10th Week — Post-Op Summary

Normal left foot placement
on the clutch pedal

DRIVING
I tried driving again. I went downstairs with my boot on. Once in the car I switched to a big sneaker. (Ace bandage on, of course) With much effort I drove a few miles to my favorite bagel place and back again. (Not before sitting and having a YUMMY bagel!)

Can only use this section of my foot.

The problem is that I have to be sure not to apply pressure to the 4th metatarsal bones. This leaves me with the first three to use. Doing this, places my foot more to the left, BUT there is a bit of a wall that doesn't allow me to go much more left than you see here in the photo.... 

With the sneaker, my foot placement on
the pedal puts too much pressure near the
4th metatarsal bones.

And with a big sneaker on, it takes up much more room than a naked foot as in the photo above.

So when pressing down my foot bumps into the left wall, and it forces my foot to the right, causing me to put pressure on my 4th metatarsal bones.

While trying to drive like this, let me assure you that the clutch pedal gives a lot more resistance than the accelerator pedal (all the way to the right). I can feel pressure under my bunionectomy incision and intensely in my ankle. That night my ankle swelled up. I won't be driving again for a while.

FELL
I didn't have my boot on. I had a little slip in the kitchen. I was able to stop the fall, but my heal hit the floor and bore weight. Yup, I had to take a pain killer and ice it all night.

PAIN
Outside of the pain induced by the fall, pain was bearable this week. It's an underlying constant aching. It sometimes goes up through my hamstring to my buttocks, and stays a while.

SLEEPING
This is getting better, thank God. I wake up a lot, but am able to at least go back to sleep. 

EMOTIONS
This was not such a good week. I can't stress enough how I do not recommend doing this post-op alone**. It's a struggle sometimes to not have a pity-party. The effort it takes to do things and the loneliness at times is too much to bear.

THERAPY 

Before surgery                             Post-Op

It does seem as though the bending backward of my toes is improving with my exercises.

         The way it is.                 The way it should be.

But the range of motion when bending my toes forward is limited by the Bunionectomy I had. See the difference? This will dictate the height of heels I can wear in the future.

This is my right foot. (no surgery) While the bunions cause their own problem, the range of motion (bending) is fine to fit into this shoe.

NWB - Non Weight Bearing

It took me forever to gingerly struggle to put my left foot in this shoe. It's not in all the way (I can't crimp my toes properly to shimmie into it like we women do.) But you can see I don't have the full ability to bend to walk in this shoe. But the two bunions look much better, no?

CONGESTION

Making Guacamole! ;o)

I still raise my leg up in the kitchen and bathroom to avoid the discomfort of the congestion.

DISABILITY
I'm on disability. I get 8 weeks at 100% salary coverage and 4 more weeks, if I need it, at 60% my salary. Normally a doctor determines when you can go back to work. But my post-op doctor is relying on me to tell him when I can perform the responsibilities to my desk job without pain because of the oddity of the situation. 

The oddity is that I can not sit upright and put my foot up and be OK. That causes pain up my leg after about 30min. I NEVER ANTICIPATED THIS! No doctor or other brachy-ers online ever mentioned this. I would need my job to supply me with a lap-top so I can be reclined with my leg up, instead of the desktop they gave me to work from home. (My public transportation commute-to-work is too dangerous for crutches.)

After the 12th week, if I don't return to work, three things happen:

1. It goes into Long Term Disability, which is like opening a whole other claim.
   
2. My job is no longer protected under the FLMA law. 
   
3. My 60% salary is no longer paid by my job, but by my disability company.  

I didn't like the idea of not being protected under the FMLA. So I made arrangements for my doctor to sign the proper "return-to-work" forms, and talked to me employer to get a laptop delivered to me. This is the only way I can start work again.


Working now means I will use up 11 of the 12 weeks allotted to me. This leaves me one (1) unused week, that hopefully I can use when I get my bunionectomies for my right foot in a few months— I hope. That 1 week, and one week's vacation time should do it for recovery for the bunionectomies on my right foot. I hope! I can still work from home after that surgery. Let's see how things work out.

**I do have a friend who comes every other week to take me grocery shopping. And another friend who visits every Friday with me. And sometimes I'm blessed and a friend is able to take me out for a bit on a rare free day. And still, the cabin fever and loneliness I feel is terribly difficult to manage sometimes. I'm alone sometimes for 5 days straight without human interaction or the ability to go outside.

