Friday, January 29, 2010

Insufficiency Fractures

Hello,
It seems like it has been a while since I have posted an update. I think during my last post I commented on being able to put full weight on my left leg and I was looking forward. Well, I have had to deal with a minor setback.
Three weeks ago on January 7th, I slipped and fell down on some ice. It hurt, but I did not really think anything was really wrong. Throughout the weekend, my left knee continued to feel worse so I made an appointment with Dr,. Arnold. I got in to see him exactly a week after the fall and even during the appointment, I was wandering if I was making to much of nothing. The x-rays did not show anything, but Dr. Arnold wanted me to get an MRI to make sure. The MRI was done exactly two weeks after the fall and by this time I was really feeling ridiculous. The pain was going away rapidly and I could not help but think this was a waste of time and money. Friday after the MRI I started walking with a single crutch again with little to no pain in my knee. However, when I called Cara to let her know I would be home late from work, she told me the doctor's office had left a message that they discovered insufficiency fractures and I needed to keep all my weight of my left leg to let them heal and to not allow them to become worse resulting in a full fracture. How can this be? No pain in my leg, too small to detect in x-rays. I did not want to post anything because I thought it may just be a bruise and I was over reacting. My follow up appointment from the MRI was yesterday and the doctor instructed me to stay on two crutches for at least three more weeks. He said the bone bruise and fractures would not have a chance to heal with continued impact from walking. If you look up insufficiency fractures, you will find the dominate diagnosis is from elderly women with no known trauma. I am not an old woman, but Dr. Arnold did mention Osteoporosis due to multiple trauma. Wow. He did not mention any need for calcium supplements or other preventative medicine.
Like I said before, there is basically no pain in my knee at this point. It is very hard to stay on two crutches when I know it feels OK to use just one.
Many people come to me daily and ask me when I will be walking again. Will I be walking again. I brush it off saying I am continually healing. Unless you have experienced this degree of trauma, you will never know how long it takes. Cara and I went on a very nice weekend trip to Little Rock last weekend. During the trip, she mentioned that she has noticed an incredible positive difference since this time last year. I agree that my state of mind and my willingness and desire to do more has increased dramatically. If you have not seen or talked to me in the past year, I assure you I am back to my former pre-wreck self even if it is mentally.
J

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Time for Prayer again

All,
I know very few details, but this is what I do know. One of my brothers currently in Iraq, just learned that his young son had a tumor detected in his brain. He is currently packing to come home on emergency leave to be with his family. Please help me to pray for his safe return and pray for his son's recovery. Bobby is a young minister and a dear friend of mine.
I do not even know how to reach out to his family right now. I am sure things are scary, busy and crazy.
Pray for peace and healing.
Thank you,
J