That sounds like a song, no?

Anyway, it's not so much pre-op anxiety as it is not-better-yet issues.

I'm just so tired. I have to take public transportation to work, which, when you walk at half-speed with a cane, is truly special. For a while I was managing okay, but the last 3 times I've left the house, I've had a meltdown because things weren't going my way. Like when the bus doors slam right in my face after I've limped most of a block as fast as I can--and three kids ran past me and made it.

Part of it is that I've had an unrelated injury to my hand, so now I can't even go to the gym and lift weights. Part of it is that my ankle just randomly started feeling worse a few days ago (now I've got a pain BEHIND my lateral malleolus, too!) Part of it is that I had a bad week at work, and have to completely redo a project I thought I was finished with. And part of it is just that I've been hurt for over a year and various levels of disabled by ankle pain for several months, and I'm simply worn out. And let's not even get into what-if-the-surgery-doesn't-help land...

And then, of course, there's been all the stress of dealing with insurance. I've wasted 3 of the last 8 days on that--one at work, fighting with them over the phone instead of working (They processed the referral, printed and mailed me a copy, then they couldn't find it in the system when the time came to authorize the procedure!), Then, tuesday I wasted at the clinic getting blood tests (ok, necessary) and then today going to the clinic again, just so my family doctor can fill out the form which says I'm healthy enough it's unlikely I'll die from outpatient surgery.

I THINK insurance is happy now, and all I have left to do is pre-op with surgeon, but it's still taken a toll.

I'm eleven and a half days from my surgery, and I'm beginning to wonder if I can keep it together that long. And I need some strength to get better with!

So, completely typical, right?

I'm hoping that if I take the weekend to do nothing much, and then see if I can rearrange my work responsibilities a bit, so that I'm doing more of the stuff I like for the next few weeks, and less of the stuff that just stresses me out more. And maybe start the working-from-home a little earlier.

I love you all for putting up with my problems so my husband doesn't have to absorb all of it, wonderful man that he is.

Hi Jane,

I can relate to your post more than you know! I just had surgery today, and I swear that all of the pre-surgery annoyances were worse than the procedure! From what I hear, I had an "easy" time with my insurance, and I still wanted to bang my head against the wall every time I got off the phone with them or thought I'd jumped through the last hoop! Good luck with the surgery and hang in there! :cool:

-Carin

Congrats on getting through it, Armykat. Hope it went well

Hi Jane

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I've got a painful ankle too so I know what you are going through. I hope you'll keep us updated. Take care.

Hugs Nadine:)

Hi Jane:

I love the way you write your story... and yes, the title does sound like a hit song! Even though the disabilities and surgeries we go through are horrible, you found a way to lighten things up a bit with the way you write.... made me smile. I do think a lot of what you're feeling is "typical" as you say, but your attitude and the way you approach things will surely get you through. What surgery are you having in 11 days? I had PTTD surgery... twice. As if once wasn't bad enough!

I know what you mean about the husband thing. My husband turned pale when I told him I had to have the second surgery. Poor guy.

Thanks, everybody.

Yesterday was a good day. Got to see some of my in-laws, who I like, especially the 4-year-old, then hang out with friends all evening. Swollen to the point of near-immobility this morning, but I'm used to it.

Ten days to go. I think I'll make it.

I understand where you are coming from. I also have the post-op crazies. I have had two keller bunionectomies, 7 hammertoes repaired, and repairs a couple of years ago to fix floppy big toes by having them fused. This has all taken place over the last 8 years. One of the bunions on the great toe has returned and both little toes need hammertoe surgery and a bunionette is now on the little toe. My right foot hurts 24/7. I will also be having the other great toe fused. I was scheduled for surgery March 14th and the Doctor's office called and rescheduled me for the 21st. I was already psyched up for the 14th and now have an extra week to wait. ACC Basketball Championships the weekend of the 14th and Doc probably wanted to attend. But, I truly understand your pre-op crazies.

well, it's quite obvious I am nervous. I said post-op instead of pre-op in my prior message. Sorry about that.....

What does your upcoming surgery consist of?

Thanks, everybody.

Yesterday was a good day. Got to see some of my in-laws, who I like, especially the 4-year-old, then hang out with friends all evening. Swollen to the point of near-immobility this morning, but I'm used to it.

Ten days to go. I think I'll make it.