I'm sharing this so those whom this applies to can prepare themselves, but the truth is, not too many people have my exact situation— 1. live alone, 2. drive a stick-shift vehicle, with Brachy surgery on left foot. Add all these together and it's very hard to bear the affects of the long post-op.

I have found that I've had to take my own advice and utilize some of the positive links on the right side of my own blog.

9th week — Post-Op Summary

XRAYS
Saw Dr. Yes at the top of this week. All is well. He says I don't have to see him until the 12 week mark.

He took xrays marking my 8th week, and we sent them to Dr. West. I'M DYING to hear what he has to say about them. Maybe I can start walking sooner?!

PURPLE-EE (CONGESTION)
I asked Dr. West about the purple color of my foot from last weeks post. His reply: "Swelling and congestion is common for 'months'. Could be up to 6-12 months, but most is about 4-6 months." This congestion is not just a visual thing. It's very uncomfortable.

PHYSICALITY
This week I had to vacuum and mop. I did this before, during the first few weeks, and I ended up paying for it. But this time it was ok. It took me forever of course, hopping around and sometimes on my knees— but at least it's clean around here and I got to burn some calories. I'm really flabby. Can't wait to able to work out a little.

SLEEPING
Had to break down and take a pill twice this week to be able to sleep a little without the aching. But I do feel that finding a comfortable position is getting better. (Reminder, I had 4 surgeries done on one foot.)

MISSY
Easter Sunday was warm and I was invited over a friends house. As I was getting ready Missy was sniffing the fresh air coming in from the windows. I just couldn't take it! I felt so bad for her. I prayed and then mustered up the energy and courage to gimpy down the stairs and around the block with her on my crutches. 

I won't lie, it took some serious energy. (Long distance on crutches can make your collar bones ache.) And it was hotter than I would have liked, but it got done. I don't think she enjoyed it though cuz she had to wait for me and all she wanted to do was go. She would hurry along, but then feel a tug because there was no more slack on the leash... this made her think the tug was coming from me intentionally— some sort of disapproval on my part. My poor baby.

This confused her a lot cuz she couldn't figure what she was doing wrong. ;o( So then that made me feel bad. I won't be doing this again. I can't wait until I can walk her normally. She's such a trooper for going through this with me. ;o

PAIN
Pain is different now. It's not the suck-air-through-your-teeth type of pain. It's an aching that doesn't go away. And maybe a shooting pain about 3 times a week. My foot does not feel normal. 

THERAPY
Neither doctor has told me to do, or what to do, in regards to therapy. I started my own last week. I really feel it makes a difference doing the massaging. I feel it gets stiff when I don't do it.

FLEXIBILITY

See, the flexibility is getting better. Compare it to two weeks ago!

8th Week — Post-Op Summary

A bit of a breakthrough this week. YES!

The first bit of good news is I finished my taxes! ;o) At a turtles pace, but they are done! Yay!

That soon was coupled with an unseasonably warm day this week. I got to open my windows and let some fresh warm air flow through the apartment. (I can't walk Missy yet so she does all her business on her wee pads— the venting was needed. ;o)

PAIN

Heel pain I had last week diminished. Looking at my scars I decided it was time to bathe without a plastic bag on my foot. (I had not wanted to do this until the skin had really bonded together well— I didn't want incisions to reopen.)

Running water on my foot...OMG, this was amazing!!!!! I hadn't done that in 52 days!!! It was awesome. I gently scrubbed my foot with soap and water. (Had only periodically washed with a damp washcloth.) It was dreeeeamy!

MORE GOOD NEWS

I actually could put on a regular sock without it bothering me now. Wooohoo! (tried shoes... not happening yet.)



STRANGE (congestion)

I have to talk to my doc about this. Whenever my leg is down it changes color. (and becomes painful) I presume it's blood. The feeling of this several weeks ago was painful. Now the feeling is just uncomfortable. But the color thing is a little un-nerving. Gonna ask about it. Looks purple-ee. (what this is: see: "PURPLE-EE (CONGESTION)")

SCARS
Apposed to last week, this week I decided to go back to the ace bandage. I feel my scars still need the "pressure" for the scars.

Also, at the end of this week I decided one morning to massage my scars. (Doing it in the morning ensures any pain from it will subside by nightfall.) I thought it would be good for the scar tissue, to hopefully help heal with more flexibility.

