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3 months and counting on DRO decision and now I am facing more surgery!

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Navy4life

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Well good afternoon my fellow Vet's!!!

I am really deflated right now....It's going on 3 months since I had my DRO review hearing with no end in sight.  I was told that it could be weeks to months to up to a year for the decision.  What erk's me is the fact that I had my hearing why can't the DRO take the time to review and come to a ruling?  It's so frustrating!  I am going on 3 years since my initial claim and almost 2 years since I filed my NOD.  I understand there are others in the same boat or worse boat and I do sympathize with all my fellow Vet's!

Now on top of this, most of you know my story.....I broke my right foot in two places on Christmas Eve.  I had surgery on January 6th, 2016 and I filed an FDC January 12th, 2016.  I filed that my left ankle was the cause of my right foot injury.  I was granted 100% temporary convalescence for 4 months due to my left ankle giving out on me and causing my right foot injury.  Now if you all remember, I have my NOD since 2014 trying to get my right foot/ankle and left toe S/C which was denied in 2014.  My medical records back up my s/c as well as my doctor's letters (IMO) that state my injuries are directly related to my active duty.  But here I sit awaiting the NOD decision.

Well yesterday I took a bad tumble and fell down the stairs causing sever bruising and swelling to my left ankle and left leg.  I am sitting here at the West Palm VA as we speak awaiting to see my Podiatrist for the results of the X-rays BUT while I had my visit with him today, he had another doctor come in and look at my X-rays for my right foot and both of the doctor's state I need revision surgery to my right foot because the bone graft is not "uniting" the bone together.  The Podiatrist I had do my surgery in January put pins/screws/plate in the one fracture but only bone graft in the other.  Since then the bone is separating and the doctor feels the surgery is necessary and will require me to be out about 2-3 months once again!  It's my right foot so I can't drive and it's frustrating!  On top of this, my left foot/2nd metatarsal toe has two screws in it that are "coming up to the skin" and they feel that at the same time they do the right foot surgery they need to look into that!

I literally just got back on my feet and was feeling okay!  My feet/ankles SUCK!  I feel so depressed!

I just want to cry!

I will update you with my X-ray findings but I needed to VENT!!!

 

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Thanks Broncovet but I'm 45 and don't want to rely on a scooter. I hope that I can get the surgery completed and hope I can strength my ankles and feet through physical therapy. I'm supposed to go to chronic pain. 

Jist frustrated right now and just want to fell better. This is messing with my mental as well and making my eating disorder rear its ugly head. Thank goodness I'm in therapy!!!

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Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time N4L.  Hope things improve quickly and your wait ends with good news.

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@Navy4life I've been following your threads for awhile now and feel the need to give my sympathy for your situation. It seems as though, every time you'd get your head above water...something tries to pull you down. Well, I would like to say, keep treading the water with your head held high, and take deep breaths and continue to move forward. I really hope the best for you and do whatever it is that will help your situation. You've come too far to look back now. Good luck in everything!

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Thank you all for the kind words. 

X-rays for new injured were negative but I need revision surgery on my right foot and left toe. It's scheduled for 8/5/16 and it will put me out for 2-4 months. The bone graft didn't unite the bone so they need to go in and see what they can do. The screws in my toe is growing into the bone and they need to remove them. UGH!!!

i have physical therapy today and MH therapy tomorrow. I don't want to relapse with my eating disorder so I need to stay strong!!!

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