7/31/2000 5pm

Well, I am metal free. :-)

The initial Xrays looked good, even to my untrained eye. It seemed as if
the healing had accelerated significantly since the last time. There was
*lots* of calousing around the lower fracture, and one could barely see the
crack. The upper fracture was almost invisible.

My doctor looked at the Xrays, and seemed to like what he saw, since he
ordered his assistant to take off the fixator and bring me to the
"floroscope" to do motion tests. It felt *so* good to be without the large
bottom ring and the "universal joint" thing which extended from the rings
to the screws near my ankle, though the upper ring was still in place since
the "bicycle spoke" pins still eminated from it. With just the top ring and
the 4 screws sticking out my leg I *WALKED* over to the floroscope. It felt
very strong and rigid. Contrary to what I thought, the floroscope was
decidedly low-tech. It was simply a permanently-on, very low power XRAY,
attached to a video monitor so the operator could see realtime images of
the target appendage. I places my leg between the two ends of the
floroscope while the doc tried to break my leg. Literally, he held my calf
in a head lock and applied significant pressure sideways on my
ankle. Nothing. That sucker didn't move. YEEHAW!!! I was ecstatic. He was
actually quite suprised at how quickly the leg had healed. It was 3 weeks
since I last saw him and it was around that time I "tossed" the crutches
and started walking. I guess it really is true that weight bearing
stimulates bone growth.

So, anyway, the decision was made to get the screws out and take off *all*
the hardware. I swallowed hard as out come a pair of side-cutters for the
"bicycle spoke" pins and a hand drill for the screws. Note, not a *powered*
hand-drill, but a hand-cranked, chucked instrument of torture. Also note, a
cheap ol' pair of cutters you can buy at any hardware store, nothing fancy
and again decidedly low-tech. I remembered the "tensioned to 150PSI" speech
of 3 months ago, as the cutters closed down on the first wire. "Ping!"
SHIIITTTT!!!!! That hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, as all that stored tension
energy was released into my leg. I braced myself for the second one, which
hurt just as bad, but at least I knew what to expect. The assistant tried
to cut thru the other side of the wires, but was twisting the wire so
badly, and I was complaining so loudly that he stopped and demanded that
someone bring the "good" wire cutters from OR. 

In the mean time, my doc attacked the screws. After the wire experience, I
wasn't sure what to expect. He chucked up to the first screw and slowly
started turning. To my suprise, I felt almost no pain. A slight pain which
felt like a mild bee-sting when the screw started turning, and then only a
dull ache similar to having a tooth drilled under novacaine. All four came
out, but before I could "look into the hole", blood filled up the holes and
started flowing onto the examining table. WOW!

The other sides of the wires were cut, and before I knew it the doc had
pulled one of the wires thru. It came out without a struggle and without me
even knowing it, as I was talking to "The brace guy" who showed up to
measure me for a removable fibreglass brace. The second wire pin, however,
wouldn't come out. The doc grabbed it with a pair of vice grips (again, I'm
not exaggerating, a pair of low-tech vice grips) and pulled on the
pin. That sucker was stuck and wasn't coming out. The doc then twisted and
*PUUULLLLLED*! ARGHHHH! I have never felt pain like that before or
since. I'm afraid I said some bad words! But it was over, and lot better
than having the procedure done under anesthetic in the OR. 

Next, "The brace" guy measured me for a brace, which will be ready in about
a week. I can cycle with it on, won't impact knee or ankle flexibility, and
go swimming. In the meantime, I was to have a cast put on my leg.

I'd imagined lots of plaster-of-paris, 3 hour set time and a hair drier,
but instead high-tech was involved. Instead of "plaster", the stiffening
agent was rolls of fibreglass gauze which solidified on contact with
water. The guy soaked a roll of it in a tub, started wrapping it around my
leg and it was stiff in about 5 minutes. COOL! 

The guy then pulls out what looks like a circular saw, to trim the
cast. "How do you gauge depth?" I asked him. Naturally I expected the
"Until you feel pain!" answer. :-) Actually, it wasn't a spinning saw, so
much as a vibrating saw, so that even if it came into contact with my skin,
it wouldn't cut. He demonstarted on his hand just to convince me. It sure
cut well thru the cast though. The things you learn.

I am now metal free, and pain free, but unfortunately the cast covers my
ankle, so can't bend it. But I can walk .... and it's only for a few more
days until I get my brace. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to keep all the hardware, but I did take
the screws and pins. Perhaps I'll incorporate the screws in my next
woodworking project. :-)

Copyright (c) 2000, Radek Aster