Just had my 5 month post-op check up today. Some was good, and some was not-so-good.

I had a small melt-down... I'm so tired of the whole thing and scared as heck to go back to work standing on cement for 8 hours per day. I guess that's why doctors get the big bucks - they have to deal with hysterical women crying!! :D

He did tell me that I'm doing GREAT for 5 months out. Apparently better than other patients he's seen. That being said, he agrees that I'm not ready to go back to my regular job. So he's extended my disability for 6 more weeks. Then I think by state law I'll run out. That means I've got to either make a miraculous recovery to do my job, or search for a new one that doesn't involve being on my feet for 8 hours per day.

He wants me to continue with physical therapy for another 4 weeks... my therapist is in agreement with this, as am I.

Then, the kicker... he said that some of the pain and swelling I'm having on the outside of my foot is due to irritation of the peroneus brevis (sp?) tendon. He told me that the swelling and scar tissue may be entrapping or compressing the tendon & nerve, so I got yet one more lovely shot of cortisone. This one is really hurting me right now! Darn it all...

My husband and I also joined a health club this week, so the doctor was discussing things that would be good for my recovery... and lo and behold he belongs to the same club! He said, "See you there!"

So that's my update du jour.

How is everyone else getting along?

Deb

Deb,

Brava and Bravo on the good report (other than the injection... ouchie) I am glad to hear that you are swift on the road to recovery.

Have you checked to see if you qualify for any kind of job placement or re-training for the work issue? Maybe there is a position you can get within the company that would be less ambulitory?

As for the weeping women... lol... I have outright bawled at Dr appointments so don't sweat it. Having something like this can be very emotionally draining and even if you seem to be handling it all just fine you will enter that office, the Dr will walk in and it is like some emotional trigger is hit and on comes the tears. Maybe it is a form of post-tramatic stress, I dunno, but most Dr's take it in stride and make an effort to answer all your questions and do not think the lessor of you in any way. (I have never been in an Ortho's office yet that did not have a box of tissues near the exam table, so I am sure that they are very used to it)

Deb,
I'm glad to hear that your MD appt went so well! Sounds like you're pretty relieved to not have to face 8 hrs of standing/walking for awhile. That would be tough...I know the days I do a lot of walking are days I'm more swollen and sore.

I found it interesting that you're having issues with the peroneus brevis tendon. I have been having issues in that same area the last few weeks and my PT wants to start doing iontophoresis starting Monday to see if that will calm things down. I wonder if that's a bit of a "side effect" from the surgery, at least temporarily. Those cortisone shots are no fun...let us know how you're doing with it, if it took away the pain.

I don't have much of an update...just continuing with PT 2x/wk, biking and doing the exercises. Walking is getting better, though I still limp because I'm not doing a full heel to toe walking motion (and my toes love to come up to help me!!). I just want to get back to being more active again...so that's my motivation! Right now, I can't imagine running very soon, but it'll happen.
Krista

Hi Peny & Krista,
Thanks for your support & understanding. I guess I don't have to tell either of you how frustrating it is when you feel like you should be WELL (after all this time), but you just AREN'T.

Krista, as to the cortisone... so far the pain in the PB tendon/nerve is starting to calm down, but I'm having pain just from the darn needle trauma to the area. He stuck the needle behind my scar (toward heel) and jabbed it about an inch forward toward my pinkie toe. So it's bruised and sore... but I think it will end up doing what he intended for it to do.

I think the nature of our surgery - either having a bone graft inserted or having the calcaneus shifted - causes us to completely change the way we stand on the foot, what muscles are used, where bones receive pressure, and all that goes along with it. My doctor said that I've never really walked normally, so my 5th ray is receiving pressure it's not used to. I'm kind of thinking that's part of what's going on with the PB tendon. Plus, just the swelling from the surgery itself, he said, is causing compression and irritation on the area.

I'll keep you updated on how it goes. Good luck with your own cortisone treatments at PT. Do you ever get skin irritation from the ion cortisone? I used to get ugly, hard blisters from it. Yuck.

Happy healing!
Deb

Hi all
I know i am quite a way behind all of you...i've been in the boot for 2 weeks now. I'm walking reasonably well i think. I can't walk that far, but am weight bearing more and more, and theres no sharp pains at all ( yet?)

How on earth can you weight bear more while walking in the boot though?? Theres a rocking motion to the boot, and i just can't concentrate on rocking and not using the crutches as much, at the same time!! Help!!

Mazzie

Mazzie...
I think that I went from two crutches while in the boot to only one crutch pretty quickly. That gets you putting more weight on your surgery foot. Use just the one crutch on the good side and move it forward as you step with your surgery foot.

Good Luck - take care.

Thanks Abikat,

i'll give that a try tomorrow, and let you know how it goes. I know i'm just wimping out a bit, coz it isnt really painful. I think i'm just scared of doing damage. Physio thinks i should be down to one crutch or none in 2 weeks, so i really should try.

Thanks again, fingers crossed.

Mazzie :)

Mazzie,

I found it difficult to maneuver using one crutch. I basically went from 2 crutches to none. And it is actually more difficult to walk in the boot than in shoes (at least for me it was)... when you get the o.k. to wear shoes, you'll start progressing very quickly.

Good luck!
Deb

Hello All,

I had surgery last week. A removal of scar tissue around the Posterior Tibial Tendon and a tendon transfer. The FDL was cut and twisted around the inflamed Posterior Tibial Tendon. I know I have a long recovery ahead. I have had ankle pain for over 2 years on a daily basis. My previous surgery a year and a half ago a nerve release and ligament tightning did not alleviate my pain. That surgey was very difficult to recover from. I was never able to run again after the surgery and movement of my foot was limited for along time due to stiffness. I was just wondering what kind of recovery times and or problems people had from the tendon surgery. And if any of you have had multiple surgeries.

I'm new to this so if I posted in the wrong spot I apologize but it seemed the most relevant to what I'm going through.

thanks so much,

Kathryn

Kathryn, I'm 5 months post-op. I had debridement of the PT tendon with tendon transfer of the FDL, and also had an Evans calcaneal osteotomy. This is my first, and hopefully last, surgery. I am kind of nervous about my PB tendon, however... time will tell if the cortisone will help with that.

There is a thread somewhere down several pages entitled "Posterior Tibial Tendon Sugery" that I started prior to going in for surgery. A lot of people posted with their own experiences, so maybe you could get some information there.

It is a long healing process, that's for sure!

Good luck,
Deb

Hi all the 4-5 month gals: I made it through my 10 hour flight OK. I didn't listen to my PT and took my shoe off during the trip, and the crew brought me a bag of ice to help. It actually went OK. The next few days I had more pain and swelling, but I think a large part of that was also caused by all the walking through the airport, and then being at a friends apt and not being able to really put it up like at home. I'm not looking forward to the trip home, but at least I know I can do it.
Deb- I could never stand on my feet for 8 hours a day right now, but maybe with the extra 6 weeks you'll hit the point that it finally is OK and the operation is actually behind you. The thing that annoys me the most, is how my Dr. lied about the recovery time frame. Without the help of the original board I wold have gone crazy. I'm walking slowly, but I'm beginning to be able to walk further without pain. In the morning I actually manage about 10-15 minutes walking almost normally before the limp sets in. I'm done with PT, but doing my stretches, balances, and toe rises everyday, and just waiting for that pain free, swell free day to arrive. (A friend of mine said at about 6 months she had good days, and around 9 she felt normal).
Mazzie- I had my own wierd system to get used to 1 crutch and then none. We have a hallway that I practiced walking in, holding my other hand close to the wall, but not touching- then if I needed to I could catch the wall, and the physcological effect of the wall helped me.
Leslie

Hi Leslie,

Glad you survived the long flight!

That's really a shame that your doctor didn't tell you what to expect in the recovery process, especially the time frame. I am grateful that my doctor told me that up front. He told me the recovery would be difficult and LONG. Boy, he sure wasn't kidding!

Sitting here at 5 months out, I feel like I *should* be able to do more... it was good for him to remind me of his original words - 9 months to a year. He said for 5 months I'm doing great, so I need to take that to heart and not let myself get down on the things I *can't* do... but look at how far I've come and what I *can* do!

Some days I hurt more than others, so I limp more... some days I feel great and don't hurt until I've been up and on my feet for a longer time. About 45 min to an hour is my threshhold for being pain-free.

But what I have noticed is that suddenly - like within the past 2 weeks - is that my swelling has really not been an issue. It's almost as if suddenly *poof* it was gone!

Good luck to you, keep us updated as to how you're doing.

Deb

Hi to all again

I'm going on a flight in september, so thanks for the hints Leslie. I wont take my shoe off...thats even IF i can wear shoes by then.

I've been trying to walk more with this damn boot, tried one crutch on both sides and its just not happening...i look like a duck trying to take flight i think.
I am just over 8 weeks post op, but been in the boot for almost 3 weeks ( due to cast coming off early) My Physio is away at the mo, but says i should be walking without crutches by 3rd sept, coz i am then gonna be weaned into a shoe..... This just seems impossible though, my trainer is not as tall as the boot, and i just can't get it right. Should i try and get trainers the same height as boot, or wont that help??
Should i be doing this quicker than i am??? I am gonna pull my hair out soon!!

Mazzie

Mazzie, you may want to shoot me when I say this... but BE PATIENT! My therapist was also telling me I needed to get rid of the crutches and boot and at the time it seemed like it would never happen.

Remember that you're only 8 weeks out! I wasn't even allowed to bear any weight until 9 weeks. You're doing great! If one crutch is awkward (it was for me, too), then just TELL THEM you are not comfortable using only one. As for me, it was easier to use 2 crutches, even if I was only using them a little bit, until I could go to NO crutches. But that's just me.

I wouldn't worry about trying to find shoes the same height as your boot. You'll be out of the boot soon enough (YES, you will!!) and then it won't be of any concern.

I also found it easier to get around walking without the boot on. I got rid of the boot before I got rid of the crutches, in fact. But do what works for you!

Patience, patience, patience... we all know how hard it is because we've been there... but it will all come together for you before you know it!

Deb

Thanks Deb

I know i must be patient with all this, and you know what its like...I feel i am not moving forward i guess. I was really hoping to be walking a bit when i get married in 4 weeks. I wont talk to my family anymore about how i feel, they must be more sick of it than i am....if thats humanly possible!

