Who operated on my ankle?

It seems weird that at this point in time the only discomfort I have is in my ankle. It's verging on feeling like a sprain. It also feels really stiff but actually has normal rotation. I put it down to being six weeks in a cast and not being totally conscientious with some of my physio exercises because when I'd get home and look at the drawings I'd sometimes forget what I was actually supposed to do.

The last lot given to me I remembered and they were actually quite fun. I've even graduated from balanced on a folded towel to balancing on a pillow. I have my discharge review with the surgeon in ten days time so I'm hoping I'll be much looser by then. 

I have discomfort walking down stairs and I tried a pair of limousine shoes on today and could barely step forward with my right foot. When I rotate my ankle in a clockwise direction it clunky-clicks at the nine o'clock position but doesn't when I turn it anticlockwise, go figure!

I bought a new pair of running shoes yesterday and was so excited because I got a normal fit pair. With my wider previous foot I had to buy wide fitting but now the heel is all realigned I fit a normal pair.

They are also very pretty so I should fly in them. I did a 25 minute run in them today and was really happy. The laces didn't need re tightening or any adjustment. I still can't understand the whole being able to run comfortably but still walking awkwardly business. I guess I'll just accept it.

Improving every day

I'm in that golden period now where the swelling as stopped, the sharp twinges have petered out and life is returning to normal. I still get a searing hot pain in the side of my foot around 9 or 10 at night and I end up balancing on the other leg to relieve it. It usually happens when I'm cleaning my teeth! It is totally unrelated to how much I've pushed my foot that day. All day on my feet or feet up most of the day - no difference.

Returning to running is going really well. Yesterday I went than Achilles New Zealand training session and had an excellent fartlek session. I had gone in planning on walking and ended up running. It was the start of my journey to the New York Marathon 2015. I'm really going to try out the handling of my new foot.

I'm still trying remember to massage the scars as much as possible but they don't seem to cause any problems in shoes, which is what I was concerned about. 

They're still pink but are quite unobtrusive and definitely not worthy of gross out status. No one runs screaming when I reveal my naked foot.

Time seems to have both flown and dragged. I'm surprised at the speed of recovery but I'm also surprised that the six month mark is still so far out. It seems so long ago I was hobbling around in my shiny pink cast.

Four months post op

Well, it has been a while! Up until recently I wasn't sure how it was all going but now things seem to be going really well.

I've been having physio with all sorts of interesting exercises - picking up marbles with my toes, pressing a ball against the wall with the side of my foot, balancing on one leg on a towel - tricky!, bent knee calf raises and subtle movements with a stretchy band. At first my foot was not happy but it is starting to relent. I no longer need the bed cradle to keep the sheets off my foot. I wear an ankle support when I need to be on my feet for a while or put them under pressure. Finally the swelling has subsided and the cankles are gone - most of the time. I was on my feet for over five hours cheering on all the entrants in the Auckland Marathon on Sunday and it was a bit puffy at the end of the day.

But my piece de resistance is I am starting run again pain-free. It's really baby steps. I'm doing something very like the couch potato to 5k program. I'm running all of three minutes in one go but repeated and it is actually more comfortable than walking. The reason I am doing this is I may have the opportunity to run the New York marathon next year and I want to be ready. I definitely wouldn't be running it in its entirety but I'd like to be able to run walk and feel fit enough to finish.

My bicycling has had the benefit of not only building my scrawny calf back up again and helping the ankle to be more mobile but also building up my leg strength. I'm really glad that I had it there to help me. It was certainly a sanity saver when i could barely hobble around post cast removal. 

The scar under my heel where the screws went in is barely noticeable. The one up my leg is quite smooth and causes no problems. The one along the side of my foot still causes me some annoyance. It's rough and tight and can feel like it's on fire at the end of the day. I'm rubbing it with balm in the evenings to try and help break up the scar tissue and give some relief. It is soooo painful to rub. When the physio does it I am nearly in tears. Fortunately it doesn't seem to rub in shoes or anything so it is really mainly about aesthetics - it is ugly. I look like someone hacked at me with a blunt knife. 

So am I pleased I had the surgery? I think so. Occasionally my arch complains about being in its new position but nothing major. My foot looks better and I've got used to seeing it as a new streamlined version. The screws have caused no problems after the initial discomfort. I don't have the ongoing pain from the torn ligament and I can feel that once my heel settles down I'm likely to be pain free. Hopefully the realignment of my heel will stop me from being a so much risk for the inversion injuries. So yes, I am pleased!

Three months post op

The three month mark is nearly here. Tomorrow I have a check up with the orthopedic doctors. Hopefully they'll be happy.

My foot still swells if I even think about walking but not to the bursting point any more. I have pretty much ditched the moon boot apart from longer distances. While it definitely stops any pain in my heel while walking it is doing back things to my knee. I think the lack of ankle flexion means that sometimes my knee is forced to try and bend the wrong way and the knee cap protests.

I have had one Physio appointment which we both thought was a waste of time. She had instructions to not touch! She was only allowed to give me stretches. Considering that it was 11 weeks after the op and I'd been on my own until that was pretty redundant, I had already been doing them on my own. Tomorrow I am charged with begging them to let her touch my foot.

The ankle is almost fused. There's very little movement through it and I can barely point my toes. It's calling out for a bit of manipulation! I still feel like I have a bad case of plantar fasciitis with pain focussed on my heel. What I discovered the other day is it hurts just as much when I run as when I walk so I'm hoping that I'll be moving faster sooner rather than later. The idea of 'some patients are able to resume running after 9 months' is not a cheery one. Particularly since the ligament repair is causing no pain, it is only the "bonus" surgery on my heel that is causing any ill effects.

So hopefully tomorrow I'll get a new set of instructions and have some idea of where I am on the continuum of healing. Watch this space!

Three weeks of a naked foot

I am now using the moonboot much less frequently. If there is a lot of walking involved it is a good idea to plonk it on. I also revert to crutches when things get too painful.

I'm walking a lot, not huge distances, my longest so far would be 3km with 2.5 the average. I've been spending a good amount of time on the stationary bike and it has paid off. My calf is now once again the same size as my left one. 

I even have a bit of definition back.

