As I look back, I'm reminded of so many things! My melancholy, the pain, and the small hurdles I overcame along the way. =o)
A FEW HAPPY THINGS
• I use to have a corn on my third toe and now it's gone. ;o)
• I also use to have thick calluses in the bottom front of my feet. They are gone too. I hope it stays that way.
• Another little thing is that before the surgery I was a size 9 to 9 1/2 shoe size; and now I'm a size 8 1/2 to 9. This is due to my Bunionectomies. Yay.
• In case you're wondering, I do not feel the hardware in my foot.
Remember I spoke about this back in the "Didn't know" page? Back in the 11th post-op week? Anyway, when I wake up in the morning it feels as though my tendons have been in a ballerina position (pointed foot) for an ice age.
So every morning I have to recline myself forward to make the tendons feel "released". It's weird.
RED are numb areas. YELLOW are areas of a tingling sensation when touched.
PINKIE TOE
As I mentioned in a previous post, I suspected my 5th toe might develop a bump or callus because it's now rubbing up against the inside of my shoes.
It never did that before because it lived under my 4th toe. (I placed it out from underneath my 4th toe for the B/W photo.)
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Well, the past year has been a sedentary one. If you remember, I tried walking at the track back at the 6.5 post-op-month mark. It didn't go well. This post explains the complication with the fourth toe.
At the 8th month mark I tried the treadmill for 2 weeks, but my whole leg was in pain. I had to stop.
So now the question remains, "Will I forever have to wear a band-aid on my toe when doing intense physical activity to avoid a blister?" I think I've avoided the gym because I don't want to test this. I don't want a painful blister under my toe! But at this annual point, I really have to. I'll be sure to post the results.
SCARS
• I also use to have thick calluses in the bottom front of my feet. They are gone too. I hope it stays that way.
• Another little thing is that before the surgery I was a size 9 to 9 1/2 shoe size; and now I'm a size 8 1/2 to 9. This is due to my Bunionectomies. Yay.
• In case you're wondering, I do not feel the hardware in my foot.
OUTSTANDING PAIN ISSUES
It's an annoying and sometimes miserable kind of pain. It's daily, and if I keep going I end up limping. I'm hoping it will diminish completely with time. |
||
UPDATE
The issue in this box WAS part of my outline when I started putting this entry together 4 few weeks ago. BUT something amazing happened. I won't go into the details, but I received complete healing in this area. This pain lasted 11 months and 2 weeks. I've been completely pain free for the past 2 weeks! So there are no outstanding pain issues! |
TENDONS
Remember I spoke about this back in the "Didn't know" page? Back in the 11th post-op week? Anyway, when I wake up in the morning it feels as though my tendons have been in a ballerina position (pointed foot) for an ice age. 
NUMBNESS
PINKIE TOE
As I mentioned in a previous post, I suspected my 5th toe might develop a bump or callus because it's now rubbing up against the inside of my shoes.It never did that before because it lived under my 4th toe. (I placed it out from underneath my 4th toe for the B/W photo.)
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Well, the past year has been a sedentary one. If you remember, I tried walking at the track back at the 6.5 post-op-month mark. It didn't go well. This post explains the complication with the fourth toe.
At the 8th month mark I tried the treadmill for 2 weeks, but my whole leg was in pain. I had to stop.
SCARS
 |
| The two in the center are from the Brachy surgery. |
VIDEO
As promised, I made a video to summarize this past year's journey in case you've just joined the Blog. ;o)
INSOLES
In the past few months I've had to invest in this stuff. 
It helped with the pain, but moving forward I will make this part of my shoe-drobe because I want better foot health.
The "High Heel" insole is just a must for me now. They feel
so good. I think this will help keep those calluses under the front part
of my foot at bay. And these things even have arch support! Awesome.
FLEXING
This is how things look when I flex my toes upward. 
RESULTS
 |
| My right foot looks gigantic! LOL |
This is more likely with the one-stage method vs the external fixator. I knew that going in.
With all I've been through— I'm ok with it.
I'm more bothered by the results of my bunionectomies. Specifically, the first-metatarsal on my left foot. Seriously, I thought it would be better than that. But it's been a year of recovery and it's time to just move on.
