smcatharine
06-23-2008, 08:08 AM
Hi! This is my first post but I've been following a lot of the threads since my surgery on April 23rd. I'm almost 9 weeks post-op.
I had a calcaneal osteotomy, PTTD, FDL, achilles tendon release, ankle stabilization and a torn peroneal tendon repaired. I've got 2 screws in my heel. (I don't think I left out anything! ;) (LEFT foot)
Dr is really pleased with how everything is going. I got out of the cast last week after 8 weeks. During those 8 weeks I mostly lived with ice and elevation, using a wheel chair or laying around. I'm a nun and live in a big monastery so walking from room to kitchen is a major stretch. Walking just about anywhere except the BR is a major stretch!
Oh, I'm 39 and I've had problems with my left foot for YEARS! I injured it 5 years ago and have had continuous pain since. It started with PF because I didn't change from sandals to sneakers that summer when I would go out walking. But my feet always hurt, anyway.
My dr said that I would be in the boot for 4 weeks and the 1st week to week and a half partial weight bearing with crutches but then should be able to walk without them.
Then PT.
Well, I'm no where NEAR walking without crutches. It's impossible!
Any suggestions as to how to help this?
I do some light range of motion, light towel stretching and I slather my own concoction of cocoa butter, mango butter and almond oil on my incisions about 3 times a day. I try to massage my foot with it. The outside of my foot (the one place without incisions) is TIGHT, tingly and sore. Most of the pain, though is in the heel and the ankle if I try to put all my weight on it. And oh, I have a bit more of THAT than I should.
Thanks for all your posts. It really helped me a lot! My pain wasn't too bad after the 1st week or so and I had almost no itchy! I think all the ice really helped.
Thanks!
I had a calcaneal osteotomy, PTTD, FDL, achilles tendon release, ankle stabilization and a torn peroneal tendon repaired. I've got 2 screws in my heel. (I don't think I left out anything! ;) (LEFT foot)
Dr is really pleased with how everything is going. I got out of the cast last week after 8 weeks. During those 8 weeks I mostly lived with ice and elevation, using a wheel chair or laying around. I'm a nun and live in a big monastery so walking from room to kitchen is a major stretch. Walking just about anywhere except the BR is a major stretch!
Oh, I'm 39 and I've had problems with my left foot for YEARS! I injured it 5 years ago and have had continuous pain since. It started with PF because I didn't change from sandals to sneakers that summer when I would go out walking. But my feet always hurt, anyway.
My dr said that I would be in the boot for 4 weeks and the 1st week to week and a half partial weight bearing with crutches but then should be able to walk without them.
Then PT.
Well, I'm no where NEAR walking without crutches. It's impossible!
Any suggestions as to how to help this?
I do some light range of motion, light towel stretching and I slather my own concoction of cocoa butter, mango butter and almond oil on my incisions about 3 times a day. I try to massage my foot with it. The outside of my foot (the one place without incisions) is TIGHT, tingly and sore. Most of the pain, though is in the heel and the ankle if I try to put all my weight on it. And oh, I have a bit more of THAT than I should.
Thanks for all your posts. It really helped me a lot! My pain wasn't too bad after the 1st week or so and I had almost no itchy! I think all the ice really helped.
Thanks!
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janewhite1
06-23-2008, 01:56 PM
Sometimes doctors are a bit overambitious about how fast you can get to full weightbearing. When he says you can go without crutches in a week, he means you won't mess up his lovely repairs if you do. Start with just a little bit of weight just a few steps at a time, then progress. Ice and elevate after each session.
Even if your foot was perfect, it'll take time to get over the fatigue and atrophy from needing to rest so long.
Even if your foot was perfect, it'll take time to get over the fatigue and atrophy from needing to rest so long.
akirka
06-23-2008, 03:44 PM
Hi SM Catherine,
I was off my foot after surgery for 3 months and it was definitely slow going to get off the crutches! It took me about 2.5 - 3 weeks to transition from crutches to walking and I was in some major pain. I took Advil 3 times/day and that really helped! One day was bad enough I went back to my surgery pain medication - Hydrocodone and that really helped. :D After about 3 weeks, it got a lot better! I think I went with one crutch for about a week and a half before finally giving them up. I bought some tennis shoes that were a 1/2 size too big and wide and started wearing them - going barefoot was definitely more painful. It's been 5 months since my surgery and my foot doesn't swell much anymore so my shoes are too big but they served the purpose of getting me walking again!
Good luck!
Abby :)
I was off my foot after surgery for 3 months and it was definitely slow going to get off the crutches! It took me about 2.5 - 3 weeks to transition from crutches to walking and I was in some major pain. I took Advil 3 times/day and that really helped! One day was bad enough I went back to my surgery pain medication - Hydrocodone and that really helped. :D After about 3 weeks, it got a lot better! I think I went with one crutch for about a week and a half before finally giving them up. I bought some tennis shoes that were a 1/2 size too big and wide and started wearing them - going barefoot was definitely more painful. It's been 5 months since my surgery and my foot doesn't swell much anymore so my shoes are too big but they served the purpose of getting me walking again!
Good luck!
Abby :)
debbie g
06-23-2008, 04:57 PM
try in baby steps when you feel like you can. dont rush to ditch the crutches. but remember the sooner you try your recovery will go faster. i also think drs are a little nuts with their expectations.
smcatharine
06-23-2008, 07:51 PM
Thanks for your encouragement and "reality check! ;) I think that the pain this past week has been the worst since the 1st week of surgery. I find that IBU regularly has helped.
Because of the way the house is built I make lots of effort. We have places where there is one stair...it's a quirky building. So, I have to do that stair if I want to get someplace.
The dr said that once I'm crutch free I'll start PT and he hopes to have me in sneakers in a month. Hmmm.
I keep hoping that I won't have to have my right foot done. I just can't imagine going through all this again!
Because of the way the house is built I make lots of effort. We have places where there is one stair...it's a quirky building. So, I have to do that stair if I want to get someplace.
The dr said that once I'm crutch free I'll start PT and he hopes to have me in sneakers in a month. Hmmm.
I keep hoping that I won't have to have my right foot done. I just can't imagine going through all this again!