Hi Everyone!

Well after having some irritation with my walking cast and the threat of skin breakdown because of it, I got my hard cast off! I went to the doctor this morning expecting him to take the cast off, do whatever needed to be done, and then put a hard cast back on. Well, he was very impressed with my progress and decided to take my walking cast off a whole two weeks and two days early. I have an air cast now but that's waaaaaay better than the hard casts I've been wearing for the past ten weeks this time... and five weeks last time. I've read other progress stories here on these boards and feel wonderful that now I can write one of my own. I hope it encourages others who face this surgery. While each case is definitely different, some people do have good success stories.... even if they have to go through more than one surgery to get there.

It's hard to believe how a person's calf can shrink so much after ten weeks, but mine isn't that weak or anything... I'm sooo amazed and so humbled by the body's ability to heal. One thing I've got to say though, this leg doesn't really look like MY leg... I used to have muscle! Did any of you feel llike that when you really got to inspect your leg and foot once you got home from your "cast away" appointment? Mind you, I'm okay with all of this... I now know what I've got to work with.

I have a dull toothache kind of pain, there's no swelling, and I can walk... amazing! The scars and flaky skin are pretty ugly, however, but so what???!!!! I feel great.... and I'm so happy I can't stop the tears. I was born with tendon/ankle problems so I've never had normal feet my whole life, but even less over the last two years when my pt tendon snapped. I've fought to be in as good a shape as I can be with all the troubles that weak tendons/ankles can inflict on a person. Right now, though, I feel I can do anything and am excited to try... when the time is right, of course.

There's a lot of disappointment and frustration with PTTD and I know there are some stories on these boards that are still working themselves out. When I started reading these boards a year ago after my first surgery failed, I clung to every success story I could find.... and I learned so much. All the disppointment and worry over knowing I needed another surgery, though, seems right now like it was a long, long time ago. The bad memories really can fade....

I hope and pray for good healing for everyone and the patience to see you through.

congratulations to you! when i got my cast off from toe fusion my calf was so skinny i could not believe it. before i knew it, it was back mathing my other calf.

Thank you! I seriously can't stop crying; I'm so happy! Now I can start looking for a job and everything. I feel like a human being again!

Was it physical therapy that did the trick?

congratulations to you! when i got my cast off from toe fusion my calf was so skinny i could not believe it. before i knew it, it was back mathing my other calf.

Congrats that is awesome!!! I am going in tomorrow morning and I will have an xray and if all goes right I will go from a hard cast to a boot!!! and can start with PT and PWB up to eventually FWB!!!! I am so jealous but happy for you!!!

Hey19,
That's awesome that you got your cast off today!! Sometimes the best things turn out to be a complete surprise!

I remember how small my calf was after the cast came off. It takes quite awhile to build it up again, but it does come! PT will work on that at some point. When will you start PT?

I am just one week post-op, so have 5 more weeks to go NWB. Next week the stitches will come out, an xray will be done and the cast will go on. I'm so anxious to get to where you are...but know it'll come fast. Hard to believe a week is done already!

Congrats again!
Krista

Thanks! I really think things worked out this time! I feel very, very good about all of it.

You surgery was in January, right? Every surgeon and procedure is so different it seems. When I got in the "walking cast" (fiberglass), I was told to walk as tolerated while slowly losing the crutches. I don't start PT until March 19.



Congrats that is awesome!!! I am going in tomorrow morning and I will have an xray and if all goes right I will go from a hard cast to a boot!!! and can start with PT and PWB up to eventually FWB!!!! I am so jealous but happy for you!!!

Krista: Thanks! I sure was surprised.... and ohhhhh soooo happy! I've been in casts this time for ten weeks.

