5 Weeks Post-Op

This past Friday marked 5 weeks post-op from my trochanteric transfer osteotomy and femoral osteotomy hardware removal. I saw my local OS for new x-rays and incision check. Fortunately, my incision looks great, but the x-rays did not look as promising.

I had been anxiously awaiting this appointment to see how my bone healing was progressing. I have a history of poor wound healing, but with the FO I had a delayed union causing the bone to collapse and shifting the greater trochanter 2.5cm higher than my left hip. I was given a bone stimulator to help complete the femoral healing and it was successful. I had to have a last-minute surgery post-poned, but it was successful and then on Good Friday I had the revision to re-position the greater trochanter. I believed that using the bone stimulator from the start of this recovery would be very beneficial in the healing progress and lessen the chance for complications. This was already the surgery to fix a complication of a surgery done to fix a botched surgery. I was almost positive that my bone was healed by how I felt and that I had been using the bone stimulator religiously, but it did not seem to help as much as it was suppose to. When speaking with Maiers he said it may be healing, but actually looked as if the bone that was re-positioned is beginning to fragment and that the major pin in place is bowing. I felt like I was punted in the gut. I am waiting to hear back from Millis, but it was not the positive news I was waiting to hear! I still feel in shock and am not sure what is going to happen next. We have tried every precaution, equipment, etc., yet I am still in the same position with even yet more complications and a right leg that is not healed. This was "suppose" to be the last right hip surgery needed, but if the trochanter fractures or breaks apart I will need another surgery being that it's attached to muscle. etc. My right leg will probably always be weaker, but the more that is needed to be done to correct issues the farther the reality of running, Commissioning as a U.S. Army Officer, etc., move farther out of view. To top it off, the longer I remain on crutches the more unstable my left shoulder becomes. There is nothing that can be done about it until I am off crutches, but with delayed healing that also delays being able to ditch the crutches. With the added stress my Raynaud's has been flaring, but with an added twist. I typically get symptoms with cold, but was unaware that stress would affect it as well. With the pressure my shoulder is under my hand will turn bluish in color, which is new for me and alarming at first, because I thought it had to deal with my shoulder instability, which in a way it does, but is just a new turn on my Raynaud's. So yet again I am waiting on word from Millis!

I am trying to stay positive and maintain my precautions till I hear word otherwise, but it feels like my life is a game of chutes and ladders and that I have been hitting a lot of chutes lately! I am ready for the pool to open so that I can enjoy some exercise without stressing my body. I am also looking into therapy yoga to help with my mind, body, spirit, etc. I am willing to try whatever it takes to get my life back or a new perspective on the one I have. I feel that I may be naive to think that I can be the same person I was 5 years ago. There are things I need help changing and adjusting to and a new outlet physically for me to enjoy. I do know that I want to stop having surgeries though!