Friday, March 13, 2009

Surgery Number Two – Part Two

I have a date.

Monday, April 6 at 12:40PM at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Pre-admission testing 5 days prior. Two days post-op on a medical/surgical unit. Rehab for two weeks immediately after that because the site will need to be put on a vacuum and I won’t be allowed to use my leg during that time. So taking care of simple things, like going to the bathroom, will be made a little more complex. That said, however, after what I’ve been through already (and I’ve said this before) two weeks is nothing. I’ll need an additional 4 weeks or so after that, and provided nothing goes wrong I expect to be released with no restrictions sometime in mid-May.

I realize we don’t live in a perfect world and things can go wrong in an instant. But I will do everything I can to get as close as possible to achieving perfection in healing. It worked for the Achilles. So much so, in fact, that I’m about a month ahead of schedule with it. And, if I didn’t have the wound, I’d probably be working right now….

I did see the ortho guy yesterday, and he really liked what he was seeing. Because of the progress I have made, he released me from PT with a return in 8 weeks, mainly because he wants to follow the wound. He’s figured out that if this doesn’t work out, he’s going to own it, and I believe he’s in part looking out for his own interests. Truthfully, I can’t blame him for doing that.

I’m good with no more PT because it means I can go to the gym with at least some impunity now. I just have to make sure that I take care of the wound site either by bringing supplies with me in my gym bag or dealing with it at home. Either way, I’ll have to still deal with that detail.

Even though the thought of another surgery is a little daunting (the recovery afterward more so) I am excited because I at least have an idea when this will all end. I can’t ask for more than that right now.

6 comments:

Rob Walker said...

Good luck Walt. Fingers and toes crossed that all goes well.

Unknown said...

Thanks, bro. I appreciate the good words.

Ellie said...

Sounds rough, Walt. Good luck, you'll be in my prayers.

Unknown said...

Thanks, Ellie. Always appreciated...

TOTWTYTR said...

Good luck. I know it's a pain in the, uh, heel, but it needs to be done.

My mother just left the Brigham and is in rehab for a few days. The cardiologist was a bit taken aback when he used Skilled Nursing Facility and Rehab Hospital interchangeably and I was a bit short with him. She is NOT going to a nursing home.

Unknown said...

Thanks. My wife and I had that same discussion, or at least one similar. At one time she worked in LTC (she was managing the dementia unit of one of the area nursing homes when I met her) and she understands where I'm coming from.

I hope your mom is doing better.