Well, it’s back to the hospital in about 2 1/2 weeks. Dr. Rosner (my neurosurgeon) referred me to an orthopedic surgeon in Asheville to see if there was anything that could be done to correct my deformed right foot that has fused into a position that makes walking difficult. The procedures being done are an triple arthrodesis and a heel cord lengthening.
I’ve never even broken a bone. The only surgeries I’ve had in my life are the closing of my spine from spina bifida, my first shunt being put in and fixed when necessary, the partial nephrectomy of my right kidney when I got renal cell carcinoma, the decompression of my spinal cord, and the new shunt being put in. The silly thing is that three of those surgeries were done in the past year. This surgery won’t even be two months post-op from the shunt implantation. So I’m not sure how to feel. If I get any improvement from these procedures, I’ll be happy. But I truly don’t know what to expect. The idea of the predicted three-month recovery time where I’ll be wearing a boot or a cast at various times in the process is kind of scary.
I’m also getting an AFO for my left leg. I’ve known people who have worn them before, but I’ve never had anything like it. We’re trying to delay surgery on the left foot and ankle for as long as possible.
If anyone knows anything about any of these things, please leave me a comment. Any research I can do before March 16 (surgery day) would be so helpful to reassure me.
Finding Our Voices Together 