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February 13, 2006

North America | USA   09:16 PM
Goodbye Staples. Hello Weight.

It's been 29 days since my accident in Tica Tica, Bolivia. 26 days since my surgery in Newport Beach, California.

I'm moving around on the crutches more easily. I'm off the narcotics and have switched to Advil. My leg still stiffens up at night. I wake. Stretch and flex the bugger. Then have a hard time getting back to sleep. At least taking a shower is easier ever since the splint was removed. The scars from the incisions don't look too bad. Dry skin. Still some bruising, but even that's disappearing.

But today Dr. Chang removed the surgical stables. I remember stitches. These are the first staples I've had. Not sure if they used Bostich or SwingLine, but their holding the incisions together. But if I bump into something, I think the staples jab me with more of a shock than the broken bones.

"Perfect," Dr. Chang says as he looks at my x-rays. His patient room fitted with a blacklight, peace beads and a mirror ball. He's casual today looking more like a "civilian" than a surgeon.

"Huh?" I ask dumfounded. I'm more than acutely aware of what happens when I put a tad of weight on that leg. "Last visit you told me you were worried that I might put weight on the leg!" I said remembering his comment from my visit 2 weeks ago. "It's only been three and half weeks since surgery."

He gazes at the x-ray, points at a few things and indicates he's rather happy with the surgery and how it's healing. "Nope. You're ready. Just start slow. Your body will tell you." He tells me to use my crutches but to make contact with my foot on ground. "In three weeks you'll be throwing those things away!"

He's confident. And I hope he's right. I'm still swollen around the knee and calf. And my thigh muscles seem a bit atrophied. Nothing some exercise and therapy can't help reverse.

So I'm on the mend. And while I think Dr. Chang is a bit ambitious and over zealous, what the hell. I'm going for it.

Posted by allan

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	Great progress report !! You'll be running marathons (with your ancient uncle) before summer is over.
	Commented by  Uncle Ron  On  February 22, 2006
	Hey, Beau here from Treknologies--glad to hear you're recovering! Love your website, would love to interview you for Treknologies; are you in Newport Beach still? I'm in Los Angeles--not that far away, eh?
	Commented by  Beau Gunderson  On  February 24, 2006
	Beau - Love to do an interview. I'm just south of Newport hanging in North County San Diego. But we can work something out. Maybe after you interview me I can feature you on an upcoming WorldRider PodCast?
	Commented by  WorldRider  On  February 24, 2006
	Hay man, eye can really dig the website you got hear. My sun travels the world bye fore wheeler. Maybe you people can get together some time. Eye no that he wood dig that with a shovel.
	Commented by  Dennis  On  February 25, 2006
	Hey Allan: Geez dude, I just found out this happened to you. What a bummer. My best wishes for your prompt recovery. We met in Creel, Mx in Oct 2005. I have several photos of you and Miah departing from the campground to resume your journey south. Do you want copies? Tell me where to send them. I was the guy in the white F650. A.T. Gyuris Lake Mathews, Calif.
	Commented by  A.T.  On  February 28, 2006
	Amazing reading about your adventure and your recovery. I can sympathize, I'm just at the tail end of recovery from a motorcycle accident in September that crushed my right ankle. Four months, no weight bearing but once they let me use the foot and I got into physical therapy it came back quick. I'm sure you'll do the same. Good luck to you!
	Commented by  Michael  On  March 07, 2006

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