Pain wise it is my heel that is the main cause. It still feels like someone cut the bone in half and shifted it sideways. Going down stairs can still result in a big jolt of pain. I rarely take anything for the pain because it's tolerable. My toes are a bit of a sorry state. The second toe has gone crazy and won't bend. That means the others can't really either. Pointing my toes results in a pulling sensation along the side of my foot, pretty much the same as the pain I had prior to surgery. I don't know if this is ok or not.

Next week I have a physio assessment booked. Hopefully they can sort out the kinks.

The scars are pretty good. The one under my heel is barely visible and the tendon resection scar is good. The scar where my heel was cut is a bit ragged and the skin dents in but it's only a foot so I'm not bothered.

I'm still removing dry skin from the heel. It's easier now the scar has finished healing.

I'm seeing spots!

As a nice side effect to my swelling of my foot everytime I walk on it is the peticiae or spots caused by small broken blood vessels.

It feels hot and sore and tingly to touch. An excellent method of reminding me to slow down.

Pretty normal

Having got myself worried about the pain and swelling in my foot I consulted Dr Google. What I found was a discussion about recovery and someone at 11 weeks post op asking if it was normal to still have swelling and the pain in the heel.

It is! So at less than 8 weeks it's perfectly normal to still feel like there's a big rock in your shoe and have your foot swell up if you look at it funny.

So I need to reduce my expectations! Some of the contributors said they were using a compression sick to reduce swelling so I'm going to give that a go.

I'm using a simple moonboot so I don't have the option to increase cushioning that a boot with air cells offers. I might have to try and wear my boot more frequently around the house rather than hobbling around bare footed.

I am not a nice patient patient! 

Seven and a half weeks post-surgery

It's been nearly two weeks since getting my cast off. My foot still swells up if I place the slightest demands on it without support. If I wear the moonboot I get very mild swelling and it's the same with double crutches but if I try just walking wearing a shoe it turns into a watermelon.

I had a lot of pain today because I definitely did too much. I weeded the garden for the first time in two months and cleaned both my goldfish tank and my tropical fish tank. I was very sore after. I have had trouble sleeping because my foot throbs a bit at the end of the day so I've got some Panadeine Extra (paracetamol and 15mg codeine) and some 200mg ibuprofen as I've run out of my 800mg slow release ibuprofen. Hopefully I'll be fine tonight.

I think the root of my problem is impatience. I'm used to being able to strap on my iWalk and being able to get around carrying whatever I want. Now I either have to put on the moonboot, with a seam in the liner that irritates my screw insertion site, or use the crutches, which means no carrying. I will try to make an effort to give my foot more support for a while longer.

I'm trying to do flexing and pointing of the foot but success is limited. Flexing is ok but I can only point my toes so far before it feels like the toes are going to cramp and the outer edge of my foot twinges. Still it has vastly improved from where I was at where there was no chance of pointing my toes even a little so I'll just keep at it.

I'm enjoying being able to wear whatever I like and not whacking my other leg with the heavy cast at night. Also being able to scratch and leg and foot is something you can only truly appreciate after six weeks in a cast.

I think they removed my brain too!

This morning I was moving around at a very slow pace and noticing how my foot, which had returned to normal, was once again swollen. My ankle felt like a bad sprain and I was sure I could see new bruises on my foot. It took me about half an hour to realise what it meant to be seeing the swelling etc. It meant I could see my foot therefore I was not wearing my nice supportive and highly stylish moon boot.

My poor foot was sending out all the signals to tell me that it wasn't ready to take on this whole walking business unsupported and I was just going "lala la." My foot is now elevated and I will be popping my moon boot on every time I get on my feet. OK maybe not I finale to do a middle of the night bathroom visit, but all other times.

When I went and got my cast off I extolled the virtues of the iWalk and basically said to everyone from nurses to radiologist to Registrar to Consultant, why are you not telling people about this? I gave them the brochures I had from the New Zealand distributor and she emailed today to say she had had a request for more from the clinic! My work here is done!

On a totally unrelated topic but a point-in-time reference, It's a bit of a sad time in the world at the moment, not only do we have the ongoing Gaza turmoil, we have ISIS in Iraq, the shooting down of the Malaysian Airlines plane in the Ukraine and lots of little strifes. Then we get the news that the funniest man ever has ended his life. Robin Williams has left the building. It seems to be a sad characteristic of comedians that all the happiness seems to be given to audiences and they are left with deficit in their own lives. Also, in a repeat of Farrah Fawcett's death being overshadowed by Michael Jackson's death, the amazing Lauren Bacall's death came almost as an addenda to the news of Robin's death. Despite our boasts of superiority, human beings are still a delicate little species.

Six weeks

While my leg was in the cast I had no problem with swelling but after being freed my foot went crazy! Initially I had ankle swelling - a cankle - and it felt like I had a sprained ankle. Later on that day the whole foot swelled up and went a dull reddish colour. It continued to protest about any use of the ankle or toes. It had been perfectly happy sitting at a 90degree angle to my leg and would like to continue to be so.

I propped it up on a few pillows whenever I was sitting down or lying down, pretty much what I'd done initially post surgery. I did have a bath and it was divine! It was also pretty gross by the end. I used a loofah and a pumice stone to sloth off as much of the gross scaly skin that I could. The area around my screw insertion point was too tender to attack and the tendon resection spot above my ankle and the bone cutting point along the side of my heel where both covered in steristrips so too hard to get to. 

It was a success and now my leg is smooth, hair free but also scrawny.

Today I drove and that was fine once my brain got back into driving mode. I walked the dog with two crutches and a moon boot - fun! I also had a walk around the neighbourhood with the moo boot and one crutch and did a small supermarket shop. My foot still appears to be normal sized and happy. The only time I hurt it was when I whacked the heel against the shin of my other leg. My advice is to look after your heel. It will be tender because, as the registrar said, someone bashed around in there with a saw and cut it apart.

I am certainly enjoying being able walk relatively normally and being able to put my foot down on the floor when I hop out of bed. I also enjoy being able to wear jeans instead of sweats and yoga pants, being able to put a sock on my foot since it's felt like an ice block ever since the surgery.

Day 40 - a naked leg.

Hurray! The healing went to plan so I am cast-free. 

The first port of call was the plaster room where they removed the cast and then strapped it on to protect the leg on the way to Xray. I did a bit of PR work for the iWalk there so that everyone could see how well it worked.