Funny story: My doc's office is not close to my house so when I left his office knowing I could try out my foot, I decided to go to the nearest medical supply place and get that boot right away. That way, I could stop at this little nearby market that I haven't been to in months and months to pick up a couple of veggies.... nothing strenuous or fully weight bearing if I used a crutch or shopping basket, but it was soooooo exciting to think I could actually do that today. Well, wouldn't you know it! The medical supply place was totally out of my size boot! I was sooooooo disappointed that I couldn't go grocery shopping... Oh well. So I drove out to my area instead to a place that had them in stock. Then I went to the post office -- with a crutch -- to mail a package.... that's it.... no big event where I'd "overdo" things. It's strange how going to the post office meant the world to me. I have an entirely new appreciation for the disabled/elderly when they have to rely on others to help them accomplish what used to be so simple for them.

How long did it take to build your calf? I look like I have a bird leg covered in lizard skin... and it's "beautiful," thank you!

I don't start PT until 3/19.... seems like it would've started sooner, but it was the same way with my last surgery too.

I remember reading about your surgery and no, it really doesn't seem like a whole week already. Are you getting along okay? What suggestions have you found to be the most helpful for "survival"? My favorite thing was my aqua shield for the shower.

Hey 19...

That is the BEST news I've heard all day. I know you are soooo happy, as you should be.
Those of us in " cyperspace " reading about your good fortune know that - if we are lucky - a day is coming like this for us !
Please keep posting so we can track your progress.

Jana65

Hi Jana:

It was good to wake up to this nice note.... thanks. It's only 6:30 a.m. and I'm already awake and wondering what I can accomplish today without overdoing it. Now the real healing and therapy begins.... and I can work on trying to put my life back together. It's exciting after spending most of the last fifteen months in a sort of limbo.... first one surgery and rehab, and then knowing there was more surgery coming.... hopefully this will be it for the surgery anyways! I know there's still a long ways to go with this rehab, but I'm going to continue approaching it like a puzzle -- in small pieces. Your surgery is coming up in June.... I think it's good that you read these boards for information, while remembering how different each person's case is. Wish I'd known of HealthBoards before my first surgery... might have helped me avoid the second one... Who knows... Oh well, it's water under the bridge now. I don't know if you've ever had a baby, but it reminds me of that in a small way. You're just so happy afterwards that you forget about the nausea, the backaches, weight gain, swelling ankles, labor, etc....for the most part anyways... lol!

I I went in for my 6 week post op appointment and I was placed in a PWB boot and told I could start Physical therapy. I am nervous about this whole walking thing. How did any one else feel about being able to walk? I mean at first I was excited then as I started walking I had visions of my foot/ankle being huge and swollen tonight. Also for all you women out there how long did you wait to shave? I was told probably best not to do it for 24 hours but soak it in water a couple times during that 24 hours. And what about the incision on the leg probably best to shave around it use nair or what? Just curious! My doctor had never mentioned putting in a screw but I should have assumed he did but wasn't sure. I do have one though in my heel and the PA mentioned today that most people when they go into shoes and really start walking on it have pain and the screw tends to have to be taken out because it can be painful. What have other people's experiences been with the screw? Hope everyone else is doing well.
Good luck there is light at the end of this loooong tunnel! I will keep you all posted as things happen.

Kristin: What did the doc explain to you by PWB? Have you seen the PT yet? I'm soooo curious about this because I don't start therapy until 3/19. I can walk in my boot while concentrating on losing the crutches. ???? I am nervous about this walking thing too. I'm not worried about the swelling as much as I am about another collapse.... that's what happened last time. However, I had no hardware or anything last time for support... my heel wasn't moved either. The doc told me to wait to shave until I'd washed the leg down a few times and used a light loofah and creams. I shaved it very lightly this morning already.... it didn't feel too bad, just stung a little. My doc said the same thing about the heel screws... I have two in my heel, one above the other. I asked "Why all the hardware? I have seven screws in this foot. Wow." He assured me that it was because he didn't want my surgery to fail this time... I feel good about that, even if I have to have some of them taken out later.

Aren't you happy to be at this stage? I'm sooooo happy for you. I know how wonderful the feeling is.... like you've been liberated, huh?

