Pre-op, Post-op. Post-op, Pre-op.

I spoke with my PAO surgeon's surgical coordinator briefly. Because he has been away for the past several weeks she has been unable to make any progress with scheduling my upcoming appointments. Hopefully everything is finalized this week. She was able to fax over the blood donation form to the American Red Cross and I will call to schedule my first donation tomorrow.

Unofficially my pre-op appointment for my RPAO will be on March 17th (same day as my blood donation at Children's). She is not sure if I need a MRI and is waiting to hear back from my surgeon on whether or not that is necessary. If I do need a MRI, it will most likely be at the Waltham location and we may need to leave earlier for Boston.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my primary surgeon wants to see me for a knee post-op appointment when I am up for my hip surgery. I have been experiencing pretty significant knee pain lately which is making it difficult to walk. I have gone back to using a cane for assistance but unfortuantely it does not provide much relief. I am unable to ice my knee because it triggers a CRPS/RSD "flare."

It has also been determined that my post-op for my RPAO will be during my pre-op for my shoulder (5 weeks later). I am not sure when my shoulder pre-op appointment is scheduled for at this point.

We have been looking into getting a hot tub for therapeutic reasons (and of course, for fun). Warm water therapy is very beneficial for chronic pain sufferers and is a great therapeutic method for post-op treatment. It will not replace my formal therapy with Cam but will hopefully help with pain management. Warm water is also very soothing for my CRPS and is really the only contact I can tolerate at times.

I received my handicap parking placard today. Because I have EDS (a lifelong condition) I qualified for a permanent placard.

My RPAO is right around the corner. We leave for Boston in 3 weeks and I will be very busy preparing until then.