The next stop was X-ray and the revealing of the foot. It didn't look like my foot. The manoeuvring for X-rays was a bit of a pain. Since my foot has been in the same position for six weeks it was somewhat reluctant to bend at the ankle. It just felt wrong. I just had to trust that it was OK and insist it bent for the X-rays. Turning it inwards was a bit sore because of the stretching of the skin across the tendon resection site. It was actually more uncomfortable than resting directly on the site. The toes were also reluctant to flattern down to meet the board. The X-Ray showed my screws in their full glory and they are a bit bigger than I expected.

Then it was the last stop on the journey through Ortho outpatients. I was seen by the Registrar who was very impressed with my iWalk and tried it out. He was happy with my progress and got me to stand up and show off my skills. That was nerve wracking. The ankle had swollen a bit and there was a lot of swelling under my heel so it felt strange to stand on. It also hurt a little. He was happy that my foot line up was much improved. I am used to looking down and seeing my heel stick out on the inside edge of my foot and now I don't see it. My foot looks skinnier because of it but is actual the same as the left foot now. 

I was then seen by the ortho doctor who was very happy and said that I can be seen again in six weeks. I am to use a moon boot until I get sick of it. I also have to see how the orthotics in my right shoe feel. They were originally made to adjust the foot and that is no longer necessary so they might be uncomfortable. If they are I have a prescription for a new one from the orthotic centre.

So now I'm using a moon boot and two crutches. The moon boot is nice and supportive but not enough so to let me go straight into walking crutch free. 

The leg is highly unattractive.

It is scaly and hairy and covered in bumps. I have also lost 5cm of muscle mass in the calf. So I have some hard work ahead of me to get it back to looking attractive. First step will be a bath tonight. Bliss! No balancing or plastic bags!

I'm really looking forward to being able to roll over in bed without the risk of whacking my other leg with a hefty cast. It's the little things!

Day 35 - 5 days until freedom (hopefully)

The day of separation for me and my cast is drawing closer. Although my cast seems fairly keen on doing it sooner. It has got so loose and when I'm sitting down I have to rest it on the floor because having it dependent means it slides down and gets really tight over the middle of my foot. It feels like I could slide it off like a boot, it's so wobbly. I am guessing there is one scrawny little leg in there now!

Here's the gap. The black is gaffer tape to stop the hard edge tearing my leg apart. It seems to be working and now I just have to wait for the previously damaged areas to completely heal.

I've been out and about spreading the word about the iWalk. People seem more likely to stop and ask about it now rather than covertly stare. I've got used to having to strap my leg on before I go anywhere. It'll be funny actually standing up on two feet. 

I realise that the journey is only partway through. I'm not really certain of what will happen once the cast comes off. I'm presuming I get a moon boot and start partial weight bearing. I can't figure out why it'll be hard but I'm sure I'll find out come Tuesday afternoon. It will be nice being able to wear something other than sweatpants and my too big straight leg jeans that have enough stretch to fit over the cast (useful for situations where sweatpants are not de rigeur.

I have continued to have issues with falling when using my crutches, especially at night. I swear that gremlins reach out and grab them. I've only had one really bad thump on my heel that felt like I'd split it open but most likely resulted in a big bruise. All the other times had been momentary touches of the foot. All apart from the time I fell over backwards in the dark in the walk through wardrobe (it leads to the bathroom). Then I managed to save the foot but hit the floor with everything else. Not a pretty sight.

I do look forward to the day when I can climb up the stairs without holding the handrail with a death grip. It's ok at home but not so much out in the big wide world.

I went for a walk in the large park near us at the weekend . It was lovely. We saw some very handsome bulls who were very interested in us!

It was a welcome relief to get out of the house!

Cast off Day!

Hopefully today is the day my bright pink cast and i part company, well it is that day but I hope I don't receive a replacement!

The last three days or so have been a chore. I think that it has been due to leg shrinkage. The cast has felt like a concrete boot and has been verging on painful at night. I think it is due to the ability to move around letting all the weight fall on a single part of my leg rather than distributing the weight throughout the leg. I also find my foot slipping a little inside the cast so when I'm sleeping it can slip back against the front of my ankle area and press hard. It hurts! My toes clenching the cast to stop it moving when mobilising also seemed to trigger cramps in my calf that could not be stopped.

Six weeks seems to have both flown by and dragged depending on what I'm using as my point of reference. I'm looking forward to being able to drive again and being able to put my foot on the ground. My poor left leg has got fed up with taking all the stress, especially having to virtually hop up the stairs every time I use them. It might start demanding a turn in the iwalk or non weight bearing with the crutches.

Having spent six weeks trying out the suggestions people made here is my list of things I actually found useful:

* Extra pillows - great for propping up the foot and for sitting on to protect the poor sit upon bones when becalmed on a bed or sofa.

* Large plastic rubbish bag and a small towel - for showering. I used the same bag for six weeks! I'd wrap the towel around above the cast and then cover the cast with the bag. Initially I would tie it and then tape over but after a while I found simply tying it tightly was sufficient.

* Shower and toilet chairs - you just can't balance in a shower on one leg! The toilet chair was higher than the toilet and had hand rails so it was easy to get up and down.

* Hand sanitiser by the toilet - balancing at the basin is no fun, using this meant I could have clean hands without having to manoeuvre to the basin or balance precariously.

* iWalk - this was my sanity saver. I could get up and down stairs and get out of the house because of it.

* Yoga pants - loose, pajama like and comfy. They were easy to pull over the cast.

* Rearranging my drawers - I made sure that my clothes I could wear were in the top three drawers of my tall boy so there was no bending needed. I could grab underwear, t-shirt and pants while standing on crutches and throw them on my bed.

* Drug app on phone - useful in the early days when you have lots of drugs to keep track of and a fuzzy head.

* Netflix - I had lots of plans to knit and write but in the first few weeks my brain was still mush and watching TV shows was all it was really capable of.

* Water bottle - I got really thirsty and having a water bottle on hand was great. Also you can carry it while using crutches. Try that with a glass of water.

Basically anything that let me do day to day tasks on my own without being dependent on having someone on hand.

Day 32 - moving into line

I think that the realignment of my heel must be doing something because my arch is a bit achy. Not painful, just achy. 

Day 29 - this is getting old real fast.

I'm at the hump point of this whole thing. The tentative working out logistics is over and now it's just living each day with a weight attached to my leg. I will hopefully get the cast off in 11 days and then I can drive again, hallelujah! It's such a nuisance not being able to just dash out to get things I need. Any time someone offers to take me out I have to madly think of all the things I need to do on my day release.

