Sylvia's Journal

This morning Axel and I went to the orthopedic doctor, the one who looks like he’s just graduated; a skier I imagine, or a tennis player. This time I did not have to wait long. He stepped in saying that he had both good and bad news. He started with the bad news: surgery is needed. This did not seem all that bad given that I had come to terms over the last two weeks with that prospect. The good news then was really good: I do not have AVN but rather two tendons, the posterior tibial tendon and one on the other side (anterior?) that are damaged. Each must have split lengthwise in two parts at impact; one strand of each tendon had slipped over the bone to the other side. This explained a lot of the continuing swelling, neuropathy and inability to move my ankle in certain directions.

I asked about the surgery and whether he has done much of that sort of surgery (he looks so young!) and he assured me that it is something he does often, a common type of surgery with very high chances of success. He predicted that one day everything will be OK again and I can walk and dance and row and fly as if nothing happened. I had begun to wonder about that.

He painted a picture of 6 to 8 weeks in a non weight bearing cast and another 6 or so in the plastic boot. It is good that we kept all of our medical supplies. The plastic boot has been mildewing in the basement and the crutches are stashed away up in the attic. Whether I need a wheelchair (and thus ramps, furniture moving) depends on my facility with crutches during the first 2 months. All in all he predicts that I am in for 3 to 5 months of some form or other of disability. It is elective surgery and so I can set the timetable. I am thinking mid December when the world slows down and when it would be a good day to be home. I used up all my vacation and sick time last fall and could use a few more months to replenish the kitty.