So thanks for letting me let off steam on here, it really helps to talk to people who know what it feels like.

Mazzie :)

Mazzie, you will make a LOT of progress in 4 weeks. Hang in there! And remember that whether you're in a boot or not, your wedding will be fabulous!

Chin up!
Deb

Mazzie,
I second what Deb said...you will be surprised at how much your ankle will improve over the next month. I was just saying to my PT that over time, as progress has been made, I forget where I was just a week, a month or 3 months ago. There are ups and downs, but overall, everything gets much better. You have some motivation to push you forward too...that helps! To lighten the pressure, remember that your wedding day will be focused on you in your beautiful dress and your fiancee and all the happiness surrounding that...not whether you're walking well, if you're in a boot, etc. Keep us posted on how you're doing...and about your wedding! Hang in there!
Krista

Hi Krista,
How's your recovery going?

I was at therapy today and my therapist was mentioning his concern over my assymetry (sp?) from the repaired foot to the other foot. He said it will be really important for me to work on strengthening my lower body so that I don't end up with knee or hip problems or tendinitis in the un-repaired foot. UGH. Good thing I've been working out at the gym! Gluts and thighs - here I come!

The cortisone shot seems to have really helped the one area of swelling and the pain in the peroneus brevis tendon I was having. Now I just have the other aches and pains to deal with! But it's getting better... like you said, looking back to where I was a month or three months ago - WOW!

Deb

Hi Deb,
Glad to hear that the cortisone seems to have helped! Don't you love the assymetry part?! Our bodies are pretty amazing when you think about it! Good idea to work your quads and glutes...they will help support your ankle. I'm doing exercises on my good foot, trying to prevent anything from happening there.

I've been taking Celebrex and had to stop earlier this month due to stomach problems. Now I'm on a generic form of Prilosec to see if my stomach can heal up and feel better! Problem now is that when I have any pains, I don't dare take Advil or Aleve...and Tylenol does squat. So, I still end up taking a Percocet here and there since it's the only thing I trust on my stomach.

My foot is definitely getting better, but I'm learning I have a ways to go! PT is getting more difficult. No more whirlpool foot soaks! One of the more painful things is using the BOSU ball--balancing on one foot--and doing the band exercises on one foot. Balancing in general hurts! And the BAPS board...yikes! My PT said it's due to the weakness in the muscles and that it's a good thing my arch is sore (in a twisted way!!). I still walk with my big toe up, so she's getting after me about that (no callous yet on the big toe, like on the other foot, because the big toe is not touching town!!). I guess I don't have issues with the peroneal brevis tendon, it's actually one of the ligaments, so doing ionto for that. So...at 13 weeks, it's coming along and there is light at the end of the tunnel! :)
Krista

Mazzie- I was out of the boot at 8 weeks, but walking with 2 crutches. My Dr. said i could use the boot if my foot got tired, but if not just sneakers. I'm sure you will be in sneakers for the wedding- Just decorate them and say to hell with it. Elegant heels would have hurt after a while even if you were healthy- I know I ended up barefoot by the end of mine. And Deb is right- patience. I know ;) it goes slow. I am 5 months out and still walking very slowly, and carefully. I'm a ballet teacher who was supposed to be 100% normal by now- and I'm sure not normal for me- but I look back each month and see that there is progress!
Leslie
Hi to all again

I'm going on a flight in september, so thanks for the hints Leslie. I wont take my shoe off...thats even IF i can wear shoes by then.

I've been trying to walk more with this damn boot, tried one crutch on both sides and its just not happening...i look like a duck trying to take flight i think.
I am just over 8 weeks post op, but been in the boot for almost 3 weeks ( due to cast coming off early) My Physio is away at the mo, but says i should be walking without crutches by 3rd sept, coz i am then gonna be weaned into a shoe..... This just seems impossible though, my trainer is not as tall as the boot, and i just can't get it right. Should i try and get trainers the same height as boot, or wont that help??
Should i be doing this quicker than i am??? I am gonna pull my hair out soon!!

Mazzie

Deb, Krista, Leslie

You don't know how good it is to hear your all doing well!! Thank you all for your good wishes..........I really dont care if i am in boot or a trainer for my wedding, as long as i can walk a bit! You all give me great hope!
I know your all way ahead of me, and i sort of wish i had been there in the original pttd post...but its good to know how your all doing, and believe me it really lifts my spirits!!

I have told my surgeon about all you guys you know...so your all famous in the uk, ok!!

I can't thank you all enough for your encouragement! I will keep pressing on, and let you know how its going.

Roll on the trainers!!

Mazzie :)

Hello again all

Well i actually put a trainer on today, and walked!!! I could even walk with one crutch straight off. I kept it on for about an hour or so, and walked a few times...then it got sore ( of course) but hey , i did it!!
I think i need to find a bigger or wider trainer though, as my old ones felt a bit tight, even though its a whole size bigger than i normally take. My good foot feels like its got a clown shoe on it!

Hope everyone is doing well??

Mazzie :)

Mazzie,
Congratulations!! That is a huge STEP (har, har)! It will get easier and easier as you go along to wear your shoes. See? Just in time to get ready for your wedding! Hurray!

I'm coming along with my recovery. Been a little extra-sore this week, but I've been getting in a lot more activity. Next week my physical therapist wants to add more exercises and work on my stride and gait. He also has discovered that my hip flexors and quads are really tight so he has started doing manual stretching of those muscles. It feels so good <<NOT>>!

Hope everyone else is doing well.
Deb

My "good" foot has started acting up pretty badly, greatly so last week. It hurts when I'm driving (moving foot up/down/over...not a manual, thank goodness), walking, sitting, etc., like my left/surgery foot did before. I'm going in to see my dr on Friday to have him check it out. Not sure what he's going to suggest, as my left foot is still rehabbing and not fully functional, so a boot on that foot wouldn't be good, my stomach can't handle any sort of anti-inflammatory drug (on Prilosec right now) and I'm doing the same PT exercises I do on my left foot on my right too (have been for awhile). I just came from seeing my PT and was almost in tears on the way home because she said if I've already been doing the exercises and they haven't helped and the fact that she wouldn't recommend using a boot...she thought he might just suggest surgery. And a few people have even said that since I've maxed my out of pocket with insurance I should do it this year (maybe even before winter hits...I'm in the midwest)...part of me agrees with that, but yikes!! I don't want to go through this all again! I guess I'll just have to see what the MD says, but I'm a bit on edge now. :( I hate these feet things!

Oh, Krista!

I'm so sorry to hear you're having problems with your "good" foot now too. I can't even imagine... I think if someone told me I had to go through this again (especially right now!) with my other foot, they'd have to lock me up in the looney bin. Seriously, that is a hugely stressful thing to be looming on the horizon. I hope your doctor is able to give you some better options. Have you had cortisone shots or done iontosphoresis (sp?) yet?

Gosh - I sure hope it turns out to be fixable without surgery.

I know my "good" foot (also the right one) is flat and over-pronates severly. My doctor sent me to an othopedist who made a pair of orthotics for me by making plaster casts of my feet. The doctor and my physical therapist both have told me that I need to support that arch or I'm in grave danger of having it give out like the left side did.

Keep us posted as to what you find out... my thoughts & prayers are definitely with you!

Deb

Krista

I'm really sorry to hear you've got more problems now. I echo what Deb said... to hear the words "more surgery" at this point is just unthinkable!!
I really hope your Dr has other suggestions, and will keep my fingers crossed for you!!

My good foot now has plantar fasciitis....but thats fixable with orthotics.

My thoughts are with you...Please let us know what happens.

Mazzie xx

Krista- I also totally understand the way your feeling. The idea of starting the whole procedure again IS terrifying. When do you see your Dr.?Have you tried the AIRCAST PTT brace.? It is an ankle brace with an infatable arch. I wore it at the beginning when I was putting all my weight on my "Good" foot. I think it helped protect it. I ordered it from an online site for about $50.

Leslie

Hi Leslie, Mazzie and Deb,
Thanks so much for your good wishes and thoughts...I appreciate it! I just saw my doctor this afternoon. He is really pleased with how the left foot looks at 14 weeks and doesn't need to see me back until December, which will be a 6 month f/u appt. PT will be done in 3 weeks (6 more sessions) and that's all he wants me to do.

As far as my right foot, he wants me to get orthotics to see if some of the pressure on the PTT can be reduced and calmed down. Surgery isn't an option right now, as there needs to be a 6 month gap between surgeries, making it too early. I can't get into the orthotist until Sept 20 and it takes 2 weeks to get them back...crazy! I was hoping to have them in time for my trip to DC/VA at the end of the month, as I'll be doing a ton of walking.

He is hoping that the orthotics will do the trick and is "keeping his fingers crossed" for me. He told me to have faith that things will heal up, since the stress/imbalance resulting from surgery has had an impact. Interesting that my dr has flat feet himself and hasn't had any surgical correction...but he stopped running too.

Even though I was prepared for the worst, I'm relieved that it isn't coming to that, at least yet, and maybe not at all. He told me to try running, which I can't even imagine doing right now!!

So, that's my update. Hope all is going well with everyone else!
Krista

Hi Krista

Daft as this sounds, i have looked on here 4 times today, just to see your post!! I'm so relieved for you, and will keep my fingers crossed that it wont come to surgery!!
Sound like your surgery foot is doing great! I feel i'm following in your footsteps as i am 10 weeks P O now and started in a trainer. Much easier to walk in than the boot...as Deb said. I'm not allowed to walk much in it yet though, till next week.
My foot has been great really, not even any real swelling till recently, i guess thats with walking on it more??? The osteotomy site gets a bit huge, is that normal??
I am worried now though, i walked quite a bit on it on weds, and it started to hurt, so i stopped. I was in the boot with 2 crutches. When i took the boot off, it was hugely sore and swollen, and when i moved it , it felt like something was caught inside, then clicked, and moved...it hurt!!
Has anyone had anything like this??? I think it might be the chondral flap i had on my talus, the flap used to catch my tendon inside my foot...but they cut that out...and i am now scared its either the osteotomy gone wrong, or theres more cartilage pushed out of my talus. Am seeing physio again monday, so will see what she says.

Sorry to whinge on, am so please your ok Krista!

