So over the past few days my left leg (operated leg) has been really painful.

Inittially I put it down to over doing it while the nerve block was in place so I rested over the weekend and spent a lot of time in bed.

I still got up every couple of hours to move around and still did my home exercises 4 times a day as prescribed.

Yesturday my leg got so sore I was worried something was wrong, one of the things you risk with surgery and sitting a lot it DVT.

I took some medical advise and it was unlikely that I did have DVT but it was worth checknig out.

So I had two paths forward deal with my surgen or deal with my GP. I chose to do both. As a result I’ve learnt more about whats happen, whats going on and the path ahead.

Spoke to the Ortohopedic Nurse who queried my symptons and said that either her or my surgeon would call me back. If it was her it would be within the hour, if the surgen it would be after the morning clinic.

About an hour later my phone rang and is was a “blocked number” I don’t get many blocked calls and I don’t normally answer them.

I was so please to hear my surgon’s voice, I hadn’t spoken with him since being in first stage recovery in hospital. I shared my concern about my leg and he said it probally wasn’t anything, but if it didn’t settle down in a day I should head in for a scan. I had a whle pile of other questions for him and he answered those.

I’m still concerned about how long recovery is taking as I really want t get back on my feet and back to work. I asked the surgeon how long he thought people in jobs like mine should be off work and he said that the two weeks is normal. (There is a two week time frame from surgery to post surgery consult) So I feel comfortable with that.

The complication I have is I’ve not just had a ankle arthoscopy I’ve had a ostectomy (surgical removal of bone) This means that rather only being bandaged for 48 hours, I’m bandaged for 2 weeks, it also means more pain, swelling and brusing.

I think it’s this latter part I wasn’t that well prepared for.

Anyhow I was happy to have had my barrage of questions answered and I knew in my head what I needed to do.

I rang my GP’s surgery and advised her next available appointment would be on Monday of next week. I advised what the problem was and got an appointment. The Dr I ended out seeing kept me waiting for about 35 minutes which was hard. At the moment I have to keep my leg elevated otherwise it really throbs.

Finally got into see the Dr and out comes my iPad with Evernote.

Had a list of things to cover, which the Dr took the time to cover very well.

I’m still rather banged up, my foot is still bruised, swollen and painful. The Dr checked out my leg and said she didn’t think it was DVT but wanted to be 100% being over weight and post surgery and “laid up” the risk of DVT is high.

So it was set that I needed to go have an ultrasound.

Headed out to reception and they made the time for me.

I had a little time to kill before the appointment so as I’m still not cleared to drive. I visited a local cafe and had lunch with my mum.

Initialy we were going to do takeaway but the sun was out and given I’d been stuck at home these past few days I wanted to take a moment to enjoy being outside.

So we had lunch outside and I had a great chicken salad.

I had about 1/2 hour to go to the scan so it was well and truly time to get home. I needed to ice my ankle and doss up on pain killers.

I’d let them lapse and that was a really, really dumb thing to do.

I’ve set reminders on an app for most of my meds and it’s really wise to take them as scheduled.

So I got home and it a lot of pain, for the moment I’ve gone NWB so I can cope with getting around.

When I got home I tried to walk over the front doorstep and couldn’t manage it.

Got in ice up the ankle and dosed up.

Headed up for the ultrasound and even though I’d only been to this place once before the receptionist remembered me.

Guess I stand out a bit!

Got the ultrasound done and was told they couldn’t see a clot but we’d have to wait for the report.

Headed back home to rest.

Got home and waited about 2 hours before calling the surgery (report was meant to take an hour) Called the surgery and they didn’t have the report had to wait 20 minutes then call them back. Called them back still no report. FInally the conceeded to calling me back. The finally called me back and they had the report. I had to see the Dr to get the report so the reffering Dr wasn’t available so saw the first avilable. The receptionist had pre organised me to skip the wait so I only had to wait a few minutes.

Sat down at was told that the reason the report took so long as they were being careful. I was happy, most indicators were that it probally wasn’t DVT but we needed to make 100%. The report came back all clear.

So after the Drs it was time to go the chemist, I’ve been after some additional ice packs for a while as I’m having to use ice packs every few hours and they don’t freeze enough in that time. I’ve had one of my sisters trying to track down the ice pack for me for the past couple of days without luck.

Thankfully the chemist I went to had the ice packs I wanted, it also allowed me to fill a couple of scripts.

I’m a little too familar with my local chemist right now, all the staff know me and I know them, we’re on first name terms and they generally will have an idea what I”m after before I ask.

I don’t even get the little chat from the Pharmacist as they know my situation.

The only thing that really surprised them was the fact that I was visiting the chemist myself as they could see I was still struggling.

Got my scripts, got my ice packs and it was time to head for home.

Got home and heated up a Lite ‘n’ Ezy lamb korma which was really nice.

I’ve now got my feet up after icing my ankle with a spare (non preferred ice pack)

Tomorow is still going to be a busy day but I’m going to take it a hell of a lot easier.

Plan is for a 1 hour massage with an old friend who’s a really good masser and is my “back up” massuer, then I have a break for a couple of hours, then it’s another hour with my Physio.

I’d better spend some time later tonight preapring for that consult, while I’m a litle more relaxed I still have a long way to go!

Day by day is where it’s at.

I’ve been NWB all day today and it’s brutal, even though I’m wearing cycling gloves I’m already blistering my right hand.

Hopefully tomorrow I can rest a bit better.

I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night, I was having real problems resting. Was in a lot of pain and discomfort.

Hopefully it will settle down tonight as I should naturally be really tired.

Even if it dosn’t, I should be ok after tomorrow as I always seem to sleep well after massage.

Until tomorrow.