Well folks, the day I never thought would come....CAME! 9 weeks and 6 days to the day of my surgery, I reported to the doctor's office with the instructions to bring the athletic shoes I'd be leaving the office IN. AHHHH!! Time to get out of the boot and on to walking!
I have to admit that I was super nervous. To go ten weeks with NO pressure on my foot other than the CAM boot to WALKING was nervewracking to me. My mind was literally trained to put no weight on that foot, and now I'm having to re-train it to do the opposite.
I took x-rays at this appointment. The doctor said everything is healing beautifully. While I'm still not 100 percent, I'm totally at a point where it is safe to start walking and building my foot within reason. As he explained to me--the biomechanics of the foot and ability of the foot to move properly is actually increased by it putting under stress (not crazy stress, but the actual dynamic movement of the foot over and over).
I need to do a whole separate post on foot wear--but I ended up with a shiny new pair of New Balance sneakers, one of the brands recommended by my doctor. I will be wearing these sneakers for the next 3 weeks until my final doctor's appointment, barring any problems. I also have strict instructions to do no type of impact (running, jumping, etc)--just walking.
It was such a weeeeird feeling. At first, it was as if I pronated any more on the foot I was afraid it was going to just snap off, lol--but it wasn't painful, just a new feeling. And funny enough, the foot DOES feel more stable. I'm excited to see how/where we are in the next 3 weeks as the healing progresses, but I'm super happy that we've made it this far!!
The doctor has still instructed me to use my bone stimulator for the next 3 weeks at 20min/time, 2 times a day. He also prescribed Mobic if I get to having some pain or swelling, but he actually doesn't expect any.
Looking forward to my next update!!!
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
It's been a while!
So it's been a while since I've posted but my apologies! No news is usually good news though, right?
I am coasting along at the end of week 8. I had my follow up appointment Week 7, and according to the doctor, my xrays look great! I currently remain in the boot for another 2 weeks, at which point I will be venturing out into a tennis shoe! Nervous and excited!
How do I FEEL at this point? Well, adjusting to the boot has been interesting and is still a process, even as I wrap up walking in the boot. While I'm not having any swelling, I do have discomfort in the space right to the right of my incision, in between the first and second toes. It's an aggravating burning/itching/stinging that comes and goes, but is usually the worst in the morning when I get started and towards the end of the day. Last night, I did have to take a pain pill right before bed to just "knock it out" and not interrupt my sleep. My doctor assures me this is normal and that while we are 8 weeks out, the healing process is still very much underway.
This week was also my first attempt behind the wheel!!
As my fusion was on my right foot, my driving capabilities have been non-existent. I've been cleared to drive ONLY in a Darco shoe that I must take off and replace with the walker boot when I am not driving. No walking whatsoever in the Darco. The battle that I'm having is that my mind is terrified to let that foot press the gas or step on the brake, even though it is secure in the Darco shoe. I'm having to retrain myself that it's ok to apply some pressure. Thank the Lord for the handicapped tag.
Other than this new discomfort, I'm pleased at my recovery. We've come a long way from 8 weeks ago. My doctor is more excited than me I think to see how my gait will be improved and how walking will be better for me after I am allowed out of the boot.
I'm currently in the process of shopping for new tennis shoes with recommendations from my doctor. So far, I've been looking at Brooks, Vionic, New Balance and Abeo. Any suggestions for a stable athletic shoe post fusion?
Until next time!
I am coasting along at the end of week 8. I had my follow up appointment Week 7, and according to the doctor, my xrays look great! I currently remain in the boot for another 2 weeks, at which point I will be venturing out into a tennis shoe! Nervous and excited!
How do I FEEL at this point? Well, adjusting to the boot has been interesting and is still a process, even as I wrap up walking in the boot. While I'm not having any swelling, I do have discomfort in the space right to the right of my incision, in between the first and second toes. It's an aggravating burning/itching/stinging that comes and goes, but is usually the worst in the morning when I get started and towards the end of the day. Last night, I did have to take a pain pill right before bed to just "knock it out" and not interrupt my sleep. My doctor assures me this is normal and that while we are 8 weeks out, the healing process is still very much underway.
This week was also my first attempt behind the wheel!!
