Hey. Sorry I kept editing my posts while you were posting yours. I was just trying to be as clear as possible and I've only just learned how to imbed pictures

> Normally, we always want to go in and remove the hardware at some point.

How come? Is it because people regain some lost movement... Or is it because the person can reject the foreign items... or...

> A risk of infection is always present when the skin is opened

Yes. And since the screws are embedded right into the bones there would be a risk of deep infection in the bones, too. They said that was why they wouldn't remove them.

I actually asked them... Whether I was hitting up upon the limitations of the public health service (LONG waiting lists for all but emergency surgeries) or whether that was medically the best thing to do. They seemed pissed that I asked that question and didn't answer. I was like 'I'm sorry - I just mean if I'm earning money one day and / or manage to get some fabulous health insurance coverage then... Would it be worth my finding out whether they could do anything more?' They seemed... Pissed that I asked still so I left it alone.

Apparently... Everyone thought the surgeon did a remarkable job. The training doctors... Thought that my legs were (quote) '%#@&#!' and went a little pale (thought they were goign to have to amputate). I think... I was meant to be exceptionally grateful for what they did do (and i truely am). I'm just... Seeing if I can do anything more though, yeah. Also... My injuries were self inflicted (jumped). And... The docs seemed rather disgusted with me on a personal level. Kinda like... I didn't deserve their concern :-(

I also asked... See, the underside of my right heel is bumpy. Feels like I have a whole chunk taken out of the part of it that is closest to my toes. That results in what feels like a bony ridge around the back of my heel. All the pressure goes there and it hurts. Walking on hard surfaces (e.g., wooden floors) with no shoes (which is the culturally expected thing to do in NZ). They mentioned orthotic insoles and I asked them whether they could fix the bone so the surface was flat. Got a strange look there too.

Maybe they thought I'd heard of these and was wondering why I didn't get one...

[image]http://www.osteosynthesis.stryker.com/physicians/usa/sps_calcaneal.php[/image]

I wonder why I didn't get one...

But that isn't going to make the underside surface regularly shaped I guess :-(

> Perhaps they didn't want to keep an active young woman from weight-bearing for any length of time to allow proper healing?

When I got the screw removed they just told me to go easy for a couple days. I was on crutches at that point, actually. I think they told me to try not to put weight on it for a couple days and try to keep it elevated. That was hard for me at the time (because my right leg couldn't hardly take any weight - let alone all of it). I'd cope much better with doing that now - if they could do it one leg at a time...

They wouldn't give me the x-rays. Said they were the property of the hospital and they needed to keep them incase I ended up back in hospital. That most patients tended to lose them.

Is it worth my trying to get them when I go back to NZ (going back for a few weeks). Because I've left the country now and I'd like to have them for my future medical care.

One issue is that... If the joints are not smooth with cartialidge between them anymore... Then I've heard that fusion can be the answer to traumatic arthritic pain. It might be that if they weren't fused the pain would be too much for me to be able to walk. So the increased movement... Would actually be a bad thing. I don't know...

Thanks OkieDokie.