| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Etymon |
Posted - 07 March 2009 : 02:12:20
I wish someone had told me this so that I was better prepared.
About 5 hours after the surgery on my ankle this week ... and after the numbing medications wore off ... it felt like my ankle had been crunched in a vice and submersed into a lake of glowing, red coals.
There's no need to for me to speak the superlatives that came to my mind then. But I can say that three percocet 10-325's at one time only barely took the edge off of the pain, and I got sleep for only about 20 minutes out of every 2 hours for two days.
If you plan on having screws (mine were the whole width of my ankle), then plan on having a rough couple of days afterward before things settle down. That was my experience anyway. When I called for advice from the surgery center, they said that the burning sensation is a common complaint.
When I shattered my ankle in 6 places the first time, I do remember many days, weeks, and months of constant and nearly, unbearable pain, I don't remember such intense pain as when the screws were removed.
But the doc did say, "Oh, I had to move a nerve around." LOL!
Today, three days after the surgery, I am up walking around without crutches and have only mild to mildly jabbing pain on occasion especially after I exercise.
Talk about the unexpected though! Wow! I wish I would have known. I would have had a different strategy for pain management!
Update - March 14th
I discovered that when I elevate both legs (when I sleep) instead of just the swollen one, that the swelling seems to go down quicker by morning, and I sleep better as well.  |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Panhandler |
Posted - 27 March 2009 : 09:14:03
I had a doctor that I despised. . .and wouldn't go back to, so I took the stitches out myself. It's pretty easy after you've done it once.
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| Etymon |
Posted - 26 March 2009 : 18:25:22
Well, since our vehicle is broken down at the moment and the surgeon is over 150 miles away (round trip) and the appointment to take out the stitches was last week and (LOL! ... a lot of ands ...) I don't know when I will be back to the surgeon ... my wife and I worked together and removed the stitches ourselves. Well, my wife did the snipping and stuff. I just told her if she was hurting me or not, but mind you, my part was just as hard! 
LOL! The surgeon's primarily nurse said because it had been so long since the stitches were put in that removing them would hurt like **** (in her terms), but, honestly, it didn't hurt a bit. It felt itchy.
So, along with the saga of my ankle story, I guess the stitch removal is an added bonus for a peculiar drama element. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 19 March 2009 : 01:39:13
Thanks Jeff! Yes, I was very glad that my truck got a lift home. Another fellow from the church stopped by yesterday afternoon and helped me get my other truck ready for inspection. He saved me from having to do a lot of foot work too! |
| JJenson |
Posted - 17 March 2009 : 20:46:02
Good good. GLad you got soem help you don't want to push and screw things up. Will end up right back where you were. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 17 March 2009 : 11:25:56
Well, I was blessed. I called my pastor to find the number of a fellow, and the pastor said he'd come my way and tow the truck. He showed up with a flatbed and an electric wench. I didn't need to even saddle up the horse! That was a good thing. |
| JJenson |
Posted - 17 March 2009 : 08:31:11
I can give the repair people a call for you if you need
Personally I would just buy a chariot that you could just stand or sit in. I mean how cool would that be to ride into a repair shop on a chariot. I am sure they would fix your truck fast and for cheap. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 16 March 2009 : 23:57:01
quote:
Originally posted by JJenson
Yeah I learned the hard way as well. Also I tried to serve a tennis ball 6 months after. Big mistake lol. Anyways keep us posted.
Thanks for the thoughts, Jeff!
I kind of get heckled by the neighbors in a kidding for having a horse or two laying around from time to time. I went over and visited a neighbor tonight and as I was going down his road, my car quit. I figured I was low on gas, so I went back and got some gas. The neighbor followed me home just to be safe cause the truck had no reason to run out of gas.
About a mile down the road, the truck spat and sputtered again. This time though it had a knock in the engine. It was too late to tow the truck home since our old country roads are small and other folks tend to speed and take wide turns around the corners.
Back to the horse ... seeing as how I can not walk but a couple 100 feet at most for the day, I get to take a 15 mile ride on my horse tomorrow to straighten things out with my truck. Imagine that! Now, if I didn't have a horse laying around, I'd have to walk it which just ain't gonna happen!
The ride tomorrow will show me just about where my ankle is at the moment. LOL! *grimace!* I rode about 6 miles before the surgery, and that put me at a heavy limp for over a week. I'm hoping for a better resolve this time around. |
| JJenson |
Posted - 16 March 2009 : 22:21:15
Yeah I learned the hard way as well. Also I tried to serve a tennis ball 6 months after. Big mistake lol. Anyways keep us posted. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 15 March 2009 : 23:17:53
quote:
Originally posted by JJenson
Make sure not to push the strength to soon. You got to get it healthy enough fist before adding the strength back in. Its bad to do it to soon.
Thanks for the advice Jeff!
Yes, I wish I could get strength while stretching. That's pretty lazy, huh? LOL!
I overdid it last night. I was able to stretch almost to my goal for this month, but then I stretched too far for too long. Today, I felt horrible.
I used to teach and compete in college level foil fencing (left and right-handed) before this all happened so many years ago. I guess I was focusing too much upon obtaining those stretching positions when I overdid it last night. I mean was able to stretch so much further yesterday than I have been able to do in years. I just got too excited and went too far.  I'll have to heal up and get going with the exercises again when I'm healthier like you mentioned. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 15 March 2009 : 18:27:54
Thanks Huw! I've only heard stories as well as experienced a near fusion with the way my ankle was positioned before the surgery (it was nearly fused). The way my ankle was, it was beginning to effect my knee and my hips. That's why I figure a fusion would effect other joints. I look forward to hearing what she thinks about it. Thanks again! |
| HuwR |
Posted - 15 March 2009 : 15:28:07
quote:
Originally posted by Etymon
Hey Huw,
Just curious about the fused ankles.
The surgeon before the one I have now said the only surgery she would do on my ankle was fusion. At the time, I figured that would lead to other problems with other joints. Does your sister have like knee or hip problems due to the fusions?
not that I am aware of no, but I will ask her. |
| JJenson |
Posted - 15 March 2009 : 15:00:04
Make sure not to push the strength to soon. You got to get it healthy enough fist before adding the strength back in. Its bad to do it to soon. |
| Etymon |
Posted - 14 March 2009 : 19:15:59
Hey Huw,
Just curious about the fused ankles.
The surgeon before the one I have now said the only surgery she would do on my ankle was fusion. At the time, I figured that would lead to other problems with other joints. Does your sister have like knee or hip problems due to the fusions?
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| Etymon |
Posted - 14 March 2009 : 16:23:06
I see what you are saying about the strength. I can rise up on the ball of my foot on the left, but the right has no strength. What I get instead is a huge shot of pain going upward! Lots to do! |
| JJenson |
Posted - 14 March 2009 : 15:31:01
That is great news Etymon. Once you get past the full range of motion. Which I will say doctors told me I would never have again but I am back to about 105% ROM. After the stretching make sure you work on the strengthening also. That is just as important but some people leave that part out when they get the motion. But that strength is key to not ending back in there when you do activities.
Keep up the good work it hurts like hell I know but just grit your teeth and let them do it. You won't regret it later on.
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