Hey19~ the doc said that PWB should be with the crutches for a little while probably at least 2 weeks and to put as much pressure as you feel comfortable with and if I get tired then to give it a rest by using the crutches fully again. Today was my appointment so I just got out of it. I have only been out of the cast for less than 12 hours. I have not seen the PT yet but I will be seeing them on 3/12, i am excited to start. I concentrate on my walking alot. My ankle is a little swollen and looks like frankenfoot hahaha. wow you have a lot of screws. I only have one! I feel good about this whole thing I am very excited to get this whole stage well under way. I will let you know about PT after I go.. Please keep me posted on how you are making out. I could not be any happier that I am at this stage. I got it wet tonight and worked on the skin it was a great feeling. a little nervous about bed and getting it knocked or anything. But we will see. I finally get to feel the sheets again!!

Kristin

Hey Kristin,

I will be 11 weeks post op this Thursday. I started PWB and PT after 6 week doc appt also. I was scared to death to walk on it but little by little I got more confidence. My PT and I practiced walking during every session. This really helped my confidence.

I am now walking FWB with a cane and sometimes with nothing. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I can see it now and you will too. Good Luck!!

Hey Kristin: My doc's office said to bear weight as I'm comfortable with while slowly losing the crutches. Honestly, I hardly need the crutches at all. I have an Air Cast that I pump up a little and I'm good to go, but I wonder if I should still be relying on those crutches more heavily than I am. I've got a call in to the doc's office just to chat with the PA because I don't want to overdo anything. I'm just wondering what your experience and anyone else's experience is. Just to recap, I've been in NWB hard casts for eight weeks post op, a hard walking cast for almost two weeks, and I just got this removable Air Cast on Monday.

Also, what's everyone's experience with PT? I don't even start until 3/19 after I've been walking on my own for a while. It was the same for me with last year's surgery, but that surgery was a failure, so I'm more concerned than ever.

Kristin:

How'd the first night go? Isn't it wonderful sleeping without a cast on? I couldn't agree more that working on the skin is a great feeling! Do you have any range of motion? I don't have much.


I could not be any happier that I am at this stage. I got it wet tonight and worked on the skin it was a great feeling. a little nervous about bed and getting it knocked or anything. But we will see. I finally get to feel the sheets again!!

The first night went pretty well when I got home I washed it and did all that fun stuff. I used a sugar body scrub which helped a lot, after the scrub I used a loofa with a moisturizing body wash. I also used a pumpice stone on my foot which helped a great deal too (put the sugar scrub on the stone and went over it once and then washed it with the loofa and body wash as well)then dried it off and put lotion on. I did that twice last night and then sat on the couch with out the boot. I iced it a little last night too. The air and cleaning was great and the scrub really helped with all the dead skin too. I shaved this morning it is a little bumpy but it didn't hurt and was not that bad it is going to take a little bit to get the smoothness back again. Sleeping without the cast was great but I am still sleeping with it elevated (for the swelling and also until I am completely comfortable I didn't want to whack it on my boyfriend or have him whack it in my sleep)
As far as walking with the crutches I don't want to push it but I do want to lose them as soon as possible. I think I am going to try a cane over the weekend just to see how that works out. we will see though.
My range of motion isn't great at all. I have barely any but a little. PT is going to help that so I am not too worried on that front.
Let me know what your PA says about the cructhes. Even though I am a few weeks behind you I feel i could get a good idea from what you have been doing.
Hope everyone else is doing well!!! I haven't seen Krista post in a little bit I hope her recovery is going very well.

One more question: what about the steri strips did you all just let them fall off on their own or did you take them off???

Kristin

Hi Kristin,
Congrats to you too on getting your cast off! It is a great feeling to be able to shower, shave, moisterize and just be aired out! Be gentle with your skin...I know it's hard to not want to get all the dead stuff off right away, but the skin is super sensitive (what's "coming in")...baby butt skin. Have you found how weird it is to touch the ground with your foot? Everything feels sharper, more textured, etc. because of the new skin. My PT encouraged me to rub my foot along different textures, to help desensitize it.