As my fusion was on my right foot, my driving capabilities have been non-existent. I've been cleared to drive ONLY in a Darco shoe that I must take off and replace with the walker boot when I am not driving. No walking whatsoever in the Darco. The battle that I'm having is that my mind is terrified to let that foot press the gas or step on the brake, even though it is secure in the Darco shoe. I'm having to retrain myself that it's ok to apply some pressure. Thank the Lord for the handicapped tag.
Other than this new discomfort, I'm pleased at my recovery. We've come a long way from 8 weeks ago. My doctor is more excited than me I think to see how my gait will be improved and how walking will be better for me after I am allowed out of the boot.
I'm currently in the process of shopping for new tennis shoes with recommendations from my doctor. So far, I've been looking at Brooks, Vionic, New Balance and Abeo. Any suggestions for a stable athletic shoe post fusion?
Until next time!
Saturday, December 22, 2018
A Christmas Miracle!!
Daily Tip: I'm in love with the fuzzy slipper socks from Dollar Tree! They work GREAT under your walker boot when you are in the stage where you are out of an ACE bandage but need cover. And they keep that foot warm in the winter!
So the bustle and hustle of the holidays delayed me a little from the blog, but I have awesome news to report!
I had my Week 5 doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I was a little nervous, because I've tried to follow all of my doctor's orders to a T. Seriously hoping that means something!
I had x-rays at this appointment and it felt like forever before the doctor came in. He sat down all serious, and said, "Well..." AHHHHH well, what?!
He told me that my x-rays were BEAUTIFUL. Everything is still exactly where it should be and that the foot was healing superbly. SO great in fact that the bone growth/fusion of the joint was presenting as if I were at Week 7 instead of Week 5! The doctor seemed to think that my age and health, along with my dedicated use of the bone stimulator AND following all of the rules has lead to a swift and successful recovery.
I was ready to just ditch the scooter right then and there--but just to be cautious, he asked me to complete the week and would let me start walking at the beginning of Week 6.
Guess what day that is....CHRISTMAS!!
Yes, folks, it's a Christmas miracle. I will be ditching the scooter and starting to weightbear 2 weeks early on Christmas day. It is the best gift ever. I do have explicit instructions to ease into walking and if I do have some type of extensive plans with lots of standing and walking in the next week to definitely have the scooter as backup. I'm going to follow those instructions, too!!
Everything is else is progressing well, too. No actual pain to report other than some tenderness at the incision site, but my doctor says that is normal and part of the healing process. I continue to use the silicone scar strips for 14 hours/day and the bone stimulator for 2 20min treatments a day. I'm also not elevating my foot while sleeping anymore unless it starts to feel tight during the night.
I'm sure when weightbearing starts, there will be a whole new set of feelings and symptoms to report, but for now, I will enjoy this middle stage with minimal pain.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!
So the bustle and hustle of the holidays delayed me a little from the blog, but I have awesome news to report!
I had my Week 5 doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I was a little nervous, because I've tried to follow all of my doctor's orders to a T. Seriously hoping that means something!
I had x-rays at this appointment and it felt like forever before the doctor came in. He sat down all serious, and said, "Well..." AHHHHH well, what?!
I was ready to just ditch the scooter right then and there--but just to be cautious, he asked me to complete the week and would let me start walking at the beginning of Week 6.
Guess what day that is....CHRISTMAS!!
Yes, folks, it's a Christmas miracle. I will be ditching the scooter and starting to weightbear 2 weeks early on Christmas day. It is the best gift ever. I do have explicit instructions to ease into walking and if I do have some type of extensive plans with lots of standing and walking in the next week to definitely have the scooter as backup. I'm going to follow those instructions, too!!
Everything is else is progressing well, too. No actual pain to report other than some tenderness at the incision site, but my doctor says that is normal and part of the healing process. I continue to use the silicone scar strips for 14 hours/day and the bone stimulator for 2 20min treatments a day. I'm also not elevating my foot while sleeping anymore unless it starts to feel tight during the night.
I'm sure when weightbearing starts, there will be a whole new set of feelings and symptoms to report, but for now, I will enjoy this middle stage with minimal pain.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!
