Young and Strong

When the anesthesiologist described me as “young and strong,” I threw my arms in the air, cheered, chuckled and said to Bob, “Did you hear that? I am young and strong.” I have felt anything but young and strong for over a year.

There have been days I have circled the grocery store lot, waiting for a close parking space to open up. Then I have sat in the car willing myself to get out and walk the aisles. Will I be able to shop the whole list or just half the store? Will a bagger be available to take my groceries to the car for me? --Not to unload them, but to take the extra steps to return the cart. Have I timed it right? Will Bob be home to carry the groceries up the stairs? Do I have enough pain margin left to stand up and cook dinner after shopping? Hmm . . . young and strong?

During the last year I feel I have missed out on hiking, walks, snowshoeing, exercising and anything that involves walking.

Friday I had surgery to release an entrapped nerve near my ankle. Baxter’s Nerve Entrapment is somewhat rare and difficult to diagnose, but the surgery to release the nerve is relatively simple. It is an out patient procedure done at our local hospital by my podiatrist.

Along with the assessment of young and strong, my anesthesiologist wrote “Fast Track” on my chart. So I skipped the recovery room and as soon as I was awake in my room they brought me food to eat. In a quick 3 and ½ hours I was in and out of not just surgery, but out of the hospital.

Now I am counting on “young and strong” for a quick recovery.