Mazzie

Mazzie,
You're so sweet...thanks for your support! What you might be feeling is scar tissue. My PT asked if I ever felt anything catching/like it needed to pop and that was why she asked. This surgery leaves a whole lot of scar tissue and I know it was tight and strong, which is why they have us doing the exercises we do, to break it up (and rehab it obviously!). And it can hurt when that happens. Are you massaging your incision scars? I was told to go across them, using either Vitamin E oil or Cocoa Butter (I use Palmer's cocoa butter/Vit. E emolient, in a jar) so that the circulation is increased, the scar tissue broken and the scar healed.

I know that I get pretty sore if I'm on my feet, walking, for longer periods of time, especially when I made it to the boot alone. And swelling is part of that..gravity pulls it down and the circulation still isn't great. The foot doesn't know what to do with the new shape, mechanics, etc, so it takes awhile for it to synchronize. I don't swell as much anymore, but on humid days or when I do too much, it does. Elevating my foot after work and/or before bed is still something I do. So...in other words, what you're feeling is normal!

When I was still in a boot, my PT recommended I walk around at home without the boot, to work on ROM and get used to the feeling. I practically live in Keen Venice sandals (sporty kind, support all around, closed toe..dr approved!) now, after finding I didn't like the athletic shoes I have. I'll have to start getting used to other shoes with fall/winter on its way though. You'll have to find what's comfortable to you and know that your foot will change in size over time...I was told to wait to buy shoes for even a month, as a lot can change during that time. You'll get used to it...but it does feel strange after the boot, cast, etc. And there's no way I did the heel-toe walking, still working on that! ;)

Anyway, I'll stop rambling...just know you're where you need to be.
Krista

Krista

Your an angel!! I have felt physically sick all day, worried that something has gone wrong....and in just a few lines you have put my mind at rest!! Phew! It probably is just as you said...the scar tissue all moving. I do massage it, probably not as much as i should though, although my physio does it quite hard!

What would we do without this site...Dr's just don't give enough info about all this stuff.

Thanks so much Krista, i can't tell you how much you've helped!

PS It'll save me money too, i've been sitting on the net all night buying things for my daughter's new baby due in November...it took my mind off my foot! I'll stop buying now, lol. xx

Krista,
Good news that your doctor thinks orthotics will help your foot. That's pretty much where I am too. Have to keep the right foot as healthy as possible!

Mazzie,
Yes, as Krista said, the scar tissue can cause the strange sensations in your foot. The tendons themselves can also do that as they get used to their new "home" in your foot. The pain and swelling are completely normal. I'm almost 6 months out now and was swollen (more so when weight bearing) through about 5 months out - then it just magically stopped! The osteotomy site did swell oddly at times. My orthopedist said it was because the scar tissue is less elastic, so the fluid bulges out around it.

My physical therapist has started me on a whole new set of exercises this week and I think they may be the death of me! LOL!! They're all balancing and weight-shifting types with a couple stride/gait and stretching exercises thrown in. I'm doing a lot on the BOSU ball - that sucker is NOT easy. I'm nearing the end of physical therapy and it looks like it will be a challenge from here on out. It's causing more pain than usual; my therapist said that's normal, so I'm back to taking ibuprofen, icing and elevating.

Hope everyone is doing well. Have a great weekend!
Deb

Hi Deb

Glad to hear your still doing well! Even though PT sounds awful now! Your explaination of the swelling round the scars perfectly describes mine...so hey i must be normal...such a relief!

I've taken it a bit easier for the last day or so and it seems to have all calmed down again now. Into a trainer more next week though, so that should be easier!

Wedding is only 13 days away now ( not that i'm counting, haha) my dress was too big for me when i bought it...but seems i have grown into a bit now...theres a surprise!! NOT! Less for the seamstress to do anyway. I'm still worried about the day itself, i know i wont be able to party really...but if i keep the boot on most of the time, it may not be too bad.

We're going to Spain for a week a few days after the wedding, does anyone know if it would be better to wear the boot on the flight instead of a trainer??

Best wishes to you all

Mazzie

Mazzie- I would definetly go with the boot. I did a 12 hour flight recently, and my foot got pretty swollen. At least in the boot your foot will have room to swell, and you can take it off while your sitting. I had an aisle seat, and kept my foot on my husband's lap alot. You can also ask the flight attendants about halfway through your flight for a bag of ice to ice it. Also ask your Dr. if you should be taking aspirin for a week before the flight and during flight to prevent blood clots.

Krista- It was good to read that at least they are not suggesting another surgery at this point. Hopefully, the other solutions will work!
Deb- Did you end up going back to your old job?

Leslie

Hi Leslie

Thanks for that, my flight is only 2 and a half hours, so hopefully wont swell as much as yours did...but i will take your advice and go with the boot. I have just officially started in a trainer now, got a size bigger than i am, but its still tight, and thats before it starts to swell. Still, i'm gonna give a go and see what happens.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Mazzie

Hi all,

Man, I have been SO SORE with the new exercises at therapy. It's somewhat frightening; I sure don't want to go backwards in my progress. My therapist has assured me it's just muscle soreness and nothing else. He'd better be right!

Leslie, I haven't returned to work yet. My doctor bumped my return date back to 10/15... but I'm pretty sure that's not going to make any difference with my current job. The thought of 8 hours on my feet on cement is inconceivable to me. So I'm searching for a different job. When my state disability runs out (which will be before 10/15) I'll probably renew my substitute teaching credential and do that until I find something permanent.

Mazzie, how many days until the wedding now? How are you doing in your trainers? Hopefully you'll be able to at least get through your wedding ceremony in shoes, then you can put on the boot during the reception. Good luck on your flight, too!

Deb

Hi Deb

Wedding is on the 21st....how many days now, oh i dont wanna think about it coz i get butterflies in my tummy!

The trainer thing is going ok-ish. I did go in a trainer last week and it was all good, then my surgeon said it was too quick...so i went back to nasty boot, and then it started to hurt!! I cant win. It hurts over my arthroscopy scar, and feels like something is catching...although Krista did explain thats probably scar tissue...Please god i hope so!! There was something catching before surgery...a huge flap of cartilage!
So now i am allowed to use a trainer, and its all going ok, except i have this sore bit now. I am just praying its just the scars. My ROM is getting better too, but i can almost feel the tendon pulling up my inside of my ankle now and it hurts!!!!!!!!! That cant be good, so i am massaging more than any vibe i've ever seen lol.

10 days to go.....but i am trying not to count! Lol.

Mazzie

PS , i am so fed up with trainers i have bought a load of funky coloured shoe laces...my trainers look fab!!!

Mazzie, the tight tendon is normal; you'll need to gently stretch it as you regain some ROM. Also, the catching thing you feel could be swelling and irritated tissues. Try some ice and elevation and maybe some ibuprofen and see if that helps. My peroneus brevis (sp?) was doing that over the weekend - kind of catching/sticking like it needed to pop or something. My physical therapist said it was a little swollen, so it may have been popping out of its normal position.

Good luck with your colorful trainers - sounds like you're doing really well. And remember a few weeks back when you thought you'd have to walk down the aisle using crutches and wearing a boot? Look where you are now!

Deb

Deb....i know and its amazing how far i have come....although i'm not without crutches yet. I still have another week and a half to go though before wedding, so i might be a bit better by then. I have two gorgeous men to escort me up the aisle though, i refuse to use crutches...My dad passed away 21 years ago, so my son(24) and my best mate are going to be my crutches, lol.

The tendon is very tight, and painful on certan movements, so i will try and do all this gently....now i've got a tight achilles tendon...lordy, lordy, if its not one thing its another!! Gotta say though, i havent really had any problems with swelling, even my physio is amazed at how little its swelling.

I see the surgeon again on the 24th, so hopefully he'll do another x-ray and then we'll know if the heel has fused...then i guess its just more physio. Apparently i wont know if this operation has worked till the 6 month mark. Fingers crossed!!

Glad to hear your still doing well Deb.

Mazzie

A question... in the UK we have one to one physio, is it the same state side?? You guys sound like you go to much bigger clinics? Just wondering.

Hi Mazzie,

Excellent crutches for your wedding!!

As far as our physical therapy here in the states goes, there are all sorts and sizes of clinics. The one I go to has 5 therapists and 4 assistants. There is a big, central room with 4 exam tables and a large, low, flat padded exercise table. There are two large areas for doing floor exercises and several pieces of exercise equipment. Then off to the sides are 6 enclosed exam rooms and the therapists' offices, and off toward the back is another exercize room with a full gym set-up (weight machines, cardio machines, free weights, padded exercise area, and a large open area for floor exercises). Many clinics here also have a water area with a pool, jacuzzi, and such - but mine doesn't. Hope that answers your question! What is it like in the UK?

Deb

Hiya deb

Our hospitals here have large clinics with several staff and lots of equipment, but not as good as yours sound! With our health service though, you'll wait months to get an appointment for one hour a week, so not much good really. Our clinics are much smaller, one physio, one client, one hour. Usually private, so we have to pay for it, about £35.00 an hour, but its constant attention. As usual, state side is far superior than here...but the UK health service has gone down the pan really. Hey ho. I had an accident so all mine is being paid for, so thats something good at least.

Keep up the good work! Your nearly there!

Mazzie

Mazzie (and everyone),
You must be getting so excited for the big day! You sound like a good planner and ready to accomodate for your foot...great idea to use a few nice guys as crutches! ;) You're going to have to update us about your wedding and trip to Spain! Lucky you! That's great that you're not having issues with swelling; it sure makes it a lot easier to fit into shoes and not have to change sizes dramatically. Did your PT venture a guess as to what is causing that clicking/catching feeling? Is that any better?

The PT clinic I go to has 5 therapists and 1 assistant and I see the PT almost every session, though if she's full or away, I see their assistant. Sessions are 30 min. We mostly do exercises that are tough or that I can't do at home (no equipment) at this point. My insurance covers the visits, ordered by my dr, at 100%, otherwise it'd be $110+/session!

I'm going 2 days/wk right now, but only have 4 sessions left...yikes! She just started me on jumping this week and I'm hoping to be able to run (though my non-surgery foot will likely hold me back there) next month like I was told. I'm not sure I'm ready to be done totally with PT in 2 wks. I'm going to talk with my PT tomorrow and see what she thinks and if she might be able to get my dr to approve 4 more sessions or so. I think my dr thinks I am further along than I really am, though I'm doing fairly well.

