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--- Leg update (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=4820)
Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 03:12:
Leg update
WARNING! The first picture is of an open wound. If this sort of thing makes you squeamish, I suggest you find a way to avoid seeing it.
I couldn't put this in "Rant" or "Rave" -- there are enough aspects of both that I think they cancel each other out.
All right, now for the update.
The area on my leg has been healing fairly well. What once looked like a band of raw meat going all the way around my calf is now a handful of dots on the calf's inner half.
* Squeamish people, skip over this part NOW! *
However, a couple of months ago, a wound appeared in the arch of my left foot...
* Squeamish people, resume reading HERE! *
This had everyone stumped -- why did this wound suddenly appear fully formed? First thought: maybe it was an infection trying to settle into the bone. So they took several X-Rays. No infection. But, after comparing this batch to some that were taken a year ago, it was discovered that one of my misaligned ankle bones had shifted oh-so slightly and was now creating a pressure wound.
I highlighted the guilty party. Obnoxious little bastard...
The folks at the Wound Care Center simply put it this way: there's no way this wound would heal as things stand now. So, I needed to contact the charcot specialist to find out if a procedure he described to me almost a year ago was still an option and, if not, what options were there (besides amputation.)?
Tuesday, I took the 90 minute ride to Jasper to see Dr. Rader. He let me know that the procedure was still an option, but all my choices wouldn't be easy. Plus, the possibility of ending up amputating below the knee would be there throughout the procedure and during the recovery.
I let Dr. Rader know that, even though my left leg had become a fairly ugly thing, I still wanted to try to salvage it -- I am kind of attached to it...
Well, the procedure will force my misaligned ankle and foot bones into as much as a normal position as possible before several are fused. The surgery will take most of the day, and I will have an 8- to 12-week recovery time. On the plus side, I will be able to do my recovery in a long-term facility in New Albany, so I could be close to home. (It would simply be too much for Larry to make the trip out to Jasper very often, for one thing.)
So the surgery will be happening on April 10. I hope things go without a hitch. And I hope I can get back into the home in the shortest time possible.
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by littlewolf on 25-02-2015 at 11:23:
Oh sunshine, you ex-ray SOOOO well!!!
On a lighter thought, I'll send happy alignment thoughts and prays to you and your leg, and your right you have had ownership of that leg for a long time, don't give up without a fight! xox
keep us posted.
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May the bad things get lost on the way to you door!
Posted by k2p2 on 25-02-2015 at 11:33:
Oh, EW...sending good thoughts your way. When you mentioned recovery I thought perhaps you might be a drivable distance from me...apparently there are two New Albanys in the area and they both have awesome rehab facilities...
Please keep us posted.
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The world looks less difficult when standing next to a close friend.
Posted by msannomalley on 25-02-2015 at 11:56:
Your x-ray looks painful! Good thoughts to you and I hope recovery goes well.
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Il mio aliscafo è pieno di anguille
Posted by Springie on 25-02-2015 at 14:47:
Yeowtch! That looks so painful! Glad it sounds like you will be keeping your leg! Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 15:29:
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Well...when it came to naming towns and cities, a name was allowed once per state (to avoid confusion for the postal service.) For instance, when the nearby community of Floyds Knobs was founded, it was originally called Morrisberg, but that name had already been taken.
So it could be possible we're talking about the same New Albany...are you talking about the one with the Sherman Minton Bridge and is the hometown of PGA icon Fuzzy Zoeller?
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by Transmute Jun on 25-02-2015 at 15:52:
I didn't realize you were having leg issues, EW. Sorry, I didn't look at the pics, so I only have a vague idea.... But I hope the surgery works out well!
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Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 15:55:
Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes!
To be honest, it's not as painful as it looks...but I've stayed off that foot except for when I transfer to and from the wheelchair. (Before the charcot, I used to spend part of my time on crutches. But I had to stop when the charcot developed because, when I'm up, I'm actually standing more on the ankle bones than the foot.) The most pain I've felt was when the last couple of winter storms came through. (I used to like it when it snowed. I really did.)
Anyway, Dr. Rader is on board with getting me back to the point where I could at least spend part of my time on crutches again. And that works in with the goals of my other doctors -- get my left leg to behave (no more wounds opening up!) so that I can get a couple of other surgeries done (like getting my right hip replaced) so that I could (Possibly) walk again.
So, here's hoping....
__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 15:58:
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I didn't think about it at the time, but the radiology department DID have a red carpet...
__________________
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 16:03:
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That's ok, TJ! Even though I've seen the open wound longer than anybody else here, I still let out a "BLLEAUGH!!!" each time I see it.
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by ChrisW on 25-02-2015 at 21:15:
Sending a ton of healing vibes toward the thought of you being able to walk on crutches again! (Here I risk a dark joke and hope that it's okay since we both have similar senses of humor ...) And, if things go badly and you have to lose part of your leg, that's instant weight loss, bay-bee.
Hopefully that was okay. 
It sounds like you have a good chance of avoiding that, though.
Please give us all a heads up as surgery approaches! Maybe you can get the little Condor put in scrubs to watch over here ...
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Eagle Whisperer
Posted by ElectricWhite on 25-02-2015 at 22:44:
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Eat your heart out, Jenny Craig!
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by k2p2 on 25-02-2015 at 22:48:
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No I am talking about the wealthy suburb just east of Columbus. Lots of brick mansions and white board fences and horses...yeah, them too.
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The world looks less difficult when standing next to a close friend.
Posted by Becky Rock on 26-02-2015 at 00:04:
EW, you just can't seem to get a break. I hope it all works out for you.
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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...
Posted by Kritter on 26-02-2015 at 00:13:
So sorry to hear about more problems developing. Hopefully by the time this round is all done you'll be better than you were before all this started.
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No matter how much cats fight there always seem to be plenty of kittens.
Posted by k2p2 on 26-02-2015 at 12:05:
Ah well, EW, I was really hoping I would have been able to viist...as it looks on the maps you are still a good way from where my daughter is attending college in Cinci....
Heal fast!
__________________
The world looks less difficult when standing next to a close friend.
Posted by ElectricWhite on 26-02-2015 at 15:11:
I appreciate the thought, k2. If nothing else, it's lead me to discover that there are quite a few New Albanys and Albanys that were founded at around the same time by people originally from Albany, NY....I wonder what happened at that time to cause a mass Exodus!
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." --Ray Bradbury
Posted by Daniella T on 26-02-2015 at 21:20:
Hugs, wishes and hopes coming your way, EW!
Don't let that leg get away with it -- and, like CW said, maybe the Condor can make an appearance!
All jokes aside, the fact that you can still keep your good humour and your spirits up is an inspiration.
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They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes -- Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.
Posted by E.D. Darling on 26-02-2015 at 23:57:
Sorry to hear you're having problems with your foot again, I'll send you some lucky healing vibes!
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Dang it!
Posted by Redbird on 28-02-2015 at 21:09:
I'm so sorry to hear about your leg EW. 
You seemed to be doing pretty well there for a while. 
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Playing darts with the Condor's feather shuriken...
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