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Post Hospital Post

Just back from my latest hospital appointment. Highlights include:

• I'm now allowed to put up to 50% of my weight on my broken leg (5 stone).


• I'm supposed to do it all the time. So I'm now moving even more slowly, in a kind of mock-walking movement involving two legs and two crutches.


• My next appointment is in three months. That seems like a long time to go with no feeling of progress.


• At a guess, this means I'm up for another 6 months before I get to walk again... I can't see them letting me go from '50% weight-bearing' to "you're fit and healthy, off you go" in three months with no interim appointments.


• The fibia is supposedly healed now. When I pointed out that it was that side of my leg that hurt most often, it didn't seem to dent this verdict. I remain unconvinced.


• I mentioned the aches and pains in my leg over the last few weeks and asked if it was likely to be related to the weather. He said 'yes', and I should expect that to continue for the rest of my life. I'm hoping it will become less emphatic with the years, at least.


• I asked about the poor circulation in the bottom of my leg, and mentioned the still-bruised sensation around the area of the shattered tibia. He said something like "You did massive amounts of damage to the physiology of your entire leg", so that's to be expected too apparently. He did volunteer the information that this will take "years" to recover, so at least there's scope for improvement there.


• I asked about the bits of skin that are still completely numb and he said at this stage, I should definitely assume they're not coming back to life. I'll post a couple of marked-up photos showing which bits that is at some point.


• I mentioned not being able to put my heel on the floor when my legs are side by side, and he gave me a letter of referral to a physiotherapy clinic. So there's some more fun to be had.

I don't feel particularly enthused after that lot, but he did finish the appointment up by saying "You're making good progress, considering how badly smashed up it was". It doesn't feel good to me, but I suppose he's got a better perspective for that kind of statement.