3: Surgeries: Ohh Goodness… Where to Even Start?
This post could’ve been called “Oh, the ORs You’ll Visit” or “A Trek Through Titanium and Scar Tissue.” Either way, it’s been a long journey—and here’s the story so far.
It all started in 8th grade. I was living my best High School Musical life when I noticed numbness in my hand and arm. Then came the pain—and it just kept getting worse. By summer, I was in the OR for the first time. A two-for-one special:
• Ulnar nerve transposition, right arm (2010) — they moved the nerve because it was being pinched
• Carpal tunnel release (2010) — they released pressure from the nerve to help with pain and numbness
A standout moment? Taking out my own stitches in a hotel room in NYC. I didn’t know I was going to be a nurse yet, but looking back, that probably should’ve been the first clue.
I had hoped that surgery would be the end of the pain. It wasn’t. That’s when chronic pain really entered the picture (see Post 2 for more on that part of the story).
Somewhere around then came wisdom teeth removal—mine required general anesthesia, because of course nothing about my body likes to keep things simple.
In high school, I started having painful periods. I told my doctors, and we launched into a full workup. This included lab tests, a colonoscopy, and eventually a diagnosis of suspected endometriosis. I had my first excision surgery in December 2012 (which means they cut out the endo tissue). I vividly remember the moment the doctor confirmed it—they found endo. I cried with a mix of relief and validation. I wasn’t imagining the pain. I wasn’t making it up. I had a second surgery in 2016 when my symptoms returned and didn’t respond to treatment.
Then came 2014: the year of ankle sprains. One happened walking up the stairs, the other stepping off a trampoline (yes, stepping, not jumping). This led to a right ankle surgery to fix twisted peroneal tendons and do a Brostrom repair—basically reattaching and tightening the ligaments. Recovery was tough, with lots of nausea and pain after surgery.
In 2015, my right knee started catching. I had a plica removal and stabilization. This one was pretty straightforward—short hospital stay and a smooth recovery, which felt like a win.
Around that time, I also had another colonoscopy. That one came with post-procedure bleeding and required a hospital stay and cauterization. Another unexpected detour on the journey.
By late 2016, I started having new pain in my right arm—different from my usual CRPS pain. After more tests and visits, we learned the original ulnar nerve surgery hadn’t held. I had a revision in summer 2017. They also found and removed two benign neuromas—nerve tumors that were adding to the pain. Recovery was hard, but I made it through.
Then came the big one. I’ll share more in a separate post, but the short version is: I re-injured my ankle just going through daily life. We eventually found out my tibia had 47 degrees of torsion. That explained why my ankle kept tearing—it was being pulled in the wrong direction.
I had a combined surgery where they cut and realigned my tibia, repaired the ankle, and placed an external fixator (rods outside my leg that held the bone together during healing).
It was a long, complex recovery that changed the trajectory of my career and life.
Later, I injured my shoulder from what was described as “normal use.” For me, that meant playing sports and being a nurse—so your guess is as good as mine. I had shoulder stabilization surgery with six anchors placed to reattach and tighten everything. It healed well overall, with some post-op pain challenges as expected.
By that point, I was also managing weight-related challenges that were making everything harder—mobility, joint health, energy. After a lot of thought and support from my care team, I decided to move forward with gastric bypass surgery. The procedure went smoothly, and I was discharged the same day.
I did have some trouble absorbing vitamins afterward, which led to two hospitalizations, but eventually found a routine that works. I’ve lost 147 pounds, regained a few, and stayed stable since. I also developed post-bariatric hypoglycemia, which I suspect is connected to my dysautonomia—but that’s a conversation for another time.
From 2022 to 2024, I had a break from surgery. For a while, things were calm. I even started writing this post thinking that was still true.
But then, in April 2025, I had surgery to remove bone spurs and excess cartilage from my ankle. What should’ve been a simple cleanup led to a series of complications, including hospital stays and dysregulation of multiple body systems. I’ll write more on that soon.
So yes—it’s been a lot. The surgeries haven’t always gone as planned. Recovery has often been harder than expected. Pain control has been a constant concern. But through it all, I’ve had a strong support system—family, friends, care teams—and I’ve made it through every single one.
Still trekking. Still healing. Still here.
