Bobby has been in a cast since Friday following ankle surgery, and it’s been an uncomfortable few days.
He tried skipping his pain medication yesterday to see if he could tough it out, but quickly realized that wasn’t the best idea. The pain was worse than expected, and when he did take the medication later, it left a lingering ringing in his ears and a bad taste in his mouth. He went into surgery on Friday morning, signing all the required paperwork and even the organ donation forms “just in case.” The hospital staff gave him the full legal rundown before the procedure, asking him to acknowledge that if something went wrong, it wasn’t their fault. After that, he remembers very little.
There’s a photo on his Instagram showing him in the hospital bed, wearing a gown and hairnet, thankful that he was allowed to keep his underwear on, one small comfort amid the nerves of surgery. When he woke up, the doctor told him the operation went well and reminded him to keep his foot elevated above his heart to prevent pain and swelling. Despite the warning, Bobby tested that advice the next day by sitting at his kitchen bar and letting his foot hang for a few minutes. The pain that followed lasted two hours. The doctor had glued the surgical area and inserted cadaver cartilage into his ankle. On Friday, he’ll go back for a checkup to see if it’s healing properly.
The topic of whether the cadaver cartilage could “take” or be rejected came up during the show. Amy mentioned that sometimes the body rejects transplants, which got Bobby thinking about what might happen if his ankle didn’t accept the graft. He admitted he hadn’t even considered that possibility until that moment. For now, Bobby’s been spending most of his time lying around the house, following the doctor’s orders to keep weight off his foot. He’s allowed to lean on his heel for brief moments and only put about 20 percent of his weight on it if absolutely necessary. He almost fell once trying to do so and has been cautious since.
Although he’s been resting, it’s been frustrating to stay still. He said it’s great to relax when you want to, but not when you have to. Because he’s still taking pain medication, the doctor told him not to drive. He also couldn’t sleep the night before, which meant another dose of pain meds and another day working from home. The surgery was on his left foot, so technically he could drive since he doesn’t use a clutch, but he’s been following medical advice to stay off the road. The recovery has also kept him from traveling to Los Angeles for Dancing with the Stars later this week. His doctor warned that flying so soon after surgery could increase his risk of developing blood clots, so the trip was canceled. At home, his wife Caitlin has been helping him manage recovery. She bought a large inflatable pillow to keep his leg propped up while he sleeps. Normally, Bobby sleeps upstairs, but lately Caitlin has taken the upstairs room so he can stay in one spot with his foot elevated. He said it’s been tricky adjusting since he prefers to sleep on his side and the pillow makes that difficult.
Between the discomfort, canceled plans, and time stuck indoors, Bobby’s found himself frustrated, but trying to stay patient. He even had to cancel his therapy session because he can’t drive and joked that he can’t think in full sentences anyway, so it wouldn’t be productive. For those who’ve been sending messages and well wishes, he shared his gratitude and said he’s doing fine, just not mobile yet.