HELP
As I had shared in this post,
I'm looking for flip-flops that say "Puerto Rico" on the straps.
Preferably in leather. If anyone knows where I can find them, please
leave me a comment. ;o) Thanks.
QUESTIONS
Is there anything you'd like to know that I haven't covered?Thanks for following!
8 comments:
Hi i have just finished reading through your entire blog. i am 22yrs old and have been going back and forth trying to decide if i should do the surgery. i just wanted 2 express how grateful i am that you have blogged about your experience and it has given me the courage to finally go through with it :)
That's a whole lot of reading. lol. Well I'm glad it is helping you, that's what it's for. I sure wish I had something to follow when I was going through mine. Surgery isn't for everyone, but if it's for you then I'm glad you're going ahead to enjoy the benefits later! You're going to do great, keep visiting the blog.
Hello... This blog is awesome!! I too am scheduled to have the one-step surgery in May 2012. I have been reading up on this condition and doing my research for a few months now. Although I am 1oo% sure I want to have this surgery, I am kind of having second thoughts which span from the doctor who will be performing my surgery. I went to him for two consultations and he was pretty knowledgeable about the procedure but he wasn't very personable. Do you think I should let his personality influence my decision? Last night I spoke with my mom about it and I guess I was so excited about finally getting this taken care of that I really didn't put much thought into his personality. Do you think I should get a feel for another podiatrist? Is the guy personality truly a big deal? Anxious and semi confused!!:)
missportafina, Thank you for following the Blog! ;o) I'm not sure how much help I'll be, as I won't tell you what to do. But I will give you some things to think about.
What first comes to mind is that one would want the procedure to go the very best it can. If that can be achieved with a great doctor who has a less desirable bedside manner then so be it, right? The opposite isn't appealing, a Dr. who one clicks with but doesn't know what the heck they are doing.
BUT there are no perfect surgeons, and while we all want our procedures to be 100% perfect, it's not always the outcome. (Sometimes we have to settle for 95% satisfaction.) Much less with Brachy, where VERY few doctors can profess REAL years of experience at this time. That being said, if there is anything that needs addressing after the procedure you would want to be able to communicate comfortable with your doctor and know that you are being heard and understood.
Lastly, your surgery is already scheduled... 1. not sure how well it will go over with cancelling it so soon to the date, and 2. Do you really have another Brachy doctor in your area? I know doctors are now professing left and right that they are the PROS in Brachy but very few actually are right now, much less two in the same town. (but you may be that fortunate.)
Perhaps do some fast but quality research of your options 'before' you cancel with your current doctor?
You've waited a long time for this, will a little more matter? Is rushing worth regret afterwards? Do you really have options outside of your current doctor? Can you speak to your current doctor about how you feel? Maybe he will be more attentive if you mention how important it is to you.
Whatever you choose I'm sure it will go well. I'm excited for you! Please let me know how you do. ;o)
Hello just wanted to know if your brachy toe was numb to touch after surgery. I'm on day 8 post surgery and can't feel a thing when I touch that toe. I know you're not a doctor, I go see mine again Monday. Just wanted to know your experience with this!! Kind of concerned but I'll stay positive! Thanks
Brachychik,
Yes I had numbness on my brachy toe. It was gone by the 15th wk. Yours may go away sooner than mine did.
Go to the "Labels" section on the right column. Click on "Numbness" & scroll through the posts to view the NUMBNESS images.. Start at the bottom. You'll see that I had it, then it went away.
I'm sure you'll be fine. Congratulations on the surgery. Hang in there, so worth it! ;o) Keep me posted.
Hi there! For months I been reading your blog, I had the Brachy one-stage procedure done about two weeks ago and I saw your picture, how it doesnt look like your right foot exact but your happy with it. Let me say you can't tell the difference, it looks great!
I just had the procedure done and although i can tell the alignment of all the toes are now the same, I still think my 4th toe still looks exactly in height as the pinky. Did yours grow over time, I'm kinda bummed with my result right now.. although I was told It would grown 1mm more and I could go back for a quick procedure for another 1mm. Can you take a look at my page to give me your opinion. thanks!!
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