I broke my left leg in eight places and had three surgeries within a three-week period. I was in a wheelchair and could not walk at all. Whenever I tried to stand and get upright, I’d feel an excruciating pain behind my left knee. It hurt as much as the 48 staples and cuts on both sides of my leg from surgery.
My orthopedic doctor said my leg didn’t seem swollen or red, but I wondered how he could tell since I was in a cast. He said he couldn’t take the cast off to check because it needed to hold things together in the leg but I had plates and screws doing that.
I was finally taken to another orthopedic surgeon who immediately cut the cast off, ordered an ultrasound of my leg, and diagnosed me with multiple clots. I was admitted to the ICU immediately.
The next day, I said I had also been having trouble breathing. Tests showed I had bilateral pulmonary emboli. I was in ICU for eight days and I was told I was lucky to be alive.
I took heparin and coumadin for three years and now I am on Xarelto for life. The valves in my leg do not work, I swell terribly, and the blood doesn’t flow like it should.
My advice is to trust your gut feelings. We know our bodies better than anyone. If something doesn’t seem right, please seek medical attention immediately and advocate for yourself even if doctors don’t believe you.
Resources
Blood Clots and Orthopedic Surgery
Know Your Risk
Living Your Best Life on Blood Thinners