Upcoming surgery is only arthroscopic debridement. I have very little anxiety about the procedure itself, as I know the recovery is brief, and the worst outcome that's remotely likely is that it won't help. That possibility worries me some, but I'm mainly just tired of waiting. Not having done my own grocery shopping since October is starting to get to me.

what kind of recovery and how long of recovery do you have to go through?

Oh, yeah, I believe the worry and the waiting is worse than the actual procedure/operation itself. At least once it's over with, you know you can't change your mind or anything... Surgery is already done and you just have to concentrate on getting your act back together. Easy to say, huh? I'm still digging out from under all the projects, etc. that seem to pile up toooo easily. Before my last surgery, my son and husband dodged me for the few days beforehand. To say I was crabby is an understatement. "Psycho" might be a word to describe me in those days... I've been apologizing ever since! I can relate to your frustrations.



Upcoming surgery is only arthroscopic debridement. I have very little anxiety about the procedure itself, as I know the recovery is brief, and the worst outcome that's remotely likely is that it won't help. That possibility worries me some, but I'm mainly just tired of waiting. Not having done my own grocery shopping since October is starting to get to me.

Badfeet51:
I just got back from my pre-op discussion, and the deal is 10 days non-weightbearing in a splint, then I get stitches out and use a CAM boot. (I was hoping for tape and ace bandage, but whatever.) He didn't say how long in the boot or what the full recovery timeline is going to be like, but 2 months, maybe 3, to get do-anything clearance is pretty typical from what I've heard, though I should be reasonably able long before 2 months.

In good news, I've got a prescription for pain medicine I can actually take, I hope. I can't have any anti-inflamatories, ever, and my body's not too fond of Tylenol, either. Thank heaven, he didn't question this, and wrote me a prescription for a straight narcotic (dilaudid). I'm not expecting terrible pain, but the idea of going home with no pain medicine of any kind was... unappealing.

Jane

I wore the boot for several months when I had my ankle fusion. It wasn't too bad and more comfortable than a cast. I'm glad your doctor is going to prescribe something strong for your pain. My prayers are with you.

Hugs Nadine:)

good luck to you and keep posting.

my surgeon did not tell me what type pain medicine he was going to give me but I certainly hope he is planning on giving me something strong enough to kill the pain. I have chronic kidney stones for which I take IM Demerol when one strikes. But, that is not a good medicine for bone pain, better for stones from kidney and gallbladder. I don't care how weak or how strong it is as long as it works. you know, when your feet hurt you hurt all over, don't you? I wish you good luck with your surgery and keep writing and let us know how you do.

Janewhite, the best I could remember, your foot surgery is tomorrow. I wish you well and please post and let us know how you do. My surgery is Friday am and I am busy now trying to arrange all the things around the house a woman has to get straight. Men try to do it but they don't quite do things like we do. My thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow. Good luck

Men try to do it but they don't quite do things like we do.

I'm not on until Wednesday. I've got just about everything squared away, I just need to go to the wheelchair rental company tomorrow and pick up my rolleraid. With my sore hand, crutches are so not happening.

I know what you mean about men. My husband is fantastic. He will go food shopping, pick up everything on the list, read my mind on about half the items I forgot to mention or didn't describe properly. Then he can cook a proper dinner, set the table, wash the dishes, do everything except the one-minute job of rinsing out the sink and wiping down the countertops, which is almost as vital as washing dishes when it comes to keeping the roaches down. (city apartment, bugs are inevitable, I just try to keep them smaller than my toes.) I'm not sure what's going to happen to those countertops when I get my ankle fixed.

Good luck tomorrow with surgery I hope everything goes well and you have a easy recovery! Remember to keep us all posted.

Kristin

Hope your surgery goes well.
Your husband sounds like he will be a huge help. I have a "my husband in the kitchen phobia". When he does cook (which is usually just breakfast type stuff), he seems to think the eye only works on high and he then wipes everything down with Windex......As for grocery shopping, my sixteen year old son worked out better for that chore.
My husband and I had been talking about putting hardwood down in our house and one week after I had my first surgery he and my son moved all furniture (except for the bedrooms) in to the garage and the next week they started putting down the floors. Six weeks and one more surgery later, we finally got the furniture moved back in this past Sunday. You would not believe the obstacle course I had to go through on crutches just to get to the bathroom. It was a mess. Plus, I am a total neat freak and my house is always so-so - I thought I might go crazy the first week or two but I finally just had to zone out.
I am now in the process of trying to put all of the accessories back in place which is pretty fun in a wheelchair!

oh gosh taterbug, all that going on while I was recupperating would have driven me crazy. I have not a "clean freak" but I am a "neat freak". I always want things around me neat and in place but yet if you are brave enough to venture and open a closet door, you could get dangerously injured by an avalanche of old books, magazines, cleaning supplies, whatever. My husband can cook well, but only a few different dishes so that gets boring. But, he does a good job. But, I don't think wiping a kitchen counter has ever entered his mind. I generally end up getting up before I should and doing things before I should. This time I am going directly by doc's orders though. My surgery is friday so maybe janewhite and I can keep each other company on the laptops.

