Hi All,

Well....I found out when my next ankle surgery will be. It's August 30th! That's next Tuesday. So...I'm not going to be on these forums for a few weeks while that happens. I know I'm on these message boards way more than a normal person should and someone might actually notice me not making dumb ass remarks all the time. So, I thought I might post here in case anyone cares.

What surgery you ask? Well....I'm going for ankle replacement surgery...again.

In December 2007, my wife asked me to install some cheap storage shelves on the roof of my garage. I had moved crap out of the way and was coming down the ladder when it started to sway. It looked like it was going to drop me with my face right in one of those triangle racks that holds the racks, shovels, and other pointy things. Well, I was 3 ft off the foor, so I just hopped off. I landed with my ankle broken at a 90 degree angle. I started at the side of my shoe and thought, "no one is supposed to be able to see their foot from this angle" in between screams.

Well, they took the stitches out of my foot too soon and it turned into a large open-wound infection. They say that's where the trauma arthritis came from. So...my foot hurt. The doctor is one of the best ankle doctors in the country. He's worked on Dayrl Jeeters (the baseball player) ankle, as well as Carolina Panthers, and professional ballet dancers. He's good. Well....we tried cortisone shots, but that didn't do it. I needed to have my ankle partially fused. That means I can move it up and down, but not right and left. Surgery #2 was that.

Did you know that 5% of ankle fusions don't take? Well, I found out when I fell into that category! So, surgery #3 was to re-fuse the ankle with a bone graft thrown in. Right before I went under, I told the anesthesiologist that I heard a bone graft hurt. He looked at my chart and heard that this was my 3rd ankle surgery. He said that the only surgery that hurt more than the surgery that I was going to get was knee reconstruction surgery. I had nothing to fear from the bone graft. Well, I got a new scar right below the knee as well as some even better scars for that surgery.

It still hurt a year later and the doc said it was due to bone fragments floating around my ankle. Surgery #4 was to clear that up. It should've been good for then.

Four years later and my ankle still swells. It hurts. I've gained 40 pounds. I can't walk on uneven ground. I don't want to walk far anywhere. My wife says it's gotten worse and that I need to go back to the doctor. I picked someone different that my insurance company recommended. I go in. It seems that the arthritis has spread to the rest of my ankle. I've got 2 options, according to him: full fusion or amputation. I'm floored by the idea of amputation, but the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards it. My ankle just freakin' hurts and I'm tired of it. It being totally locked up doesn't do squat for me and I would probably be more mobile with a fake foot than one that's locked up. Also, I shouldn't have any more pain as I wont' have an ankle!

I talk things over with the Mrs. We decide to check with my old surgery and...he's actually in network! It turns out that my old surgery and his partner were the first people in the world to start ankle replacement surgery. I'd never heard of such a thing. Well, this sounds much better than the other two options. I'll need to have it replaced again in some vague time in the next 10-25 years. They are cutting edge and have all these new designs and virtual environments to make it better. So, I go with that. Surgery #5 is getting a metal ankle.

A year after that and things are still not quite so good. Besides my foot still being really swollen and hurting a lot....I can't activate my super jump from my new cyborg leg. I was worried that when I ran, my new leg would be so powerful that I run in circles. What happens is that I can't do much of any running as it just hurts too much. With my 1 year checkup, I find out....something is wrong. They do an X-ray, a CAT scan, and inject me with some cortisone to find out what's wrong. It turns out that .8% of these surgeries result in the metal ankle not melding with the bone. They usually use bone cement for old people, but were confused with me somehow being young and they didn't do it. So....I need a new metal ankle.

This is where things are fun as my insurance changes at the new year to a worse option. If I have much physical therapy in the new year, I'll go even further in debt for having to pay 100% for it as my new insurance will only cover it once I hit the deductible. So, I want to get it done ASAP. They put me on the books for October, which looks like it will put a lot of PT in the new year. Well, someone cancels their surgery and I get slotted for next week! Holy crap! That's 8 days away. I'm scrambling to get things sorted with work and personal life. That's the day of the new school year for my kids. I'm happy to have it soon, but it's really soon.

