All,
It has been a week since my last post. As expected, I was discharged and went home last Sunday. Since then I have spent the majority of my time in my bed. I expected this surgery to be more painful than the last one, but I would have never guessed where the pain would come from. They cut my femur and re-aligned the hip as expected. Ironically, there is little to no pain in my hip. While they lengthened my left leg, they stretched the sciatic nerve. I think the doctor assumed that the nerve was tethered in the knee joint. The result is extreme pain along my left shin and ankle with the slightest movement. The drop foot is easily as bad as it was after the first trauma surgery and the top of my foot is almost completely numb.
As we have learned, nerve damage takes a long time to heal. I have a follow up appointment in Tulsa this Wednesday. Hopefully we can learn more ways to treat this nerve damage and expedite the healing.
I hate for this to be a gloomy update. Cara has been wonderful putting up with my moans and growns. I want to return to work soon, but I am worried about managing the pain while sitting in my office chair.
I will post a new update after the doctor appointment this Wednesday.
J.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Recovery
All,
I am back. The surgery went well and I am feeling pretty good. Yesterday was rough, but they are managing my pain. We are still expecting to leave the hospital on Sunday. The drop foot appears to be worse than it was prior to the surgery, but the doctor explained that the nerve was streched when he lengthened my leg. We hope that it will get back to where it was with time.
J
I am back. The surgery went well and I am feeling pretty good. Yesterday was rough, but they are managing my pain. We are still expecting to leave the hospital on Sunday. The drop foot appears to be worse than it was prior to the surgery, but the doctor explained that the nerve was streched when he lengthened my leg. We hope that it will get back to where it was with time.
J
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Hip Surgery Part 2
All,
Cara and I will be leaving this afternoon for Tulsa yet again.
This time, I will call the doctors before we leave town to make sure everything is set. I was able to get in for a CT scan on Monday morning and overnighted it to Tulsa for review. The CT was supposed to help the doctor better determine where to cut the femur so the hip alignment will be as close as possible to normal. It was not supposed to have any effect of wether or not I would have surgery.
I have to be honest and tell you that the pain in my hip increased significantly after using the cane for several days. I went back to the crutch which gives me better balance and allows me to take more weight off of my left leg while walking.
Hopefully this procedure will go well and in time I will be able to abandon all walking devices.
I am signing off for a few days.
I am sure Cara will post an update to let you know how the surgery went.
We are hoping and expecting to return to Fayetteville on Sunday.
Thank you for the prayers, thoughts and kind words.
J
Cara and I will be leaving this afternoon for Tulsa yet again.
This time, I will call the doctors before we leave town to make sure everything is set. I was able to get in for a CT scan on Monday morning and overnighted it to Tulsa for review. The CT was supposed to help the doctor better determine where to cut the femur so the hip alignment will be as close as possible to normal. It was not supposed to have any effect of wether or not I would have surgery.
I have to be honest and tell you that the pain in my hip increased significantly after using the cane for several days. I went back to the crutch which gives me better balance and allows me to take more weight off of my left leg while walking.
Hopefully this procedure will go well and in time I will be able to abandon all walking devices.
I am signing off for a few days.
I am sure Cara will post an update to let you know how the surgery went.
We are hoping and expecting to return to Fayetteville on Sunday.
Thank you for the prayers, thoughts and kind words.
J
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tulsa
Before I discuss my trip to Tulsa today, I must mention what hapenned last night.
Sam had a football game last night. He plays wide receiver and was not looked at all night. Late in the 4th quarter, Sam's team sustained a long drive down the field using the wildcat formation, with Cheyenne receiving the snap. Cheyenne has the option to run or pass and completed several passes in a row. The last pass was in the endzone to Sam. Sam caught the ball for the team's 3rd touchdown of the game!
This is huge as the team went into this game 0-5 with only 2 touchdowns in the previous 5 games. We left the field with a 28-21 loss, but a lot of positive energy and happy boys.
Way to go Sam!!!
OK, so I go to Tulsa today for 2 reasons. First, to get tested for surgery on the 22nd. Second, to visit the doctor and get x-rays. The first item went fine and I am completely healthy. The second item did not go as well as I would hope. It is obvious that I need this surgery to correct the length of my left leg and to try to properly align my left hip. This will improve my stance, posture and help ease my back pain. The doctor gave me a 95% probability that the bones would heal which is good news. The bad news is that most of my trauma occured around my left hip. All of the muscles that help move the hip are damaged and atrophied. I asked him if this could be resolved with therapy and exercise, but he did not think they could fully recover. He said I will most likely have a limp - which I expected, but he also said I may need a cane permanently - this is what I was dreading and trying to avoid. He still strongly feels like this is a better option than the hip replacement. Finally, he wants me to get a CT scan of my hip so he will know where to cut. The problem is the timing. He needs the CD by Tuesday so he can read it. We are put in the position to schedule a CT scan ourselves either tomorrow or Friday so I will be able to mail it to him by Tuesday. This is not a walk-in type of X-ray, they usually schedule 2 weeks out. Without the CT, we may need to postpone the surgery yet again....
