WorldWalker
01-17-2009, 12:31 PM
So as I've posted I've got flat feet and I put off the surgery until I finished my study abroad. Which I ended early for the spring semester. I went in this week only to find out my feet had gotten worse and needed a different procedure or two. (No surprise with all the walking I had to do in London) However still no fusion needed. So now I have a countdown to Feb. 16th which is when I'll have my surgery. And since I always thought it was going to happen later on in 2009 I feel this is all happening very fast and I'm a bit scared and upset at myself for letting this happen. Anyone able to give me words of advice on how to survive the wait with these butterflies in my stomach and try to not be so frustrated with myself about how things are turning out? I mean I should be happy that I only have to give up half of my summer for the second foot and that I'm going to get rid of the pain sooner, but I just feel low about my feet getting the best of me. :(
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monster bunion
01-17-2009, 01:56 PM
Hi,
I know what you are going through. First of all, try to get rid of the guilt. It is not your fault the way your feet are not working right. You need to be your own best friend, and your own cheerleading squad now. You are trying your best to make yourself better, so pat yourself on the back. To decrease some of the butterflies in your stomach, try to do everything you can to prepare for surgery. Read as much as you can about your specific procedure, write down questions to ask your doctor about surgery and recovery. You will get through it. Prepare your house and bedroom for recovery. Try to buy food and supplies now, and line up people to come over and help you out now and then. I'm having a big bunion surgery on Feb. 11. My foot is hurting now and not getting any better. After surgery, my foot will hurt, but I will be getting better. This will be my second bunion surgery, the first was on the other foot. Lastly, people on this board have been through various surgeries before and can really relate. If you need to vent, by all means do so. Good luck and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
I know what you are going through. First of all, try to get rid of the guilt. It is not your fault the way your feet are not working right. You need to be your own best friend, and your own cheerleading squad now. You are trying your best to make yourself better, so pat yourself on the back. To decrease some of the butterflies in your stomach, try to do everything you can to prepare for surgery. Read as much as you can about your specific procedure, write down questions to ask your doctor about surgery and recovery. You will get through it. Prepare your house and bedroom for recovery. Try to buy food and supplies now, and line up people to come over and help you out now and then. I'm having a big bunion surgery on Feb. 11. My foot is hurting now and not getting any better. After surgery, my foot will hurt, but I will be getting better. This will be my second bunion surgery, the first was on the other foot. Lastly, people on this board have been through various surgeries before and can really relate. If you need to vent, by all means do so. Good luck and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
hurts2walk
01-18-2009, 12:55 PM
WorldWalker I have replied to you before and I will remind you that i have flat feet, had pttd surgery on Sept. 5 and have to have the other foot done also. I walked on my sore feet for years (thinking it was a my TTS which I had surgery for and thought there was nothing else I could do). I eventually ruptured my posterior tibialis tendon in both feet. When the doc saw the MRI results he asked how I was walking like that! I felt guilt and I felt stupid for not getting help sooner. But I was so used to the pain and figured I had to live with it. I had no choice but to have the pttd surgery. I was very nervous also. I had to take an unpaid medical leave from work, i have 2 children with busy schedules and had to work all that out. BUT I had to take care of myself. Yes, there is pain after the surgery. Yes there are good days but alot of bad too. But your feet won't get better on their own. You are very young and you will be fine. Like monster bunion said, read all you can get prepared. Do all the doc tells you to do post op and try to be patient. Come visit this board often and ask questions about anything (especially post surgery). You will most likely find someone who can help you or sympathize with you.
I know you are coming back to MN for your surgery. Can I ask who your surgeon is?
I know you are coming back to MN for your surgery. Can I ask who your surgeon is?
WorldWalker
01-18-2009, 02:12 PM
Thank you both for your posts they've been very helpful to me. I'm back in MN right now. My doctor is Dr. Ebeling and he's been so great when I've gone to see him. I made a list of stuff I needed from what I got from other people's posts here and most of it he gave me the resources to get everything from a roller aid to a handicap sticker for school.
klbs1961
01-21-2009, 03:48 AM
I do not know what PTTD is, however I have had a TA done in 10/08, Any help I can provide, I am happy to!
Kathy
Kathy
ETANA
01-21-2009, 04:32 PM
I had the surgeries on my left foot on Dec 10, 2008. I have had no pain all these 6 weeks' recovery. I'm sorry I waited so long. I expect to have some pain during PT and weight bearing first month. The bunion is more uncomfortable than the heel. The arch doesn't hurt. The heel where the screw is is uncomfortable to the touch, but I still have another 6 weeks in the boot to recover more.
What I did was
1. read as much as I could on the web (searched for my surgeries and read)
2. found this great board here and read all the posts about my situation, very helpful
3. prepared my house and things that I had to get done: got a car tune-up, brought things downstairs on the floor I'd be on, cooked portion-sized meals and froze them, made shopping lists for my partner to buy groceries, etc
4. I wound up renting a "knee walker", and I should have rented this from the beginning; your insurance will pay for it. I wound up falling on my sits bones and sprained my shoulder and the walker made my shoulder worse. I recommend renting a knee walker with swivel front wheels and a basket.
5. (If you don't get the knee walker, you might prefer a walker instead of crutches; walker is much more stable
6. I chose a surgeon that does several of these a week instead of a podiatrist who does several a year. I saw 2 surgeons and chose the one I was more comfortable with.
7. I inquired exactly what surgeries would the surgeon do? One surgeon wanted to do 7 cuts, the other (whom I chose) would do 4 cuts: calc slide, tendon transfer, and navicular removal. It will depend on your foot, but second Dr. said my foot was flexible and I didnt' need the 3 extra surgeries.
Look at the LONG TERM: we're looking to be able to travel, hike, run, exercise for the next 10-50 years, right? Keep the longterm perspective
hope this helps,
etana
What I did was
1. read as much as I could on the web (searched for my surgeries and read)
2. found this great board here and read all the posts about my situation, very helpful
3. prepared my house and things that I had to get done: got a car tune-up, brought things downstairs on the floor I'd be on, cooked portion-sized meals and froze them, made shopping lists for my partner to buy groceries, etc
4. I wound up renting a "knee walker", and I should have rented this from the beginning; your insurance will pay for it. I wound up falling on my sits bones and sprained my shoulder and the walker made my shoulder worse. I recommend renting a knee walker with swivel front wheels and a basket.
5. (If you don't get the knee walker, you might prefer a walker instead of crutches; walker is much more stable
6. I chose a surgeon that does several of these a week instead of a podiatrist who does several a year. I saw 2 surgeons and chose the one I was more comfortable with.
7. I inquired exactly what surgeries would the surgeon do? One surgeon wanted to do 7 cuts, the other (whom I chose) would do 4 cuts: calc slide, tendon transfer, and navicular removal. It will depend on your foot, but second Dr. said my foot was flexible and I didnt' need the 3 extra surgeries.
Look at the LONG TERM: we're looking to be able to travel, hike, run, exercise for the next 10-50 years, right? Keep the longterm perspective
hope this helps,
etana