Racing

The loose screw has been removed.

Yesterday morning I was rushing around trying to get a van to it's MOT (don't ask) but it wouldn't start, so dropped the mate who was helping to his place, where he offered tea and biccies. He was just making the brew, and I'd scoffed a Jaffa Cake, when I had a sudden "The Scream" moment and remembered my fast instructions - nothing after 8am. It was a little past 9am.

So, I went into the hospital at midday, and when the aneathetist came to see me I sheepishly explained about the errant Jaffa Cake. He checked his watch, pulled his chin, and then decided that while it almost certainly wouldn't be a problem, they'd bump me from first on the list to second, just to be safe. So, I went down to theatre about 3:15, and was back in my room watching Obama's inaugauration by 4:30. Got picked up about 7pm, home to an evening meal, watched TV til 11pm, then bed. No pain, no aches.

The following morning I felt amazingly chipper, and had no pain at all. In fact, I think I have less discomfort than before the op, perhaps showing that the offending screw was having more effect that I thought.

Modern medical science is pretty good, innit.

I know I signed off with my last post, but this addendum was too good to let go.

At my appointment in December, the consultant noted that the lower of the two screws that are holding the femoral nail in place had unwound itself a turn or two. He said this was unlikely to get worse, but if it did it would require intervention. A couple of weeks ago I started getting a very sharp pain when straightening the leg quickly, and there was a noticeable bump on the side of my knee, so I brought my next appointment forward by a few weeks, and, sure enough, the screw is continuing to try and get out. This is what it looks like:

The head of the screw should be flush with the bone, apparently. So, tomorrow I'm back under the knife to have the screw removed. I asked if it could be done under a local, to which the consultant replied "I tried that once - it wasn't very pleasant for the patient". So, it's another general anaesthetic for me, although this time it's such a small procedure that I'll only be under for a short period, and not even kept in overnight - in at midday, home at 8pm.

The good news is that the femur is continuing to grow new bone in the gaps. Here's the latest xray from last Tuesday:

The new bone growth above the nail has increased, and now there's some below the nail too. Which is all good news, and is why the offending screw can be removed, as it's not required any more.

So - over the years it's occasionally been suggested that I might have a screw loose, and now it's official! But at least I'm having it removed.