www.incontinentsupport.org

Just wanted to let you all know that surgery is on September 11th. They will be fusing the bones of my ankle together. I will be cathed during surgery. 8 weeks non weight bearing. I'll be in a hard cast most of that time. Then gradually will transition to a boot. Then learn to walk. And hopefully I'll be able to walk without assistive devices. I'll be in the hospital a couple of days

Good luck with surgery, justej! Hope you have a bunch of your favorite Netflix shows/movies, good books, and snacks lined up for the recovery period. I also hope you have a lot of support in your life in terms of friends and family. This is exciting - you may be up on your feet one day doing a happy dance!

justej i hope and pray things go well for you and icgirl hope you are finding peace with what you have learned from the site here and the help of the other people that have spoke up to

hopefully there is a quick recovery

Thanks guys. I have a feeling that this recovery is going to be difficult. Since I got hurt a lot of my friends have fallen away. When you cant physically do a lot people seem to not want to be around the "sick one". My health has deteriorated in the last 4 years and it feels like I've become the burden

i know what you mean had trips to fairs and other things planed with friends just to be dumped this summer

The feeling that one has become an unwelcome burden to friends and former friends must be painful. I hope that we can be here for you during this difficult time. My hearing impairment and ataxia have had a similar effect on former friends. My family are stuck with me, so I work hard to minimize the burden I impose on them. However, the disability is real, and it is more than some folks want to deal with. Although I'm not a recluse, I am strongly introverted, happy with my own company, and I read almost compulsively. I usually have two to four books going at a time. When I'm out with friends, I try to focus on the things they are saying and feeling, and minimize calling attention to myself. Being a good listener can cover a multitude of sins.

It is painful. One thing I've learned is when someone asks me how I am I just say "I'm good thanks, how are you?" Even though I'm not ok, I just tire of talking about how sick I am. What procedures I'm having. What doctor I'm seeing that day. My friends dont invite me places because I cant walk far. I did get invited to my friends wedding. Which I am extremely happy and grateful for. So I look at the positives as much as I can. I did get a call today that I've been accepted by the home health care agency I wanted. Hopefully my aid will start in the next week or 2. Super grateful for that.

Being bound to a wheelchair and needing home heath assistance can be limiting factors. Hopefully these will not last forever, and you will eventually be able to return to the more active lifestyle that will permit you to interact with others, develop a new circle of friends, and get on with life. Good luck.

Thank you Patrick. I'm praying that the recovery is going to go well. One of the risks of surgery is amputation. And I'm gonna be honest I'm not scared of that. I've been in pain for almost 5 years and have had 5 surgeries on my ankle plus my implant, countless hospitalizations and a paralyzed neurogenic bladder. I'm just going to keep trudging on. I want to thank everyone here for their support. I'm so happy I found this place. Thanks for being there.