Comments for lust for life

Comment on anterior ankle impingement surgery by Bri

Bri — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:57:35 +0000

Thanks for the reply. I’m looking forward for the recovery to begin. Did any of these additional ankle problems occur post-surgery or were they pre-existing conditions? My ankle is at maybe 70% right now, so I am getting the surgery partially to get that percentage higher, but also as a preventative for problems in the future. (Cuz as you know, it’s quite painful!) Obviously everyone’s recovery will be different, but it’s nice to read a personal account of a somewhat decent experience.

Comment on anterior ankle impingement surgery by derek rose

derek rose — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:50:25 +0000

Hey Bri, The surgery seems to have fixed the painful pinching sensation that had me limping sometimes after my runs, and sometimes made it painful to walk for a bit. (I don’t know if I am back to my “normal mileage” but that’s probably just because I’ve been doing more yoga lately. I’ve been running 10-15 miles a week). That said — I can’t say that the surgery has cured all that is wrong with my ankle. I still have a weird clicking sound in my ankle where the tendon snaps over the ankle bone sometimes ... it’s called peroneal tendon subluxation and you can see a YouTube video of someone doing this here. I still don’t have a full range of motion in my ankle when it comes to dorsiflexion (flexing foot toward my shin). My foot still has a tendency to turn out quite a bit that I don’t have in my other foot. And it is still a tiny bit tender when it comes to sitting on my heels, although much less so than before. All this said: None of these issues are enough to stop me from running, like the ankle impingement syndrome did. I slept using a Strassburg sock for a bit and that seemed to take care of the tightness in my Achilles.

Comment on anterior ankle impingement surgery by bri

bri — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:27:18 +0000

Thanks for posting this…I’m going into the similar surgery in two days. They say I’ve got a bone spur on my talus that’s grating on the soft tissue above…so they’ll shave it down with the scope and clean up the joint. I’m a runner as well, so I’m curious to see how your progress is going? Have you been able to get back to your normal mileage yet?

Comment on carpal boss surgery by derek rose

derek rose — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:01:39 +0000

Robert, I’m still not sure if I’m fully healed. I hope my hand will still continue to get better. When I am in “push-up position,” or holding plank, my hand is still tender/sore. It’s mild and bearable, but I feel it. Also sometimes doing the bench press at the gym.

Also one tip: I’ve been using a silicone scar gel I picked up at the drug store to try and reduce the scar on my hand (which you can see in the Feb. 18 comment). It seems to be working. (The brand I am using is Kelo-cote, although I don’t know that that is any better than other similar products).

Comment on carpal boss surgery by Robert

Robert — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:20 +0000

Is there anything that you are not able to do after having had hand surgery (and fully healed) due to the fact that you underwent this process? I am pretty sure that I have metacarpal bossing in my right hand. I generally only have issues with it when I practice the planche, a gymnastics position.

Comment on carpal boss surgery by derek rose

derek rose — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:16:12 +0000

Jill — most of those questions I answered in my post. Honestly it’s been so long since I had the surgery (six months), you’re better off re-reading that me trying to remember the exact details of what happened. My fingers were swollen but never that badly.

Comment on broken neck by annette

annette — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:00:31 +0000

I should have added..that I self rehabbed. Because I knew there was something more wrong..I was not going to go through the rehab they had set me up for..it probably would have killed me or left me paralyzed. I was in intensive care for three days..sent upstairs and then booted from the hospital..it is a long story I won’t go into..but it was Medicaid care 20 plus years ago. My left shoulder was stuck to the side of my cheek until I could work it down..my left arm was bent and my hand rested under my chin..it took me a year to straighten it out..all the while I was going to the doctor and telling him there was something more wrong that they did not catch. Once he reviewed the results of the MRI..after four years..he didn’t even call me..he just set me up with a Neurosyrgeon who told me there was nothing they could do to correct it..that it was a management problem and that I would be in pain everyday for the rest of my life..it was then that I accepted the pain and learned to cope with it. It was actually a relief to know that I had been right all along. No..I did not sue. There is still nothing they can do to surgically help me..so I carry on. But..I did try..I tried to get them to listen..to hear me..but..again..it was Medicaid 20+ years ago..and my doctor admitted that to get an MRI approved was a big hassle..but..I guess I should be grateful that he went through the “hassle” of getting it approved..it allowed me to start to try and find ways to live with what couldn’t be changed.