I'm like you - I hate to see clutter but as long as it is in a drawer or in a closet, I am ok. Things are slowly getting back to normal as far as the house goes. Another night or two and I should have everything back in place.
I am worried about my foot again though. Last night I was hopping from the wheelchair to the commode and sort of slipped - stupid me wearing a flip flop on the good foot and trying to hop. I didn't hit my foot or bear any weight on it but I tensed up so hard (sort of like when you are almost in a wreck or something) and now I can feel a burning sensation in the incision area and through the end of my toe. Hopefully it didn't do anything - I go to the doctor tomorrow for a check up, so I guess I'll find out then.
Maybe this would be a good time for your husband to try out some new recipes.

Okay, had the scope done early this morning. The surgeon talked to my husband, and telling him which questions to ask was one thing I forgot to do in the scooter fuss. The surgeon did say that he cleaned my anterior ankle up, and that it didn't look too bad, and that I should at least be able to get rid of the cane.

I've been extremely drowsy all day, but the pain isn't too bad. I'm on crutches in a surgical splint for the next 9 days. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for your support, everyone.

Janewhite; glad you are finished with the surgery part, now the hard part, the recovery begins. Are you in a lot of pain or did you doc give you adequate pain meds. Did you have a block so it would be deadened for a while? My doc did not mention what meds I would be discharged on but I am sure he will give me some type pain medicine. What anesthesia did you use? How did it go? Lots of questions b/c mine is Friday and getting a little apprehensive. Hope you do well. let me know.

The pain is not too bad. For the surgery, I had general anesthesia. This was the choice apparently because I'm young and healthy enough that they could simply put me out, with minimal risk. I was in the hospital for a grand total of 5.5 hours, less than I expected. (Lost the bet with my husband, he said out by noon, I said no way) The only significant pain I had while there was when the nurse told me to practice walking across the room on crutches while the IV needle was still in my hand. (Just once, I'd like an IV that doesn't leave a gigantic bruise.)

I have a nice bottle of pain meds, thus far I've taken only one, last night before bed. I really hated the way the anesthesia drugs made me feel, and I'm enjoying my clearheadedness too much to mind the ache. This morning I woke up unhappy because it was swollen, but the ice-pack under the knee trick helped.

You're doing really well if you have only had one pain pill. Be careful though to not get behind the pain curve. Last night you still had remnants of the anesthesia in you which will work through today so be cautious about not taking the pain pills.
Elevate, elevate, elevate and there is no such thing as too much ice time.
Good luck!

Eventually, yeah, anesthesia drugs wore off all the way and I had to start using pills. Sort of a balancing act between pain and dizziness/nausea from the narcotics, although I seem to be in a decent place right now. I expect it'll be easier by the weekend.

To keep from getting sick to my stomach with the pain medicine, I got myself hooked on Girl Scout cookies. A half a box really feels your stomach up :) Seriously, we had bought about five boxes from kids we know and I swear I went through four of them by myself in a week and a half.

Which pain pills are you using? There are a couple of alternate ones if you are very nauseated from one of them. I had good results with Vicodin.
This is the toughest day, every day gets better after this.
Did you know that many general anesthesias are a blend and some have valium in them? I asked my surgeon if there was something special in mine because I was in such an upbeat mood after the surgery and he told me that they put valium in anesthesia to help keep the patient relaxed. It worked.

I'm taking hydromorphone. I'm just grateful to have a straight narcotic, as I am unable to tolerate Advil, NSAIDS, or even Tylenol.

Thus far, it's making me more able to concentrate rather than less, which means it's the right dose.

Yesterday evening was interesting. My brother showed up around midday, because husband had to work today and my mother wouldn't hear of me being alone all day. Then my mother appeared, then husband, then father, then Chinese delivery guy. Somehow the table was cleared off, moved a few inches, surrounded with more chairs, set with good dishes for five, dinner was served, then cleared, all literally without me leaving my chair.

