Finally my surgery date is set--June 15th! I can't tell you how relieved I am to finally have a date. Now I just have to worry about all the stupid paperwork that goes along with it and HR, but that's the small stuff now.
The last thing Randi, my Dr's asst said was "okay, I'll order your new parts"...I'm kinda excited to have other people's parts in me...all thanks to "stiff: the curious life of human cadavers", a fantastic book my friend Sarah told me to read. Kinda morbid but it's pretty funny mostly the way it's written.
According to my dr. there is no medical explanation why I have no pain and why I'm able to walk with pretty much no pain or walk period. He thinks I have an extremely high pain tolerance and possibly a disorder where I do not feel the full amount of pain. So if I recover quickly and have as little pain as possible, then I'll possibly be selected to be in a book on pain (it has some big long title). Not that I'm hoping to be in a book or anything, it's the least amount of pain as possible that interests me.
Any who...after my surgery I can't shower for 5 days! I just sd "that is nasty and I will figure something out!" But that's the gist. I'll take any hints from someone who has had knee/leg surgery on how to get around and do stuff, but I'll pretty much be immobile for 6 weeks (hence this lovely thing to keep me occupied).
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
What happened.....
So long story short, I slipped OUT of the tub. I put one foot in, fell right back out. I heard about 5 pops and after suffering through the pain and getting a shower and calling off sick on my second day of my new job...4 hours later I went to the ER. I debated and iced my leg for those 4 hours and when I couldn't walk that was the deciding factor.
4 hours in the hospital I come out with a knee immobilizer and crutches. The torture device (immobilizer) went from thigh to ankle and had 3 bars in it (one on each side and one in the back)--hence "immobilizer". Crutches---I got tips from a 7 year old in the ER on how to use them. That was a topper on an already embarrasing day!
So I go see an orthopedic dr. a few days later, and after more xrays and an MRI (by the way, he now has the Telegraph Canyon CD to play for his patients)....this is what I did (get ready for medical terms):
1.Posterolateral corner injury with disruption of the fibular collateral ligament and tear of the biceps femoris tendon along the distal attachment.
2.Disruption of proximal attachment ACL.
3.Medial collateral ligament sprain.
4.Myxoid degeneration posterior horn medial meniscus w/out evidence of communic2ating tear.
I now know what that all means, but for those who dont...basically I tore my ACL, and then the 2 ligaments on the outside of my leg...so I only have 2 ligaments left. Super fun! Thankfully I have had no pain (except that first day) :)
Dr. Ward is apparently the best around for this kinda thing. And I love my physical therapist, Joe! I've been doing PT to strengthen up the muscles in my legs so I'd be ready for surgery and hopefully have a quicker recovery, and at least as little pain as possible.
FYI--never shave and then go to PT and let them put liquid ice on your legs---no words can describe that pain!
So that's where I am...right now I'm waiting for the dr's asst to call me back and set up my actual surgery date.
4 hours in the hospital I come out with a knee immobilizer and crutches. The torture device (immobilizer) went from thigh to ankle and had 3 bars in it (one on each side and one in the back)--hence "immobilizer". Crutches---I got tips from a 7 year old in the ER on how to use them. That was a topper on an already embarrasing day!
So I go see an orthopedic dr. a few days later, and after more xrays and an MRI (by the way, he now has the Telegraph Canyon CD to play for his patients)....this is what I did (get ready for medical terms):
1.Posterolateral corner injury with disruption of the fibular collateral ligament and tear of the biceps femoris tendon along the distal attachment.
2.Disruption of proximal attachment ACL.
3.Medial collateral ligament sprain.
4.Myxoid degeneration posterior horn medial meniscus w/out evidence of communic2ating tear.
I now know what that all means, but for those who dont...basically I tore my ACL, and then the 2 ligaments on the outside of my leg...so I only have 2 ligaments left. Super fun! Thankfully I have had no pain (except that first day) :)
Dr. Ward is apparently the best around for this kinda thing. And I love my physical therapist, Joe! I've been doing PT to strengthen up the muscles in my legs so I'd be ready for surgery and hopefully have a quicker recovery, and at least as little pain as possible.
FYI--never shave and then go to PT and let them put liquid ice on your legs---no words can describe that pain!
So that's where I am...right now I'm waiting for the dr's asst to call me back and set up my actual surgery date.
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