::Griffblog::

A few people have asked what brought all this about.  I’d forgot that the background and explanation to my leg issues had been lost when blog Mk1 went belly up without a backup so here is a quick summary:

Back in 1989 I had an accident whilst serving in HM Forces in Germany.  Long and short of that was I ended up with a fractured spine, punctured lung and a snapped femur,

The back was fixed with some metal scaffolding which I still sport, lung hole had a puncture repair and my leg was repaired with a full length internal nail down the shaft of the femur that was removed a few years later.

However, the leg repair, having been done in haste (I was understandably very ill at the time) left me with a loss of 2.5cm of bone from the femur and a severe rotation such that my foot points outwards about 30 degrees.  End result is hip, knee and back pain and a limp and an odd walking gait.

Fast forwards 20yrs and I resolved with increasing pain it was time I got it looked at properly rather than just treating the symptoms.  After a few referrals I saw a specialist and was told the solution is an ‘Ilizarov’ frame, named after the Russian Doctor who invented it. Designed for complex fracture repair and most importantly limb length discrepancy i.e. to ‘grow’ bone and lengthen limbs.

Continue reading…

As you can see from the countdown clock on the right, there are now less than two days remaining before my day on the operating table.

Up until now I’ve been excited that it was finally happening and desperate to get the Op over with and begin the lengthening and then healing process.  i didn’t think I’d have any worries or fears until perhaps the day before at most. I was wrong!

As this week has progressed I’m ever more conscious of how big a step this is, it isn’t like getting your tonsils remove, this is serious stuff and whereas with most procedures, where you awake and start getting better, I’m going to awake feeling a whole lot worse and it’s going to be 3-4 mths of pain at least before it starts getting better.

I’m sure all these doubts and worries will dissappear once I’ve had the frame fitted and know what it is I have to deal with but right now there seems so much to consider and I can prepare for none of it because I don’t know how big the scaffolding is!

So I’ve bought a pair of svelte runners shorts that I’m hoping I can stretch to get on and at least provide me with some modesty in the first few days as well as some very chic baggy pyjama pants and tracksuit bottoms.  I’m gonna be target numero uno for the fashion police!

Heart warming to see the #WeLoveTheNHS hashtag has attracted over a million posts following the US political criticism of our NHS system.

One of President Obama’s pledges was reform of the US healthcare system  which is built upon insurance funded health-care.  Those of us lucky enough to live in a country where health-care is free to all cannot imagine what it must be like to worry about what is and isn’t covered under your medical insurance policy and worse still what you do when you cannot afford to have insurance at all.

Now I’m about to undergo surgery next week on the NHS, surgery that will cost many tens of thousands of pounds but I know that I don’t have to pay and that all the treatments, after-care and follow up is free.  I frequent a usergroup where others who have had or are having this procedure (the ilizarov or TSF) can discuss their progress and some of the stories are truly frightening.  Imagine having an operation but being told that the follow up care wasn’t covered and would be billed, or that despite being unable to walk your policy would not cover you!  One family had even contemplated re-enlisting in the US Army so the wife could get medical care that she needed but was not available on insurance.

Yes at times our NHS isn’t perfect but I’ve always had a very positive experience and given the option of NHS or insurance based care I’d choose the NHS each time.  I don’t want a board of insurance assessors choosing what I need and if one thing is clear from the US example, there are a lot of very rich medical insurance companies and doubtless a fair number of senators who continue to get their backs scratched by them as they fight to maintain their position.

This weekend I’ve taken the opportunity to visit my family in North Wales ahead of the op.  Eleven days to go now and it may be some time before I can make the 5hr trip to see them again.

We split the journey with an overnight stay at The Village in Dudley, one of a chain.  A nice basic hotel for travellers with excellent facilities and most importantly hotel wide free WiFi.  Compare that with the Oakley Court hotel we stayed at last weekend where despite tit being an expensive (and very lovely) four star hotel, internet access was an extra £20/day!

So the weekend in Wales has consisted mainly of BBQ’s and alcohol and the weather has been relatively kind with the usual mix of sun and rain that is typical of a Welsh Summer!  I also took the opportunity to purchase some clothing that I will hopefully be able to wear with the frame.  Two pairs of runners shorts that are high cut at the sides should work fine for around the house and what remains of the summer and also a selection of trousers.  One set are pyjama pants, thin and stretchy and not dissimilar to track suit bottoms and another pair are track suit bottoms which are much thicker.  The plan for these is to cannibalise one pair to add a panel to the other that will allow them to fit over the frame.

It’s all pretty speculative at the moment as we have no idea how big the frame will physically be.  But so long as I have something I can wear in the hospital post Op and for the journey home I’ll be happy!

My forthcoming Op has been delayed one week because I have a latex allergy.

I didn’t realise this would be an huge issue but apparently it means I have to have a theatre specially prepared and so I’m now first in at 7am on the 21st August.

Disappointed a little as the sooner I can get in and get the Op over with the sooner I can start the long recovery process but I understand why they need to be cautious.

At least the delay gives me some more time to sort out things like baggy track-pants and shorts.  Where can I get those track-suit bottoms that have poppers up the entire leg?  They’d be ideal for wearing with the frame. I had hoped the summer would mean I could rely on shorts for the first month or so but from what I have seen of the weather so far I think we can forget that idea!