Monday, December 17, 2018
Using a Bone Stimulator for Recovery
Daily Tip: If you are using a bone stimulator that doesn't come with ultrasound gel or you are somewhere in a pinch and need to use something quickly, hand sanitizer, plain hair gel and lube are acceptable substitutes!! You're welcome. :o)
One of the treatments that I have used for previous foot surgeries and for my current fusion surgery is bone stimulation therapy. I've gotten several questions about it, so I thought it might be good to explain it and to talk about the pros and the cons. I'm not endorsed or anything for writing my blog, so I'll just talk about my experience and what science has said about it. :)
A lot of times, whether because of habits, nutrition, age, etc--fractures have difficulty healing. This can cause a non-union in the bone where it doesn't fuse together. Bone growth (osteogenesis) stimulators use pulsed electromagnetic or pulsed low-intensity ultrasonic energy to "jumpstart" bone cells into growth. They are also prescribed to healthy patients with fresh fractures to encourage accelerated bone growth. They can be strapped to an arm, leg or other body part—over a cast or brace and used daily at home. You don’t feel the energy or anything that the machine emits. Here's a good video by Dallas Podiatry that shows how to use it:
https://www.dallaspodiatryworks.com/how-to-use-a-bone-growth-stimulator-for-fracture-healing/
I use my bone stimulator in two 20 minute treatments a day. I usually just strap it on my foot while I'm reading or actually, right now as I'm blogging. :)
Do they work? The science is out there, but like most things, is "inconclusive". When bone stimulators were first studied in clinical trials years ago, they were shown to accelerate healthy bone growth by 36 percent, and non-unions by over 80 percent. Since then, there have been additional studies that have suggested that those numbers aren't as high.
Did it work for me? Well, I began bone stimulator treatment in 2009 for my bunionectomy. At that time, they were relatively new, and unfortunately, my insurance didn't even cover the cost. The machine was over $1000 out of pocket for me. I was NWB for 6 weeks, but after using the stimulator for 3 weeks at 20 min/day, I was able to reduce my NWB time to just 4 weeks after x-rays showed that my healing process was ahead of schedule.
Fast forward almost ten years later, and insurance companies are almost always covering the machines, especially in the case of non-unions. This surgery calls for me to be NWB for 8-9 weeks, and I started the bone stimulation at 3 weeks, so I'm anxious to see what the results will be. I have x-rays tomorrow for my Week 5 checkup, so we will be able to have some type of indicator.
At the end of the day, all studies done have shown that the devices definitely don't have any adverse effects, so they are definitely worth a try if your insurance will cover them with a doctor's prescription.
My bone stimulator is an Exogen system, and it still works
great. For this surgery I had it checked out and had the lithium battery inside replaced and it was as good as new!
Will report what we find out after my appointment tomorrow!
One of the treatments that I have used for previous foot surgeries and for my current fusion surgery is bone stimulation therapy. I've gotten several questions about it, so I thought it might be good to explain it and to talk about the pros and the cons. I'm not endorsed or anything for writing my blog, so I'll just talk about my experience and what science has said about it. :)
A lot of times, whether because of habits, nutrition, age, etc--fractures have difficulty healing. This can cause a non-union in the bone where it doesn't fuse together. Bone growth (osteogenesis) stimulators use pulsed electromagnetic or pulsed low-intensity ultrasonic energy to "jumpstart" bone cells into growth. They are also prescribed to healthy patients with fresh fractures to encourage accelerated bone growth. They can be strapped to an arm, leg or other body part—over a cast or brace and used daily at home. You don’t feel the energy or anything that the machine emits. Here's a good video by Dallas Podiatry that shows how to use it:
https://www.dallaspodiatryworks.com/how-to-use-a-bone-growth-stimulator-for-fracture-healing/
Do they work? The science is out there, but like most things, is "inconclusive". When bone stimulators were first studied in clinical trials years ago, they were shown to accelerate healthy bone growth by 36 percent, and non-unions by over 80 percent. Since then, there have been additional studies that have suggested that those numbers aren't as high.
Did it work for me? Well, I began bone stimulator treatment in 2009 for my bunionectomy. At that time, they were relatively new, and unfortunately, my insurance didn't even cover the cost. The machine was over $1000 out of pocket for me. I was NWB for 6 weeks, but after using the stimulator for 3 weeks at 20 min/day, I was able to reduce my NWB time to just 4 weeks after x-rays showed that my healing process was ahead of schedule.
