Some More Transparencies

This is the kind of information that will help you see the truths about your own surgery. Or at least know how it might affect other aspects of your day-to-day workings. (see earlier transparancies here)

BATHING

During this second week I have found every other day to be all I can muster for bathing. It's a slow and cold task. Being naked and wet while not under warm running water makes me feel like I'm camping... but much less fun.

My aunt lent me the chair. It only fits into the tub sideways, but turns out that's best for me. I sit and place my left leg outside the tub. (I use a small trashcan to help me keep my foot raised out there.)

ATROPHY

Just pointing your toes is enough to flex you calf muscle. I have not flexed my calf muscle in 2 weeks, and already Atrophy has set in. (disuse atrophy) 

My left leg is already starting to look thinner.
Geez, can you imagine how it will look after having the cast on for weeks?

EATING
Because I'm not moving like normal I'm not burning the calories I use to. So I'm being very conscious with my eating. When my surgeries are done, I want to go shoe shopping.... not to a gym to lose weight.


PROPPING 

The pain is too great to keep my foot down, even when brushing my teeth. So I prop it up on the sink. (what this is)



 


WEIRD
When I touch the very front of my ankle area, I feel a painful pulling in my 1st metatarsal Bunion! I wonder if this will go away as I heal.


HALF CAST

These first 2 weeks I've been wearing a half cast (Splint). I have unraveled the outer ace bandage and taken my foot out of the splint to stretch out my ankle. I was shocked at how stiff my ankle was!  

This now raises concern about when the complete cast comes off many weeks from now. Will I need physical therapy?? 

Difficulties On My Own

Hi all!  

I'm struggling a bit with being 'transparent' because it may be discouraging, but I promised myself I would be transparent to paint the real picture of this surgery for those of you seeking information, so here goes.

Well here is where the reality hits the road. I live alone. During the first week I had my mom to get things for me, but now I'm on my own.

I'm a planner, but you can't anticipate everything. I have discovered that I have no hands! You can't carry a cup of tea from one room to another because both your hands are needed for the crutches.

To deal with this I carry a satchel across my body. In it I have things like a bottle of water, cell phone, pen and paper, kleenex, medication, etc. To carry tea I have to carry it in a thermos in my satchel.

I have also learned that I had 'foot' surgery done, but it might as well have been my whole leg because the discomfort I feel goes all the way up to my hip. This surgery (one stage) does not allow you to rest your foot on the floor, so all traveling on the crutches calls for you to elevate it above the floor. 

The rest of your body has to compensate for this. For me, it is causing aches and pains in other areas like my hips. I even hurt something in my right quad muscle. I had been using that muscle to lift myself from being seated. After a few days at home it gave way.

So now I shimmie myself to the edge of the sofa/bed and try my best to use my arms to lift my toosh up.

And most of all, I have found that it is much too uncomfortable to have my left leg perpendicular to the floor (leg is regular standing position). The blood flows down and your foot feels like it's going to pop. (Would this also happen to someone who just has the Brachy done and not the bunions with it like I did? Dunno.) (I can now tell you that after having just  the bunionectomies on my right foot, I did not experience this, so I would have to assume it's the Brachy on-stage that does this.)

So when I get up on my crutches, anything I do... I just want to do it in a hurry so I can get my leg back to an elevated position! I really didn't expect this. It's very frustrating. Even seated with my leg elevated becomes uncomfortable after 20min. It seems I have to be in more of a laying down position.

When I fix myself something to eat or clean the dishes I have to prop my whole leg up because I can't take the pain otherwise. (Thank goodness I'm flexible).

 

Let me also say that I am in decent shape. I can't imagine what it would be like if I had a lot of excess weight. Geez.

When I do elevate my foot like this, my right leg has to carry all the weight. It does get tired and soar.

And here is another surprise, my palms are soar too. This is from the crutches. And I'm not even going outside, it's just the small travels within my apartment tiny apartment. (345sq ft.)

I'm hoping that these issues will iron themselves out as time passes. Things have to get better right?