Comment on broken neck by annette

annette — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:46:23 +0000

Hi..My name is Annette. Back in 1989 I was in a car accident. Without going into all the details..I suffered the almost exact same injury as your brother. But..I was a young mother on medicaid working my way through college. I was not the driver of the vehicle and the driver had no insurance. They did ONE xray when I first got to the hospital. Did not show anything. But..My neck was broken. It took four years of telling my doctor there was something more wrong than just muscle damage. He finally said..OK..lets do an MRI. It showed that C2 and C3 were fused together..there was stynosis (sp ck) at the C2/3 level as well as damage done to thoracic and lumbar. The daily pain I have accepted as just being part of who I am. Some days are much worse than others. Your brother is soo lucky that they found out what was wrong with him in time to correct it. It makes all the difference in the level of pain he will experience..quality of life..what he’s able to still do..everything. My cervical spine is so bad that I have to be careful of everything that I do. One minor accident could be catastrophic. The pain that I deal with is now just a part of me..it’s like backgroud noise..you feel helpless..your feel worthless..and worst of all..you can’t stand pity. The only time I will admit that I am in pain is on the days that it is horrible..when I say to my family that “I am hurting today”..it is code for I am in such agony I wish I could just be left alone please. Most people with chronic pain end up living alone simply because people just don’t understand. They see a person who looks fine. They aren’t being cruel, they just forget. And if you are like me, then you are really screwed because they expect too much from you. My friends want me to be the old me..they want me to go out for a few drinks..they forget that I can’t mix alcohol with my medications or that I’m simply more compfortable stayine at home. It is lonely..all of the time. I worked with my pain for well over ten years..up until the day I got up and realized that I was no longer controlling my pain..it was controlling me. I was taking too much medication simply to get through the day..I was asking my staff to get my car and bring it to the door..which didn’t sit well..lol. They didn’t realize that my knees were hurting so bad that the idea of the walk to my car seemed like I was going to climb Mount Everest..LOL. So..I made the horrible decision to go on disability. I hate it and yet..there really is no alternative..if I could know what the morning would bring..I could plan..but since I don’t..I have to live like I am. I am not complaining..simply trying to..I guess vent?? There are those that are in wheel chairs that would love to be able to just have to deal with pain just so that they can walk..so I am grateful. I thank God for the pain. It means I’m still standing. So..that’s my story. An independant woman taken out of the world that was pretty awesome..and now..still finding ways to cope..to stay present and involved. To find self worth when you feel worthless. To try and find a way to tell my daughters I just can’t chase 2yr olds today. I’m still young..still vital..still enjoy life..I just wish I could make those around me understand that for me..I can’t plan..I just have to roll with the flow..(i hate it..every second of it..but it’s my life..and it’s the hand i was dealt..so..i’m bluffing my way through the game..but..i’m playing the hand i was dealt..and playing it the best way i can to stay in the game.)

Comment on carpal boss surgery by jill

jill — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:33:27 +0000

I had this surgery last week. How long were your fingers swelled for? I am in a 1/2 cast wrapped in ace bandage and not allowed to remove it. My fingers are so swollen I cant even bend them. After your first visit were you put back into something to immobilize your wrist? How long were u out for? He said 4-6 weeks for me.

Comment on carpal boss surgery by Marco

Marco — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:22:14 +0000

Hi Jane,

the only advice I can give you at this stage is to be absolutely militant about the exercises that the hand therapist gives you, particularly over the first couple of months. Don’t overdo it, of course, but make sure you don’t start cutting corners or putting it off “until later” – it’s surprisingly tempting, and easy, to do. Good luck!