Fast forward almost ten years later, and insurance companies are almost always covering the machines, especially in the case of non-unions. This surgery calls for me to be NWB for 8-9 weeks, and I started the bone stimulation at 3 weeks, so I'm anxious to see what the results will be. I have x-rays tomorrow for my Week 5 checkup, so we will be able to have some type of indicator.
At the end of the day, all studies done have shown that the devices definitely don't have any adverse effects, so they are definitely worth a try if your insurance will cover them with a doctor's prescription.
My bone stimulator is an Exogen system, and it still works
Will report what we find out after my appointment tomorrow!
Week 5: Happy Holidays from my feet to yours!
Daily Tip: Get Amazon Prime or find a nice friend that has an account if you are stuck inside at during the holidays!! I've done alllll my Christmas shopping!
Happy holidays, everybody!! Here we are in Week 5, and I'm continuing to make good progress!!The pain that I have now only comes from overexertion. This week, I have tried to branch out and take on some activities. I went to my sorority's Christmas small getogether, and while I used my scooter, sat the ENTIRE time and elevated my foot, I found that I was exhausted when I got home.
Fast forward an extra day, and I made the most major outing I've made since surgery--a CONCERT. Now granted, not a rock concert! I am a longtime fan of Harry Connick, Jr. and before the surgery, my husband got me front row tickets to his show. I had a lot of anxiety going into this because I started to worry about parking, ADA accessibility, being able to elevate. My heart goes out to those who are living with daily mobility impairment challenges--even though the venue was ADA accessible, it was exhausting wheeling from the parking lot to the ramp, and then up the ramp to wait in a line, and then to the concert floor. I wasn't allowed to put my scooter in front of me to elevate (that was my plan) so I had to alternate with having my foot down and resting my foot, boot and all in my lap.
It was a GREAT show, but I am now starting to feel the aftereffects. I've used muscles last night that haven't been getting a lot of use, and so I'm generally sore all over. When I got home, my foot and leg were very cold, despite it being 64 degrees outside. No discoloration, but there was a LITTLE swelling--nothing major. I'm up this morning and elevating, but my foot is a little tingly and buzzy, if that makes sense. I've learned that at this stage, I still need to elevate when I can.
In terms of looks, my scar continues to heal very nicely!
I usually take a hot towel and wipe my foot down and try to get some of the dead skin off, but yesterday was the first time I haven't used the waterproof shower protector. I wanted to make sure that it was as healed as possible. I decided to go with the silicone scar strips, as I used them last time and had great results.
I also continue to use my bone stimulator. I've had lots of questions about the bone stimulator, so I'm working on a separate post right now to talk all about it, how I use it and the success I've had.
My 5 week appointment with the doctor is tomorrow! I'm hoping for great news, and I will be sure to post about it!
Happy holidays, everybody!! Here we are in Week 5, and I'm continuing to make good progress!!The pain that I have now only comes from overexertion. This week, I have tried to branch out and take on some activities. I went to my sorority's Christmas small getogether, and while I used my scooter, sat the ENTIRE time and elevated my foot, I found that I was exhausted when I got home.
Fast forward an extra day, and I made the most major outing I've made since surgery--a CONCERT. Now granted, not a rock concert! I am a longtime fan of Harry Connick, Jr. and before the surgery, my husband got me front row tickets to his show. I had a lot of anxiety going into this because I started to worry about parking, ADA accessibility, being able to elevate. My heart goes out to those who are living with daily mobility impairment challenges--even though the venue was ADA accessible, it was exhausting wheeling from the parking lot to the ramp, and then up the ramp to wait in a line, and then to the concert floor. I wasn't allowed to put my scooter in front of me to elevate (that was my plan) so I had to alternate with having my foot down and resting my foot, boot and all in my lap.
It was a GREAT show, but I am now starting to feel the aftereffects. I've used muscles last night that haven't been getting a lot of use, and so I'm generally sore all over. When I got home, my foot and leg were very cold, despite it being 64 degrees outside. No discoloration, but there was a LITTLE swelling--nothing major. I'm up this morning and elevating, but my foot is a little tingly and buzzy, if that makes sense. I've learned that at this stage, I still need to elevate when I can.
In terms of looks, my scar continues to heal very nicely!
 |
| 5 weeks post op! |
I also continue to use my bone stimulator. I've had lots of questions about the bone stimulator, so I'm working on a separate post right now to talk all about it, how I use it and the success I've had.
