Ankle surgery on june 1st
 

I have put it off and put it off and now I have no choice. My left ankle is giving out and has caused me to fall a couple of times. A small piece of chipped bone has pulled the cartliage away between the ankle joint across the top and down the inside of my ankle. My orthopedic doctor (who understands RSD) called my RSD doctor in Philly Dr. S. My ortho doctor wanted to confirm with him how to block the nerves in the leg for surgery. I trust this orthopedic docotor he replaced my husbands knee and repaired my daughters ankle and knee (she is a gymnist).

My concern is how much surgery will be needed. He told me the MRI shows a lot of damage. He is concerned there is more damage than the MRI shows. I will either have a scope or a reconstruction done to my ankle. I am praying for the scope.

I just needed to share this with all of you!
Thanks,
Sherrie

Sherrie,
I'm very sorry you must endure this.

Yet, it seems to me that you're in very good hands.

Philadelphia seems to be one of the "centers" of the Universe, when it comes to RSD care.
I've been @ Dr Schwartzman's and Doc Knobler's, etc. and have seen many patients "fly in" from other states / countries.

You have faith in your Ortho, which is great!

Thanks for sharing this!
I'll be praying for the best outcome!

Pete
Asb

Sorry to hear about your impending surgery. Ouch.

With Dr. S as your RSD doc you can likely be assured that your ortho will get the very best advice on how to proceed with the ankle surgery safely, so that your RSD has the least risk of spreading.

You mentioned that you have fallen a few times. It is better that you fix your ankle right away than you fall and really hurt yourself somewhere else, right?

They fit you in the surgical schedule rather quickly, that is great. You don't have very long to wait and get all worked up (or at least I know I would get myself all worked up, if I had a month to wait I'd be a pitiful mess!...).

The best of luck to you - it is good that they are going to fix this for you, hopefully this will be the last surgery you need on that foot and it will be good to go for a long time!

XOXOXO Sandy

chin up, Sherrie
 

Sherrie,

I will keep you in my meditation prayers. Surgery of any kind is scary, even more so with RSD. Heck, getting blood drawn scares me,now. It must be done to keep you walking and mobile.
Let us know when you will be going in for surgery,ok?
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[QUOTE=SBOWLING;515259]I have put it off and put it off and now I have no choice. My left ankle is giving out and has caused me to fall a couple of times. A small piece of chipped bone has pulled the cartliage away between the ankle joint across the top and down the inside of my ankle. My orthopedic doctor (who understands RSD) called my RSD doctor in Philly Dr. S. My ortho doctor wanted to confirm with him how to block the nerves in the leg for surgery. I trust this orthopedic docotor he replaced my husbands knee and repaired my daughters ankle and knee (she is a gymnist).

My concern is how much surgery will be needed. He told me the MRI shows a lot of damage. He is concerned there is more damage than the MRI shows. I will either have a scope or a reconstruction done to my ankle. I am praying for the scope.

I just needed to share this with all of you!
Thanks,

Sherrie, thanks so much for sharing this with us. We all want to be there for you so you know all of will be pulling for you. There really are times when surgery is necessary and this sure sounds like one of them. Sounds like you are in good hands. My husband has had 4 ortho surgeries and it has scared me everytime. No RSD for him thankfully. He just had his 4th a couple weeks ago. It was an ortho hand specialist that diagnosed me in 1 minute after 4 years of having RSD. I had flown to a sports injury group in Oregon and had another good ortho here in Arizona to save use of my left hand.
Please let us know when you'll be doing this. Have you thought of taking some anti-anxiety meds a few days before surgery so you are in as a relaxed state as possible. I'm a believer in our state of mind and emotions while undergoing surgery. less likely for complications. I took versed before my last couple of procedures. Presently, I take lorazepam for anti-anxiety and feel it helps me take less vicodin. My Dr. a Neuro, Psych, and Pharmacologist feels the same. I'm talking about one Doc with 3 degrees. He has helped me sooooooo much. We are going to be trying the HBOT when he finishes building his clinics soon. That also promotes healing following surgery. Have they suggested that or Dr. S? Will be thinking of you, loretta:hug:

hi sherrie

i am sorry that you will have to have surgery again. he sounds great as a former gymnast docs like that are great. hang in there will be thinking of you .. and let us know when you will have to go in.
:grouphug:

carrie

Thanks to everyone for your words of kindness. Reading your post reminded me that no on has called to tell me what time on Monday. I will call the docs office and see when I need to be there.