I've got used to feeling like I'm wearing a thick sock and a gumboot 24/7 but there are times when I want to rip the cast off. The recurrent cramps are the worst! I haven't had too much itching, that may be due to the looseness of the cast or the cool weather. My left leg looks black and blue from whacking the cast against it while I sleep.

Very attractive!

I have been really sleepy lately and I think it has been due to me not getting outside as much due to a combination of the weather and the grazes from my cast making the iWalk painful. I had a shower today and rather than crashing out on the bed after I went for a walk with Millie and I felt tonnes better. I think my brain just associates hanging out on the bed with sleep and so shuts down. 

I've discovered 'Lost Girl' on Netflix and have been binging on it and 'Supernatural' - I try and ration myself but sometimes I go crazy. I really should be multitasking and doing all the knitting projects I planned to do. Maybe tonight I'll start.

The good thing about being over halfway through my non-weightbearing is I've got the hang of the various strategies needed to get things done. I know exactly where to put my toilet frame by the shower doorway so I can use it as a support getting into and out of the shower. I can cover my leg with a rubbish bag perfectly and never get a drip on my cast. I can use the shower with the head still attached to the pole - it's adjustable height, direction and angle-wise, that's great because it gives me free hands rather than trying to cope with the shampoo lid single-handed or having to drop the shower head and risk being hit in the face with a wild torrent of water or turning off the shower and freezing. I can clip into the iWalk at speed. I can get up and down stairs at a good rate. I can hop really well. I can clean my toes with cotton buds and not crack up (almost). I still struggle to balance cleaning my teeth for the whole 2 minutes the electric tooth brush runs for and my moisturiser still hasn't made it out of my bag I took to hospital.

Crossing my fingers and toes that come the 12th of August I'll be out of the cast and into a boot. Every time I jar the foot and hope I haven't done any damage. That would just suck!

Day 25 - sanity restored.

For the whole weekend I haven't been able to use my iwalk and I have been going insane. I even resorted to using my crutches to go up and down stairs. It was awkward and very tiring, especially literally hopping up the stairs holding the handrail like grim death. It also meant I couldn't carry anything so I was stuck in the kitchen if I wanted to make myself a drink.

I was starting to feel really down. I put the iWalk on this morning to just try it out. I padded up over the sore areas but they all oozed and it was too painful. I had to tiptoe on the iwalk. That movement made me think that a solution might be to move the resting point of my knee from the bottom to the middle. I padded up the foot end of the platform, covered my battle scars and tentatively strapped in. No pain! No pressure on the wounds. I celebrated with a cup of tea and some marmite toast. My independence is back!

I used a wheat pack and strapped it in position with the back strap. By making sure the other two straps were tightly done up I had no leg wiggle. Ah the relief.

Day 23

Yesterday I met with the New Zealand distributor of the iWalk2.0 (Proable) and was videoed talking about how well the iwalk works for me and performing on it. She has given me some cards and brochures so I can give them to interested people and hopefully get some into the orthopedic outpatients clinic.

My cast is causing me a bit of bother, I may have to get a new one. I've got a number to call but it's weekdays only so I'll see how things go over the next two days. It's loose and my foot can move up and down. This means the cast scrapes up and down my shin, resulting in a set of nasty blisters.

 I've had blister blocks on them but they have gone really nasty. I guess it was bolting the stable door after the horse had bolted. Now I'm just trying to dry them out for a while. The most annoying thing is I can't really use the iwalk while I wait for them to heal because it means kneeling on them and that is very owey. 

I also don't think my heel is getting the support it needs since it can float around inside the cast. 

I've also had cramps in the calf which is nasty. You just have to ride them out and hope for the best.

In case you were unaware, using crutches depends a lot on good balance. I got up during the night for a bathroom break and someone had left the landing light on so there was a glow to guide me so I forgot to take my torch. I turned it off before returning to bed. I found myself wobbling all over the place and ended up falling over backwards because I seemed to have a distorted centre of balance. I must have been leaning backwards when I though I was standing upright. The husband turned on the light and I crawled to the bed to get myself upright again. So here's a hint - always use a nightlight or a torch!

Today I had brunch with friends and that was nice - like being a normal person. The weather was lovely , a nice sunny crisp Winters day. It was lovely to be able to be out enjoying it. Now I'm back on the bed looking out at the clear blue sky. Yesterday it was pouring and gale winds and today it's beautiful!

Day 19 - still getting around.

I know you're probably sick of hearing me going on about my iWalk 2.0 but I'm still super impressed by it. I discovered today I could walk on rough uneven ground with the help of a walking pole, the ones regular people use for walking on rough terrain.

I've also had enquiries about where people can buy them. One couple queried me in Briscoes. Her father had had Achilles surgery and was stuck in a chair. I gave them the US contact because  I hadn't heard back from the New Zealand agent. I sent them another query today since it would be heaps easier to buy one here than have to pay overseas postage, as long as the price is not more. That often happens - it can be cheaper to buy things direct from the offshore distributor than the store or agency in New Zealand. Pam from Proable just got back to me so any Aussies and New Zealanders can contact her.

I have the date for my possible removal of my cast. It's August 12th, so two days short of six weeks. I'm looking forward to it. I get around fine it's the minor inconveniences that get to me. There's the occasional itch, the hard fibreglass tape edge that digs into the top of my leg if I bend my knee and the graze on the front where the inner layer has rubbed because it's a bit loose. It would also be nice to be able to drive, I'm reliant on chauffeurs. On the bright side, much money is being saved.

I've stopped propping my leg up. I had no swelling so I thought it was worth a try to see if no propping meant swelling. It didn't so that's good to know. I have transferred one of the pillows to under my derrière because I was getting severe pain in the butt sitting on it day in and day out. It seems to be doing the job.

I managed to go up stairs today using a crutch and the bannister so that was a major achievement. It left me exhausted though so I only plan to use it when necessary. The time saved by picking up crutches vs strapping on the knee crutch is very minimal and is probably lost in progress up the stairs anyway. I just wanted to see if I could do it. I could but I couldn't carry anything and that's mine main reason to be heading down stairs.

