Healthy Policy: Surgery Blogging

It's Friday, so I figure it's time for something light, you know, like talking about my surgery.

I had my second follow up appointment yesterday (I'm now four weeks out) and my first x-ray post surgery. If you don't remember what they did to me, or were too lazy to follow the link, or new to the site, refresh your memory here.

I want to start off by saying that my doctor/nurse team is incredible. My surgeon never makes me feel stupid, or like he's in a hurry, or like I'm just a bone detached from a body, he's not awkward, he makes jokes with me -- he's not the typical orthopedic surgeon. The nurse is eminently capable, actually books my next appointment <i>for</i> me while I talk to the doctor, she's so bright and organized. My mom and I always thank her profusely after appointments and she sticks by her refrain: "It's all because I've got a great doctor. He treats me like an equal and we're a team." It's heartening to know such great people are in charge of your care.

But enough gushing, it's time for the goods:

This is my super awesome badass new bionic femur. As of yesterday.

Now, if you take a close look at this x-ray (you can also click on it and open it in a pop-up window) you'll notice that where they did the actual osteotomy my bone is offset. My doctor brought in my x-ray and I kinda cocked my head to the side, giving my most puzzled but trying not to freak 0ut that my bone is totally off look.

Let's just give this some context now. Don't forget that I'm the person who's been a little malpractice obsessed lately with Baker's book. And here comes my doctor with an x-ray that looks like my bone wasn't put back together right. I'm feeling a little sick.

The doctor looked from me to my mom (who is much better at just appearing concerned) and said, "Oh! Before I say anything else, the bone is supposed to look like that. See, when I did the osteotomy, I shifted the bone over -- the plate will hold it in place as the bone grows in at the sides. It won't look like that forever!"

Deep breath. It's okay -- it's supposed to look like that. I'm good.

Then the usual appointmenty stuff -- I can now bend my knee 30 degrees, put approximately 25 pounds of weight on that leg, and another 6-8 weeks on the crutches. But everything's healing as it's supposed to, particularly my bone which is supposed to look that way. I think.