Note From the Doctor

As I noted in the post, Whole Lotta Stitchin’ Going On,  I injured my leg on September 27, 2012.  In fact I impaled my leg on our hitch lock.  The day afterwards Jeff took a pic of the hitch.  You can see how much of the lock was in my leg.

This is as dangerous as any viper

A wonderful E.R. doc at Lakeside Hospital in Brockport, New York spent two hours putting over 35 stitches in my leg.  Dr. McClung found it a challenge, but he was up for it and did a lovely stitching job.  My leg and foot went through a lot of changes—numerous blisters and bruises and swellings.

It wasn’t just an open wound, I was bruised down to my toes

Superior Stitching

Ten days later

I had the stitches out.  it was such a relief.  Just to be safe my primary Doc (Mary Coan, MD, PhD) at Clifton Springs Hospital had the nurse apply steri-strips to keep the wound line close together should it try to reopen with movement, etc.  They were supposed to wash away in the shower.  They didn’t.  I didn’t worry about it.  I didn’t want to pull them off because that would also pull the scabbed area off.

A few days before the stitches come out

Seven weeks later

Dr. Warren of the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine in Providence Hospital, Mobile, Alabama noted there were a few steri-strips adhered.  Jeff didn’t like the looks of the wound.  He has really been a champ through this whole thing.  I can’t stand looking at this wound and I was a nurse.  He suffers every time the bandage comes off feeling pain he thinks I feel and the nausea he definitely feels.  Compared to the first week, I’ve been having no pain until this week.

As Jeff said, “This doesn’t look good.”

Dr. Warren is nicknamed “Dr. Digger.”  He is very proficient in cleaning wounds and getting to the closest and cleanest area of healing tissue.  That area is then dressed with a media that is impregnated with silver.  The silver reacts with warmth and moisture to promote healing.  When you top this with a compression bandage from the top of your toes to your knee circulation and healing is enhanced.  Your leg is very uncomfortable.  I only have two shoes that will fit over the dressing.  They’re both ugly.  No socks.  The wound area burns like hell.  But you get better and have a better likelihood of longstanding good result.  I.E., no recurrent leg ulcerations like Gram Ryan had.

When you compare this to the above pic, you can see why Dr. Warren has the nickname Dr. Digger. He does good!

Ten weeks later

Complications.  Discouragement. Fear.  Pain.  Possible cellulitis. Possible aftereffect of a compression bandage wrapped too tightly.  More antibiotics—just in case.  Area closest to my ankle has a three inch tunnel under the skin that seems to be the or is at least a problem.  At the end of the impromptu appointment two days after a regular appointment, Jeff’s fingers were quite sore where I squeezed his hand after Dr. Digger shoved a swab three inches under my skin without benefit of anesthetic.  I did cry.  I’m not okay.