As far as crutches, I think I used both for the first day, then started to use just one for that first week. When I went into PT one week after cast away, they let me use a cane, then told me I walked worse with it, so took it away! I walked on my own, no crutches, after a week. However, if I went anywhere that involved a lot of walking, I had one with me. I tried to do too much one day and swelled a ton (ouch!). I think I got fed up with how slow I moved with the crutch and felt okay (even though there was some discomfort) enough to go it sans crutches. Everyone is different and tolerates things on a different time scale. I know some others here gradually decreased the use over 4 wks. It's up to you and how your foot is feeling.

I'm just over 1 wk post-op now and that week has flown by. I had to get a new splint put on last Friday because the one they did in the OR was too high and it dug into my upper calf and hit the back of my upper leg whenever I bent it (which was a lot since I'm using the scooter!). She made it shorter this time, only halfway up my calf...I like that! On Monday I go back in to have the stitches removed and a cast put on. I'm not looking forward to that part...it hurt to have the ones on the inside of the foot removed (the outside was numb)...I cringed every time she said another one was coming out...had to lay down b/c I felt sick. There are more stitches this time because he looked at more of my PTT. My pain has been very manageable, better than last time. Less swelling and discomfort in general. Not sure why that is, except that I had the last one in the late spring/summer, so the heat and humidity probably made it worse. It has been hard to get used to the "bad" side being my right..not the left. I have put my "bad" leg down about 3x by accident (and beared weight...yikes). My left leg is still weak,
10 months later. I'll go back to work sometime next week, after the cast is on. It feels "easier" this time around since I'm not missing out on summer fun. It's winter (just snowed today) and everyone is cooped up inside. I just can't wait to get outside this spring/summer to run again! That is my big motivator, as I know from last time I can do it!

Keep in mind that the full results won't be seen until 9-12 months post-op. There will be a lot of changes, like seeing an arch again, walking with both supination and pronation, less pain, gradual strength and ROM, etc. It can take time, which is hard for those of us who want results sooner rather than later! But it does come and it's pretty cool to see!

Continue updating...it's good to hear how well others are doing!
Krista

Oh, forgot to say something about the steri-strips. The PA told me to let them fall off, but when I went to PT, she said to really encourage them to come off. I went home that night and gently pulled them off. My PT said the healing was done, there was no point in keeping them on. The PA did say not to soak the foot afterwards. Hope that helps!

Krista, I am glad to hear that you are doing so well. I have noticed what you did with the outside of the foot especially the heel part being numb. I am a little confused about the steri strips I can take them off but do not soak the foot afterwards? for how long?? Also just a question for running...when I can start running again how do you buy shoes for that??? I usually buy shoes for my pronation and my left foot although not anywhere near how bad my right foot was it is still not all that great.

Kristin,
I think for a week or two after the stitches come out you're not supposed to soak the foot. In PT, I was using whirlpool tx at the beginning of every session, starting maybe the second week of PT (which would have been 2-3 wks after the stitches came out). Also, this won't be the case for a long while, but once you are out in the sun, cover up those scars!! The skin is so sensitive and thin that you can tattoo the scar if it burns or gets too much sun...my dr told me this and he used to work in FL...saw cases of it!

I started "running" (jogging) around 4-4.5 months post-op. I did so by using the treadmill so I could vary the speed, warm up, have supports if I needed to lift up. The shoes I have are for neutral feet (Asics), but the reason for that is I had orthotics made and you don't want to overcorrect with those and shoes that are for pronation. I had my orthotics adjusted after surgery to be more supportive than corrective and left the other foot as it was. I also experimented with not wearing the orthotic in the surgery foot and keeping the orthotic in the other foot. My dr does not want me to have to rely on orthotics again....that is why he did these surgeries, but I have them and can use them if I want. It's hard when there's the imbalance with two feet. Are you going to use any sort of orthotics or will you just rely on the shoes? You might have to play around with it a bit, as my foot hurt more when it was overcorrected, but didn't like just the flatness of the neutral shoe. My PT recommended NOT buying any shoes until about the 4 month mark due to the swelling and continual changes in your foot as it heals.

