Surgery instead of pre riding.
June 17th, 2009 by Conrad Stoltz
After a long and painful monday night, a red and puffy foot greeted me on tuesday morning. I ran for the Doctor right away. I have had gangrene in this foot when I was 19 and it was almost amputated. (see scar on ankle) I know all about red and puffy and how easily it can go from “slightly red” to “green and smelly” in a few hours.
Toes are red, stitches are black, give me a few weeks, and I’LL BE BACK!
Dr Matt who did the cleaning and stitching on race day gave the wound a push and puss spouted forth. He immediately called Dr Marion Herring (Orthopedic Sports Medicine) and schedule surgery tuesday pm. It seems like every doctor in Richmond is a triathlete. Matt is more of a a cyclist, Marion did a 70.3 over the weekend and is doing 70.3 Worlds in Perth later. Dr Booth (aneasteologist) did his 1st sprint tri a few weeks ago and his assistant Heather is a triathlete too.
Needless to say I was taken care of like royalty and I feel safe and secure with their expert knowledge as Doctor/triathletes.
Last night Dr Marion opened the wound, and cut it open on both sides to clean it better. It was “very infected” and they flushed 12 liters of fluid through the wound and followed and scraped clean each tendon. The pinkie toe tendon has a nick, but that’s ok.
He stitched up the part he cut open, and packed the rest of the wound with packing. Tomorrow (Thursday) I go in for another surgery - more cleaning up and closing the wound. I may only go home on Wednesday. My home stay Spike and the triathlete/doctors are taking care of me really well.
Because this happened on race day the USA Triathlon insurance will cover me, which is a great relief after my AIG “insurance” nearly failed on my broken wrist & back debacle in 06.
As for pain, I was finally given “the Good drugs”, so no racing for a while…
I signed a lot a autographs this weekend, but I never expected to sign my own leg as “consent.” Or was it “indemnity?”
5 Responses to “Surgery instead of pre riding.”
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June 17th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
OK, so maybe I was the ONLY one on the surgical team that wasn’t a triathlete, (when you asked I responded with a Hell No!) just wanted to clarify…..its not that I am against it, I am just out of shape… I guess reading up on you may have persuaded me to give it a shot…. plus I cant let the entire O.R. leave me behind…Get well soon- Jason
June 18th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Caveman, Eszter & Maximus iz finking about u my son - u can do eeet
The legend lives on & all cave dwellers r fright 4 da return of the Hungary caveman with the BIG stick!
June 18th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
bliksem…Eina! Vasbyt….bel as jy terug in die Vallei is.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Hang in there Brother, get well soon, and start kicking some Ass again.
Cheers
June 21st, 2009 at 10:07 pm
It was great to me you (even if in unfortunate circumstances). Got to tell you that when I told my boys (ages 12 and 14) about meeting you they were so pumped! They are swimmers but just getting into triathlons, so you are a hero for them!
kry wel gou
