Day 3: On Farr 10

Farr 10 means the 10th Floor of the Farr Building, the main patient residence of Beth Israel Deaconness' West Campus. Jean slept for most of the day, which is good, because she didn't get much sleep the previous two days. There was some progress today. Mostly it was a day of rest.

A physical therapist visited Jean this morning to help her out of bed. The nerves connected to the muscles in her upper right calf leg and her lower back above the leg are weakened. These muscles also help the knee maintain strength and balance. Since they're not working on the right side, every time Jean tries to stand, walk or move the leg significantly, it collapses under her. With the aid of a walker, the PT got Jean out of bed and into a chair for a little while.

Dr. Hanto visited shortly afterward. Her incisions are healing, her kidneys are working OK, and it appears her digestion is running. She's still on IV fluids, but she's now allowed small sips of clear liquids.

Mostly all the doctors are worried about the right leg. Dr. hanto believes the epidural either pooled its fluids in the lower right hip, deadening the nerves, or there's some kind of bleeding from the epidural or the surgery that caused compression on the nerves. When nerves are compressed, they stretch, and when nerves stretch, they become inflamed - and very unhappy.

Yesterday's MRI came back fine - no sign of bleeding or infection where they put the epidural. The spinal surgeons would like another MRI, but we're going to wait another day to see if things improve. If they don't, it means an MRI and probably some sort of physical therapy during or after her stay.

Meantime, rest. Hopefully Jean will have some more energy tomorrow to make some phone calls and talk with people. I'll post her address at the hospital tomorrow. If you wish, you can also send cards to Walnut Road, where I can pick up the mail. And I'll let you know when she's ready for visitors. She'd like to see people. She just wants to be awake when they come.