Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

The surgery is going to be done when things slow down for us with our animals, hay season is over, fall calving done and hopefully I will be back somewhat mobile before spring calving starts in March. The testing won't be a determining factor and I am seriously considering "retiring" from testing when I decide to do this. There is the main ankle joint, then there is a smaller joint below it, more in the heel, where you get the side to side motion of the ankle. That joint is practically immobile due to arthritis and they do not replace that. I can do it at the same time, but it will be fused. Since I have next to no movement in it now, he said that I will not see much of a difference and that it will stabilize the ankle better. But I could wait. He said that it might not bother me much for 6 months or 5 years, once I get more movement in the main ankle joint, but it is not in very good shape. Due to it's having to be fused, there can be ABSOLUTELY NO weight bearing on the ankle for 6 weeks. He said even though they screw together the 2 bones, if you put weight on it there will be miniscule movement and it can't fuse.
It doesn't make much sense to do one and not the other. It can't get better, the arthritis in it is not going to get better. He does stem cell and other alternative things and considers all options before he recommends surgery. I told him the history of the prolotherapy, and PRP treatments and that I was considering stem cell and he said that it was too far degenerated for that in his opinion. And not getting any desired results after many alternative treatments, I feel that he is being straight up. He said that since insurance didn't cover stem cell, he would not take my money when he saw no hope for it to help me.
So yes @Bruce , I will have a "knee scooter" as well as crutches since I can not put ANY weight on it for 6 weeks. He said that they can do both at the same time, that I will do all the therapy on the ankle but just not walking on it.
The other thing is to get all my ducks in a row, get things in the house moved around so that I have the room and such to get around. I really wanted to be out of here and in a place where I had a bathroom closer to the bedroom.... it is on the other end of the house here and not convenient... and it is not very comfortable in the cold winter. So I am still looking because I think I might be happier and do better somewhere that is more user friendly. We will see. But I am giving myself 6 months to "get ready". Then the knee will be the next thing; it is on the other leg and cannot do them both at once. It will be for the following "winter". But I am hoping that by getting the ankle "fixed" and being able to get around hopefully, better, that it will take some of the strain off the knee.
The shoulder is pretty bad, arthritis again, and it will be dealt with eventually. Some rest and exercises have seemed to help make it a little more useable. When ever that gets done, they said that I cannot use crutches for at least 6 months after in order to give it time to fully heal. So it is last on the list. But after looking at the x-rays, which is the first time I have had the shoulder looked at, I can see how there is pain with the ball and socket just rubbing together. I was thinking a torn rotator cup due to the pain.... but no such luck.

 

[Baymule]

The shoulder will be the hardest to heal. My husbands shoulder popped out of socket several times a day and I popped it back in. He said the recovery hurt worse than open heart surgery and knee replacement together. But after therapy and time to heal, he sure was glad that he had it done.

It will take you some time to get the surgeries and heal up, but it will be so worth it for relief from the pain and being able to walk and use your shoulder. DO YOUR THERAPY!

 

[CntryBoy777]

Sure glad to hear ya have some "direction" in which to head and plan for....and certainly pray that all goes well for ya, thru it All!!.........but, somehow I'm having trouble "seeing" ya sit still for 6wks.........I agree with Bay....do the Therapy!!.....

 

[Bruce]

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Gosh, Miss @farmerjan, it is a wonder you have been able to get around! I wish we here at BYH could help out some how, like maybe one person for one week, then another person for another week, for the 6 weeks you will be recovering from your surgery. But the week I showed up, you would send me home the next day, because you would get tired of telling me, "No, STA, you hold the OTHER end of the hammer!" Seriously, I really wish there were some way we could help. (Of course, you saw how much I helped @CntryBoy777 move! ) You are among my favorite folks on this forum (and I know there are others who think highly of you as well), and I hate to see you suffer, either from medical issues or from recovering from them. Please know we are all rooting for you.

 

[B&B Happy goats]

I can't imagine you sitting still for six weeks , but you have your herd here to keep you entertained, , we will be here for you

 

[Bruce]

Yep we sure will!

 

[farmerjan]

Believe me there won't be as much "sitting still" as using the knee scooter thing, and crutches.... But I think the first couple of weeks will be a fair amount of sitting around. I will have to keep it elevated alot due to swelling from what he said... his statement was keeping the toes above the nose to help with keeping swelling down. I have a huge collection of movies on DVD that I have never watched; pick 'em up at the bargain bin at Walmarts and such for like $3 and $5. And some from Goodwill for a couple of bucks. So will have plenty to occupy my idle times. There will be a fair amount of rehab from what he said, and the first week or 2, I will probably have some "serious discomfort".... I also have alot of books for reading which I love to do. I am sure I will go "stir crazy" some too.

Thank you @Senile_Texas_Aggie for the kind thoughts of "volunteering everyone to take turns "baby sitting" me for a week at a time.I really do appreciate the thoughts behind it. Yeah, it would be nice to have some "like minded" folks around to help. But, I don't know how bad it will be, and if the weather is really cold or crappy, then I won't mind staying in more. I can hibernate
I want to get things "ready" so that I can actually take a break. I hate housework at the best of times, so I am planning on getting some help in that department. I think that just some "company" would be a big help. Living alone, even with my son 5 miles away, does get old sometimes; but since I am out with other people with testing and such, I am not alone alot; so that is going to take a little getting used to at first. I also want to get some things made up ahead of time and in the freezer, so some "heat and eat" meals will make it easier for me. I was trying to "eat down" some of my freezer storage with the anticipation of possibly moving; may have to rethink that for awhile. But again, getting some stuff out would make it easier to put in some "quickie" food that I could easily make.

Oh well, it is in the future. The best thing is he sounded very positive about a replcement. After all the negativity from the doctors around here, and saying it needed to be fused... I think looking forward to a replacement will help balance the pain I am sure I will have to endure in the beginning. And who knows, I might get lucky and not hurt as much as I have heard. It will be worth it if I can walk without the constant pain I have now and feel stable on my foot.

 

[CntryBoy777]

They have made a ton of advancement along those lines, so I sure hope things will go very Well with it all!!....we'll be rootin' for ya....and will be right Here to give ya "company"....put me on "speed dial" if ya need to....

 

[Mini Horses]

So -- will you be in the hospital for a few days? Never know now, they boot you out like "outpatient surgery". But I would think a few days, at least. And how far to the facility from you? There's that transport thing. I believe you can get paid assistance thru medicare, if doctor authorizes it. Not all day, every day but, some "home health services", etc. You may need for first week or two at home Dr recommended equipment, also -- scooter? ASK. It will help with the getting home & "over it" phase. Dr must authorize & home health care agency must supply...homebound -- meaning trouble leaving home without help, need special transport, etc. You will qualify. Personal care, house care, etc. Get it all.


In the "otherwise" department -- how's all else?

Like you, I'm thinking retirement. It's hard to do after so many years of work. Sounds odd but, it's true -- both the "needed" and "paycheck" portions of the event. Then there is the "what to do" side. For YOU, that's not an issue, with all the farming needs. For me it can be as this is home and not an income farm....less pressure to produce. Hard decision. I mean, at some age they don't want you back, if you change your mind. But it would be nice to have more time to do what I want and no time to do now.