Tale of A Tent-Stumbler

Fantastic check up today! Had my cast and stitches removed. I was a little surprised when they removed my cast and I had an incision from just below my calf all of the way to my ankle. I was expecting an incision about 4" long but it's all good and healing nicely. I now have the pneumatic Darth Vader boot. Still cannot put weight on that foot for 6 weeks but I will be able to shower (thank God!). AND I can take the boot off in the evening and when I sleep. That's gonna be HUGE. Maybe I can sleep through the night. Next follow up is in a month for another set of xrays. All good news!

WARNING! GRAPHIC IMAGES TO FOLLOW!!

Cheez, TOO. How long is that hardware?

So glad you're on the mend. Just don't trip over that big assed boot! Sleep well tonight my friend.

Eww

Thanks for that.

Looks like a nice repair! Now you're a cyborg...
orsomething

PS Hurray for Jim Beam pajamas!!

Jim Beam jammies for the win!

For those of you that would like some of this hardware for your own leg save your pennies, that's $20,000 worth of hardware right there. Originally the doc told me that he was going to put a screw in my foot and that after a period of time this screw may break. Then he would either have to go back in and remove said screw or leave the broken screw in my foot. My thought was why can't they make a screw that won't break. I mean out of titanium or some shit right. Anyway I didn't need that screw. I forgot to ask if this hardware will set off airport metal detectors and if I get a card or something that says I'm bionic. 

I'm seriously considering getting a zipper tattooed on my leg once my incision heals...

Hell, I would have done it for you $3k out the door. 

I know right. You can probably get the plate and screws from Home Depot for about $20. I hope that they itemize my hospital bill so that I can see what they really charge for the hardware.

I didn't get any rods. I got one plate that has a series of holes drilled into it and a handful of screws that looks like standard decking screws. It looks like the plate is attached to one leg bone and then some other screws that go through the plate and both leg bones.

Smosey is probably right with this one.  I had a c6/c7 fusion which required me to get a plate and four screws in my spine.  It has never caused a problem at the airport, but I have been concerned every time.  So, my doctor just told me to bring my surgery discharge papers with me to the airport if I was that concerned. 

3" deck screws

$9.47