Surgery Complications

Hello blog followers! 👋 😁

*Heavy sigh*

I went for a follow up with my surgeon.

Today I am 8 weeks post op & with 2 of those weeks being in a CAM walking boot.

I wasn't supposed to go for a follow up, for another 2 weeks, but I needed to be seen, so I could get a return to work status
(& paperwork filled out by the doctor.)




When I was called back to the exam room, the MA said, "You're not walking on it yet?"

As I'm struggling walking with my boot on, with crutches.

I said, "No, it hurts too much."



The doctor ordered more x-rays.


 He came in the exam room and said the x-rays look like the bone has all fused back together.
He isn't worried about it breaking or getting damaged, if I walk on it without the boot.

He said," I saw you walking in the hallway with crutches, still."

I said, "Yes, because it hurts too much to walk without any assistance."




I already had my boot off, for him to examine and palpate my foot.

He said, "Can you show me where it hurts??"

I pointed and showed him, saying my heel and all along the outside of my foot.

He barely touched it and I'm refraining from kicking him in the face, from the electric pain!!

He touches different places on my foot, ankle and leg.

*Does it hurt here?

Lateral side of foot- YES

Top of foot? No

Heel? YES

*Here?
Inside of the ankle? No

*Here?
Bottom of my leg? No



He said, "I'm going to put you on a nerve medicine. There my be a nerve that a is damaged or a cluster that is compacted. Physical therapy may help stretch it out and help."


I'm thinking...

"Well fuuuuuck. I'm one of the few percentage of people who have the possible complications that were explained to me and I acknowledged and signed a paper prior to scheduling the surgery."

That's juuuuust dandy. 🙄

So, I traded my original problem and pain for a whole different (worse) pain.


I mean, his diagnosis of the jacked up nerve, makes TOTAL sense.

I remember many shooting, electrical shock type pains, throughout my healing.

It is VERY sensitive to any touch.

I'm trying to keep positive, that the nerve medicine will help.

Because, IF it doesn't.....I don't know what comes next.

Which is not NOT on my mind.

In fact, my mind is spinning out, about the
"What if's?"

Will I always be in pain?

Will I need to be on medication to help the pain, forever??

The red circle, is the nerve that is most likely damaged.

Red circles: where the pain is located.
**Black dog, Bella is the photobomer. 🤷

Yes, my ankle is swollen.



I'm to start physical therapy ASAP.

Then follow up with the surgeon in 5 weeks.


Here's hoping the nerve pain goes away with the medicine.



Bonus:
I am relieved for the following.....

He figured out WHY I'm still not walking without crutches and WHY I kept saying I'm STILL having pain.

The weird thing is, I  kept feeling guilty about the pain.
And, was always reluctant letting them know.

I didn't want them to think, "She's probably just a pill junkie."


Now, they should know, that I have always been in pain. It's real, genuine pain.


P.S.

If you see me out and about, on my knee scooter or especially my crutches....and I'm exhausted and/or sweating from the most basic task, please just act like you don't see the sweat dripping. 😂
Perhaps offer to help in some way. 😁

Xoxo
Kim 💋