I'm not sure what my fellow podcasters will do. They will have to go on without me for a few weeks. I'll be able to join in after a couple weeks, but I'll make even less sense than normal. I'll be completely doped up!

Anyways...have fun on the forums without me for a couple of weeks! If I come back and don't make sense, have a little bit of patience with me. If anyone wants to channel my spirit into any discussion, feel free to fake quote me.

Good Lord that sounds painful! Sorry hear about it, and hope you get better soon!

Pain has become a relative thing these days. I've learned new levels of pain and gotten used to somethings.

Still, the most painful thing I've felt is when I was stupid enough to be convinced to pierce my nipple. That was THE most painful thing I've ever experienced. Also, just don't do it.

Sorry to hear that, Jeff. Chronic pain is very serious and can literally drive someone insane, I hope you get it squared away.

Don't forget, even if you are covering your deductible, you can flex the funds from your paycheck to cover your PT. It's not much, but at the very least you won't get taxed on those dollars.

Sort of related story. I have a very large labrador retriever. I was tussling with him outside and he slammed his enormous head into my face. I didn't realize it at the time, but it cracked a molar. The nerve got infected and I dealt with near intolerable pain for 2 straight months before getting to a dentist and getting a full root canal. None of the dental work was covered by my crappy plan at the time. $2,000.00 out of pocket.

On the way home for the first time in weeks the migraine headache and throbbing tooth pain subsided. When I walked through the door my wife asked me how it went. All I could say? "Best $2,000 I ever spent."

Hoping you feel better real soon.

That's rough man!I hope that this surgery is the last one for you. Best of luck to you.

Don't forget, even if you are covering your deductible, you can flex the funds from your paycheck to cover your PT. It's not much, but at the very least you won't get taxed on those dollars.

Well....you can only do that if you have flex spending. I don't have it, so not an option for me. I'm a lowly contractor these days and we don't get the good benefits. Pre-tax dollar health spending does help if you can do it.

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. I pray your surgery and recovery go better than expected. Near ten years is a long time to suffer, so the sooner you have your surgery, the better I would think.

While I'm here I should say thank you to you and the guys for shuttling the Tydirium all across the (audio) galaxies; it's my favorite X-wing show out there. Don't spend too long in the bacta tank. I hear it turns your lightsaber different colors (if you know what I'm saying...).

Oh and hey, did those shelves ever get put up? I mean, it's been almost 10 years. Time to get on that!

Hope it goes well mate.

Take some Motrin and water, you'll be fine.

Thanks everyone!

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you. I pray your surgery and recovery go better than expected. Near ten years is a long time to suffer, so the sooner you have your surgery, the better I would think.

While I'm here I should say thank you to you and the guys for shuttling the Tydirium all across the (audio) galaxies; it's my favorite X-wing show out there. Don't spend too long in the bacta tank. I hear it turns your lightsaber different colors (if you know what I'm saying...).

Oh and hey, did those shelves ever get put up? I mean, it's been almost 10 years. Time to get on that!

Thanks! I appreciate it.

Also, great to hear you like the podcast! It's fun to do. I will definitely be out for a week, but if our HotAC interview runs long, we might turn it into 2 episodes to cover. It might be really fun to have me join as a doped up captain, though. Overall, my X-wing gaming is going to dry up as I won't be able to drive myself anywhere, even after I can do more than just prop myself up on the sofa bed. So, that is going to be frustrating.

Ha! The shelves! Well, we ended up hiring a guy who came in and installed these nice wooden ones that cover the whole double garage. So much nicer than anything I could've done. Cheaper in the long run to hire someone to do it than do it yourself. That's my approach now.

Take some Motrin and water, you'll be fine.

Oh, I'll be taking more than Motrin!

