GREAT NEWS!

NO SURGERY FOR ME!!!

Can you tell I am THRILLED!? Beyond belief, so excited, so VERY RELIEVED, and so READY to be without pain. Here is what I was prescribed....wait for it...

PATIENCE

Ummm, does my doctor know me?! Well, you all do, so imagine my disdain when I hear -- "Ashley you have the tear of all non-surgical tears in your ligament; I know you are ready to be off of the crutches and out of the boot, but, yes but, you have to give this ligament time to heal and the best (and only) way for that to happen is for you to give it time."

Me: I'm not very patient

DR: I know... but you are on the right track and it will get better.

Me: Ok, how long??

DR: Crutches I want you to use if you need them, boot you must wear ALL the time, you don't have to sleep in it or have it on if you are immobile, but if you are up you are in the boot. This will probably take 6 weeks but, I want to see you in 3 weeks so we can check on it.

Me: Ok.

DR: The ligament you tore in comparison to your other ligaments is like comparing climbing rope (the one I tore) to twine. Those other ligaments are sissy ligaments and would make you laugh to see how small they are; the one you tore (*I cannot pronounce or correctly spell the name of it...let me google it...)"The interosseous ligament lies between the tibia and fibula. (Interosseous means between bones.) The interosseus ligament is a long sheet of connective tissue that connects the entire length of the tibia and fibula, from the knee to the ankle." From GOOGLE

The condition DR was looking for is called:This condition is called diastasis

So, all in all, GREAT appointment but, you guys know me and it really stinks to hear that I just really did up BIG TIME when I wrenched it. And all that will help is time... I apparently need to live on my couch. ICK.

So, what did the wonderful Dr. Spaceman have to do to determine that I did not need surgery?? Oh LET ME TELL YOU....

He had to stress test my ankle and leg. IE: He WRENCHED my ankle OUT while holding my shin/calf in position so the X-ray tech could take a photo of my Tibia and Fibula and determine if my fibula had moved further away from it's correct position. It is 1MM out currently, but when the ligament heals it will move 1MM in, and align itself where it belongs.

I cannot begin to describe the pain of this "stress test" it was horrible. BUT I can tell you if he had attempted this "stress test" two weeks ago, I probably would have physically harmed my very nice Dr. Spaceman.

So, really GREAT prognosis, reality? I am still in pain, still cannot walk on my own, but holding on to the thread of optimism I have left- IT IS GETTING BETTER. :)