My knee surgery is getting pushed back once again
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
Midland, Michigan
August 3, 2018 12:18pm CST
One of the PA's that I see at the specialists office for varicose veins said that my wound is less deep but not quite shallow enough to form a scab. She planned on injecting a zigzag vein on my inner ankle with something to shut it down but it kept collapsing and she wasn't successful.
I needed it to be scabbed to precede with the surgery at the end of this month as planned. What I really need to do is take off a month of work to elevate my legs more but then who would pay my bills? Plus I need to be out with my crew and I don't feel I can do that if I take time off from work. It would be nice if they'd let me work less hours for the month instead of taking off completely. I may have to call the benefit department to check on that possibility.
I have yet to call the surgeons office about this so I don't know when the new date might be.
The images are of me in bed with my feet propped on four pillows in a semi-sitting position. The insert is my ankle area with extra padding on my ankle under the ace wrap. Not sure whether the bump it makes can be seen here.
Hmm, look at that I can write a short post once in a while, 
12 people like this
11 responses
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
7 Aug 18
I'm sorry for you that you have to wait again but you do need to heal that wound. How did your previous knee surgery turn out?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Aug 18
The first surgery went well. The physical therapist I worked with though it took me too long to get fill flexibility and I'm not sure I reached their goals before I was done but I'm happy with the results. When I was still going I want yet able to put my feet on the chair rest at the hair salon and could manage it a few months later.
I also don't think I had much pain after surgery although there was discomfort. That was never alleviated with the narcotics so I weaned myself off them early.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Aug 18
@MarymargII I don't think they always prescribe them without any reason. Nowadays there seems to be more oversight with them than there was forty years ago.
The problem is every patient processes pain differently. If I were to ask that they not give them to me again there's no guarantee that discomfort is the only thing I'd be feeling. I'd rather have them in hand and lower my dosage if they're not needed rather than being in awful pain while waiting for something that works.
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
10 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman Yes they just prescribe them so casually- I also purposefully weaned myself off them as I didn't want to become addicted. They did help the pain but it was short lived. Icing the area really did help though.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79706)
• United States
3 Aug 18
Hope you 're able to get your surgery and that it all works out for you. I know it must be frustrating trying to heal and having to work too
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Aug 18
The average person heals from this type of wound in six months. It's almost been a year for me. I guess for some that's not uncommon but I'd rather be a part of the average.
I think for me it's mostly due to working two jobs and not elevating my feet enough when I have downtime. My age may also have something to do with it. I may have to consider retiring e earlier than planned but I'm hoping that won't be the case even though I'd have more hours available to get more cleaning jobs done.
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@marlina (154166)
• Canada
18 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman , Do you think you can make an extra effort and elevate your leg MORE OFTEN?
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Aug 18
@marlina I've been trying to do that especially in my days offer from cashiering. And I've taken an extra for days offer to do the same thing. I hoped to get some cleaning done but elevating is more needful right now. Once that is healed I should be able to clean more often and longer. I'm
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@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
3 Aug 18
Quite a challenge! I hope it all works out well for you. 
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
3 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman May God help you to heal!
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Aug 18
@1hopefulman thanks, I appreciate the prayers.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Aug 18
Once the wound heals or at the very least begins scabbing up then the preparations for surgery can begin. I've already had an MRI in my knee so the parts can be made to for perfectly.
Prayers for the wounds to heal would be great
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98823)
• India
4 Aug 18
Aw...that is what I always felt. If I fall sick, who will pay the bills. Don't you have medical insurances? How do you intend to manage? Do keep us posted. Hope the foot heals and surgery gets over fast. I am told it does not take too long after knee surgery. Love...hugs...tc
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
4 Aug 18
I'm allowed to be off three months after the surgery and I get short term disability thru work where they pay over half of my current pay which helps a lot. (edited )
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Aug 18
@vandana7 edited my reply to what it was supposed to be.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
3 Aug 18
That would certainly be nice. I might need to use my vacation hours to not lose my healthcare but will have to see what available.
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@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman I hope it all works out for you.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Aug 18
I may go to the wound center for a while if my insurance will cover a different type of procedure. If they will I may still need to take off a week or so of work to give the method a chance to work.
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@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
10 Aug 18
@MarshaMusselman i am sorry, but i wish to ask you this question:
are the varicosities so severe now? i believe there is a surgical procedure termed 'vein stripping'. i suggested this to my sister (while i was still studying in my college years) because she complained of her varicose veins that were beginning to get bigger, and bulging as well.
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
4 Aug 18
I pay for short term disability and when I get the there months off after surgery I get about 75% of my pay weekly. I don't know whether they'd agree to allow me to be off before and after and I might be breaking their rules if I took off from that job while still taking my crew around to clean windows even though I'm not doing as much of the work right now.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
11 Aug 18
Is there any news? Were you able to get it sorted out so that you could take more time off work and still retain your benefits?
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Aug 18
I'm taking extra days off this week. Originally it was too get my house ready for surgery and the user of a walker, but now it's too elevate my feet more often and hopefully allow the wound to finish healing.
It is a lot better when it doesn't have fluid buildup. It looks like a short string but when there's some fluid it looks more like the size of 1\4-1\3 the size of a dime. Roughly. Although skin is beginning to form down one side.
If it's not healed by Tuesday then I may go in for a consult to the wound center where they may use a product only available there. One option they've talked about is stem cells. If that is used I'll need to take other another week or more to help it do it's job better. If I do take more time off I'd go on short term disability for two to three weeks at most. I'd probably have to return to work before being able to take off again for surgery.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Aug 18
lol Well I hope that it works out and you can go ahead with your surgery but the end of the month is fast upon us.
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@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Aug 18
My surgery is on hold and they won't give me a new date until my wound is completely healed. We are checking with my insurance to see which skin grafting type procedures or products are covered. They are considering using stem cells and is have to be off work to see if that helps. I'm hoping I can have the surgery before years end since I've paid my deductible but that depends on the wound.
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