Genius that I am, I did it too hard! The tendon underneath my Brachy scar swelled up. (made me panic a bit) and the opposite side of the heal-scar swelled up too! OY. I put the ace bandage on tight, checked it now and then. By the following morning things were fine.

A friend of mine went to physical therapy for a scar on her finger. She did confirm my thoughts about massaging the scar tissue. So I will continue, but gentler.

SLEEPING
Horrible. I have to do something about this...

LANDMARK

I'M 3/4 of the way through the 1st phase! YAY! 4 more weeks and I should be able to take my first steps! WooooHooo! 

TOE
This week I've been moving my toe as Dr. Yes recommended. Not remembering 3 times a day though. I do see immediate difference as to where the toe lays, but after a while it seems to revert back. I think I have to really do it 3 times a day and understand that it's a slow process. Let's see what happens.


Have a great week!

7th Week — Post-Op Summary

Here's how things are looking. Still swollen and quite tender. But a miracle still. This is a process, and perhaps the 'wow-factor'  that I've finally had this done hasn't hit me yet. But I'm sure as pain subsides and agility returns I'll be able to enjoy the amazing thing this surgery means for me. I'd just like to walk already, ya  know. ;o/


FLEXIBILITY

I'm bending both right and left sets of toes with all my might here.


PAIN 
This week my heel and large tendon behind my ankle have been a pain—literally. You've ever heard the saying, "It has to hurt if it is to heal" ? Well I'm hoping that's why it ached so much this week! ;0) (I want to note that I'm starting to think that I'm feeling more discomfort than I should because I'm home all day without my boot on. (against doctors orders... what if I fall?) And because I do for myself, I think my foot is getting too much movement (giggling?). Is this causing me more pain at night?)

SLEEPING
The heel pain has caused small spurts of sleeping. I awaken many times during the night tossing, trying to find a pain-free position. I can't fall back to sleep and am awake 3 hours at a time. (In one of my past posts thought this was remedies after reducing my medication, but I guess it's back)  Thank God I'm on short term disability, this kind of sleep would negatively affect my work. (It's important to note that I am off all Meds right now. I'm sure if I were on Meds I'd be sleeping pain-free.)

DR. VISIT

Dr. Yes took no xrays as there would be no noticeable changes since the xrays taken 2 weeks earlier. (No news is good news.)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Dr. Yes told me to start maneuvering my 4th toe. (Put my index finger behind the base of the toe and softly press forward. For two minutes, 3 times a day.)

However, Dr. West, my surgeon, told me specifically not to touch my toe until the 10th week when he would provide the exercises I should do. If Dr. Yes is wrong in his recommendation, it is possible that my toe will pop-up like it use to. And if that happens, I would be up against an additional surgery to correct that! What would you do?

Well I decided to start Dr.Yes' recommendation because my Brachy isn't as distorted as some Brachyans. My fourth toe never touched the floor, but it didn't pop-up as severely as some other cases I'm familiar with.

I couldn't remember to do it during the day so I'd just do it once at night in front of the tube. But I noticed my foot would ache a lot more when I was trying to sleep. So I stopped. I will try again next week.

DRIVING

I had asked my surgeon if I could put weight at least on my heel and he said 'no'. But just 2 days ago I made my way downstairs to my car. I wanted to see if I could use the area under my 1st three toes to press down on the clutch. Maybe I could at least drive myself to my doctor's appointments, right?  

NOT. No way. Didn't happen. I can't believe how hard I had to press against the clutch to get it to move only a smidge! My foot doesn't have the strength yet. I'm amazed.


BANDAGE

Attending my scars twice a day got me real tired of wrapping and unwrapping the ace bandage. It also felt a little hot with them on. So I thought I'd go get a roll of gauze, but I found something better. Isn't it snazzy? ;o) It's a mesh tubular bandage.


Very light weight and comfy.;o)

I use this type of gauze pad directly on the incision sites. Non stick (or non-ouchie ;o) With Neosporin.

I found this type of gauze uncomfortable against my incisions, so I don't use it. The non-stick pads are the way to go.
 

NOTE (Hypertrophic Scars)
I wanted to say something about the bandages and scars. I got the large size (tube bandage) on purpose so it would be loose fitting. But I don't think it's wise to do this at the beginning of a scar. Incisions need some snug pressure against them to avoid the scars becoming Hypertrophic.

