold until this knee is back up to

par but is still willing to help me if I want to go back to him. My

other ortho for the shoulder is also waiting until I am not using

crutches and not pulling myself around so much with the shoulder before

ordering the MRI to see if I tore a tendon. I am double jointed in all

joints and this shoulder has been pulled out of joint 3 times in my life

before I was a teenager (Boy was that a long time ago!!). He said I

probably tore the tendon or muscle and that is why it still hurts. He

may have to repair it surgically. While I am so very tired of surgeries,

had 4 in the past year plus 5 lumbar sympathetic blocks, I will get

around to being ready for the next one if necessary.

In the meantime I will be glad to be able to sit in the driver's seat

with both feet on the floor!! LOL I have a full sized Buick Electra and

my right leg goes all the way to the end of the passenger's side when I

am in place to drive. It will be good to sit properly again and this

lower back pain will ease up I am sure. It will be a few weeks before I

can use my right leg on the gas and brake as it is pretty weak and I

haven't started physical therapy yet. It will be another 3 weeks before

I can pedal a bike with this leg without worrying about pulling the

muscle loose. My incision seems to be taking a longer time to heal this

time as the scabs are still there. Monday will be 3 weeks since the

surgery and I have always been better than this by now. I guess I am

just getting older and I have not been eating well due to withdrawal so I

will concentrate on taking vitamins and getting better.

Deb, can you ride a stationary bike? I know they are no fun but you have

to keep your leg moving. How about swimming? or walking in (not on)

water? LOL You are a great person and there must be some way to

exercise that leg without intense pain. I know that when I first start

PT it is very painful but after a few weeks the pain starts to diminish

as the muscles become more pliable. Take your pain meds so they are in

full effect while doing the PT or exercise and that should pull you

through. You have to do it!! That is what I keep telling myself. It

doesn't matter how much it hurts, you have to do it. I hope the new

treatment you are getting ready to try helps Deb. I really do. Let me

know how you are. Take care, Debbie/DJ

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