Not again!

This morning, I went to see my orthopaedic doctor because for the last few months, my left foot has been cramping up on me, and in the place where I have a metal plate that was surgically inserted to keep a bone graft in place, it pops every once in a while, causing a jolting pain. I had to get a referral, believe it or not, to see the doctor who put that plate in, because my husband and I have an HMO insurance plan, and specialists aren't covered except by referral.

Anyway, when I saw my doctor this morning and told him what has been happening, he had a couple of x-rays done and examined my foot where I told him I have been having the pain. He came to this conclusion: I have a slight bone spur near the metal plate, and that metal plate needs to be removed because it's a little loose. It would, more than likely, be a same-day procedure, but I would probably have to be casted for a while until that area healed, but I'm not sure. Our conversation didn't get that far.

I told him that I would like to wait until my mom is able to get around on both feet before I have that done, because it would disallow me from taking care of her when she needs me. Also, I won't be able to drive after I have this done, because I drive a manual transmission pick-up and have to use both feet to drive it. He said that would be fine, and I'm scheduled to go back for a follow-up visit on June 6, at which time we will probably schedule the surgery.

By the way, for those of you who are keeping track, this will be surgery number 18 for me, between the two feet. I've had other surgeries in the past, too: two hernia surgeries when I was about 5 years old, and sinus surgery when I was in high school. I guess you could say I'm a mess. Surgery doesn't really scare me anymore. In fact, when my doctor was talking to me about it today, I didn't flinch or tear up or anything: I handled it very matter-of-factly.

See, when it's me, I don't care all that much, as long as it's nothing serious, and praise be to God that nothing I've ever had to have done was of a serious nature. But when it's someone else, like my mom, it really affects me.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that my family and I can never have enough prayers said for us. I've asked for prayers so many times that I know some of you are probably saying the same thing I am: "Not again!" Well, yes, unfortunately, it will happen again.

Maybe by the next time I need something done with my feet, the doctors and scientists will have developed working artificial feet and ankles, and I can just have them replace mine. You think I'm joking? My doctor told me two years ago that they're working on that, and I'd be "an exellent candidate." No joke. You will be amongst the first to know if that ever happens, though. It's probably very far away from being a workable invention.