I can't get in until the 20th to get orthotics made and then it'll be 2 weeks before I get them. My other foot continues to be painful and while I'm hoping (or wishfully thinking?) that my foot gets better, I'm resigned in some ways that surgery will happen in December (which I am not excited about). Nothing worked on my other foot, so I'm just not holding my breath that orthotics are going to stop the pain and that my tendon will heal up like it needs to. I just want to get on with my life and be active....one foot or the other can't continue to hold me back!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings! Hope everyone is doing well! And it's almost Friday :)
Krista

Krista,
Gosh, I have to say that my heart is going out to you facing another surgery (possibly). But you've got to try all you can to avoid surgery. Maybe the orthotics will help... you never know! Mine have been good for my non-surgery foot; they feel different than the OTC orthotics I've been wearing. Good luck to you and please keep us posted!

Mazzie,
I forgot to throw in the COST of physical therapy here. My insurance covered 12 appointments, but at a clinic where they started out doing more damage than good. My doctor was NOT happy with what they were having me do. So I went back to my old clinic where I went before my surgery (and where I TRUST them). My insurance doesn't cover the cost of this clinic, but they are nice enough to give a "cash" price for people who pay out-of-pocket, which is $60 per visit... they would bill the insurance $228 for the same visit. They also let me run an account with them, so I don't have to pay for each session as I go. They are truly concerned with the patient's health! My sessions last about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. I always see my therapist and he spends at least 1/2 hour one-on-one with me... I do exercises that are mainly supervised by the assistants (but sometimes my therapist is involved)... and I do muscle stim and ice and/or heat, which is done by the assistants.

Keep us updated as to how everything's going with your progress and wedding! Very exciting!

Deb

Krista

You sound so resigned to your next surgery....in a positive way though, i'm damn sure i wouldnt be! Are you really wanting to scream?? If so, please scream here, its gotta be the best place to let off steam. I really do hope that these new orthotics do work for you...even if they don't stop the need for surgery, maybe they will stop the extent of it??

Your surgery foot on the other hand sounds brilliant!! To be jumping at this stage i think is wonderful...and now you have set me another goal, lol.


Deb

Its good to still hear from you, sounds like your going great guns too!! Isnt it amazing the difference we have between our countries...just with physio! I understand your podiatrists also operate over there...they certainly dont do that here, they arent trained to that level. We just have OS's that specialise in whatever area of the body.

My PT thinks the sore area i have is do to scarring underneath the arthroscopy site....so you were right Krista. Its a bit of extra surgery i had to have as it looked like i had an OCD on the MRI scan. It turned out to be a chondral defect ( without bone involved) so i have lost a big flap of cartilage now from my talus. I think thats why i wont know if this has worked till i am 6 months PO??? Or have you all been told this?? My ROM now is apparently brilliant, i have almost full dorsiflexion! Wooohooo!

I will keep you updated about the wedding, i'm really excited and its only a week now!! I've got a wicked little surprise for my guests.....I bought some favour boxes from the states, they are little brides and grooms, with a slot to put name cards where the heads should be. Soooo i thought instead of place cards, i would put their faces on them.... then i scanned the most silly pictures i could find of all friends and family ( and boy are there some silly ones), printed them,cut them out and stuck them on. I havent laughed so much in years!! Not sure if some people will still be talking to me after they see them though, lol.

Keep up the good work ladies, and keep the updates coming please!

Mazzie :)

Hey guys

I WALKED!!! Wooohooo!! With the wedding in 3 days , i thought i'd try and see if i could walk just holding someones arm...and i could,( in trainers) and then i just took off on my own!! It didnt hurt...but does a bit now, just in the heel area...i guess thats normal??? Please tell me it is!!?? Lol.

Lord i feel like a 10year old on christmas day!!

Mazzie

Mazzie...

Good Going on the walking! Knowing that you can actually walk again is the best!

It's perfectly normal, and to be expected, that you'll be sore and achy. You'll definitely want to keep elevating and icing. It seemed like my areas of pain would move around from day to day, but never got very intense, just more of an uncomfortable feeling. I've still got that even at 7 1/2 months post-op.

ENJOY your wedding day and congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

Mary

Mazzie,
That's GREAT that you walked on your own! :) Doesn't it feel weird to be free of all the support and miscellaneous appartus'? I found that when I started walking, I was stiff and walked a bit funny (still do) and that it didn't take much to wear my ankle out or make it sore. But that's to be expected because the muscles are weak, imbalanced and things are still healing inside. Not to mention that it's a whole new foot and requires learning how to use it differently. I bet you can't believe how quickly time has passed and that your wedding is almost upon you! You might want to some Advil or whatever you take on your big day to help keep your ankle be more comfortable since you'll be walking or on your feet a fair amount. But that's no big deal given that you'll be walking on your own! It's going to be quite the celebration! :)
Krista

Aww thanks Mary and Krista

I will take it a bit easy on the day...or at least try to! I am 12 weeks PO tomorrow, so i don't think i am pushing it too quickly now. It just felt so good ( and odd) to be walking again. I know what you mean Krista, my crutches feel they are attached to me now lol, its like losing an arm.

Theres alot of people staying the whole weekend for the wedding, so i think i'll still be using the crutches a bit so i dont over do it. BUT, i can't wait now!!!

Thanks so much for your good wishes, i'll let you know how it goes.

Take care all ( Krista, how is your good foot doing?)

Mazzie :)

Hi again guys

Wedding was absolutely wonderful!!! Weather was set to rain all day ( good ole England eh) BUT it didnt rain once!! Sun came out and was warm!! Everyone turned up... i took ages to say my vows coz by then i was just too emotional! We had sumo suits, gladiator game and adult bouncy castle in the grounds of wedding venue....i've never laughed so much in my life!!

I stayed in my boot the whole time, as the celebrations started on the thursday, and ended not long ago!! Foot did swell quite a bit, but didnt need crutches up the aisle. Thank the lord!! The whole weekend just couldnt of been better!!

I see my OS on tues now...for either the all clear, or its not fused bit. Fingers, nostrils and eyes crossed!!

Hope everyone is doing ok???
Mazzie

Hi Mazzie,
Congrats on your wedding! I'm so glad to hear that it went well, that your foot and the weather cooperated and you had a lot of fun! Sounds like it couldn't have gone any better (well, a 100% healed foot...but that's another story!). Are you taking it easy today since you've been celebrating for days?
When do you go to Spain?

I finally bought some new shoes that fit well and are supportive. I got 2 pairs of Keens, one that's more of a sneaker and the other is a Mary Jane type of shoe. Love Keens...very supportive and some are a bit wider, fitting my new shaped foot. It was a bit frustrating to find that many of the shoes I have no longer fit (and I just got them last fall/winter) and that others I really wanted to buy fit horribly. So...happy with the Keens, they'll accomodate my orthotics too.

My surgery foot is doing well. I'm finally keeping my big toe down when I walk, so I supinate AND pronate (I was only supinating when I kept the big toe up)...but it hurts some. Probably the muscles learning a new way. Only 1 more session of PT to go...dr won't approve anymore. He wants me to go about life without restrictions and see how I do w/o PT. Easier said than done though, as my other foot is painful, continuing to worsen. On Thursday I went in to be fit for a new pair of orthotics and to have my current pair (that only fit in my running shoes) adjusted. My brother is getting married next Saturday in Washington DC and I will be doing a fair amount of walking while there. I'm finding I can make it a few hours, then both feet are done and ready for rest and drugs! My whole family will be there, including my grandma, who has had 2 knee replacements, so she and I will make good company...LOL! I'll see my dr again right after Thanksgiving.

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well! Congrats again Mazzie!
Krista

Hi Krista

Thanks for your congratulations! We did only stop partying yesterday ( sunday) by which time i had totally lost my voice!! ( blessing?) Lol. We are off to Spain on weds, as i have to see my OS on tues. I am really hoping the x-ray will show a fully fused heel and i'll be given a free reign without the boot!

Sounds like your surgery foot has become your "good foot" Krista?? Such a shame about the other one...but least you know what your in for, and you seemed to have done great!! Shoes will be my next challenge, if i get given the go ahead. I have found the new balance ones to be the best so far, as they have wide fittings. My good foot has certainly taken a battering over the last few days. its a bit swollen and sore...but then i was dancing one-legged for a while...ooopsss, wont tell the OS that though!!

Have a great time at your brothers wedding, you'll be surprised that when your having fun how little the pain bothers you. One or two glasses of wine should help too! ;)

Mazzie x

Mazzie! Congratulations! It sounds like your wedding and all the festivities surrounding it were great! Glad your foot was not an issue!

I'm nearing the end of the road (I hope!) with my foot saga. My physical therapy is DIFFICULT nowdays... I spend about 2 hours doing exercises! I go back to the doctor next Friday, and I'm hoping to be released from his care. I think it will go well unless he sees that the PB tendon is still inflamed. I sure hope he doesn't stick me with another cortisone shot if it is!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Deb

Hi Deb

So did you get signed off from your doc yet?? Wow, must feel so good to be "normal" again. I can't wait!!

I saw my doc on the 25th, he did an x-ray and my heel has fully fused! Woohoo! He said i can throw the boot away now and wean off the crutches, and walk in whatever i can...even barefoot!!! I am down to one crutch mostly, but my ,my its painful! Back to painkillers again...but hopefully only for a while! Now all i have to wait for is to see if the chondral defect heals ok. Its still really sore round that area, but i have another couple of months for that to settle apparently. Here's hoping!!

Had a great time in Spain, although couldnt walk on the beach or get in the pool. Next time!!!

Hope everyone is doing well????

Mazzie

Mazzie,
That's great news about your heel being fused! Isn't it nice to ditch the boot after all this time? Feels weird to wear shoes though! I remember how sensitive the bottom of my foot was to different textures, temperatures, etc. but that's gone now...well, the baby soft skin isn't yet!