That was probably as clear as mud...sorry! Your PT is a good resource as you move forward. And you might want to check with your dr about his feelings on orthotics after surgery. They all have different opinions, I've found, from what people say here!
Krista

Hi Guys!

Well, the PA called back and I'm doing things just the way I'm supposed to he says. I'm normally pretty laid-back, but not with this recovery!!! I totally admit to being nervous because of what happened after the first surgery. As a matter of fact, I told the PA he should probably count on hearing from me some more.... he laughed and said that's what he was there for. Good!

When I asked if I was losing my crutches too soon, he said no.... definitely go at my own pace, and he was happy I was doing so well. I asked if I could/should wear an orthotic in the boot and he said he sure hoped I would never have to wear anything like that ever again but if I felt more secure with it, it wouldn't hurt anything. I dunno, but my foot looks flat.... maybe it's my imagination.... maybe it's because I have to start learning to use it again.... who knows? Again, I'm being a little hyper about this, but I want to get on with my life now and not think about any more surgery. Time to look forward!!!!

Yes, it's been a verrrry bad winter here in Michigan too, so what a great time to be laid up... IF you have to be laid up. The birds were singing this morning... out in all the snow!... but the sound reminded me that spring is around the corner and I can barely wait to get some new shoes and hit the gym again. I was never successful as a runner like you guys.... always got shin splints, etc. Maybe I have an explanation for that now and can even try it again. Time will tell.

About the steri-strips.... My doctor came into the room on Monday and told me to pull them right off. I did, and it didn't hurt one single bit. The strips were just attached to dead, dry skin anyways... same as the scabs. (This is gross, isn't it?) I told him I wanted to go home and get directly in my hot tub. He told me that was a great idea but I'd probably want to finish my "moulting" act first before I caused a real mess with the filters... haha. He also told me I could manipulate my foot in the tub and it would probably feel good and be good for me as well to loosen things up a bit.

When I asked why I had to wait so long for therapy, the PA basically told me it's just the way this practice does things.... every doc is different. He said they want the foot to "settle in" before the therapists start to work it... and he said they work their patients pretty hard. My doctor (and partners) own the physical therapy group right upstairs from their offices, so the PA knows how these guys work I guess. Sounded a bit intimidating, but way more exciting than anything else. I'm very encouraged and verrrrry happy!

Andrea

Hi everyone,
Well, it wasn't "cast away" day, but it was "splint away" day! I brought things with me to wash my leg/foot, shave and moisterize, to prepare to go into a cast for 4 wks. My dr is pleased with the position of the bone graft and how I'm healing. I asked, hoping for a favorable response, if he would let me go into a boot instead of a cast, NWB. He gave me the choice, so of course I'm in the boot! It feels so nice! He told me I could take it off to shower, but only for 5 minutes and he reminded me again not to soak the foot at all. I have to be really careful not to fall, as the graft could pop out of position since there are no screws or anything holding it in. Just tension.

The PA pulled out my stitches, which hurt some and made me light-headed and a bit queasy. I had a hard time standing for the x-rays feeling like that! I'm so glad that's over. I think the next 4 wks will go by much more quickly since I feel like I have a bit more freedom w/o the cast. I'll start WB 4/9.

Still taking Percocet regularly. Last night I had a weird response to it...I woke with a jolt x2, feeling like I was falling. It was sooo real, more-so than I have ever experienced before. Didn't like that! But, I still need the meds, the pain is there. I need to take a nap now...worn out from this AM!

Hope everyone else is doing well! :)
Krista

hi hey, how is it going? did your calf come back to normal size? pt did help by showing me stretches to do for the calf. my calf is sore now and i wasnt even in a cast this time. i have not been able to do stretches yet as i am still in wedge surgical shoes. just massaging can help, also.

HEY there!