Hypertrophic Example.
© Prime Health Channel

It's been proven that while doctors can prescribe topical ointments (OTC and otherwise), and/or give injections directly into a hypertrophic scar to reduce its 3D characture, THE BEST THING TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT OF A HYPERTROPHIC SCAR IS PRESSURE. 

I know this because I had surgery some years ago and have a couple of 6" scars that became hypertrophic! Think about it, a person with a scar running vertically down their abdomen demonstrates this. The scar is very 3D-like above and below where their belt line is. But the part of the scar that gets the pressure from their belt is nice and flat.

Also, I'm not sure, but it is possible that not all skin on the body is created equal. Is the skin on your neck more susceptible to hypertrophic scaring than your knees, etc.? If so, what about feet? I don't know. (I do know that the world of medicine thinks some skin pigments lend themselves more to scaring like this than others.) But I'm not taking any chances.

That being said, I will be watching my scars and if more pressure-time is needed I'll be switching back to my snug ace bandages. ;o)

Ciao!

6th Week — Post-Op Summary

Spring is on it's way!!! - © Favu Photography™

Another improved week. Hallelujah!

PAIN

Same as the 5th week, but less often— especially towards end of week. ;o) (The pain in my hip, quad muscle, and tendons behind my knee is gone for now.)

MEDICATION

This week I only took a pill at night when awakened with discomfort. But one day at 4:30am I awoke with some throbbing. I fought off the idea to take a pill— I don't want to have a habit. Two hours later it was relieved without medication. ;o)

So now it's been three whole nights without medication! YAY!

MOBILITY

My mobility and balance has improved. I've had 6 weeks of practice on one leg and it shows.

INCISIONS

My skin is peeling because of the tanning I did before surgery (stupid!). So I've peeled what I could. Then I washed my foot with a washcloth twice this week. It's a slow gentle process.  (Never wetting the incisions themselves!)

I am using maximum strength Neosporin twice a day, keeping my Raw eating lifestyle (90%), Using Vitamin E Oil, No refined sugars, and no dairy, etc.

My incisions now look like this:

SLEEPING

Beginning of this week I would wake up 2-3 times a night. I'd spend at least 2 hours awake trying to fall back to sleep.

  BUT...

Hooray!!!! Remember during the first week I said, "I have too much "awake energy". I think I'd rather be more sleepy." ?

Well I was right. It really was the medication because last night was the third night without medication and I only got up twice but was able to fall right back to sleep.

I'm on my way to normalcy! ;o)

 
NUMBNESS
Below are the ares that are numb to the touch. And you know what? While my concern has been for the utility and mobility of my 4th metatarsal... when I try to curl my toes my pinkie toe doesn't bend at all!!!

5th Week — Post-Op Summary

Clockwise from top left: Bunionette, Brachy,
Heel, and Bunion

This week has been an improvement! YAY! ;o)
 

BATHING

I'm now able to bathe every day— if I wanted to. I seem to have developed a system for doing it without causing pain. But still slow and I use the chair in the tub. Being confined as I am, I've decided to still bathe every other day because it takes huge amounts of energy.

PAIN

The discomfort and pain levels have lessened. The pain I get now comes in flashes of shooting pain. They are intense but short. My medication intake has diminished also. Less swelling, and I'm lasting longer standing on my crutches before pain sets in. Wooooohoooo!

SLEEPING

I was told to sleep with the boot, after all it's suppose to take the place of the cast. But it is so huge that I opted not to sleep with it because I am an extremely light sleeper— I could never hurt myself in my sleep. (shhhh, don't tell my Doc.) ;o) This provides me with a few different positions when sleeping, but I get up during the night an average of 3-4 times because the comfort does not last long.

This has been a process for sure. Small improvements from week to week mean a lot! Thanks for all the support!!


See you next week! Tootles!

Best Sleeping Position So Far

It's week No.2 after surgery and I have found that in bed, I don't need to have tons of pillows under my leg. One seems to do. 

But I have noticed it feels best when I put both my legs up, and not just the one that had surgery.

I also discovered that all the toes on my left foot are sensitive. Even the weight of my comforter bothers them. So I took another pillow and placed it on the side to create a sort of tent effect.

That pillow takes the weight of my comforter, while my feet enjoy the warmth of being covered. ;o)

I still can't sleep on my side yet. Tootles!