Sounds like you had a good time in Spain...you earned that! You'll have a lot of fun memories/stories from your wedding and trip with your foot issues mixed in! ;)

This past weekend was spent in Washington DC for my brother's wedding. It was a lot of fun and the weather was so nice! Both feet swelled and hurt off and on with the walking and being on my feet so much. But, I made it around and enjoyed it! And Mazzie, the wine helped ;)

My last session of PT was yesterday. My PT said that I have good function and fair strength, but need to continue working on walking normally (heel to toe, supinating AND pronating). I guess the plantar fascia muscles on the bottom of the foot are weak, making it hurt to walk heel to toe and to pronate. I've been sticking with supinating only and limping/walking funny. My other foot is not doing well, it's at the point my other foot was at when I had surgery...it's flat and I can't "center" my weight anymore. It just falls inward and it hurts on both sides of the foot...most of the time. So, that's my update...a mixed one!

Haven't heard from others lately...hope everyone is doing well!
Krista

Hi Mazzie & Krista,

I go to the doctor on Friday, and I'm hoping that he will release me (as in I don't have to see him anymore). My peroneus brevis tendon is still irritated somewhat and swollen, which causes pain. I sure hope I don't have to get another cortisone injection. Blah!

I have 2 more therapy sessions; one Friday morning and one next week as a closing and wrapping up of everything. They'll do some type of exit evaluation on me, as well. I was laughing with my therapist the other day... I've been going to them for this "foot thing" off and on for over a year! We decided it's the end of an era! LOL!! Everyone is so nice in there, and I will, on some sick level, miss not being in therapy any more.

I've given notice to my employer that I will not return, and will be starting a new job on the 15th. It will be a much longer commute, but I won't have to deal with being on my feet all day long.

Krista, it sounds like you still have a ways to go with your foot. Mine is at the point now where I have full strength and range of motion and my gait is nearly normal. The last few things we've been working on are still balancing on the left foot alone - my brain is still trying to find just the right combination of suppination/pronation to find the right center to balance on. I still do a lot of stretching, as that PT tendon and the muscles want to shrink up and tighten up if I let them. My plantar facia also tightens up, so stretching is super important. I hope you continue to progress with your left foot, and I'm so sorry to hear your right foot hasn't improved any. Are you still going forward with surgery at the end of the year?

Mazzie, ditching the boot is a marvelous feeling! Enjoy the new freedom you've got! I've discovered that with my new arch, the instep of my foot is higher now, so my shoes fit differently, and it's really difficult finding dress-type shoes. I'm fine in my tennies (trainers), but I can't wear those to work. I've found that it's totally hit or miss with anything else. But it sure beats being in pain and not being able to walk!

Hope everyone else is doing well... I don't see many of the other PTTers on the boards very often. Hope they're all doing great!

Deb

Hi again Ladies

Your both right.....It feels wonderful to be out of the boot!! I am down to one crutch now for the last week. I'm supposed to lose it totally this week, but not sure about my balance yet. I am now 14 weeks PO....not sure i am being a bit slow now or not?? I do feel its going well though. It feels so weird walking barefoot, and i think i just have a general weakness in my leg, which isnt helping! My foot is always really hot after walking aswell, is that normal? I am still having pain over the talus where i lost cartilage....he only drilled the bone though, so not sure that bit has worked. I just cant even think of doing this all again just yet though! Fingers crossed!!

Krista....... Glad the wine helped, and you had a good time. So sorry your other foot isnt behaving itself though. You did recover remarkably quickly from this one though....try and keep focused on that.

Deb...... sooooo, did you get the all clear? Must be wonderful to have NO MORE Dr apts!!

Physio is going to be painful as i have the go ahead now. Think of me, lol.

Take care both of you

Mazzie

Mazzie,
Do you have a little calf now too? I could put my thumbs and index fingers around my calf with room to spare after I came out of the boot! It's still pretty small...takes awhile to build that muscle up again. Same with the quads/hams...did a lot of leg presses, squats, etc to build those up again (and still do them). And, as you start walking, you'll get stronger. My PT always said she could tell my foot was working hard because it turned red and it was quite warm, even a bit sweaty. So, I think it's part of the recovery to have a hot foot. Still inflammation and irritation as well as changes in circulation in there. PT is a lot of work, but it's satisfying to see the improvements, so somehow we keep going back for more! ;) Did your dr say anything about the cartilage/drilling piece? How will you know if it was successful? Hopefully you won't have to go through anything more!

I'm curious as to how your appt went, Deb! Sounds like you're doing really well! During my last PT session, she measured my flexibility (I'm almost where my extremely flexible right foot is) and strength, showed me some new things to try at home and let me know what to expect over time. It is a change to not be going to therapy anymore! She said I could call with questions and asked if I'd keep her posted on my other foot. It opens up a lot of time...though it takes a good hour/day to do the exercises! Is your new job going to be one that keeps you off your feet more? Are you looking forward to going back or is that a mixed bag?

I got new orthotics yesterday, but am finding that they make both feet sore! That could be because I'm not used to them, so I'll just try them a little each day for now. It's frustrating in that my right foot is now holding back my surgery foot. I'm fairly convinced that I'm going to have to go through this again in December. The nice thing is that we only have 2 feet and it can't happen again! I want to be free and clear to run, be active, pain free.

Well, hope you guys are having a good weekend and are doing well!
Krista

Lol Krista.....Yes i do have a little calf. Its pathetic looking, and i've lost half of one side of my bum cheek, lol. Guess my PT will crucify me until that gets back to normal. I wont know if the drilling worked and some cartilage has grown till about 5/6 months PO. Thats the annoying bit, wait 6 months and then find out you gotta do it all again! I am just praying that it has worked and is taking time to settle. If not he will try it again, maybe with a cartilage graft.....wont be as painful as the big op i had, but the recovery time is about the same. Yuk!!!! My daughter is expecting her first baby at the end of November though, so at least i'll still be mobile then!
The orthotics i had before hurt me when i first used them. I did eventually get used to them though, takes time. Do you have to wear orthotics on your surgery foot Krista? My Dr hasnt said anything about them at all, although i wear one on my good foot now as its started to get plantar fasciitis. No peace for the wicked huh!

I really hope if you have to have your other foot operated on, that it heals as quick as the first! I should know around November/December if mine has worked....or i may be joining you for new year surgery! Next apt is 22nd Nov, so maybe i'll know by then.

Mazzie

Hi Krista & Mazzie,

Just wanted to give a quick shout-out that I'm all clear and released from the doctor! Yeah! I only have to go back now if something starts acting up again (God forbid!).

We did decide, though, that I'm going to go back to physical therapy a few more times. My new job will require me to do some walking in dress shoes, so the therapy is preventative just to make sure nothing starts hurting and we can monitor how my feet are doing in shoes other than tennies.

Mazzie, I wear custom orthotics on both feet, and most likely will for the rest of my life. On my surgery foot, it's to give additional support... but on my other foot, it's to help keep the tendon in good shape. That foot has started collapsing a little bit and it also severely pronates... but so far it doesn't cause me any pain and all of the tendons seem to be healthy. I think I would flip if I had to undergo this surgery again! That being the case, orthotics it is! I'm also not supposed to walk barefoot or in flip-flops or other non-supportive shoes, just for the same reason. I have to be ultra careful of what I put on my feet.

Krista, sometimes the orthotics take some getting used to. I've had plantar faciitis in the past, so I've worn over-the-counter orthotics for many years. My doctor had custom ones made for me, and they did take a little bit of getting used to, but now I don't even notice them. Just gradually ease yourself into them... it may take a few weeks. Hopefully they'll give your right foot some support and pain relief!

Happy foot wishes to all!
Deb

Deb, another milestone for you now that you don't have to keep going back to the dr! It is hard to adjust to different shoes. I've also found that with my new arch/foot, everything fits differently and shoes I really like don't necessarily fit right. Good luck as you move forward with your new job!

Mazzie, I do have orthotics for both feet right now, but my dr does not want me to have to wear them on my corrected foot forever. I was told I could wear whatever I wanted as time went on, need more supportive shoes now for sure. Seems like surgeons have differing opinions on this one. I won't wear them all the time, as I bought some new Keen shoes that have really good supports in them already (orthotist said I didn't need to switch them out or put them on top).

Krista

Hi Ladies

Nice to know how your both doing.

Deb..........Your free, thats wonderful news. Must be fantastic to get your life back again. I hope your orthotics do the trick now and keep you from anymore problems!

Krista..........I am seeing my Dr again on 22nd Nov, so maybe then he will tell me what i need to do long term. My surgery though was due to an accident rather than an inherent problem, maybe that makes a difference?? I don't know really. I am still the only person i know who had disabled themselves falling down a disabled ramp though, lol.
I've been looking at the OCD boards, and it seems that scar tissue is the biggest problem with drilling the bone to get new cartilage.... i think that may be my problem now. As for the heel and tendon, they seem to be doing fine, and i now have less pain than i had pre op.
I have a wobble cushion thingy now...my biggest dread!! It does hurt, but its so funny trying to balance i had my physio therapist in fits of giggles.

Onwards and upwards ladies!!

Mazzie :)

Hi there,
Mazzie, my next dr appt is right after Thanksgiving, on Nov 26 (26 wks P/O). I'm not sure that it makes a huge difference how you ended up having to have surgery...it's a bummer that you fell and have had to go through all of this though! Hopefully you're drilling will "take" and you won't have to deal with more! But, just think, if it happens, by spring/summer, there'll be at least some function. The BOSU (wobble ball) is a tricky little sucker, isn't it? Really makes your foot and ankle work hard! I always teased my PT that she needed to "warm the BOSU up for me first", then I would go! Kind of had an ongoing joke with that.

Deb, how's it going as you wind down PT? Have you been able to master dressy shoes? Isn't it next week that you start back? That must be an adjustment, as it's been a year since you've been off? A lot has changed during that time! Good luck as you prepare for that.

This week I decided to go to the gym to use the BOSU and treadmill (of course, wearing shoes with orthotics). On Monday I was able to do some jumps on the BOSU and walk 20 minutes on the treadmill at varying speeds. It felt good to be ABLE to do both, but I paid for it afterwards, more in my non-surgical foot. Today I did the same things, but wanted to try running ;) I supported myself and just put partial weight down to run, gradually putting all of my weight down. It hurt some, but got better over the 2 minutes I ran. I haven't run since April! On the way home, I popped a Tylenol-3 since I know I will be in pain. I just broke out in a smile when I ran...I'm sure the woman on the next treadmill wondered what that was about! ;) My dr said I'd be back at it in Oct, though he wouldn't guarantee for how long or how far I'd be able to go. I just wish my other foot would behave so I could continue feeling better. Guess that'll come more this winter/spring! I need to go buy some big marbles to work the muscles in the sole of my foot (pick them up with your toes)...that might help. Anyway, had to share!
Krista

Hi ladies

Just wondered how everyone is doing now???? All is going well here( i think) walking more and more now, with not too many problems...although still not walking correctly. I also still don't know if the drilling worked, but my heel and tendon seem to be doing well....The tendon is still very tight though, and prevents me from full dorsiflexion....anyone else had that problem?? Hoping it will just take a little more time really.