Great news, Sunny! Surprises are nice... glad you didn't have to deal with that hard cast thing. Being able to take this boot off now and again means EVERYTHING to me right now. Did your doctor tell you why you shouldn't soak your foot? Mine told me I could go directly home and get in the hot tub.... massage and move it under the jets, etc. I wonder why the diff? Maybe because I was in a cast for almost ten weeks and the incision healing was further ahead.

Debbie, I'm doing well. My calf is still the same because I can't even start PT yet. I have been manipulating the foot and trying to get some range of motion with it... seems to be helping. No cast this time? Good for you! I don't ever want to see another one!!!!!!!

Sunny~ Thats great that you were allowed to go straight into the boot from the surgical splint and didn't have to deal with the cast this time around. So tension is really holding your heel bone in place?? Does that make you a little nervous that there is nothing there holding it together? I didn't know that could do that I wish I had known and then I would have asked about that rather than the screw. You just can't soak your foot because you just got your stitches out I am assuming because by the time I was able to soak my foot was 4 weeks after the stitches came out because my foot had been in a cast for that amount of time. So I am thinking that might be the difference between why we could go soak our feet and it would be a good thing and why you cannot as of yet. Well good luck on your healing keep us all posted! I start PT tomorrow morning. I am so excited.

Kristin

Kristin,
I think you had the PTT repair and the sliding ostetotomy (cut your whole heel bone and move it over), whereas I had the PTT repair and an Evans ostetotomy (bone wedge added on outside of heel). The bone wedge is being held in by tension, since it's inbetween 2 pieces of my heel bone. My surgeon opts for that method vs. putting in a wire or screw, but others do it differently. My other foot healed great and so far, this one is healing the way it should. I don't know if you could have foregone the screw in the sliding osteotomy.

This AM I took a shower...it was weird to handle my foot outside the boot. This was a pretty quick shower and I lotioned up my foot (not near the healing incisions) before putting a knee high sock on. I'm elevating and icing it now, since I've been up and out a lot today. No pain, luckily!

You'll have to fill us in on how your first day of PT goes!

Hey19, what Kristin said about the not soaking is right on. I'm only 2 wks post-op and just had the stitches removed, so can't do that yet. Steri-strips are on, though I'm not sure how long they'll last. One is already loose. I know in PT, they started with manual massage to loosen things up, then moved me to the whirlpool for 15 min. soaks at the beginning of the session. So, it's definitely a good thing to help loosen up and get ROM going.

Alright, time for a little nap! ;) Glad you guys are doing well!
Krista

Hi Sunny and Kristin:

Thanks about the foot soaking thing.... I thought it probably had to do with the stitches.

About the screw vs. tension. I had the tension method in my first surgery, and it failed.... miserably. However, with that being said, it's probably important to know about me and my history... probably different than most.... I'm weird! Here's the history, though, that my first surgeon was presented with: I was born with flat feet and hypermobile joints. Next, I'm 50 years old now (48 at diagnosis), although I'm in good shape -- which takes more and more work the older I get... lol! Also, I have a mild case of lupus. Add to that the fact that I had a verrrrrry loose tarsometatarsal joint. With that picture, the surgeon decided I would do well with the tension method (?), so he transferred the tendon, did the ostetomy (never told me the name of it but sounds like an Evans), and he "nipped" my Achilles tendon. I was in a cast for only five weeks, followed by a boot that I was allowed to bear weight with. I started PT a couple of weeks after that and in very short order, the allograft failed. Throughout all of this (even my initial evaluation and diagnosis) I never had an MRI, just x-rays. At the five week point when the cast came off, I had x-rays and the doctor said that it was "almost" healed.... I guess the "almost" word should've told me something, but what did I know? Anyways, I then insisted on an MRI after things looked like they were falling apart, and that's when I found out what was really going on.... the surgery/recovery had failed. Funny thing, though, is that the doctor never told me that (?). I had to go and get my own copy of the MRI report to find it out. Screws vs. non-screws? Depends on the case. Tension didn't work for me so well the first time, but I'll bet you're muuuuch younger without lupus, Sunny.... Gooooooood for you that things worked. The less hardware the better!!!!! I sure didn't want all the screws/pins I got this time, but I'm okay with it now that things are looking up for me.

