A-before-E

Regarding my surgery...this is a random sampling of the thoughts I've been having post surgery that I wrote in an email to a Facebook/High School friend (Caroline Baker). Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Well, the few days following the surgery were very painful, but I was up and walking the same day of the surgery (albeit with a walker). You have to make sure to let the doctors know you are in pain even if it is a little bit of pain, that way they will keep you medicated without any gaps.

Of course I haven't been able to walk well without a cane for almost six months. Now about a week and a half later I feel better than I have in several years. Keep in mind I had basically no hip (ball or joint) left for the last year and a half.

I should have had a replacement earlier, but I went to a local orthopedic doctor in Kingsport when I should have gone to a specialist in Knoxville (I didn't know better at the time). Anyways it was well worth it and I work at Citi and they cover 6 weeks of pay at 100% (I've only been there 2 years or I'd have even more coverage, I love where I work :-) so I'll be up and running (pun intended) without any loss in pay.

You have to stay on top of your doctors and nurses though to make sure they send all of the paper work to MetLife or who ever handles your short term disability. MetLife doesn't make mistakes in my experience, but the doctors office NEVER send enough information the first time. That is based on my experience with hundreds of employees that I've had over the last 3 or 4 years in management.

Oh and it was my left leg, if you know me in person you might remember that I have a very bad limp. Well prior to first grade I had hip degeneration that stopped but caused my left leg to go about 90+ degrees out of angle counter clockwise, they fixed that but the bone was still broken up and my leg was short. In addition to giving me a full hip replacement they have extended my leg by approximately a full inch...that has hurt a lot because my skin, tendons, muscles, and nerves are all stretching to accommodate it.