Day 16 - up and at em

On the back of my big walk yesterday I have been on my feet (or technically foot and knee) more today. I took my dog Millie for two short walks, which was nice. She was excellently behaved, walking at a sedate pace and walking beside me and keeping an eye on me going down our steep driveway. I took a walking stick as well for added stability on the hills. I probably didn't need it but it helps me feel more confident that I will make it home.

I also baked a batch of ginger nut biscuits because I really felt like something with a bit of a bite to it. 

I also ironed ten shirts for the husband while watching the shopping channel. 

Then we went off to buy some chocolate for the husband's birthday but I'm self-propelled in the wheelchair because sometimes it's just nice to sit down. No leg board but it felt fine.

15 days - no holding me back!

Today I went for a 3k (1.86miles) walk! I know, crazy! You wouldn't be doing that on crutches without sore arms. I really got the hang of the iWalk 2.0 and found holding the handle made tackling all but the steepest hill doable. Going uphill more pressure goes on the front pad of the foot and coming down more pressure goes on the back so it balances the wear out.

The only I'll effect I have is a bit of a rub from the top of the cast. If I had padded it like I padded the plaster cast then it wouldn't have happened but I know that now. 

It's just a little red and there's a slight lump where the bruising is. The rest of the leg is fine, no swelling, no pain.

It was nice to get out in the fine weather . I enjoyed it so much. It was a hilly route so I think I must have burned a few calories, definitely more than lying around on the bed or sofa. We are due for another dump of heavy rain over the next two days so I'll have plenty of recovery time.

Now, if I only had hand controls on my car there'd be no stopping me!

Two weeks! Woo Hoo!

Well, I've made it to two weeks without too many disasters, oo rah! Hopefully it'll only get better from now on in.

Today I have learnt two don'ts when using crutches.

Number one don't : Don't put off going to the loo until it is urrrrrgent. The rush can lead to missteps literally. I managed to miss the hand grip on my crutch after opening the door and slipped so I was hopping madly while simultaneously falling. Fortunately the bathroom vanity broke my fall - another bruise to add to the collection. Then I had to try and get all my equipment lined up and in the end thought "stuff this for a laugh." and just used the regular toilet seat. Bit of a mission getting back to my feet but at least I made it!

Number two don't: Don't get a cramp in your leg in the cast. I don't know how you avoid this but just do so. There is no way you can pull your toes back so you will end up in muscle tearing agony. I managed to slip my fingers down the back of the cast for a pseudo calf rub and that slowed it down but seriously, avoid if at all possible.

Day 13

Having read other blogs I was prepared for lots of pain and mega swelling. I seem to have been really lucky. Pain has been manageable and I have had zero swelling. I was rattling around inside my plaster cast because room had been left for swelling. It's nice to be in a firmer cast now. I was putting a bit of pressure on the ankle when I used my iwalk 2.0 if I didn't pad the top of the cast.

When I was having my cast removed and I told the nurse that the tape on top was because it was oozing and they wanted to cover it up she was not impressed. She said "they should not have done that. They should have replaced the cast." Shows the difference between being on an Ortho ward and an elective surgery ward I guess.

If it has been good management reducing the swelling I thought I'd list what I've done.

* Kept the foot elevated on three pillows night and day.

* Propped the foot up whenever possible - on a stool by the toilet and shower, on seats at cafés and on the sofa.

* Wiggled my toes regularly to help improve circulation.

* Used the iWalk 2.0 rather than crutches whenever possible because the leg is supported rather than hanging down which is a sure cause for fluid pooling.

* Drank lots of water to help flush the fluids through my system.

I think elevation and wiggling are the tops. I also took a couple of NSAIDs when the tramadol was just hammering me and they also reduce inflammation. Best to check with your ortho if they haven't been prescribed or ask at your preop appointment.

One other thing that I've found helpful, although a bit bad, is a long handled shoe horn. It is smooth and fits easily inside your cast. You're not meant to put anything into your cast but when you're being driven insane by itchy it's hard to stop. This has to be better than a knitting needle.

Day 10 - out again!

This post failed to publish so it appears out of sync. Sorry.

There hasn't been much to report the past few days. The weather has been dreadful so I've been watching Netflix, reading books (one in a day) and sleeping. My foot hasn't swollen so it is really comfy in my splint cast. I'll miss its soft cottony inside when it's replaced.

I'm only taking panadol now. I tried tramadol again one day and ended up with twitching that stopped me sleeping so I think the side effects outweigh any little relief it provides. I had a bit of pain around the ankle area but worked out it was caused by pressure on the top of the cast deflecting down when I used the iwalk 2.0 because it is loose and bendy at the top. I stuffed a rolled up washed cloth in and now there is no problem. I also have a dull ache on the heel if I don't have a soft pillow on the top of my stack.

I'm finding eating in a jackknife position causes lots of spills. I need a bib! There are little stains on my chest and wearing the same top two days in a row is not going to happen. I managed to do three loads of washing on Friday and that felt like an accomplishment.

We had family visit yesterday and I spent a few hours on the sofa chatting. By the time dinner came around I was drained and I ended up crashing. It's amazing how tiring simple things are.

We have had a horrible storm system sitting over us with gales and torrential rain every day. It has made being housebound not so depressing since there was nothing to enjoy out there. It seems to have finally moved on and there were some patches of sun today. The thought of getting organised to go out seemed too much effort but I pushed myself. I managed the shower like a pro so that helped. We drove to a local park and had a nice slow stroll around.

It looks flat but I swear it was uphill a lot of the way. It was great to get out! 

Now two more days until my new cast, I hope I get to choose the colour!

Day 12 and new pink cast.

I had my plaster cast removed today - hurray! 

There was a lot of wound ooze so it was a little tricky removing it.

It was a relief to get it off and reveal my poor mistreated leg. I wish I'd brought a razor for a quick shave with the wash the nurse gave it.

The surgeon came and had a look and prescribed a fibreglass cast with fish mouth opening to give added protection in case of falls. I was next to a guy who had the same procedure the same day by the same surgeon but he had the traditional edge of the foot incision for the tendon resection. He was having to go back in a plaster cast for another week because his wound wasn't healing well and had to be rechecked in a week. I was pleased it wasn't happening to me.

Removal of the sutures was fairly hideous. I have tendency to laugh when in pain so I was shrieking hysterically. Removal of the heel sutures was easy, she gripped each one with tweezers and my leg would jerk and remove the suture! After that the nurse washed my foot to try to remove as much of the antiseptic dye as possible, which was not much. Cleaning between my toes was excruciatingly ticklish.

