The Stump Is Free!
Thursday, 17 December 2015 14:55![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dr_phil_physicsWednesday 16 December 2015
My rescheduled appointment with my orthopedic surgeon was Wednesday at 10:30. This time there was no problem with transport -- proper stretcher and ambulance. Had a three man crew, instead of two. The Third man, who rode in back with me, wasn't from LIFE Ambulance, but was a part-time Kentwood firefighter getting his EMT training. Good for him. I think he said his day job was in sales for a metal stamping company -- had enough use it or lose it vacation days to take off the rest of 2015 for his training and the holidays.
But that's not what you want to hear about. You want to know what Dr. Fras had to say. Well, once the original compression bandaging from the surgery 3½ weeks ago was cut off, he was pretty pleased with his handiwork. As I've said before, the skin on my lower left leg wasn't great, especially in front, so instead of the usual flap, he did a fishmouth flap -- Mrs. Dr. Phil took a picture from the end, and you can imagine sort of a big lower lipped fish. There are two dog ears at the fold -- they'll either go away on their own or they'll have to cut off. But there was only a little seapage on one side, so he pulled the stitches.
I'll see him in two weeks.
But... everything has consequences. That second kiwi brace made just last week? Without all that bandaging, there was a good inch gap between stump and brace in the front. So it just hung from the gel sleeve -- and slid off from gravity. We had to abort some afternoon sit to stands in therapy. Not safe.
Thursday, we stuffed two folded washcloths in front of the knee and managed to do a number of sit to stands in both OT and PT. But we also completed a slide board transfer from wheelchair to mat table and back. Using yoga blocks of all things to prove hand grips where there are none. Much easier.
Then at three my buddy Tom from Hanger came -- he decided to cast a new fiberglass brace, but will try the same gel sleeve. We had someone from PT there to make sure it was right and helped with the process. Tom will drop it off on his way home, after grinding off some edges.
Yeah, yeah, the squeaky wheel gets results. Calling Hanger they said on Wednesday that the soonest appointment was to be on the cancellation list for Monday -- that's a lot of therapy that was on the line. But I had direct email to Tom -- he had it rescheduled to come today in minutes. (grin)
Whether realistic or not remains to be seen -- I've got to be able to take a step -- but I have a personal goal of Home For Twelfth Night and On To ConFusion. (double-grin)
Dr. Phil
UPDATE: The new kiwi is here. Much lighter than the previous. The lip has been finished, an there's a band of leather glued over the ground down ridge by the foam pad at the bottom. We'll see in tomorrow's therapy...
My rescheduled appointment with my orthopedic surgeon was Wednesday at 10:30. This time there was no problem with transport -- proper stretcher and ambulance. Had a three man crew, instead of two. The Third man, who rode in back with me, wasn't from LIFE Ambulance, but was a part-time Kentwood firefighter getting his EMT training. Good for him. I think he said his day job was in sales for a metal stamping company -- had enough use it or lose it vacation days to take off the rest of 2015 for his training and the holidays.
But that's not what you want to hear about. You want to know what Dr. Fras had to say. Well, once the original compression bandaging from the surgery 3½ weeks ago was cut off, he was pretty pleased with his handiwork. As I've said before, the skin on my lower left leg wasn't great, especially in front, so instead of the usual flap, he did a fishmouth flap -- Mrs. Dr. Phil took a picture from the end, and you can imagine sort of a big lower lipped fish. There are two dog ears at the fold -- they'll either go away on their own or they'll have to cut off. But there was only a little seapage on one side, so he pulled the stitches.
I'll see him in two weeks.
But... everything has consequences. That second kiwi brace made just last week? Without all that bandaging, there was a good inch gap between stump and brace in the front. So it just hung from the gel sleeve -- and slid off from gravity. We had to abort some afternoon sit to stands in therapy. Not safe.
Thursday, we stuffed two folded washcloths in front of the knee and managed to do a number of sit to stands in both OT and PT. But we also completed a slide board transfer from wheelchair to mat table and back. Using yoga blocks of all things to prove hand grips where there are none. Much easier.
Then at three my buddy Tom from Hanger came -- he decided to cast a new fiberglass brace, but will try the same gel sleeve. We had someone from PT there to make sure it was right and helped with the process. Tom will drop it off on his way home, after grinding off some edges.
Yeah, yeah, the squeaky wheel gets results. Calling Hanger they said on Wednesday that the soonest appointment was to be on the cancellation list for Monday -- that's a lot of therapy that was on the line. But I had direct email to Tom -- he had it rescheduled to come today in minutes. (grin)
Whether realistic or not remains to be seen -- I've got to be able to take a step -- but I have a personal goal of Home For Twelfth Night and On To ConFusion. (double-grin)
Dr. Phil
UPDATE: The new kiwi is here. Much lighter than the previous. The lip has been finished, an there's a band of leather glued over the ground down ridge by the foam pad at the bottom. We'll see in tomorrow's therapy...
