Tough Times

So the past week has really been difficult for me. I traveled back to school to hang out with friends and have my six week follow-up with my surgeon. I had a great time with my friends and really had a difficult time saying good bye. We have all grown so close over the last two years; we share a special bond that nobody can describe. Given that I moved away two years ago and didn't know anybody and now have formed friendships that are as wonderful as family, it makes it really hard to move away for clinical rotations. I didn't ever think that I'd have such a hard time leaving. I will forever cherish my friendships formed during my first two years of medical school! I know that my closest friends will keep in touch via Skype, Facebook, email, and texts, but I will still miss the venting, daily encouragement and general camaraderie while going through medical school.

On another note, at my six week appointment with my surgeon, I was told that I should notice a difference in pain levels by this point and the fact that I don't notice much change at all suggests that the surgery didn't do everything we were hoping. I have had my file sent to another surgeon for review and, as it stands, I have two options: having another surgery at the end of fourth year and before residency - which would be the most ideal situation or, if I can't suck up the pain, have the surgery as soon as I can get it. As it stands, I am going to do physiotherapy for 3 months and see how I progress, if there isn't any improvement, I may have to just get the surgery. If I do this it means that I may be put back a year. I can't imagine doing that, but I will do it if I have to since I can't be a doctor if I can't physically do the job. So things are up in the air right now and I am going to put everything I have into PT so that I can get the best results possible.