Hope your all well, keep in touch.

Mazzie

Mazzie, Sounds like you're moving forward, literally :) I don't know if you've been shown a stretch where you go down on all fours and then lean back, so you're kind of sitting on your ankles? Hard to describe, but it's one I still do and it feels good...helps with the dorsiflexion. How is PT going?

I'm walking normally, toe down, and can walk quickly, as well as run some. It's been fun to run again on the treadmill, even for short distances/times; it's a big milestone for me! I'm a bit frustrated with my shoe choices right now. My arch and instep on the surgery foot are higher now, so I can no longer fit in many of my shoes, including a pair of slippers! My other foot continues to give me pain (some of it different than what I experienced with my other foot)...but there's not much I can do about it.

Hope everyone is doing well!
Krista

Hi all,

Good to see updates from you! I'm back to work now, at a new job. I'm still having problems with wearing dress shoes (just like Krista said, one foot is shaped differently now)... so I end up wearing my tennies a lot. Looks funny wearing dress clothes with them, but it is what it is. It's going to take a lot of effort to find shoes that will work.

I've been doing a fair amount of walking (I'm riding the train to work and walking to my office), and have noticed that my peroneus brevis tendon is acting up from time to time. I guess just from the way I'm walking now, the tendon isn't used to it. I sure hope I don't end up needing some repair work done on THAT. Ugh.

Other than that, the foot is doing really well. Hardly ever any swelling, only a little painful on the outside & bottom of the 5th ray near the osteotomy site when I've been walking a lot, and best of all, the posterior tibial tendon doesn't hurt at all!

My doctor has released me from his care, so I only need to see him if I have a problem pop up... and last Friday I had my last physical therapy appointment. I'm finally free!

Take care, everyone!
Deb

Hi ladies

Good to still hear from you both, and to know your both doing well. I know what you mean with shoe problems! My surgery foot is not only a different shape, but is about 3/4 of a size bigger than the other one!! I'm lucky as i have almost zero swelling , so i can't blame it on that. I think i am going to have to buy 2 pairs of shoes ( one for each foot) Madness!! I'm still mainly in trainers, thank god its winter now though!

Krista...PT is now very hard!! My foot is fine other than that last stretch bit when walking...so if i take small steps i can walk normally, but larger strides make me walk like a duck again, it just wont stretch! She now has me stepping off books, and trying toe raises, to strengthen and stretch it all out. She has now ordered a large dose of the gym. Lol. Fun huh.
Its weird, i've been walking for 4 weeks now, and things moved so quickly...and now the very last bit seems to be taking forever. They did say this would take around 6 months though, so i have a couple to go yet. I'll ask my PT about the excercise you suggested Krista...Thanks!

Take care of your other foot now!

Mazzie

Hi there,
How is it going for everyone?

I've been running more on the treadmill, but am having more troubles doing so because my right (non-surgery) foot isn't working right. I'm moving more laterally and my poor great toe joint is getting the brunt of everything, even with orthotics. It hurts, so not sure how much more I'll be doing of that! Probably have to switch to something else. :( It feels soooo good to be active again, so I'm quite frustrated that my other foot is getting worse and holding me back. I called my dr to find out if there's anything I can do in the meantime, as I don't go in to see him until after Thanksgiving. Waiting to hear back from his PA. I am quite pleased with my surgery foot results at this point (23 wks post-op)...and I'm getting stronger, so there is some positive news in there!

Hope everyone is doing well!
Krista

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've been able to post on the boards here... that, I guess, is a GOOD thing in that I'm back to work and life is busy again.

My surgery foot is doing well, at least the tendon and osteotomy site. I'm still having a lot of discomfort with the darn peroneus brevis tendon. That is really frustrating. I'm hoping it calms down so I don't have to go to the doctor. With my new job I've switched insurance companies and my doctor isn't even covered... if it's not one thing, it's another!

Oh, and a little off-topic, I ride rapid transit to work and on MW&F one of the physical therapy assistants rides the same train as I do (he goes to school in the mornings those days) so we get to catch up. I told him I've been thinking about making an appointment at the clinic to get therapy on my PV tendon.

Krista, sorry to hear your right foot is giving you grief. Are you thinking you'll have to undergo the same surgery that you just went though? At least your left foot is doing well. Isn't it a great feeling to be active again?

Anyway, I hope everyone else is doing well.

Deb

Hi Debs and Krista and all

Glad to hear from you both. So sorry about your "good" foot Krista, its awful that its now holding you back! I know what you mean about that feeling of being active again!! It hasn't lasted that long for me though. am about the same as i was pre op. :(
I seemed to be doing ok up until saturday, saying that, i am now nearly 19 weeks post op, and it still hurts quite alot!! Anyway, on saturday my foot sort of collapsed again ( inside) it hurt like hell, and i had trouble the rest of the day and since. Its clicking and allsorts, so i just don't know whats going on now! I see the doc on 22nd, so i'm hoping its not going to be bad news!!! Have a feeling its the Chondral site thats not worked though, although i have so much pain round the tendon area still. I can only pray!

Keep in touch ladies.

Sorry for the rant.

Mazzie

Mazzie,
Sorry to hear that you're having difficulties with your foot. Did something happen to your foot...like tripping or falling or something...to make the arch fall? Sounds very painful! Are you able to walk on it? I can imagine how frustrated you are after going through hell the last 19 weeks and having it feel just as bad as before! You'll have to keep us posted on how your dr appt goes next week. I'll do the same; my appt is the 26th.

Deb,
Sounds like you're moving on to a place where your foot doesn't take over or dominate your daily activities! That's interesting that you run into your PTA on rapid transit...he can keep up on how you're doing! What would be done to help your PV tendon? Ionto? Ultrasound? Hopefully something will relieve that for you...especially after all that's going well in your foot after this long journey!

Take care,
Krista

Hi all,
I don't know if this is the right board to post on, but I'm not sure where else to go. I recently had an excision of an os trigonum( extra bone behind my ankle) and that bone was literally shredding one of my tendons ( I THINK the fhl tendon). Anyway, my OS did a tendon repair as well. I was in a splint for two weeks and have been in a walking boot for about 10 days now. The thing is I still have pain (severe at times) from that tendon. Is this normal and how long will it last? I know when I stretch it , the pain is much better. I'm supposed to be in the walking boot for a month. I hate this boot, it is difficult to walk in, let alone stand in.
Any advise will be appreciated!
Laura

Hi all again

Sorry i left it so long, have been a bit down. I had Dr's apt and basically it looks like the cartilage hasn't grown back as much as hoped. The pain has now come back and is almost daily again. Plan is to go in and scope it in 3 months if no improvement, and then re drill in June. I think i also need the screws out in my heel, they are just getting more and more sore now.

Krista....How was your apt???

Mazzie

Hi there,
Good to hear how your appt went Mazzie, though I'm sorry your foot isn't behaving more for you! The tendon piece is doing well, it's the OCD part that isn't "taking"? Is your dr hopeful that things will get better after the next scope and drilling? What a bummer...it's been a long haul and you've been working so hard...sorry it's giving you such a hard time! :(

My appt was on Monday and I had an MRI of my ankle AND foot (only did the ankle last time) on Tuesday AM. He wanted to look at the PTT insertion (at the navicular) in particular, as I have a lot of pain in that area. I'm weaker too--he had me push against and into his hand and I couldn't do much. A week from today I'll meet with him to go over the results, but it looks like surgery again. And he's booked for surgeries until February, so unless there's a cancellation, it'll be awhile. I'm bummed about that because I can't do much (even stationary biking hurts), have so much going on this winter and will have to fork over a fair amount of money again since my out of pocket expenses start over in January (right now everything is paid by insurance at 100% since I paid the max out of pocket). I'll be interested to see how the MRI came out.

Deb, how are you doing? And everyone else?
Krista

Hi Krista

Sorry to hear about your foot and surgery again. I take it your talking about your non surgery foot again?? How is your surgery foot holding up??

My heel and tendon seem to be pretty much ok. Its still all a bit tender and i am still limping...yeh god!! I think that might be because the screws have got so sore in the heel. It is just the cartilage hasnt grown back as much as hoped, so i have bone rubbing on bone in my talus, and when it catches............boy do i shout!! Lol. Just have to see what happens in Feb.

Looks like we're on a similar time scale Krista....albeit for different reasons now.

I wonder if this will ever end somtimes!!Grrrrrrr.

Mazzie

Has anyone kept their screws in after surgery? I was told only about 40 percent of patients have trouble and have them taken out, but it seems like EVERYONE here is having problems with them. I'm only at 4 weeks, so I have no idea whether or not I'll have problems...I'm just looking for some news that at least some people kept them in. The less surgery the better! Thanks!

I've still got mine in. I'm 21 weeks PO now, and have to say that now most of the other pains have gone, i can feel my skin pulling over them when i walk.My physio has checked and it does look like its the screws...as i leave the bed when she presses on them!! Maybe that might go in time....hope so.

Good luck, chances are yours will be fine...forget them for now, and concentrate on getting better.
Mazzie

Mazzie,
I was thinking the same thing about us being on the same schedule. I'll see my dr on Friday to hear the MRI results and I would guess, to schedule things. I'm hoping that there is a cancellation so I can get this done sooner than Feb, but who knows. Oh, yes, this is for my non-surgery foot.

My surgery foot is doing well, I'm happy with the results. It gets sore at times and still lacks some strength. Guess how I'm finding out about the strength piece??? We got a good snow storm here this past weekend (more to come tomorrow too) and now when walking my dog and such, the ground is not solid/flat. My dr is pleased with the shape and outcome of my surgery foot. The bone graft is no longer...my own bone took over as it was supposed to. I could run and be active if it was up to my left foot, but since the other is causing problems, I haven't done much outside of PT exercises and stationary biking.

