The Ankle Report - 1-16-08

It's been about a week since my surgery. I went to the doctor's on Monday.

The surgeon is happy with how I'm healing. He said it looks like the bones are mending back together well.

You guys should see my x-rays. It's like I have "The Terminator's" ankle. On the left side, it has a long, metal plate that hugs the bone.

The plate is held in place by 10 screws along the bone. I have two other screws in the ankle, which have secured the other two broken bones in place.

It's kind of neat. Well, not the pain, the swelling and the whole, "not being able to walk, drive, etc.," thing, but the surgery of it.

The surgeons used staples (yes, staples) to close the wounds on both sides of my ankle. They have like a staple gun that they use for procedures. How cool is that?

What was not so cool was the removing of the staples, another highlight of Monday's appointment.

I was brave and handled it well (read: I cried like a baby, and wished some evil thoughts on the nurse who had to take out my roughly 18 staples. Thank goodness my sister Debbie was there to hold my hand.).

I made it up and down the 25 steps (my physical therapist counted them) from the curb to my apartment. I'm back in my apartment, using my computer chair and walker to get around.

I've got a family friend staying with me, so I'm not alone. I'm not in as much pain as I had been in, and that's a good thing.

I'm fighting off a bout of cabin fever, though. My cats have been huddling together too much. I think they may be plotting against me. I'll keep you guys posted on that one. (smile)