My 5 week appointment with the doctor is tomorrow! I'm hoping for great news, and I will be sure to post about it!
Monday, December 10, 2018
Week 4: A little stir crazy....
Daily Tip: Diabetic skin lotion is like, manna from heaven. Rub it on your foot (carefully and avoiding the incision) before you wrap your foot up. It helps keep your foot moisturized and helps defeat the dry skin!
We've made it to Week 4! Definitely able to place my the foot down more for longer and longer periods of time without the immediate discomfort. Still, moving around for large periods of time, especially with the foot down tires me out for long periods of time. For example: I managed to get up and take down the little Thanksgiving decorations around the house (candles, placemats, etc) on my scooter. I felt fine--and slept 4 hours afterwards. I think my body is still getting used to lots of activity!
The incision continues to heal. The dead skin is beginning
to finally peel off and there is new, fresh skin underneath. I debated on whether to post a picture and decided not to. If you can visualize kind of what your skin looks like after you've gotten a burn and it peels, you're pretty close. The incision has no localized pain and it no longer itches. Hopefully in the next week, most of the dead skin will be gone, and I will start using the scar treatment as well as my bone stimulator. I'll definitely have a separate post on that, but using the bone stimulator has been a staple of each of my foot surgeries, and has been shown to effectively quicken bone growth and shorten the period of time needed to be nonweightbearing.
While the more intense pain is gone, my nerves must be hard at work trying to figure out what to do. I have some tingling that's pretty constant between my 1st and 2nd toe, almost like a humming sensation. My foot continues to be tender right below that point over the joint, where I presume the majority of the new hardware is. It's not enough of new pain to take a prescription pain killer, but it is definitely noticeable.
Cabin fever has definitely set in. I've watched all the shows, read all the books, colored all the pages and crushed alllll the candies on my phone, lol. This seems to be the magic point where things start to get mundane and well....boring. I start to wonder why I can't just do what I used to do..and then once I sit up on the edge of the bed and put both feet on the ground, I remember only one of those feet work.
My next doctor's appointment is in 8 days, which will be a little over 5 weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to report on the bone stimulator before then! Onward we march! :)
We've made it to Week 4! Definitely able to place my the foot down more for longer and longer periods of time without the immediate discomfort. Still, moving around for large periods of time, especially with the foot down tires me out for long periods of time. For example: I managed to get up and take down the little Thanksgiving decorations around the house (candles, placemats, etc) on my scooter. I felt fine--and slept 4 hours afterwards. I think my body is still getting used to lots of activity!
The incision continues to heal. The dead skin is beginning
to finally peel off and there is new, fresh skin underneath. I debated on whether to post a picture and decided not to. If you can visualize kind of what your skin looks like after you've gotten a burn and it peels, you're pretty close. The incision has no localized pain and it no longer itches. Hopefully in the next week, most of the dead skin will be gone, and I will start using the scar treatment as well as my bone stimulator. I'll definitely have a separate post on that, but using the bone stimulator has been a staple of each of my foot surgeries, and has been shown to effectively quicken bone growth and shorten the period of time needed to be nonweightbearing.
While the more intense pain is gone, my nerves must be hard at work trying to figure out what to do. I have some tingling that's pretty constant between my 1st and 2nd toe, almost like a humming sensation. My foot continues to be tender right below that point over the joint, where I presume the majority of the new hardware is. It's not enough of new pain to take a prescription pain killer, but it is definitely noticeable.
Cabin fever has definitely set in. I've watched all the shows, read all the books, colored all the pages and crushed alllll the candies on my phone, lol. This seems to be the magic point where things start to get mundane and well....boring. I start to wonder why I can't just do what I used to do..and then once I sit up on the edge of the bed and put both feet on the ground, I remember only one of those feet work.
My next doctor's appointment is in 8 days, which will be a little over 5 weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to report on the bone stimulator before then! Onward we march! :)
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Week 3: We're still here!
Daily Tip: If you are using a knee scooter, invest in the Knee Pillow that goes on top of the knee seat. It's comfortable and it takes some of the pressure off the knee from all the riding around that you have to do.
We've made it to Week 3!
It may be really good that I actually don't have anything major to report! I have no swelling to report. The foot looks great. My pain is in a great, manageable place as long as I'm not attempting to do too much. I can do longer periods of time not elevated, such as sitting in the shower, and even brief times at the kitchen table to eat.
