Starting Off on the Right Foot

Laying-Low, is that an excuse? I have been fighting this non-mysterious pain in the left leg since about day one. We always attributed it to the fractured tibia, but no more. I called my favorite nurse, Nurse Barb a couple of weeks ago, and said something must be done, cortisone shots, something, anything! She in turn, consults w/ The Man himself, Dr. Maxey, and orders me a bone scan. Huh? Well, I believe he knows a little more than I when it comes to this kind of stuff, so about 1.5 weeks ago, I have the elaborate test done. Results? Nothing! Absolutely Nothing (new that is). Crap!

What to do now? I am at my ropes end, and the knot I tied to hang on is getting pretty thin. Dr. Maxey refers me to Dr. Below in his practice. Dr. Below (really nice guy) is an ankle specialist & surgeon in the ortho part of the medical business. So, I go to see him, and we do all of the routine things, x-rays, bend over, touch your toes, the rubber reflex hammer, say ahhhhh etc. Thirty minutes later he has a diagnosis! Nerve damage to both nerves in the left leg. I knew the tibial nerve was severed and reattached, then dead, then woken up again about a year later, but the opposite nerve (perennial) was damaged as well. Which explains why I cannot move certain toes on my foot and all of that jazz.

OK, now what? He recommends an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain, to relieve the pain in the nerve/leg, until it subsides or whatever. Nothing life-long, but may be a little while.

So, off I go, into the wild blue yonder. Off to see my 6th doctor (total) now this Monday afternoon. I called Dr. Larry, and we played phone tag. His nurse, Martha, Martha, Martha (Brady Bunch) set an appt. for me in OCTOBER! Well, that's not going to work. I went through some different channels, pulled some strings and Dr. Larry called me direct. I explained the situation with my foot, ankle, past history etc. and he said he would get me in "immediately". (That's within a week in doctor lingo.)

Well, Martha, Martha, Martha called me back, and I guess that is NOT the way to start off on the right foot with doctors and their practice. To bypass the nurse, and schedule directly with the doctor is a no-no I guess.
Oh well, what was I going to do? I chatted with Martha, Martha, Martha, told her the situation etc. She was pretty cool with the entire scenario. I told her about my Favorite Nurse, Nurse Barb and Martha, Martha, Martha let it slip that SHE may be my favorite nurse from here on out. I doubt it. Nurse Barb & I have a LONG history together, involving, staples, stitches, bandages, and once & a while, if were all alone in the patient room, rubber gloves & reflex hammers.