Around 1:15 am last night, I hit what I'm hoping will be the worst point. Had to wake up my husband to get me fresh ice and painkillers, because if I'd tried standing up I probably would have screamed from the pain of letting my foot hang so far down. Still, managed to get back under control reasonably soon. Ice is a marvelous substance, without which opiates would have no power. And, thanks whoever mentioned the putting ice behind the knee when casted trick, it really does take the swelling right down

We are doing the exact same thing! House remodeling while you're on crutches is not easy. We've been doing a total remodel for two years and we're at the hardwood flooring point.. probably in the next couple of weeks. I can really relate ... and sympathize!

My husband and I had been talking about putting hardwood down in our house and one week after I had my first surgery he and my son moved all furniture (except for the bedrooms) in to the garage and the next week they started putting down the floors. Six weeks and one more surgery later, we finally got the furniture moved back in this past Sunday. You would not believe the obstacle course I had to go through on crutches just to get to the bathroom. It was a mess. Plus, I am a total neat freak and my house is always so-so - I thought I might go crazy the first week or two but I finally just had to zone out.
I am now in the process of trying to put all of the accessories back in place which is pretty fun in a wheelchair!

I like the "frustration" thread.

Even though having the foot surgery has limited my mobility, I think I would prefer to have the foot problem versus a hand or arm problem.

Haven't been on much last couple days. Why? Hand hurts, now too. Hurts to use crutches, type, crafts, etc.

So, let's see, I've now lost more mobility and my main distraction/support (being here). I'm also falling even further behind at work, and facing the loss of my beautiful new arm muscles.

Got an appt with hand dr-- for May 5th. Arrrg!

Splint off! I just showered!!!

Sitting down, yes, but with my whole body inside the shower. I am delighted.

Surgeon says my ligaments and cartilage looked good on the scope, and that he found and removed scar tissue. He showed me the pictures.

I'm using a CAM walker, and have permission to "wean off" the crutches. Yay, maybe my poor hand can heal now.

I seem to have lost about half my calf muscle in the past 10 days, but that should be easy to fix, with a little sweat. PT starts Monday, but I'm already doing some "gentle movement without weight" kind of exercises.

My "wounds" are the length and width of an eyelash. 9 out of 10 paper cuts look worse than they do right now. The fiber-optic cable truly is the greatest invention of the 20th century.

The past 6 months have been pretty tough, but I think things are looking up in a hurry.

Ooooohhhhhh,,,,,, I'm very happy for you. What a great day! Congratulations! I'm always so glad when people share.... even better when it's a success story!!!!! I'm sure you'll have a great weekend now.


Splint off! I just showered!!!

Sitting down, yes, but with my whole body inside the shower. I am delighted.

Surgeon says my ligaments and cartilage looked good on the scope, and that he found and removed scar tissue. He showed me the pictures.

I'm using a CAM walker, and have permission to "wean off" the crutches. Yay, maybe my poor hand can heal now.

I seem to have lost about half my calf muscle in the past 10 days, but that should be easy to fix, with a little sweat. PT starts Monday, but I'm already doing some "gentle movement without weight" kind of exercises.

My "wounds" are the length and width of an eyelash. 9 out of 10 paper cuts look worse than they do right now. The fiber-optic cable truly is the greatest invention of the 20th century.

The past 6 months have been pretty tough, but I think things are looking up in a hurry.

Jane:

You sound like you have a nice supportive family. That's sooooo important. It's times like these when you're "down for the count" and your family comes to your rescue that you know how blessed you truly are. How nice that they arranged dinner that way and you didn't have to do a thing!

Yep, my family really has come through for me since the surgery.

It's a good thing.

I walked today, both feet on the ground in ordinary hiking boots. A few steps with no support, and down the hall and back with 1 crutch. It was...odd, but the only discomfort was in underused joints and muscles bitching about being forced to do their job.

Last night, the swelling went down to the point that I could tell the operation was successful. That little puffy thing on top of the lateral malleolus that's been there for years is gone. I've just started PT, and my range of motion is just about what it was before. Also, it's a little tough to explain, it hurts, but it's a different hurt. There's still at least a month of hard work ahead of me, maybe two, but I'm convinced it'll turn out well.

Two weeks post-op to the day. Every day, I'm a little stronger, too.