Hang in there Mazzie...it eventually will get better. I know what you mean about it feeling like it'll never end though. Pretty frustrating to have to keep dealing with this. Nobody realizes how important the feet are until stuff like this happens! Keep us updated!
Krista

Hi all
I am exactly one year post op tomorrow and I still have a lot of pain in the heel from the screw. Sometimes it hurts when I'm just sitting doing nothing and it pretty much always hurts while walking. I plan to go have it removed after the first of the year. I also get an occassional pain elsewhere in my foot and the outside edge of my foot from incision to toes is still numb. My foot and ankle also feel rather weak, but it certainly feels good to be able to walk rather than limp without constant pain and swelling.
Sorry to hear that you have to go through this again.
Blessings
Rita

Hi, just found this site while I was looking for something (anything) to tell me how long I should have numbness in my foot.
I had surgery to repair the PTT on November 2. The whole inside of my foot, ball of my foot and most of my toes are numb . I didn't have to have tendon transfer just repair the tendon and screw it to the bone in my foot. So I guess from some posts I am lucky:) But the numbness is makin me crazy...not to mention the NWB stuff.
I have asked the Dr. and he just says "eventually" ...Can't wait to start putting weight on it..I think.....
Has anyone had considerable numbness ? My cast was also too tight in the hosp and had to complain LOUDLY until they split it , and now I am afraid that that is the cause of the numbness.
So sorry so long .Just hoping to hear I am not crazy or a bawlbag ....LOL.
Thanks in advance and good luck to everyone too

Hi Sabrina

I don't think your going mad. I asked the very same question some weeks after my op too. The underneath of my foot plus both sides and the last two toes were totally numb when the cast was taken off at 6 weeks. I can't remember quite when it started to come back...but it did slowly, bit by bit. I think its pretty much par for the course....but if your in any doubt at all, please see your Dr again...just in case.

Best of luck in your recovery.

Rita....I think i am going to have to have my screws out too. I am almost 6 months PO and they are so sore when i walk!! Good luck with having yours out! Let us know how it goes.

Take care all

Mazzie

Hi Mazzie, Krista, Rita & New Posters...

Seems like I've missed some updates going on. I hope you gals get your problem feet fixed up - after the long recovery time I can't imagine MORE problems and MORE surgery. Ugh. So sorry to hear it sounds like you will be going under the knife (or scope) again.

My foot has been doing well for the most part. I am still having some issues with the PB tendon and another tendon on the top of my foot... and every once in a while I will mildly turn my ankle to the outside (due to the supination) when I'm walking quickly. The repaired PT tendon is doing just great, though! I stopped in the phys. therapy clinic last week to say hi to my therapist (I miss the big lug, LOL) and he gave me some more exercises to do. I think it's just a matter of time, because it's much better than it was even a month ago. I'm now at 8 1/2 months out... how time flies!

I'm staying very busy at work and absolutely LOVE my new job... wish I would have done this years ago! Dress shoes are my new nemesis. I'm having the worst time finding shoes that work and look nice. I've bought (and returned) probably 5-6 pairs over the past 6 weeks. It's a real pain.

As to the questions on the screw removal, I can't add any input as I was lucky enough not to have any hardware installed in the ol' hoof.

The other question - I can't recall the exact problem - I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about that issue. Maybe start a new thread?

Anyway, ladies, it's dinner time and I need to scoot. Good to see updates from everyone!

~Deb~

Thanks Mazzie , It helps to know this is probably normal. I think after you go through the cast part, and then not being able to walk you get pretty loopy...lol
This has really been a long journey. People who haven't had to do it can't possibly know how hard it can be. They forget that most of us have already been at this for some time even before surgery.:(.
Thank you so much for your reply , it makes me feel better:) Good luck to you too.
Sabrina

Hi everyone,
Looks like I'll be having the same surgery on my other foot sometime in January. On Monday my drs. secretary will schedule things and let me know. Yesterday I saw one of my drs. partners to have a 2nd opinion and he agreed that it was PTTD and that it was time to go ahead with the surgery. I'm 7 months post-op, so will be closer to or at 8 months when the other one is fixed. I've known this would likely be coming, but the reality of it is hitting...yikes!! I'll talk more with my dr next week about the specifics. So, Mazzie, we'll probably be in the same boat around the same time! But, by spring time, hopefully everything will be much better!! I can't wait to be able to be active again, to get outside, etc., especially since I lost the last summer to this.

Sabrina, I didn't have the same procedures as you, though I did have PTT repair (just sutures, no screw). I had numbness from the incision on the outer part of the foot to the last 2 toes. I'm still regaining sensation in the 2nd to last toe after 7 months...my dr said it can take up to a year for the nerves to regenerate (they only grow 1 mm per day!!). So, it might take some time before you have feeling back. My dr has been keeping a close eye on that. Know that it's part of the surgery...due to swelling, irritation, trauma, etc.

Deb, glad to hear you're doing so well and that you're enjoying your new job!
Mazzie, how are you doing? Any news as to what the plan is?

Krista

Hi Krista

Good to hear from you, even though it isn't good news!! Really sorry that its come to a second surgery for you..Will this one be without heel shift though, or is a total repeat performance??

I have brought my Feb apt forward to Jan 3rd now, as my foot is getting worse rather than better. I have options of 2 more trys with drilling etc, hoping that more cartilage will grow. If that doesn't work, then i am left with ankle replacement or fusion....NOT even thinking that far though as its scares the **** out of me! With the new drillings its only 10 days with crutches, then straight back to physio...but another 6 months to see if it helps, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! This could take years!!! Maybe i will plump for fusion, i'm so confused really, will just wait to see what DR says in Jan.

Keep us updated please Krista, and i pray this is all over done for you soon!!

Take care
Mazzie

Hi mazzie, sunny, and everyone...

Haven't posted here in a while, as I've just been trying to keep busy with getting back to a normal life following my flat foot reconstruction surgery (which was in July) and doing PT. But I'm glad to read that you're all progressing well. Deb, congratulations on having made it so far, and being essentially done with your doctor's visits! That's excellent news.

I wish I could say I'm doing as well myself... but I'm really, really worried that my surgery didn't do everything it needed to. I think I'm going to start a new thread for this, but I wanted to post here as well and say hello, since you were all so nice and encouraging during my early days of recovery. :)

Take care, and good health to all!

Mazzie, I hear your frustration with the limitations and waiting to see if things work out as you hope. It get's pretty old pretty fast, doesn't it? Good idea on moving up your dr appt with all of those thoughts and questions swirling around in your mind.

Rosinbersfoot, sorry to hear that you're not feeling good about where you're at. Your dr appt is tomorrow, so hopefully you'll get some feedback and answers soon! Has your PT given any opinions on how you're progressing and if there are issues with how your foot is healing/strengthening?

As for me, I heard from my drs office today and am scheduled for the same procedure on my right foot. I initially was told sometime in January, but I'm not scheduled until Feb 26th!! That was his first opening. I'm pretty disappointed, given that that's almost 2.5 months away and I'm not able to be active (go to the gym, run, etc) and it hurts to walk much (finding that out fast with shopping for Christmas!). It also means recovery will go into the spring/early summer and I wanted to be running and all by then! I lost last spring and summer and almost all of fall, so I'm not up for that again! :( Ugh!! I'll see my dr on Friday, so I'm going to see if there's anything he can do to move things up, but I'm not holding my breath. He'll probably let me know one of his partners could do it earlier, but I want him to do it...he did an excellent job on my left one and I want another good, healthy foot for the rest of my life. Sorry, a bit of a pity party here....just had the expectation that it'd be Jan and I'd be done with this soon. :(

Anyway...sounds like we all have our challenges right now. We'll move on one of these days with better feet!

Deb, I just wanted to thank you and the others for all of your posts and advice about this disorder and surgery. New threads seem to be coming in about this problem on a regular basis. I am getting "my house in order", per many of your suggestions. Thanks to everyone. I do have one question. Do you think that someone could be in charge of their own physical therapy and get back to normal? C

Hi Cece

I don't know if you would get as much benefit by doing all your own physio. They do give you exercises to do at home, and after a while i think you could carry on on your own, but i have to say, i got huge benefit from the actual massage that they give you. Plus they manipulate it far harder than you would probably push it. I iwsh you good luck though, in whatever you decide.

Krista......How are things with you?? Have they managed to pull your op date forward yet?? I have been mostly on the OCD thread now, such a traitor, lol. My foot is now brilliant except for that part( loss of cartilage). The tendon, and heel are both really good, and i have stopped walking like a duck at last!!! Unfortunatley i am now in more pain than before the op though. Saw the OS on thursday and he is going to operate again hopefully next week!! Eeeek!! I have to call him on monday to see if he can squeeze me in quickly. He will know after that if another drilling might work, or if its gotta be a fusion...which would be a great shame as the rest of the op has worked so well!!

Mazzie

Hi Everyone:

Long time no talk to. I posted here several months ago and must say it was great support for me. Since that time I've gone through a second surgery.... my first one from last December failed. I've read bits and pieces here and there about your stories and I don't remember who is who at this point, so forgive me for not remembering. Well, for those of you who don't know me, basically what happened is that I had PTTD surgery on 12/1/06. My tendon was severed, so they didn't try to repair it... just removed it and transferred another. The surgeon didn't use any pins/screws, had me out of my cast at 5 1/2 weeks and in full-blown physical therapy at about 7 or 8 weeks post op... even though I have lupus. I began experiencing excruciating pain in therapy during certain movements; doc said nothing was wrong... I just needed to be more aggressive with therapy. Eventually an MRI showed what happened is that things had just basically failed. The bones moved and healed improperly, which caused several problems for me. The long story short is that I found a new surgeon -- after yet another three opinions. He has hopefully given me the fix I should have had the first time. I had my second surgery two weeks ago. During the three hour operation to right all that had gone wrong, they had to break my ankle, clear out all the debris -- scar tissue, bone fragments, etc. -- then realign the area and insert three pins/screws. Next they straightened my heel and held that in place with two more pins/screws. Finally, they stabilized my tarsal/metatarsal joint and inserted two more pins/screws in that area. I am hoping for the best. My main reason for telling what happened to me is simple: If you have questions for your doctor and you don't want to ask them for whatever reason, you really should rethink that. Make sure you ask and that you understand everything that is happening. I was very trusting. I went to the hospital I've always gone to and researched who I thought was the best man for the job, and then I relaxed somewhat and figured that he knew what he was doing. The bottom line for me is that I lost my job caring for an Alzheimer's patient because he had begun experiencing falls and here I was with a failed surgery that left me limping and looking "unsteady" on my feet. Now I'm facing eight weeks in a non weight bearing cast, six weeks after that in a walking cast, and then who knows how much physical therapy...... and this is IF things go well. I am hopeful and feel fabulous. Let's just hope now that it worked! Remember.... ask questions, learn all you can, and be your own best friend by being your own advocate. So far it looks like I've been pretty fortunate even though this is my second surgery.... I could be in terrible pain, and I'm not. I wish all the best for all of you out there going through surgery on your feet. It's funny how you take things like "walking" for granted until you are unable to do it!

