Foot surgery - lots of crutch-time

[Crankin]

Sounds like things are going really well. And you may just be someone who heals quickly. But, please don't overdo it.

[Catrin]

Awesome! Do be careful about not over-doing things, though you may just be one of the fortunate ones that heals quickly

[indysteel]

Yay, GLC!!! Although perhaps a call to your doc is wise, as Oak suggested. Either way, the end is in sight!

[jobob]

Great news!

[GLC1968]

I figured it was time for an update!

So I progressed to boot-less eventually. I was even able to do a 25 mile ride at the Pacific Crest sports weekend without too much foot pain. It did alert me to the fact that while my foot is healing, the rest of me is really out of shape! But that's ok...I can fix that.

Now I'm doing PT twice a week and my foot/ankle/calf/leg strength is returning. I took a kayaking class last week and learned that while I'm improving, there is still quite a difference in leg strength as I had a hard time keeping my kayak going straight.

Day after tomorrow is my second surgery. My doc will be removing the screws because they are really causing me a lot of pain. Some of it is normal, but some of it is due to one of the screws being a little too long and it bangs into my next metatarsal bone. Ouch. With any luck, progress after surgery will go quickly. I think I'm a fairly fast healer on soft-tissue stuff, so once the wound it closed again, I'll be starting some water therapy right away. It'll still be a couple of months before I can start running, but honestly right now, I'd be happy with walking a normal pace without pain.

So I'm getting there. I'll post an update after the surgery. I don't really know what to expect. I'm a tad nervous because my doc thinks one of those screws will be a difficult removal so he extended my surgery time. They will be putting me out under general anesthesia, so who knows how bad it will be. I just pray he doesn't go in there and find out that the ligaments are all still detached and that all of this was for nothing!

[PamNY]

Best of luck with your surgery.

[Wahine]

It sounds like things are going well. It's a long journey but you are well on the way.

[jobob]

Wishing you all the best!

[Veronica]

Hope all goes well. Thanks for the update. I had been wondering...

Veronica

[emily_in_nc]

Good luck with the surgery -- sure hope you have nothing but good news after he gets in there and checks things out!

Keep us posted...

[Crankin]

Good luck!

[Catrin]

Good luck and hope it goes well!

[GLC1968]

OK, they're out!

Surgery must have gone well as I was out of there in less than 45 minutes. I remember going into the operating room and moving to the surgical table, and then nothing after that. Apparently, they woke me in the room when they were done and had a conversation with me but I have zero memory of that. I guess I was coherent enough that they decided I didn't even need the recovery room so I was taken straight back to my room in the initial check in place. That's where my memory starts - when they woke me there.

I glanced at the clock and was amazed it had taken so little time!

A few minutes later, I ate my paleo food, got up to use the bathroom (after my husband arrived and brought me my walking boot) and then they let me go.

Orders are to not remove the dressing for 5 days and then I can take it off and shower, but no swimming or bathing (submerging it). I'm allowed to walk using the boot only. We will evaluate at my post op appointment after that (in 11 days).

Right now, it's a little uncomfortable, throbbing a bit and there is some pain, but honestly, compared to when the screws went in, this is NOTHING. I'm a little antsy with all this couch time already, but I really need to keep it elevated, so I'm sticking it out.

[emily_in_nc]

Glad it went so smoothly!

Too bad the recovery time takes so much longer than the surgery, right? Hope it heals quickly, though, and you're back to a more normal life very soon. Keep us posted!

[Wahine]

Yay! That's great news that it feels better already. Remember that your bone will need some time to heal, it has to fill in those holes left by the screws. But you'll be doing much better very soon.