Jane, even though I'm on this board I somehow missed that you just had the exact surgery I had on Feb 13th. He removed a "massive amount" of scar tissue and my joint felt looser and better the day after surgery than it had in a long time, even with the post op swelling. I was beyond excited as it has hurt since my PTT surgery Nov 05. I then had Peroneal tendon repair Dec 06. BUT... I was too excited apparently and got a stress fracture less than 2 weeks post op. So just wanted to warn you 8=] don't get crazy like I did! Although, my PT told me that it is possible the stress fracture was there or at least starting prior to surgery and the joint pain was masking it. Who knows. Now I am 4 weeks out from fx diagnosis but it isn't healing. I am currently using a bone stimulator so I have high hopes that it will work. I think there is a 93% success rate with the stimulator.

Good luck to you. It's good to know there is someone who had my exact surgery on here. We can compare notes! Once I get past this fx I have great optimism that the foot will be much improved.

We are doing the exact same thing! House remodeling while you're on crutches is not easy. We've been doing a total remodel for two years and we're at the hardwood flooring point.. probably in the next couple of weeks. I can really relate ... and sympathize!



Good luck. It was a total mess but that is behind us and I am glad we got it done. We still have one bathroom to finish and then two bathrooms and a laundry room to tile.
I am down to a hard walking cast and one crutch so it has been a little easier the last week or so. I have an appointment this afternoon and am hoping to get out of the hard cast.

We're getting drywall work done now! Geez, this house remodeling is such fun!

Let us know how the appointment went!


Good luck. It was a total mess but that is behind us and I am glad we got it done. We still have one bathroom to finish and then two bathrooms and a laundry room to tile.
I am down to a hard walking cast and one crutch so it has been a little easier the last week or so. I have an appointment this afternoon and am hoping to get out of the hard cast.

So, 15 days post-op, and continuing to improve. After dealing with this problem for years, and being significantly disabled by it for 5 months, it seems almost magic how fast I'm getting better. Okay, I'm still a little worse off than I was before the surgery, but, soon soon soon!

I only have 2 outstanding "issues." One is some pain at the back of my ankle. My problem was anterior impingement, now I'm getting nearly as much pain from somewhere around the peroneal tendons as I am from the surgery site.

The other is nerve issues from the lateral incision. I press on it, and lightning shoots down my foot into my toes. I know it's just that the incision somehow irritated the nerve, and unless I press on it, it feels fine, but, ah, I'm supposed to be transitioning to shoes, and shoes press on it! Barefoot, I'm doing ok getting around my little apartment. In the CAM walker, I'm walking up a storm. Sneakers or hiking boots? Step. Zap. Step Step Step. Zap.

Apparently I'm getting aversion conditioning, not to walk in shoes?;)

Jane, my arthroscopy/debridement was Feb 13. This past week that nerve issue to the big toe is just now going away. I had anterior impingement as well. I also have been having pain in the peroneal area. My PT said that is the side where they rotated the instrument around so it should be the most sore. But I'm just a little freaked by it because I had peroneal repair a year ago and this kind of feels like the pain I had before surgery. But I think it's too soon to panic so I'm ignoring it for now! I go back in five weeks to check on the healing of this stress fracture so I'm hoping that peroneal type pain will have resolved by then. If not, I'm afraid my surgeon and me will jump off the bridge together! :=)

emmie
PTT/Osteotomy 11/05
Peroneal repair 12/06
Debridement 2/08
Met stress fx 2/08

Nerve issue to the toe, going away in less than 2 months? That's good, it often takes a month per inch, which would be 4 or 5, unless you have very tiny feet.

One thing that helps with my peroneal-type pain is massaging the muscles on the side of the calf. I suspect (or hope) there's nothing really wrong with the tendons and they are suffering only from disuse in the cast and misuse before surgery, though I will ask the surgeon when I see him next, if it isn't gone by then.

Ever try to walk down stairs without dorsiflexing beyond 90 degrees? Definitely, misuse of muscles there.

Well, I put on shorts today and my calf is noticeably smaller again. I had just about gotten it back to almost matching the other one. Wow, it goes away fast! I'm hopeful about the peroneals, too. Since I am in this post op sandal for the s fx I'm not rolling which leaves them sort of "stuck", not having to do much work. I'll try the massaging. About the nerve pain, it's still there, just not doing that shooting, zinging pain across my foot that you were referring to. Now it is just numbness and sensitivity around the big toe which is uncomfortable but not nearly as painful.

Calf smaller? Oh, man, I was in a surgical splint for nine days. That's all, and when it came off, my calf had lost over an inch of circumference. The skin hangs loose, the muscle had atrophied so fast.

I can't wait for the day when I get to feel workout soreness in that calf. I'm gonna love it.