I had new steristrips applied to help keep things tight.

Once that was all done it was time for a new cast. I chose fluoro pink because it was the best of a limited selection. I had been hoping for purple. 

And now I'm home letting the cast harden and feeling like I've run a marathon. How long is it until bedtime?

Interesting note: my hip had been complaining about lifting my leg. I now know why - the plastic cast was more than 1.2kg (>2lbs) heavier than the fibreglass cast. Yes, I weighed myself before and after just to see. 

Day 11 - nearly a disaster

Today I'm sticking pretty close to the bed with my foot propped up. I had an incident last night and I'm crossing my finger I haven't done any damage. I could not get to sleep so I though I'd go and have a play on my laptop in my study. I was using my crutches and was approaching the door when my left leg seemed to just give out. I pitched forward onto my foot and the air rang blue. I think I must have kept some weight on the crutches because it was not crippling pain.

Hoping I hadn't popped any stitches or moved any bones or retorn any tendons I hobbled to the bathroom slowly. I sat on the toilet seat since it as the closest seat and tried to get myself together. I felt quite dizzy and wondered if my B/P was still really low. I don't think I leapt out of bed, that's fairly impossible! After a brief break I felt better and decided bed was the safest place. My progress back to bed was very slow and cautious.

I don't think my foot feels any different today but every little niggle has me on edge. I guess I'll find out tomorrow if I've put my recovery back. I hope not.

Day 7 - escape from Colditz

Today was my first time out of the house since leaving hospital and it was great. All it was was a trip to a local mall to buy some groceries and get a coffee but it was so great. I manueuvred around easily on the iwalk 2.0 and didn't get any obvious stares. I could basically do anything although pushing the trolley felt a bit strange.

I needed a sit down for coffee after doing the shopping but it revived me and I was feeling good. 

The hardest thing was finding some decent pants to wear. I'm a straight or skinny jeans girl so none of them would have come anywhere near fitting over the cast. I have a few pairs of sweatpants that I lounge around in at home but I didn't want to wear them. Luckily I found a pair of black yoga pansy that fit the bill perfectly. It looks like they will be seeing a lot of action over the next few weeks. It's midwinter so shorts are definitely out of the question and skirts don't work with the iwalk. 

I was a little tired when I got home but no more than I am after a shower. My foot is maybe a little sore. It feels hot and has a dull ache across the arch as if it's been cut in half and stapled together and the heel part is heavier and dragging down. I have taken my first tramadol in ages just in case I feel worse tonight.

I have an appointment for my first check-up. It's on Tuesday, five days away.. It'll be 12 days post-op so I hope I've done all the right healing so I can go on to the next level. I'm not sure whether a fibro cast will be better or worse. The splint-cast is lined with cottonwool so it's soft and warm. It's also firm but not tight. I can wiggle my toes and reckon if my foot itched I could easily fit a knitting needle into scratch it. The cast will definitely be tighter. 

Tomorrow will be a boring stay at home day but I'm sure I can find things to entertain myself. I might even manage to do a load of washing - how exciting is that!

Day 6 - slept through it

Nothing happened today! My mother did bring me lunch which was a nice change from peanut butter crackers but that was the most exciting thing.

I was just incredibly tired all day and struggled to keep my eyes open. My foot is now just bored with being in the same position but not painful.

I got the operation report in the mail so now I know the exact nature of my op. I had a lateralizing calcaneal osteotomy with two 6.5mm cancellous screws implanted. I also had a right Perineus longus to Perineus brevis transfer. All this to correct my cavovarus right foot with peroneal tendon pathology! 

I'm hoping tomorrow I'll feel much perkier because I'm going to go and do some food shopping. If I'm really lucky I'll manage a cup of coffee as well. It'll be my first public excursion with the iwalk 2.0 so hopefully I won't come a cropper.

I've been awake for four hours now so I feel like its time to crash again. Goodnight all!

Day 5 and feeling clean

Having been warned that the recovery from this operation would be much tougher than after my hip replacement I have been pleasantly surprised. After my hip replacement I could only lie on my right side with a pillow between my legs and it took over a month before I could physically turn myself onto my back. I was weightbearing but I could not bend down, cross my legs or balance easily on one leg. Try putting your shoes on, pulling your pants up and reapplying your compression sock with those restrictions. Anything dropped on the floor had to be retrieved with a pickup stick, unless it was the grabber, in which case it stayed where it fell until someone rescued it.

Today I was feeling so grotty as I'd only had a sponge down in hospital and my hair felt like straw. I was using my iwalk 2.0 to get around because I'd had to go downstairs to start the slow cooker to cook our dinner. I was planning on asking for help to wash tonight but when I went into the bathroom and thought about I decided that I could do it on my own. I'm very fortunate that I have lots of equipment but if I hadn't the OT would have arranged the hire of some. I had both hands free so I could lift my shower chair that swivels into the shower.

I detached the shower head and draped it by the chair so it would be in reach when I was sitting down.

Then I used my toilet chair as a launching platform. I sat on it to remove my comfy cozy pjs and my not so comfy cozy compression sock. I hung fresh pjs and my towel on the seat and hoped that it would be within reach. The towel rail was obscured by the shower door since it had to be open for my foot to stick out. I wrapped a light towel around my leg above the cast and then stuck it in a big rubbish  bag. It tighten up reasonable tight but I stuck some real duct tape around the top for security. I knew that it would be ok on my skin. Then I propped a footstool up in front of the door for my foot to rest on. I hopped the few steps to the shower and sat down, then turned the seat so I was facing into the shower. It was easy from there on and I managed to wash my hair and my body without getting any water near my cast. The duct tape wasn't even necessary.

Drying off was a bit harder because it was a big reach to get my towel but once I had it I just dried off in the shower and then hopped across to the toilet chair to finish off. I could never have done this on my own after my hip op!

I made one other great purchase that was more of a last minute thing but has served me well.  I bought a cheap pair of slippers with grippy bases. 

If I do use slippers they tend to be slip on mules or big ugg boots and neither seemed appropriate for slouching around the hospital. When I was changed into the theatre gowns and one compression sock my feet were left bare and so the slippers kept them warm and I wore them right up to the table in theatre. Now at home the single slipper is quick and easy to put on my good foot to stop me skidding around in my compression sock. Much easier than pulling on a shoe or a boot. Also quite comforting when you have a cold.