J
Sam had a football game last night. He plays wide receiver and was not looked at all night. Late in the 4th quarter, Sam's team sustained a long drive down the field using the wildcat formation, with Cheyenne receiving the snap. Cheyenne has the option to run or pass and completed several passes in a row. The last pass was in the endzone to Sam. Sam caught the ball for the team's 3rd touchdown of the game!
This is huge as the team went into this game 0-5 with only 2 touchdowns in the previous 5 games. We left the field with a 28-21 loss, but a lot of positive energy and happy boys.
Way to go Sam!!!
OK, so I go to Tulsa today for 2 reasons. First, to get tested for surgery on the 22nd. Second, to visit the doctor and get x-rays. The first item went fine and I am completely healthy. The second item did not go as well as I would hope. It is obvious that I need this surgery to correct the length of my left leg and to try to properly align my left hip. This will improve my stance, posture and help ease my back pain. The doctor gave me a 95% probability that the bones would heal which is good news. The bad news is that most of my trauma occured around my left hip. All of the muscles that help move the hip are damaged and atrophied. I asked him if this could be resolved with therapy and exercise, but he did not think they could fully recover. He said I will most likely have a limp - which I expected, but he also said I may need a cane permanently - this is what I was dreading and trying to avoid. He still strongly feels like this is a better option than the hip replacement. Finally, he wants me to get a CT scan of my hip so he will know where to cut. The problem is the timing. He needs the CD by Tuesday so he can read it. We are put in the position to schedule a CT scan ourselves either tomorrow or Friday so I will be able to mail it to him by Tuesday. This is not a walk-in type of X-ray, they usually schedule 2 weeks out. Without the CT, we may need to postpone the surgery yet again....
J
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Time keeps ticking...
All,
Last Friday, Cara and I were thrilled to go to Fort Smith and help celebrate Elizabeth and John's 40th birthday. They threw a great party. Last Monday I rememebered to call Brian and congratulate him on his 40th birthday. This is the year that most of our high school class turns 40 and mine is fast approaching.
I still find it hard to grasp that I will be 40 in less than 3 months.
This is a reality check.
Speaking of birthdays, the reality check continues.
Our son, Allen turns 17 today! This is crazy.
He has requested dinner at Chili's tonight.
He is looking forward to going to Greenwood this weekend for fun with the cousins and their Homecoming.
Capping off his 4 day birthday celebration will be a trip to the movies with Ryan to see Zombieland.
Yes, one of his birthday goals was to go to a rated R movie.
Cara and I are looking forward to going to the Razorback game with her parents Saturday. Great cool weather is expected for the 11:00 kick off.
Hope everyone else is well,
J
Last Friday, Cara and I were thrilled to go to Fort Smith and help celebrate Elizabeth and John's 40th birthday. They threw a great party. Last Monday I rememebered to call Brian and congratulate him on his 40th birthday. This is the year that most of our high school class turns 40 and mine is fast approaching.
I still find it hard to grasp that I will be 40 in less than 3 months.
This is a reality check.
Speaking of birthdays, the reality check continues.
Our son, Allen turns 17 today! This is crazy.
He has requested dinner at Chili's tonight.
He is looking forward to going to Greenwood this weekend for fun with the cousins and their Homecoming.
Capping off his 4 day birthday celebration will be a trip to the movies with Ryan to see Zombieland.
Yes, one of his birthday goals was to go to a rated R movie.
Cara and I are looking forward to going to the Razorback game with her parents Saturday. Great cool weather is expected for the 11:00 kick off.
Hope everyone else is well,
J
Thursday, October 1, 2009
No new news
All,
I really do not have much to report, but I just thought it would be good to create a new post. My recovery from the surgery on September 3rd has gone very well. I do think I am moving better and I do notice more flexibility. I am putting nearly all of my weight on my left leg, but I still use a single crutch for support.
Cara and the boys are doing well. School, football and other activities are keeping us busy.
I miss the reserves, but I am hoping this time off will let me heal enough to return next year. I had a phone call from headquarters mentioning that I needed a doctor's letter stating my medications, current and future limitations to complete my waiver. This was exciting since it indicates a possibility of returning, but with the future surgery on October 22nd, we are going to wait until the follow up from that procedure to ask for the letter. It would be wonderful to return to service even if there are limitations.
All is well in Fayetteville,
J
I really do not have much to report, but I just thought it would be good to create a new post. My recovery from the surgery on September 3rd has gone very well. I do think I am moving better and I do notice more flexibility. I am putting nearly all of my weight on my left leg, but I still use a single crutch for support.
Cara and the boys are doing well. School, football and other activities are keeping us busy.
I miss the reserves, but I am hoping this time off will let me heal enough to return next year. I had a phone call from headquarters mentioning that I needed a doctor's letter stating my medications, current and future limitations to complete my waiver. This was exciting since it indicates a possibility of returning, but with the future surgery on October 22nd, we are going to wait until the follow up from that procedure to ask for the letter. It would be wonderful to return to service even if there are limitations.
All is well in Fayetteville,
J
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