Interestingly enough, the pain is tricky in that I can feel relatively fine while doing all of the activity during the day, but if I have done too much, my foot will let me know during the night! I can only describe it as a nagging pain that I can feel mainly right at the fusion site that is tight and burns a little. When that happens, there's not much I can do to get comfortable other than take a pain pill. I'm still putting NO pressure on the foot, but I'm not feeling the same pressure when I place my foot down to put on lotion, etc.
My incision continues to heal. It's flat and there is no type of swelling. It's in a weird stage where it's not open or anything, but it's not completely well. It kind of just sits there. My doctor advised that I should be able to start using some type of scar therapy now (cream, gel, silicone strips) but I'd feel more comfortable waiting for the scar to heal up even more. I will probably give it another week. Currently doing my research on the best scar treatments, so I'm sure I'll do a post about that!
Still working hard to keep moving the other parts of my body. Things are very stiff and tight. You don't realize just how much you AREN'T working body parts until you move the wrong way and it hurts!
Here's to an even Week 4 ahead!
Friday, November 30, 2018
Keeping my muscles in shape
Daily Tip: Don't stay in one spot for too long! You'll start to get stiff, which makes you feel bad all over.
This post deals specifically with a new problem that I have encountered. While my mobility is increasing and I'm getting around better, I still struggle with having my foot not elevated for longer than 10-15 minutes or so. My doctor still says that elevation is important and I need to continue that, but what that also leads to is pain and discomfort in other areas!
Because of the elevation, I am primarily sitting/lying down, and always on my back. Because of this, I've developed some lower back pain and pain in my right hip, as well as just feel a little tense and tight all over. I talked to my old PT and he indicated that this was due to the extra stress on my piriformis muscle. For those of you like me, I had to look that up:
Now that I look at it, it makes perfect sense. I want to make sure that when I do become weightbearing in 6 weeks that the rest of my body is ready to compensate for my foot's learning curve!
I was able to get some relatively easy stretches to do that can be done in the bed or sitting up temporarily!!
This post deals specifically with a new problem that I have encountered. While my mobility is increasing and I'm getting around better, I still struggle with having my foot not elevated for longer than 10-15 minutes or so. My doctor still says that elevation is important and I need to continue that, but what that also leads to is pain and discomfort in other areas!
Because of the elevation, I am primarily sitting/lying down, and always on my back. Because of this, I've developed some lower back pain and pain in my right hip, as well as just feel a little tense and tight all over. I talked to my old PT and he indicated that this was due to the extra stress on my piriformis muscle. For those of you like me, I had to look that up:
 |
| Piriformis! |
I was able to get some relatively easy stretches to do that can be done in the bed or sitting up temporarily!!
Please know that you should absolutely check with your doctor to make sure that you can be doing things like this, but again most can be done in the bed and don't directly involve your foot--but everyone is different!
This video may seem silly, but it's been great for me!
I've also been rolling my ankle in circles and and writing the alphabet with my foot, too! :)
Whatever works--just stay as active as you can!!
Whatever works--just stay as active as you can!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Week 2 (Part 2): Doctor's Office
Daily Tip: Invest in a fanny pack or crossbody purse! If you're on crutches you can still wear it--and if you have a scooter like me, you can also put it in your basket! Women need their purses, lol! :)
So the second part of Week 2 about my doctor's office is a little late because it WIPED me out. 14 days out, I'm still at a place where trips outside of the house are very exhausting and take a toll. The preparation of getting ready, riding in the car, waiting in the waiting room, etc. is demanding on your recovery, mostly for me because it interrupts my ability to elevate. When I got home from the post-op, I slept a few hours. I also had some pain in the night and needed to take a pain pill. I've been in out of sleep all day today, not moving much.
But back to the doctor's office visit--the 14 day visit went extremely well! I didn't have to take x-rays. The nurse unwrapped my foot, and again, the doctor was very pleased. One awesome thing to report is that I have minimal to no swelling, really. Weeks 2-3 are really when most people see swelling, so we were all pleased at where I I was. We attribute the constant elevation to the lack of swelling. I have been elevating 20+ hours a day, only taking the foot down for trips to the bathroom. It's annoying but it WORKS:
The doctor said that the stitches look good enough to come out! While this made me very happy, I wasn't excited about actually getting them OUT. All in all, the process itself wasn't bad.
