I had my six month check-up on September 9th. When the orthopedic surgeon came into the exam room, I was missing. I had gone to the bathroom, and was returning down the hall, when he came out of the room looking for his patient. When he saw me, it was apparent that he didn't recognize me. He stared, and then said, "If I didn't have this chart to refer to, I wouldn't know which leg I operated on! You are walking really well!" (And I paid $400 for this appointment??)
I told the doctor that I was still having persistent pain when bending my knee and walking down stairs. I mentioned that he had told me previously that I'd be back to normal at six months-walking normally, doing all of my normal activities, even dancing. "Did I say that?" He chuckled. Then he said with a grin, "You'll never be back to normal."
What????
I sat there, aghast. I think he was making a light hearted joke, but I didn't appreciate it. He went on to say that I was always going to be aware of my injury. I told him my hip hurt when I walked. He said, "well maybe you have some arthritis, I haven't checked your hip." WHAT??? I said, "don't tell me that! I haven't had any hip problems prior to this accident, I think it's related to my injury." He said, "maybe." MAYBE??
The irony is that I had almost cancelled this appointment. I knew it was going to be expensive (they take $300 worth of
x-rays every time I go in), I already owe over $30,000, and I figured I wouldn't learn anything new. The doctor would just say I was healing well.
What a surprise to learn that I would "never be back to normal."
Note to self: a) Doctors don't know everything. b) Who wants to be normal, anyway?
