KT, It looks like you've gotten some really good replies. I was hesitant to say anything before, but it sounds like you've developed a wonderful strategy.

I did want to tell you a little about some of my experiences hoping that you might get a little insight from them. But I certainly don't want to influence you in one way or the other. Again I think it's such a personal decision. Just maybe my experience might help you think of more questions to ask....I don't know.

These are the injuries I've had:

1. Broken left heel bone (from running marathons)
2. Avulsion (small chip of bone pulled away from the bone and held off by a ligament) Fracture of the right second metatarsal (second toe) (again from running)
3. Bike wreck - 5 broken ribs, deflated lung, broken right arm

I've also had 2 cosmetic surgeries

The first broken foot didn't require anything but immobilization and crutches and it healed fine

The second broken foot was more difficult. First I had trouble with the doctor. He said it was a stress fracture and put me on crutches and in a boot for a couple of months and then said it should be fine then. It was not better than before. That doctor only looked at the x-rays which never actually showed a fracture he just assumed from my symptoms AND he never actually TOUCHED my foot. I went to another orthopaedic doctor (doctor number 2) who concurred with the first. Then I went to a 3rd doctor who worked with my foot for 45 minutes and who actually took the x-ray himself and found the chip (x-ray had to be taken from the precise angle to see the chip) I then traveled to Indy to see a 4th doctor (biggy specialist) who concurred with the 3rd doctor. The only solution was surgery to remove the chip.

Now the interesting thing here is that the only thing that I couldn't do because of the chip was to run. I could pretty much do everything else but run. So I had to make a decision was this surgery worth it to me. I was a marathon runner prior to the injury. During the time of diagnosing the injury I got my bike. I wore a boot around but would take it off and ride my bike for miles and miles. It gave me freedom. I'm thankful that I found the bike during the injury. I had to think about even though the only thing that was a problem at the time was running, would there be bigger problems down the line.

I decided to have the surgery. It was successful and I recovered well. I've not tried to run a marathon since then and don't know if I will, but I can run. I never have any problems with that foot. I don't regret my decision.

I did a lot of research about surgery in general before I had my cosmetic surgery (which was before my foot surgery) One of the things that I found is something to ask about is how they put you under. They can use general anesthesia, they can use nerve blocks and they can use something called twilight anesthesia (I think there are different names for this - it's when they administer a sedative through your IV to just put out under)

I chose twilight because I didn't like the fact that they have to intubate you to use general anesthesia (I'm not a doctor and I'm probably mangling the facts so research and verify anything that I say please). It works well for me and doesn't make me sick. I always remeind the anesthesiologist that I'm tiny and probably don't need much. They probably know this but I'm really tiny for as tall as I am.

During my foot surgery they let me wake up and the doctor showed me my bone chip but he wouldn't let me keep it

I also used twilight for my chest tube placement after my bike wreck.

I hope that I've given you a little insight for your research. It's hard to make these decisions, I know.

You're brave and smart and I hope the best for you!!!

Please keep us updated!!!