The actual incision site (the long part in the middle) is still somewhat numb. However, the stitches that line each side of the incision do have feeling. So the part that was the most uncomfortable was pulling each individual stitch out from left to right. I can only describe it as a tender, burning feeling. When that was all said and done, I was still left with an overall tender, stinging feeling at the incision site. The nurse actually told me that the pain medicine that I had taken before doesn't actually do well for that, but that it is good practice to take some before each visit.
They then placed antibiotic cream on the site, wrapped it in a layer of gauze, then placed a sock on top, then wrapped in an ACE bandage. The sock helps with further compression. It sounds like a lot, but it's actually less bandaging then before--halellujah! I got a prescription for the cream, and I have to place that on the incision site once a day. I was also told that I could stop icing unless I did experience some type of throbbing or swelling.
When I got home, I still had some discomfort, so I did apply an ice pack. All night, I struggled to get comfortable, and then I realized that I may need to take a pain pill. That did work. I'm just extremely groggy and tired today.
All in all, I'm still very pleased with my recovery so far. I'm following the rules, and fingers crossed, I've hit the stage of recovery that will allow me to feel some relief from pain as long as I'm elevating and being still!
Oh--one other thing! We also rented a wheelchair today. While I LOVE my scooter, it's becoming obvious that if I feel well enough to get out and do something like the mall or a restaurant or the park, that the scooter is not the best transportation. It doesn't allow for elevation, and it's still a lot of work, scooting yourself around! So we rented one from the local medical supply place and it's quite reasonable ($75/4 weeks). It came with extendable legs, so I can put my leg out and elevate. Looking forward to some freedom with that!
So the second part of Week 2 about my doctor's office is a little late because it WIPED me out. 14 days out, I'm still at a place where trips outside of the house are very exhausting and take a toll. The preparation of getting ready, riding in the car, waiting in the waiting room, etc. is demanding on your recovery, mostly for me because it interrupts my ability to elevate. When I got home from the post-op, I slept a few hours. I also had some pain in the night and needed to take a pain pill. I've been in out of sleep all day today, not moving much.
But back to the doctor's office visit--the 14 day visit went extremely well! I didn't have to take x-rays. The nurse unwrapped my foot, and again, the doctor was very pleased. One awesome thing to report is that I have minimal to no swelling, really. Weeks 2-3 are really when most people see swelling, so we were all pleased at where I I was. We attribute the constant elevation to the lack of swelling. I have been elevating 20+ hours a day, only taking the foot down for trips to the bathroom. It's annoying but it WORKS:
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| 14 days post op! No swelling!!! |
The doctor said that the stitches look good enough to come out! While this made me very happy, I wasn't excited about actually getting them OUT. All in all, the process itself wasn't bad.
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| Stitches out, yay! |
They then placed antibiotic cream on the site, wrapped it in a layer of gauze, then placed a sock on top, then wrapped in an ACE bandage. The sock helps with further compression. It sounds like a lot, but it's actually less bandaging then before--halellujah! I got a prescription for the cream, and I have to place that on the incision site once a day. I was also told that I could stop icing unless I did experience some type of throbbing or swelling.
When I got home, I still had some discomfort, so I did apply an ice pack. All night, I struggled to get comfortable, and then I realized that I may need to take a pain pill. That did work. I'm just extremely groggy and tired today.
All in all, I'm still very pleased with my recovery so far. I'm following the rules, and fingers crossed, I've hit the stage of recovery that will allow me to feel some relief from pain as long as I'm elevating and being still!
Oh--one other thing! We also rented a wheelchair today. While I LOVE my scooter, it's becoming obvious that if I feel well enough to get out and do something like the mall or a restaurant or the park, that the scooter is not the best transportation. It doesn't allow for elevation, and it's still a lot of work, scooting yourself around! So we rented one from the local medical supply place and it's quite reasonable ($75/4 weeks). It came with extendable legs, so I can put my leg out and elevate. Looking forward to some freedom with that!
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Week 2
So from here on out, I'll probably just do a weekly update, unless something interesting happens :) It will give me a change to update the Prepping Your House for A Foot Fusion section, Meal Prepping! section, Awesome DIY Ice Packs section, and other sections!