Hi Mazzie,
Did you get into see your surgeon and move up your surgery date? Maybe you've already had surgery? How are you doing? Glad the PTT part is doing better...now that OCD part needs to work for you!

I am still scheduled for surgery Feb 26...he's super busy and there was no way to move up. I'm on his cancellation list, but am not holding my breath that it'll get moved up. So, still about 6 wks to go, which on the one hand, seems far away, and on the other, seems like it'll be here before we know it. I'm having some issues with the piriformis muscle (hip/butt area) and back of the knee, all on the side with the bad foot, so obviously everything is connected. I'm doing a little PT to stretch and strengthen things and hopefully it'll go away before or after surgery. My surgery foot has had some weird feelings at times, not sure what that's about, but keeping a close eye on it.

Hey19, I'm in total agreement with you on how we take our feet and walking for granted until we can't use them! And also about being well informed and not too trusting.

Hi Krista

Good to hear from you, as i was wondering how you were doing. Feb 26th isnt very far away, but i know sometimes the waiting makes it all worse. More time to think about it all and stress. I really hope they do get a cancellation....not wishing anyone to catch a cold or anything, but you never know! I am lucky, my OS did squeeze me in on Thursday, so mine is all over with....for the moment anyway! It was all scar tissue that had got caught in my joints, and i have grown some cartilage of my own. Woohoo! I am on crutches for a week, and then back to physio in 4 weeks, then we will know how much its improved it. So for now i am safe from anymore operations....for how long though i don't know.

I wish you all the best for your op, and pray that your surgery foot behaves itself now!! Please let us know how it all goes. I'll be thinking of you, and will keep an eye out on the boards for you.

Take care and the very best of luck
Mazzie x

Hi Everyone,

I am going in for my pttd surgery this coming Thursday the 24th of January. I have one question that just kind of popped into my head. For those of you who had a splint put on right after surgery for the first two weeks or so, what is it like? I am just worried about the cold. I am planning on going back to work since I work sitting down most of the day. I will be going back about a week after my surgery this is what I have planned and my doctor has oked it as long as I am feeling up to it. But my question is how do I keep warm, I live in New England Boston to be exact and was wondering if there is a good way to keep that foot warm and dry while it is in the splint right after surgery???

Thanks,

Kristin

Hi Kristin,
The splint I had was part plaster with a lot of padding and then ace wrap all the way around. It went from the base of the toes to a few inches below the knee. The toes were exposed, but it was late May, so it wasn't an issue. Now that I'll be in the same boat next month, with cold MN winter weather, I've been looking into cast socks and found what looks like a good one through a website called (put this all together) cast cozy dot com. There is another place that has these (online) but they're more expensive. I think I'll be ordering a few of these for the 6 wks of splint/cast wearing in the winter.

How are you doing as surgery is nearing? Are you getting to that point of just wanting to hurry up and get it over with...the nerves can go away and you can start healing and getting on with life? I'm there and still 5 wks from surgery! It's nerve-wracking too. My dr also told me I could go back after a week, but I ended up being out 3 wks because my job involves a lot of walking, driving, getting in/out of car, steps, etc. You're lucky you won't have to take so much time off...it gets pretty boring! Oh, you'll have to tell me what the popliteal nerve block feels like, how long you were numb, etc...I'll be having that done too! Good luck with everything! Let us know how it goes!
Krista

Hi Krista and everyone else!!

I am going in for my pttd surgery tomorrow at 11:15am I probably will not be back on the site for a little bit. But I will keep you all posted on how the surgery goes. As of right now I am nervous, anxious, and excited, I want hurry up and get it done so I can start my recovery and be back to normal!! I will let you know how the popliteal block goes, I hope it really helps with the pain after.

I order a few of those cast covers from that website but I don't think they will be coming in before tomorrow hahaha. I will just have to deal with it. I will talk to you all post op!!! :angel:

Kristin

You're scheduled for February 26? I'm trying to play catch up with these boards and am afraid I'm missing some of the posts. Good luck with your surgery! I've had my second surgery a month ago now and while it's not pleasant being in a cast, I must say that you do get used to it. Having gone through this twice now, I honestly believe the anticipation is worse than anything else.


Hi Mazzie,
Did you get into see your surgeon and move up your surgery date? Maybe you've already had surgery? How are you doing? Glad the PTT part is doing better...now that OCD part needs to work for you!

I am still scheduled for surgery Feb 26...he's super busy and there was no way to move up. I'm on his cancellation list, but am not holding my breath that it'll get moved up. So, still about 6 wks to go, which on the one hand, seems far away, and on the other, seems like it'll be here before we know it. I'm having some issues with the piriformis muscle (hip/butt area) and back of the knee, all on the side with the bad foot, so obviously everything is connected. I'm doing a little PT to stretch and strengthen things and hopefully it'll go away before or after surgery. My surgery foot has had some weird feelings at times, not sure what that's about, but keeping a close eye on it.

Hey19, I'm in total agreement with you on how we take our feet and walking for granted until we can't use them! And also about being well informed and not too trusting.

I know I'm a little late with this post, but I thought the popliteal nerve block was the best thing that ever happened to me throughout either surgery! Good luck Kristin and I'm looking forward to hearing how you are.

Hi Krista and everyone else!!

I am going in for my pttd surgery tomorrow at 11:15am I probably will not be back on the site for a little bit. But I will keep you all posted on how the surgery goes. As of right now I am nervous, anxious, and excited, I want hurry up and get it done so I can start my recovery and be back to normal!! I will let you know how the popliteal block goes, I hope it really helps with the pain after.

I order a few of those cast covers from that website but I don't think they will be coming in before tomorrow hahaha. I will just have to deal with it. I will talk to you all post op!!! :angel:

Kristin

hey19,
My surgery is Feb 26, exactly 4 wks from today, for the same procedures on my other foot (left foot was done in late May 07)...PTT repair and Evans osteotomy. I am definitely planning to have the popliteal block and my dr specifically ordered that. They messed it up last time, so I couldn't have it. What does it feel like when they're doing it? I saw a clip online and it didn't look too pleasant, but the effects are good. I don't want to stay overnight this time, so if my pain is controlled, I'll go home that night.

What did you have done to fix your foot? How much longer in the cast? NWB? Doing well?
Krista

Hi Everyone and Hello to you Mazzie specifically,

I understand everyone's frustrations and trials and tribulations from this PTTD surgery stuff. It's tuff, isnt it?

I had my PTTD surgery 6/15/07, so I'm 7 months post-op now. And, you know, I still have a lot of pain...I still am taking Vicodin off and on ...I take it on my really bad days. The worst part is, is that I'm still limping. My foot is stuck in a supinate position...I'm riding the outer edge of my foot.

But, to Mazzie...I agree with your posts...I've went back and re-read some of what have posted. I agree with you this recovery can be madness. But, don't lose heart, you're not alone. As far as with the shoes....I have big feet anyhow and after surgery, my operated foot (the right one) is bigger. So, I have bought 2 different pairs of shoes. An 11W for the right foot, and the usual 11M for the left foot. This recovery crap is getting expensive, you know?

I have days, where I'm like, "God, just put me out of my misery...why me?"...but, you know...since I've discovered these boards and the strong people behind these names, I feel more uplifted. So, THANK YOU ALL!

Good Luck to Everyone. ;)

.hey19,
My surgery is Feb 26, exactly 4 wks from today, for the same procedures on my other foot (left foot was done in late May 07)...PTT repair and Evans osteotomy. I am definitely planning to have the popliteal block and my dr specifically ordered that. They messed it up last time, so I couldn't have it. What does it feel like when they're doing it? I saw a clip online and it didn't look too pleasant, but the effects are good. I don't want to stay overnight this time, so if my pain is controlled, I'll go home that night.

What did you have done to fix your foot? How much longer in the cast? NWB? Doing well?
Krista

Hi! Hope all goes well for you! I am 5 weeks post-op with this second surgery and it looks like everything is going well! As far as the nerve block, I never heard my procedure called a "popliteal nerve block"... just called it a nerve block and I know what popliteal means so I assume it's the same thing. I couldn't feel a thing as it was going on. I agreed to some sedation (great idea) when I got to pre-op and that relaxed me so much I don't remember a whole lot. I think it was a shot I got next that numbed me from my knee down. When I woke up after surgery, I still couldn't feel a thing... couldn't move my toes or anything. They came in to my room the next morning and explained to me about a pain pump that was installed during surgery. It consisted of a pouch that I wore over my shoulder and in that pouch was a lidocaine based drug that was fed into a catheter placed just above my knee. The medication, a numbing agent, was designed to bathe the surgical area for two and a half days. Once the medication was gone, I had to remove the catheter and throw everything right in the garbage. Removing the catheter was sooooooo simple. It looked like a very thin fishing wire. I just pulled on it a little until it came out.... could hardly feel it, just a little pressure. This sedation, nerve block, and pain pump were absolutely wonderful!!!! I strongly recommend them all.

Why I had the second surgery? My first surgery last year failed. The original surgeon didn't insert any screws/pins when he rebuilt my foot (including osteotomy) and had me back up and in full-blown, full weight-bearing physical therapy within 7 weeks! No wonder it failed, huh? The second surgery was done by a new doctor. I'm not a person given to stress but after having gone through that surgery once, I was definitely scared of the second one.

Whatever any of you do, make sure you give yourself the proper time and circumstances in which to heal. Don't rush things.

Do you know why your foot is stuck like that? Do you think something went wrong with the surgery?

Hi Everyone and Hello to you Mazzie specifically,

I understand everyone's frustrations and trials and tribulations from this PTTD surgery stuff. It's tuff, isnt it?