Rise Of The Phoenix…er, um…The Faker
Soooo…where were we?
The stark contrast between this surgery and the first time [an ortho drove titanium into me] was tremendous. Instead of waiting overnight (13 hours) -- in a private room (in India) by myself -- with occasional visits from gruff “sisters” and orderlies who really didn’t speak much English, this time I was in a big group recovery ward...with rather friendly visits from anesthesologists and nurses and a quick talk with my surgeon, who came by for a bit.
I felt I had to make some of my own directions – mostly as a joke – but also because of the horror stories/urban myths we’ve all heard.
The nerve block was a little painful. More extensive (front and back) than the one I had in February for my ankle surgery, but nothing compared to a lumbar epidural. It is optional, but I do definitely recommend biting the bullet and opting for a nerve block, when possible. It lasts at least a day, so it makes the first post-op recovery day much more tolerable.
I remember getting wheeled into the OR (mostly because it’s on video) and transferring onto the table, but not much after that. As usual, the night-night drip worked like a charm and I woke up in the recovery room, feeling not great, but without the overwhelming ”got hit by a truck” feeling I usually have whenever I would come out of general anesthesia.
Another difference from Paras in Gurgaon: the post-op care. In India, the recovery from the initial (install) surgery was OK -- I had a private room for the entire 3 days –- but after frame removal, they put me in some dank semi-lit little room that had maybe 2 beds…well, actually…cots in it and I don’t think anybody checked on me the rest of the day I spent there waiting…covered in urine. Similar to what I read in Xia diaries, our frames were installed and removed under epidural nerve block (and light sedation, maybe?). They inserted a foley catheter in the OR and left it in until we were discharged. I actually don’t remember if we got a cath for the removal surgery, but I do remember there wasn’t one in post-op…and my crotch was wet and my skin was irritated and no one was really even checking on my overall condition, let alone the sweats I was wearing.
Anyway: flash forward back to this past surgery at Loma Linda. I awoke in the post-op recovery room of the East Campus Hospital.
I was pretty groggy, but I remember my surgeon coming by and telling me everything went well, falling back asleep, and waking up later seeing one of the anesthesiologists on duty…the one who had done my nerve block that morning. There was a big nurses station in the room and plenty of friendly, helpful people milling around. And this surgery experience was 1000% better just by the simple fact that I did not have to wait all day, then go home soaking in my own piss. They asked me if I wanted a bottle, but I opted for wheeling to the bathroom on the way out. I did stumble a bit getting back in the wheelchair…one of the nurses heard and came in to help. If I haven’t said it before, almost all of the pre-op and post-op nurses I’ve had in this country have just been angels…vastly overworked and underpaid angels.
The whole process that day was pretty quick. Not sure if this will surprise a lot of people who’ve had nails put it, but I did it as an outpatient. I was in the OR around 10:30 AM and back in the car going home by 3:30 PM. NOT that I was forced out, mind you. A little thought of $2000/day hospital stay (of which I’d pay 20%) was in the back of my head...but mostly I felt bad that my friend had waited all day to drive me home and I didn’t want him to have to come back Friday or get a motel room (which I would have paid for, but still).
Got home around 5:00, with lots of Percocet to get me through the next couple days, which I basically slept through.
I’ve been really trying to get rid of the weight I put on the past couple years, and I had started working out much more intensely in March. After recovering from the ankle surgery, this was turning into my first 3 consecutive days of inactivity in months. I know I was supposed to take it easy right after surgery, but I couldn't stand the thought of gaining any weight back, so I resorted to chair laps around the house:
Started to get stir-crazy being cooped up for days, so I went to the gym Sunday (3rd day P-O)...just did upper body weights and some heavy ropes for a bit.
I NEVER take selfies, but I thought this one might be worthy:
I got a new PT scrip, just in case the insurance company was gonna hassle me for still using the one I got from my foot surgeon in February. 
Like he had said during the last consultation, immediate full weight-bearing on the new nail is OK by my surgeon (BTW, it’s made by Smith & Nephew, which Exogen users might recognize). I'm still using a crutch, maybe 80% weight so far. The only restrictions he gave me is "no open chain exercises". Achilles and calf are pretty tight right now. Knee is OK at this point. I started (stationary) biking this past Monday and using the rowing machine with both legs on Wednesday (as opposed to using just my R leg last week). The mid-tibia screw site was really sore for a while, but that has settled for the most part.
Another long-awaited benefit of this surgery is the extermination of this creature that had been living below my L knee:
I guess I should talk about the tendon release, but that’ll have to wait til next time.
Quote Of The Week
but would really appreciate your feedback! 
these facts are important!
