I spent the early part of this week at a VA hospital for what amounts to be a yearly checkup. It’s the first time I had ventured that far away from home since the virus struck. Going to the VA hospital, I went through some of the best resort areas in northern Minnesota. Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. Typically during the tourist season, the roads are full of out-of-state cars. The total of out-of-state cars was just three – two from Colorado and one from Oklahoma. I was also surprised by how little traffic there was yesterday. The virus has genuinely made a mess of things.
Onto the results of my physical – There are certain things they cannot fix. It’s not because they haven’t tried. In the four surgeries on my spine, I have spent a total of 46 hours on the operating table. I am in good shape, except for the problems caused by my spinal injury. I asked for a new brace from my left leg. The leg does not function well, and due to an ankle injury, I need something to keep the ankle from turning with every step. The doctor readily agreed to order a new brace.
I was surprised when he took my left leg and gently shook it. The best description I can give you of what my foot on my left leg was doing was flopping around. I won’t go back over the injury to that ankle because some people found my description of it bothered them. Back to what the doctor was doing – he then took my right leg and gently shook it. The foot on that leg didn’t move like the one on the left. What connects my left foot to the leg is a metal bracket and five screws. Over the years, the screws have started to work their way back out of the bone. There is no longer any support at the ankle because the tendons that would hold it in place are torn apart. He said they could do surgery and reconnect the tendons. I decided I’ve had enough surgery, so he agreed to a new brace.
That’s how I spent the beginning of my week not counting the multiple vials of blood and more imaging work. Luckily, it wasn’t an MRI this time but a CAT scan. I hope to start your week was as much fun as mine!