So I feel like I've achieved much today. I'm going to take my first dose of tramadol for the day now at 3:48pm because I'm just starting to feel like there's a stone pressing on the heel of my foot. Last night it really spaced me out to the point of having mini hallucinations so I felt like I was not metabolising it very quickly and I needed a break so my body could clear it all out. Hopefully it'll work!

Day 4 and the future is bright

I have 99 problems and my foot is not one of them. I only took one tramadol rather than two this morning and when my middle of the day dose was due I postponed it for an hour and only took one again.

I'm taking regular panadol and trying to convince myself that regular light pain relief is the way to go. 

My feelings of spaciness is worse today but I can't decide whether it is due to the tramadol or the fact I have succumbed to the cold that I've been dodging prior to the op. The blocked ears and nose are certainly due to the cold and the fuzzy eyes could be too. 

I'm being pretty independent. I made crackers and peanut butter and a cup of tea for lunch and could carry it easily using my knee crutch. 

I'm sleeping fine at night. I do wake up but it's not due to pain and I usually fall right back to sleep. I can lie on my left side and still keep the leg elevated so I have to sleeping positions which my butt appreciates. I often dream I've got up and walked on the foot just prior to waking up so my mind is obviously reminding me not to do anything stupid. I also sleep a bit during the day, I'm probably on a toddler sleep regime. I think the fuzzy head from the cold makes me feel like I'm more tired than I am. Still, sleep is good for healing and fighting colds so bring it on.

I am getting a little cabin feverish. But the thought of the performance that would be involved in even leaving the house soon cures it.

Currently my foot hurts less than it did prior to the op. That was what I was hoping would happen since I already felt like it was hurting worse than it felt after I had an operation to remove a needle from my foot. My take on this operation is that if you're having it because of repeated injuries that heal you're probably going to notice the pain more than if you're having it to repair a long standing injury and to prevent future ones. Possibly the surgeon makes a difference as well. I'm looking forward to seeing what she did since everything was supposed to be smaller and higher up than originally planned.

It has been interesting seeing the difference around the world. I got to stay in 24 hours but had no nerve block and went home with very low level opioids compared to US bloggers. I'm rereading blogs now I'm living through it to be aware of any future problems. Crossing my fingers that there not be any.

A bit of a mess

Apparently some people ooze more than others after this operation and the ooze can seep through the plaster and look unsightly.

After having a session with the physio a large area if blood appeared on my cast. This is normal and a reminder to keep the foot elevated 24/7. The nurses found it distressing so arranged for an orthopedics nurse to consult with a surgeon. 

The decision was made to cover it with a soft cast that can be unwound if there is too much swelling or oozing. It's not waterproof like a regular fiberglass but it doesn't add much extra weight and gives a certain satorial elegance to things.

Three days post-op

Today has been a better day. I've finally stopped vomiting and started being able to eat. I gave in to an overwhelming desire for a McDonald's cheeseburger, small fries and a lime milkshake. It was all I had imagined it would be.

I still have a minor headache but nothing like the migraine I had been suffering. I think it is more due to grinding my teeth overnight. I'm doing a lot of sleeping. It's hard work watching netflix and the like.

The best tip I have been given continues to be the hand sanitiser by the toilet. That and having a small footstool there to rest my foot on makes it an easier process. I'm using the elbow crutches to get around upstairs most of the time. If I have to carry anything then I put on the knee crutch. I haven't gone back downstairs again yet, simply because there is really no need and the stairs are a pain to traverse. I might just wait until I actually get an opportunity to leave the house before I head down them.

My mother has offered to drive me to the supermarket later in the week to buy some of the perishable items that I couldn't stock up on like milk. Hopefully I'll manage to have a coffee at the same time.

Pain is not a huge issue. I'm not certain that the tramadol does much but I guess I would notice if I didn't take it. I'm taking four doses of paracetamol to keep a low level of relief ongoing. I took a 800mg Brufen tablet yesterday evening because I was having bad breakthrough pain and it seems to have worked the trick. It's slow release and seems to provide a nice dulling.

My foot is much more mobile than I expected. I can lie it on the heel or over on the side of the foot when it gets sick of that. My quad muscle feels used from lifting the foot up and down and probably from having to hold the foot up while it was wrapped yesterday. I'm using three pillows to support it and that seems sufficient. I sleep with the foot out of covers and it seems warm enough in its shell. I have a bed cradle for keeping sheets off your feet in bed but with the pillows my foot would be above the top of it so it would serve no purpose.

I'm stick rocking my pajamas. They're comfy and the pants legs were wide enough to fit easily over the cast. I'm working up to trying a shower. Probably tomorrow. I've top and tailed with water and wash cloths but, it would be nice to wash properly. Also I had to wash my hair with the sterilising sponge before my op and it hasn't been kind to the texture. It's crying out for conditioning.

My hubby will be back to work tomorrow so I have to make sure that I have everything I need on hand before he goes. I think that I'll be having peanut butter crackers for lunch everyday. I do have some nice drink mixes if I want a hot drink and I've got fruit juice so I'll get vitamins and hydrated. 

So I was prepared for a lot more pain than I'm experiencing. I guess I'm not putting too much pressure on it and maybe when I head out into the big wide world it'll be much worse. I had a lot of pain from the little toe along the side of my foot to my heel prior to the operation and that pain has gone completely. My heel is where there is pain and it often feels more like heat than pain. I am allowed 2 tablets every six hours so the last two times I've just taken one tablet and then taken the second one as needed. This seems to avoid the spacey feeling two gave me.

Hobbling on!

Day two

I was discharged home yesterday and the drugs of choice weren't too impressive.

I have paracetamol (acetaminophen), Tramadol - 2 tablets 3x a day, aspirin to prevent blood clots and Ondansetron to prevent nausea.

None of it seems to be working 100%. The pain is not too bad apart from the middle of the night. The nausea drugs are definitely not working. I had been keeping my fluids up and they really decided to come up. My poor husband had to clean up the bathroom after a simple trip to the loo resulted in a scene of the Exocist. Every time in drink I vomit so I'm taking tiny sips of lemonade and hoping to get a handle on it. I haven't eaten since yesterday breakfast which bounced.

