My Motorcycle Injuries

I have had so much medical “stuff” done to me within this calendar year that I will no longer have a deductible on any major medical procedures throughout the remainder of 2020. Hooray for me, right? I guess. Anyway, this recent development set me to thinking about surgery again. My knee has been hurting in new and inventive ways the past several weeks without any provocation, and I started thinking about the fact that I could save a bunch of money on the insurance deductible for a surgery that will inevitably have to happen if I just go ahead and get the knee replaced within this calendar year. The Mr. Krabs in me loves to save money. Still, the more rational side of me says that the pain is not even close to being a quality of life issue, and I should just mellow out on the whole topic of saving money. My leg is unpleasant at times and has been getting worse over the past six months or so, but I plan to live well past my mid-seventies and personal longevity means that I would in all ...

I have an irony to share. It involves a leg that was broken from the hip down to the shin. It also involves an arm that was broken near the wrist with a compound fracture. I always thought that the leg would eclipse anything else wrong with me in relation to my motorcycle accident injuries. It took so much work for me to walk normally over time, and the pain has been so pronounced over time that I always assumed that the leg injuries would be the biggest hindrance to my daily living. The leg truly is a hindrance, but my hand has been getting worse with time. I’ve had some fairly serious nerve damage done at the wrist, and the combination of pain and numbness to my hand is at times consuming. There was also some tendon damage and it affects primarily the index finger. I have full use of the hand, but when I wake up in the morning it doesn’t open and close easily. Things loosen up within a short amount of time, but then the pain (strong discomfort?) begins to settle in. I have less stren...

I went for my two week post-op appointment today with the surgeon. He said that everything is fine and that I will be able to function normally after another two weeks. He said that he removed a small tumor during the surgery, and I must have looked a little shocked as he spoke because he immediately told me not to worry because it was a common thing with this type of surgery, and said that the tests came back as benign. Whew! The weird thing is that when I told my wife about this later today she said that the surgeon told her about it immediately after the surgery and she told me later that day at home. I don’t remember the conversation at all, but I’ve always been a little goofy with the process of recovering from anesthesia. Good thing there wasn’t a swampland salesman at the surgical center. I really hope that this is my last accident related surgery for, I don’t know; let’s say the next thirty years or so. I’m feeling much better now with only a hint of discomfort, and the pain is...

I’ve made a lot of progress in healing from my latest surgery. Things are nowhere near 100%, but I am much better. I’ve been told that I’ll be free to resume normal living after another three weeks.  I noticed something unusual last week about my accident injuries. The thing is that I couldn’t feel them. All day. The pain from this latest surgery was so pronounced that it eclipsed the “normal” pain that I feel daily. It’s all back now, but it was pretty much gone for a few days. I still feel a degree of pain from the surgery now, but not enough to make the other pains seem nonexistent. I guess the lesson to be learned is that things could always be worse and that I should be in no hurry when reacting to pain. It’s just there, and it doesn’t mean all that much. If my mind is stronger than my body, I really don’t need to consider the need for further surgery on my leg or arm quite so much. I think that the same lesson guides me to relax a little, live life, and endure the annoyance o...

                                                             I went to a clinic this past Saturday morning in order to have all of the tests done that are needed for my upcoming surgery. These things are usually done at the hospital in which the surgery takes place, but I went to a walk-in clinic that was suggested by the surgeon’s office because the surgery won’t actually be performed in a hospital and I don’t have a primary care physician. The surgery will be performed at an outparcel building of a hospital that’s used exclusively for surgery and called a “center” . The above x-ray was taken at the clinic as part of my pre-op requirements. It clearly shows the stent in my aorta to the right of my spine. I always envisioned the aorta to be pencil thin, but it’s actually quite wide in diameter. Consequently, the stent looks huge to me...

I’ve been busy lately between work, babysitting, and stuff around the house. I keep noticing that my leg hurts all of the time now in ways that it didn’t hurt just months ago. The pain is far less frequent in my hip and thigh areas, but it’s consistent and annoying in my knee and shin. I have a lot of metal in all of those areas and walking is becoming a little more difficult as time roles on. I know in the back of my mind that I’ll eventually have to go back to an orthopedic surgeon. The original doctor that did all of the work is very skilled, but the location of his practice requires an hour-long journey round trip. Part of that time even involves higher speed highway driving. Yeah, the distance thing is unfavorable. Unfortunately, he is also a very poor communicator. I’ve been to a second doctor that is located just a few minutes drive from my house, has a great reputation, and was an excellent communicator when speaking to me about every aspect of my needs. I like the communicator...

I had an appointment today with a new surgeon concerning my latest hernia. I liked him and I’m certain that he will do a good job with the upcoming procedure. I was asked to bring a copy of the original medical records concerning the things done to me in the hospital five years ago. He kept reading through them during my visit and commented that I really shouldn’t have made it. I already knew this. He also asked me if I still ride. Yeah, that’s definitely a question that feels like it’s past its prime. I was then sent to a very nice lady in his office who sets up the surgery dates and any details necessary to get things ready. She had read through my medical records and commented that I shouldn’t have made it. I already knew this. Everything is lining up for a surgery toward the end of May, and I hope that on that day nobody feels compelled to tell me what I already know or ask me what I’ve already answered. It kind of grows a little tiresome.