Today will round out week 2 since the surgery. I have a scheduled post op today, hopefully to get those stitches out and to get some more x-rays to see how I'm progressing.
Pain management has been a lot better. I've been able to sit up for longer periods of time as long as I'm elevating, but the main pain factor is coming from not elevating and taking the foot down to get on the scooter or go to the bathroom, etc.
I've also developed a nagging new symptom - itching! I expected the sutures to itch as the foot heals, but it's actually been the areas around the stitching and not actually the incision. Without doctor clearance, I took the little antiseptic patch off of my foot and about an hour later the itching relieved. I think I could possibly be allergic to that.
Other notables in Week 2? I'm getting better movement in my ankle and toes, as I've been trying to do little exercises in bed!
Subsequent post from the doctor's office today to follow.
Monday, November 26, 2018
1 Week: Doctor's Office (WARNING: Graphic Photos)
Daily Tip: Make sure your doctor completes paperwork for you to get a temporary handicapped hang tag for your car. It usually is valid from 6mo-year and you will need this, especially if you are nonweighbearing or just getting back to walking. You have to take it to the DMV in person, so it's best to knock it out BEFORE you have the surgery.
Take a pain pill about an hour before your doctor's appointments. With all of the moving, poking and prodding, you'll need it.
Getting to leave the house is exciting and terrifying. Up until this point I have been using the computer chair to wheel to the bathroom because it's extremely painful to let this foot feel gravity. But in order to get to the doctor's office, I have got to be able to move around on the scooter.
I have a KneeRover Deluxe Knee Scooter - got it from Amazon (again not me in the photo!):
It's pretty durable and seems to be able to handle turns well and has a brake, which is super important. Today's test is using it, using it well and getting used to the feeling of that surgery site pointing down to the ground. PAIN.FUL. But we shall see.
So I got up and dressed and was promptly exhausted.
The CAM walker boot that I have, while great, was difficult this time around due to alll of the gauze and padding and ACE bandages and probably swelling with my foot. It also straps directly over the incision site. But we press on, lol. It was difficult riding in the car without elevation. I was able to try to place the large boot across my waist, but that was also uncomfortable. All that being said, the scooter transports great so it was good to pull up to the handicap accessible ramp, get the scooter out, and just scuttle into the office. While waiting the scooter also serves as a great way to keep the foot elevated.
And now the moment of truth! I first took some x-rays. This actually proved to be very painful, as it required me to actually place my foot down on the x-ray surface. That pressure, along with the blood rushing to my foot was NO fun.
The nurse then came in and removed the bandages. Behold, a first look at my foot since surgery day!:
Take a pain pill about an hour before your doctor's appointments. With all of the moving, poking and prodding, you'll need it.
Getting to leave the house is exciting and terrifying. Up until this point I have been using the computer chair to wheel to the bathroom because it's extremely painful to let this foot feel gravity. But in order to get to the doctor's office, I have got to be able to move around on the scooter.
I have a KneeRover Deluxe Knee Scooter - got it from Amazon (again not me in the photo!):
It's pretty durable and seems to be able to handle turns well and has a brake, which is super important. Today's test is using it, using it well and getting used to the feeling of that surgery site pointing down to the ground. PAIN.FUL. But we shall see.
So I got up and dressed and was promptly exhausted.
And now the moment of truth! I first took some x-rays. This actually proved to be very painful, as it required me to actually place my foot down on the x-ray surface. That pressure, along with the blood rushing to my foot was NO fun.
The nurse then came in and removed the bandages. Behold, a first look at my foot since surgery day!:
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| Stitches! |
Everyone was really pleased with the way my foot looked! No signs of any type of infection and I had very minimal swelling in the foot. Albeit gross looking, the stitch technique is designed to help my scar heal flat, as I have a skin tone/type that is prone to raised scarring.
After wrapping me back up, we got a chance to look at the x-rays:
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| Frontal view |
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| Side view |
Doc and team were delighted with the angling, and placement of the hardware and screws. Additionally, I got a change of pain medication. Other than that, the report was excellent. No immersion in water or anything that will get the foot wet, but stitches should be able to come out at the 2nd post op appointment on Day 14. Yay!
In other news, I need a pain pill and sleep. Tired, exhausted, and the pain is coming back. But we made it, lol.
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