Freedom!

 I have waved goodbye to my moonboot. My ankle seems to be doing all the right things. I just have to make sure the stressors placed on it are not greater than the strength of the bond! Physics anyone!

My surgeon recommends I wear boots. My work boots are great and I have some casual Timberland boots but I don’t see them looking right if I’m going anywhere special.

My foot doesn’t feel like it agrees with the decision to free it. I have a very hesitant step because it’s having to learn to roll through itself instead of depending on the moonboot. I haven’t been given any physio. My only direction is no pounding for 3 months and do cycling to get my fitness back. I’m hoping deep water running is ok because it’s more my jam than cycling to nowhere.

I have another appointment in 3 months to check the final fusing has occurred although every time she’s looked at my xrays she’s said “It looks good but you can never really tell.” Words to fill me with confidence, not!

I find it interesting how recovery varies so much around the world. Same bones but so many different protocols and procedures. I found it a huge learning curve because what I had read up on about ankle fusion was different to what happened in my experience. I felt a bit like I was treading new ground even though I wasn’t.

Life in a moonboot

My moonboot has been my constant companion for six weeks. If you asked me to produce a right shoe, I would struggle. I am over the sound of Velcro ripping apart and the clomp of the boot as I walk. I was watching The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix and the Dark Lord came walking into Dorian Gray’s and the sound of his one human foot and his one cloven hoof walking sounded just like me!

The levels of pain have varied. Two to four weeks after the cast came off have to be the most painful. Part of it was I developed plantar fasciitis after being in the cast. I didn’t know that it was plantar fasciitis, I just knew it felt like it. I would heat a wheat pack and wrap it around my heel and ankle to relieve everything that hurts.

Paracetamol was usually sufficient but I did take a tramadol a couple of times and a naproxen a couple of times. I am on gabapentin as a treatment for some of my MS symptoms so that had to help.

Despite finding the moonboot a chore I wasn’t really hindered too much by it. My work wouldn’t let me return to work until I was out of it because working for NZ Customs I need to be able to wear steel capped boots and react quickly in emergencies. So I’ve been learning French and getting lots of things done. It’s also made medical appointments easier to arrange, as well as vet visits.

I went on holiday to New Caledonia and learnt a valuable lesson. Do not get sand in your moonboot. I thought I’d dusted it all off but some remained and it rubbed really nasty patches on my leg. Not fun when you need to wear the moonboot that caused the rubs. I covered them with plasters and they started to settle down. While we were there I really tested out the capabilities of my moon boot. I went looking for a supermarket and managed to walk 15 kilometres! No real side effects until I did the sand trick.

I have found it really hard to be balanced while in the moonboot. I bought some trainers that seem about the right height and shoes with a small heel work great. I still manage to scrunch up my back and I’m having real issues with my lower back. I’ve had to have a few hot baths to get it to relax.

The scar still looks angry. It’s thick and red and sensitive. I’m hoping that it will shrink down and lighten up to resemble all the other scars in the same area.

It’s one day to boot off (hopefully). There should be a better indication that everything is bonded. I am so paranoid I am setting myself up to expect a repeat surgery. The skin around the joint burns like fire. It also feels like it clicks and even feels a bit unstable. I’m crossing everything that that will not be the case. I want emancipation from my moonboot.