Thank goodness I finally found the best of the best (for me) in terms of surgeons and recovery this time around (so far). I feel wonderful! I went out today and shopped for the first time in months. I'm having Easter at my house and it was fun to fuss with with selecting colors and everything. I have a new appreciation for people who are disabled.... with no hope of recovery. At least I know I'll be okay.

Hope you are doing well too.

Hey Everyone!!

PT just started today I did the eval which consisted of getting my history, seeing the operation report, took measurements of my ankles, feet, and calves. (Right now my calf has lost an inch as compared to the other one, and in total my ankle, and foot are swollen two inches together), giving me little exercises to do, compared flexability in the two ankles/feet/legs/hips/calf, did electro stimulation and ice (being careful not to get to close to the screw area). I go back again friday. So there was not that much done today she did however tell me there are quite a few things that they are not able to start till after I reach the 8 to 9 week post op mark. The exercises i got were scrunching a towel with my toes (well grabbing it) calf stretch, active ankle planter/dorsiflexion, seated ankle plantar flexion and seated ankle dorsiflexion). I am weaning down to one crutch after today, I have tried a cane but i don't like it as much. that is about it though. any questions just ask. Oh yeah I was told by my doc to go to pt 2 to 3 times a week and PT says I need 3 a week at least to start. I also got to read my operation notes.

A small side note when she was comparing the flexability in all that she noticed that my left foot is too flexible and that arch is falling not happy about this in the least. She said that foot bearing the brunt for the other foot probably made it a little worse off than it was, has anyone experienced this?? If so did it lead to another surgery and how far out from the first one. Also do you have to go through all the same steps you did before (non surgical methods) ?

Hope all is well with everyone!!

Kristin

Hi Kristin,
I had surgery on my left foot last May and on my right foot in Feb. They were almost 10 months apart. I did not have issues at all with my right foot until after the first surgery, but developed them within about 3 months. I thought maybe it was just due to taking the brunt of everything and that once my left foot was more healed and stronger, that it might go away. Unfortunately, it did not go away and continued to progress. I did all the same PT exercises I was doing for rehab on my left foot on my right foot and had orthotics made "to get me through" the rest of the rehab process, as my dr phrased it. I did not go through immobilization in the boot this time around but did take some tylenol-3 for pain (had major stomach issues with anti-inflammatories). I had an MRI and x-rays done, like last time. I think because we were aware of how conservative treatment not working on my other foot, we didn't go there. Also, he was reluctant to do any immobilization that close to my last surgery (saw him in Sept originally for right foot) since that foot was still weak and rehabbing. My PT told me how hyper-mobile my ankle was too and I also had a rotation of my lower leg.

I asked my dr about the other foot right away, as I was worried it would go down like my left. He said I likely wouldn't have any issues with it. My dr. told me that if this was going to happen, it would, and there wasn't anything I/he could do to prevent it. Kind of freaky. I was bummed it had to happen to me twice, but the second time around has been a bit less painful and easier to handle, knowing what to expect made a difference. I can't wait to be done with it all and back to running...being active is what I've missed most.

Anyway, hope that helps answer some of your questions. If you can do some of the same exercises (when you get to that point) on your other foot, try that to strengthen it. Good luck as you continue in PT!
Krista

Hey Krista,
I am worried that it will not go away once my right foot gets better. I already had a little bit of issues with it my doctor noticed that the arch was falling a little but not as badly as the other one (which I was in more pain and it actually prevented me from doing things). I am thinking because it has been taking the brunt of things it has gotten worse for the wear. I did do the same exercises on that foot as well as the one that was operated on. I believe that is the word that my PT used was my ankle was very hyper mobile and then asked me if I had issues with that one. Is this something I should bring up to my doctor? I just don't want to get caught doing this all over again. Hope you all are doing well. I had my second round of PT today and my foot has been really sore the last few days but after PT the massage and everything it feels a little looser and a little bit better. But it is going to be a long long road. still nervous about my other foot.
Kristin