I've done the inevitable put the foot down but managed to not put much weight on it so it didn't result in too much pain.

I had set myself up with Netflix, books and knitting but currently I can't really focus on anything. Fortunately I have six weeks for that to come right.

The knee crutch works well. No one had seen one before and the physio took notes for future clients. Between the bedroom and the bathroom I'm just managing on elbow crutches. I crawled up the stairs last night and I don't plan on going down again any time soon.

My bathroom set up is working well. I've got a toilet chair which doubles as a seat to sit on when vomiting. It is nice and stable and has side handles so it's easy to sit down and get up. I'm using hand sanitiser afterwards as advised by another blogger and that works great. There's no struggling with taps and coping with wet hands.

I certainly miss the pain pump but it's bearable. I just have to make sure I take everything regularly and try to keep on top of the pain. I also have to relax and not do anything but recover. That may take a bit of time.

Hit the road Jack

It looks like I will be going home this afternoon. Probably a good thing since my roommates are very noisy - coughing, snoring and farting!

I have to have another dose of antibiotics otherwise they'd probably have kicked me to the curb already. I'm going to miss my lovely little morphine pump. 

Apparently they have ordered me a knee scooter. Most confusing since the medical officer at the clinic had told me to order one myself. Good thing I didn't! 

My pain is much more controlled today. I basically made good use of the pulp overnight and that seems to have given good coverage. I am a bit spacey though!

The total dependence on staff is a pain. I have to ask to be taken to the bathroom and totally failed on the bedpan. I also have to chase up my medications since I have to hand them over. 

Starting to feel a bit spacey again so I'll sign off now.

The deed is done

I have now been under the knife and don't I know it!

In Nee Zealnd we don't get the nerve block so I'm attached to a pain pump and trying to get my pain under control. Hard to do!

It hurts like bajeebers to move my foot in any way.  

The surgeon used a different technique to repair the tendons. Cutting higher up the fit and stitching them together. It means a smaller scar and less pressure so well see what it turns out like.

So now I'm settled in my ocean view room, eating my cream cheese and cranberry sandwich and waiting for the family to descend.

Less than a day to go!

At 11:30 tomorrow morning I report in for my operation. The bonus with that time is I get to have breakfast as long as I have it before 7am.

I've been practicing on the iwalk 2.0 and I really rate it. I can bend over and pick things up off the floor and wander around quite happily. Going down stairs is a bit of a challenge, simply because the toe of the resting foot is very close to the previous step each time you step down. I will just have to take my time. I've managed to walk up our terribly steep drive. I used a crutch on the other side just for a bit more confidence but it went well. The only issue is that you can't swing your leg through since you effectively have no knee to bend so it's a lot slower going. Going down is fine.

I've packed my bag since I will be admitted. They provided a helpful packing list so that nothing is forgotten. I'm just hoping my pants fit over the splint or cast. I forgot to buy ear plugs. If I can't find my travel ones I'll just have to rely on my EarPods if I'm sharing with a snorer.

I've got our spare room set up for when I come home so it won't matter if I wake up in the middle of the night and have to turn the light on. I have an electric water dispenser that provides a cup of boiling water at a time so I'm set for tea and hot drinks. I also made sure to put aside a couple of bottles of Schweppes lemonade because it always makes me feel better when I'm sick.

 

My ipad is loaded with books to read, my knitting bag is full of wool, needles and patterns, my MacBook Pro has a new battery, netflix has loads for me to watch (although Agatha Chrisite's Marple has inexpilicitly disappeared and I had two series left) and there are also the regular TV on demand sites available as well. I think I should manage quite well. I do still have firefly on DVD if I find my self in times of trouble and Cap'n Mal comes to me speaking worthy of wisdom like "I am to misbehave" and "I'm a good man, well an alright man,"

I've measured my calf  so I can see how much it actually atrophies rather than guesstimating. It currently measures 35.5cm /14in across the widest point of the gastrocneus. I've epilatored so hopefully it will only minorly resemble the leg of a gorilla when the cast comes off. 

Note the attractive rolling outward of the feet.it really is a mutiny.

This is further illustrated by foot positioning of choice - just visible is the scar beside my great toe for a removal of a sewing needle in the year whe just every one was doing it. It has bee boxing out the top dog scar against my quite minor caesar scar and my perfectly petite hip replacement scar. I repco known there are another two scars on their was to take the top spot.

So now it's just a waiting game. Roll on 11:30 July 3rd. 

This time next week...

Surgery day is getting closer. This time next week I'll have been realigned and reconstructed unless some little old lady's fractured hip bumps me down the list.

My foot has been becoming increasingly more painful so I'm glad I'm booked in. The surgeon believes it's going to be a mess in there since it's been three years of ongoing stress on the poor Perineus longus since the brevis got even more brevis.

I'm entering the swan stage - trying to look serene on the surface whilst paddling madly to get everything done before I become becalmed. I heard from someone who used an iWalk 2.0 post CO and really rated it. This is reassuring since all the testimonials seem to be fractures and Achilles' tendon repairs. He advised having a good try of it before surgery when you can't do too much damage. I have been - I tried stairs - easy going up but you have to be really careful of your foot going down. I also discovered that you can't really wear a skirt with the apparatus. Not that I was planning on it but I thought I'd have a play around today when I was and it was interesting.

My plans for the next three days leading into surgery week are prepare lots of meals that can be thrown in the slow cooker, get my blood tests done, attempt our driveway in the iWalk 2.0 with a supporter alongside.

I may also try out dog walking. I also need to get some knitting needles in case I decide to knit up some of the horde of wool I have collected.

All looks like a plan!

I has a pegleg

Today I received my iWalk 2.0 knee crutch all the way from the US. I waited for my other half to get home to assemble it because it works best with two.

So it sat taunting me until he had time to deal to it. Assembly was really straightforward. We didn't need the online videos but I had watched them previously. They were useful in advising about setting the height once you had conquered beginner mode.

Once it was all put together it was an awesome beast. It takes a bit of faith to trust it. The instruction manual had a few exercises to run through that helped to build confidence. Side bends and stretches - the physio has started already!

It's not a subtle device, that's for certain but if it gets me up and moving independently and let's me carry a cup of tea to my bed or the sofa then I'm sold.

What amazed me is the ease of using it.

Here is a demo!

Then within minutes it's adjusted to a higher and more comfortable height and we're off!