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introducing myself-BETSEY ROSS

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 3/25/2011 7:36 AM (GMT -5)
HI1  EVERYONE

I RECEIVED AN INJURY WHILE WORKING AT A LOCAL AIRPORT AND I RECEIVED A CRUSHED LOWER KNEE AND A VERTICAL FRACTURE OF TIBIA ON LEFT LEG.  i GOT A EXTERNAL FIXATOR PLACED TO PULL THE BONES APART TO RELIEVE SWELLING.  ONE WEEK LATER PLATES AND SREWS AND I WAS PUT TOGETHER.  MONTHS OF PAIN AND NON WEIGHT BEARING .  THEN ADHESIONS DEVELOPED AND THERAPY COULDNT GET MY LEG TO BEND MORE THAN 85 DEGREES.  I KEPT TELLING MY ORTHO DOC THAT I CANT WALK AND I HAD TREMENDOUS PAIN.  BEGINNING OF MARCH HE SENT ME TO A DERMATOLOGIST TO SEE IF I WAS ALLERGIC TO NICKEL.  I WAS ALLERGIC TO NICKEL AND GOLD AND NOW I KNOW I AM ALLERGIC TO THE HARDWARE IN MY LEG.  DOC WONT REMOVE IT UNTIL JULY. I WENT TO A PAIN DOC AND HE SAID THAT I HAD LYMPHEDEMA AND THAT I WILL NEVER WORK AGAIN.  HE PRESCRIBED BUTRAN 10MG PATCH AND VICODIN 10-500 AS NEEDED. MEDS ARE HELPING FINALLY.  WC IS PAYING ALL MEDICAL STUFF AND SENDING ME MY CHECK EVERY OTHER WEEK.  I GOT A LAWYER AND STARTED PAPERWORK FOR SSD. 

AFTER I GET MY HARDWARE OUT IN JULY I HAVE TO WAIT 6 MONTHS AND THEN GET A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT AND HE WILL STRAIGHTEN MY LEG BECAUSE MY LEG IS CROOKED.  SO FOR NOW, I WILL SLOWLY WALK WITH MY WALKER AND TAKE MY MEDS yeah

Posted 3/25/2011 8:16 AM (GMT -5)

         Good morning Betsey!

             Welcome to the CP forum! So sorry to hear of your medical problems!

      I have an Aunt who is alergic to some of these metals as well.

          We have a great support membership here, and I'm sure you're going to enjoy them!

    Just wanted to say hello, and Thank you for your introduction. Keep checking here, and I'm sure others will be by to greet you.

      SE wink

Post Edited (Screaming Eagle) : 3/25/2011 8:18:59 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/25/2011 9:13 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome to the chronic pain forum Betsey. You've come to the right place for support. These are some of the greatest people on this forum. They're very supportive. I'm sorry that you're having to go thru so much pain. I pray that the pain will get better when the doctor removes the hardware out of your leg. Take care of yourself.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 3/25/2011 10:32 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Betsey and welcome to Healing Well's chronic pain forum. Wow, what a story you have to tell, that is awful and then to find out you are allergic to the metals. You know a lot of people for whatever reason have a very hard time tolerating the hardware they put in during some of these surgeries. Many friends of mine have had to have it removed and once they did, they did much better. It sounds like once you get the knee replacement out of the way there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for you.

My sister-in-law had a total knee done a couple of years ago. She messed up her knee really bad when she was a teenager and they had put some screws and stuff in there. Over time of course she started having problems that just progressed as she got older. She does not regret the replacement one bit, said it was the best thing she has ever done. She said it is great being able to walk and not have horrible pain and like you her knee was not straight either. Her back pain disappeared after the knee replacement because she was able to walk correctly for the first time in years. The place where I buy my eye glasses, the lady that helps me there had her knee done 2 years ago, she has RA and it had destroyed her knee joint. She was back to work standing 8 hours a day 6 weeks after surgery. I was floored when I saw her back so soon. I asked her how she was doing and she said I feel great. I asked her if she was having a lot of pain standing all day and she said no. I was shocked.

I am glad that you have a good PM dr that now has your pain at a tolerable level. That makes a huge difference when you can get the pain level down.

We do ask all of our new members to read the forum rules and abide by them. That helps when we are all rowing the boat in the same direction. No, we do not expect you to sit down and read them and know all of them at once either, lol.

I must ask that you refrain from using all caps in the posts. It makes it difficult for some people to read and using all caps is considered shouting. Yeah, I know, I didn't know that either until I read the forum rules, lol. Again, welcome aboard and keep us posted on how you are coming along. Take care.
Posted 3/25/2011 10:50 AM (GMT -5)

 

  Good morning Betsey!

    How are you doing this morning? I hope by now your medications and have kicked in and you are bit more comfortable. I am glad you decided to stop by and post an introduction. I was so nice to chat with you last night and get to know you better. I do hope you will come again next week too.

     You have been through so much. The pain you endure daily must be tremendous. I am so sorry that on top of everything else, you have to get your hardware removed. The next few months and indeed the next few years will be very hard for you. I am so sorry that you have so much happening to you and so much pain... I am glad, however, that you are giving us a chance to get to know you.

     ...you know, I think for all of us the realization that we would never be able to work again was / is terrible. Some of us still struggle daily with it, some of us have come to an odd acceptance about it.... I would recommend you seek the assistance of a pain psychologist. They are trained in chronic and terminal illness and will help you put your life together. Your new life. It is going to be hard to create the "new you". It is very hard for all of us. With your drive and determination I have no doubt that you will do your very best!

     I have to get going and do my daily tasks.. It really is very nice to meet you. I look forward to hearing from you again. Stay strong!

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 3/25/2011 3:24 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you everyone for stopping by to welcome me. That is so nice! My lawyer is working with wc to get me a stair chair lift to get me upstairs to take a shower. I have been washing my hair in the kitchen sink and cleaning uo in the powder room for now. It is doable.

Betsey
Posted 3/25/2011 8:00 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Betsey, and welcome again :)

Laura
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