Loretta,

I like your name it was my mom's. I take Ativan .5 mg twice a day. I aked my PM doctor if I sould increase the dose a few days before surgery. He told me he didn't think there would be a need for an increase.
I have a great deal of confidence in the surgeon. My concern lies with the unknown of what RSD can do. One good thing is I don't have to worry about it spreading since I already have full body RSD. I'm praying for no flair up.
Thanks again,
Sherrie

Hi Sherrie,

I am SO sorry to hear about the upcoming surgery you are having to have done!!:hug: I can't imagine how scared and frustrated you must be right now!

I'm so glad to hear that your Ortho is communicating with other doctors to see how to deal with your RSD! It sounds as though he is really good and has your best interests at heart!!

I will be praying that the surgery goes well for you and that the surgery doesn't cause any flare ups and/or spreading!!

Thinking about you and please follow your doctors advice after the surgery and keep us posted when you feel up to it!

Alison

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Sherrie,

The 3 are: Me, Myself, and I....:wink: Hang in there. You are a strong woman. Remember, you are supported by many thoughts and prayers:circlelove:

:hug: Let's eat ice cream,ok?:icecream:

Sherrie, we are in the waiting area of the hospital...
 

Good Luck with your surgery.:grouphug:

Hope everything went well, Sherrie.

Please let us know what happened as soon as possible. Best wishes!

I hope all goes well for you today, Sherrie!

You are in both mine and my mums thoughts and prayers and please keep us posted when you feel up to it!!

Sending many pain-free hugs your way!:hug:

Hello

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words. Surgery went well. My anasteologist (spelling?) called Dr. Schwartzman in Philly. It was decided that they would do a four hour ketamine treatment after surgery to help prevent a flare up in pain, so far so good. My arms are too weak to use crutches or a walker so for the next 10 days I will be using a wheel chair. My husband and daughter have been great.
Thanks again,
Sherrie

Best Wishes for a Fast Recovery
 

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I am glad you are out of surgery and doing well. TY for contacting us so soon after your surgery. You remain in my prayers:hug:

Sherrie,
You know that we are ALL behind you here!
You're forging kind of new territory.
And, I know that you hafto heal up and recover! I pray that goes smoothly for you, and so happy too, that the surgery did!

I think there are questions that you might be able to help answer about the ketamine, afterwards...

Did they do anything like that in the beginning?

(Just for later...)

In the mean time,
PLEASE, take good care of yourself, follow orders, and TELL THEM WHAT YOU FEEL!!!

(Hey, They're the test dumbies, NOT US!)

Your Rock, Sherrie!


Pete
Asb

Pete,
Your comment about test dumbies made me laugh :)

Today is rough. The ketamine has worn off and the pins and needles are full body. I had PT this morning. We didn't do much at all. They took all the wrapping off my ankle and that felt so good to have it off. Most of the exercises are the ones I do in the pool so once the stitches (June 11th) are out I will be using the pool at the ortho's office for PT.

It is rough getting around. In addition to the RSD pain I have the pain from using muscles in my arms (I didn't have) for the wheelchair. You know the weakness you have from RSD it's worse when you are recovering from surgery.

Sorry to whine it's really not my personality. This is very very difficult!!!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement!!

Oh!
Sherrie....

Don't ever worry, or think that you're whining!
Not that way!
We're learning from you!

You're going through the difficulties, while we're all waiting...
To hear?
How you're doing!
So we can learn.
So maybe the Ketamine helped, not sure?
I get that.

Sherrie,
Let me explain again,
WE All Love you!
You are a Champion!
Please, keep in touch, ok?

love,

Pete
Asb