Back in mid-July of this year, I was on my way home from yet another trip out west. I had noticed some soreness in my upper left leg but at that point it was just a minor aggravation. Truck driving is famously hard on the body so at first I didn’t think much of it. But as time passed the soreness grew worse and was accompanied by swelling in my upper thigh.

By the time I got back home to Laurel I was unable to mash the clutch without pressing down on my knee with my hand. A very large and sensitive knot had risen on my leg. The next day I visited the local clinic to see what the matter was. By then I was in a lot of pain. They immediately sent me to the ER with instructions to get an ultrasound on the affected area.

Laurel’s hospital, South Central Regional Medical Center, is just a few blocks from the clinic. After the ultrasound, they said I had a pocket of blood in my muscle tissue, hence the swelling and discomfort. Rather than drain it, they told me that my body would reabsorb the blood, and that they would not drain it unless there was evidence of an infection. Keep that last part in mind. They eventually gave me a prescription for pain pills and sent me home. By the time I had left the hospital, the pharmacy was closed. So, no pain meds.

By one or two in the morning I was without exaggeration in agony. I called 911 and got myself hauled back to the ER to be re-evaluated. Same thing, except they did at least give me some medication for the pain. At 3 or 4am they released me. I had no way home that time of night so I slept on a couch in the ER waiting room, then got a taxi ride home later that morning.

I waited two days for the supposed “blood pocket” to get reabsorbed. My pain level by then was beyond the opiates South Central had given me. So I got my grandson to drive me 40 miles down I-59 to Hattiesburg, MS where I visited the ER at Forrest General Hospital. The difference between the hospitals was dramatic. Where South Central seemed indifferent to what was happening to me, Forrest General immediately began running tests. They took my pain levels seriously and made efforts to make it bearable. They ran a series of tests, and discovered that South Central’s diagnosis was 100% incorrect. I had a very large abscess in my muscle tissue and a staph infection. I was hospitalized and they performed surgery the next day to clean out the abscess. The surgeon remarked that the abscess was among the worst he’d seen.

Remember what South Central told me? The doctor there had said they “would not break the skin unless there was an infection.” But to my knowledge they never checked to see if there was one. Staph infections can be fatal if left untreated. South Central legitimately put my life at risk. Why? Damned if I know. They’ve got, I’m sure, all the same equipment as Forrest General. I’m guessing that there is some kind of bullshit policy in place at South Central that prevents certain procedures unless under certain circumstances. Or some such bullshit thing. Probably involves their insurance provider. I seriously doubt South Central will provide me with an explanation. They did nothing for me. But I’m sure they want to get paid for all that nothingness.

Anyway, I stayed at Forrest General for a week. Then I stayed with family for a week because I couldn’t take care of myself. Now I’m at home but still cannot go back to work. I have a suction device attached to a hole in my leg to make it drain. Thursday I go back to the doctor for a follow up visit. Hopefully they’ll get rid of the suction device so the hole in my leg can close. Hopefully after that I can start building up strength in the leg so I can get back to work. At present I’m not capable of climbing up into the truck.

I’m actually thinking of just retiring (I’m 65). I’m already a diabetic and a heart patient. Now there is a realistic possibility that my leg will never be fully recovered. I love to work. I actually love my job. They’re great people and I’ve been there a dozen years. We’re all close friends. But I’m exhausted. Keeping my blood sugar under control is a constant fight, then heart surgery in 2020 and now this. Perhaps it’s time to step aside and just draw that monthly pittance. No I’m not wallowing in self-pity. I’m just being realistic. We all have our limits. Perhaps I’ve reached mine.

Then again a month from now I might be well enough to get back in the grind. If so then I’m sure I’ll jump in and drive old #47 until her wheels fall off. Time will tell.

UPDATE (09/19/23): I am now officially a retired person. My leg is still not 100% and I had to have an income. Since I’m already 65 I elected to just retire and be done with it. Got my first Social Security payment a couple weeks ago. I miss working but at least I’m getting to rest and get my health issues resolved.