Fly Better? Walk Casual? Feel Better!! That's it.

Sorry to about your travails. I have no idea what kind of pain you went through but I'll get a taste in a couple of years with knee replacements. Best wishes and God speed with your recovery.

Until you're back on these forums, fly high, float casual and stay away from any shelving.

Good luck. See if you can get a 2 for 1 deal. Seems like you could use it.

Not gonna say I know what it feels like, I've broken a few bones but well. they healed. Big scars though.

Do what you gotta do, feel better, hope to see you here soon.

I know your pain, I'm getting my colon cut out here in a few weeks. Hope it goes well for you

I gotta say, I'm glad that they scheduled my surgery sooner rather than later. It's freakin' hurting lately. I have to quit ibuprofen since it's 5 days before and I didn't realize how much it has hurt. I've been wearing an ankle brace to stop the pain, but didn't wear it yesterday for at least one day with nothing on my ankle before I get a cast. It freakin' hurt!!!!! OK....I'm ready for this dang thing. It would be nice to not have ankle that swells up like crazy and makes me not want to walk anywhere. Did I mention that I gained 40 pounds through all this?

Good luck. See if you can get a 2 for 1 deal. Seems like you could use it.

I know! Or....buy 5 surgeries and the 6th is free.

I know your pain, I'm getting my colon cut out here in a few weeks. Hope it goes well for you

Good luck with that! At least you will be walking before I will

Heychadwick, are they going to use the bone cement this time? Or does this procedure work a little differently?

They will use the bone cement this time! I'm going to insist.

The wife has been stressed out since we heard the news and this weekend she was difficult to be around. She's going to be tied to me and the house for a few weeks and she's not happy. She's not happy at the cost of the surgery and me not working.

This weekend we went to Walmart for an epic stock up trip as I'll be out of it tomorrow and she doesn't want to go shopping while taking care of me. So, we spent 2 hours going around Walmart and stocking up for a couple weeks. My foot hurt so bad at the end of it that I'm ready to just get it done with. I'm ready to be doped up for a couple of weeks.

They call me today to tell me when it will be tomorrow. I can't eat after midnight, so I hope it's earlier rather than later. Mother-in-law coming in this evening to help. That will be good as I like her. Kids had their first day of school today. Glad we had one normal day before tomorrow.

Wish me luck! I've moved the pc down by the sofa-bed for when I'm able to type.

Good luck. God, the Force or whatever you believe in, be with you.

Tell your wife that once this is over you'll be able to help around the house more. As long as it doesn't involve ladders.

I'll be praying for your swift recovery! I'm still working my way through the backlog of podcast episodes...It's a lot of fun to listen to while I paint. I think I'm up through episode 8.

Oh, and tell them you want some bacta to go with your bone cement. Haha!

Hi all. I lived. It was supposed to be one night in the hospital, but it turned into three because the hospital kept messing up my pain meds. Worst case was a nurse at night shift who made some bad choices and had me screaming and crying in pain for over an hour. After that, it was finding the right combo of meds at right t8mes that took some effort. So, OK for most of the time, but terrible for a short bit.

Got home Thursday afternoon and all is much better. After 3 days on sofa bed, I couldn't take the metal bars under thin mattress. Neighbor had a spare mattress and I am doing much better.

I wish you all the best for recovery! Lets hope it worked this time. I know the frustration at being in the 5% where everything is wrong too well, my girlfriend needs some teeth replaced but her upper jaw doesn't have enough bone mass for implants. traditional replacement would ruin perfectly healthy teeth, so missing teeth it is. She can't get herself to that, really, so she keeps running around with broken teeth that hurt terribly (to the point that she can't eat a lot of things). Its terrible. I can't imagine just how terrible it is in the US with your non-healthcare when you also become poor along the way!

Good Luck!

Glad the worst is over.

Glad to hear you came through it without too much trouble (aside from the night nurse & meds issue).

Sounds like you have good neighbors as well!

Hurry up and get better.