HealthBoards - Blogs - Calcaneal Osteotomy by Newlyshiftfoot

January 28...I'M WALKING

Newlyshiftfoot — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:36:21 GMT

A lot has happened since my last post. I was in the CAM boot for 3 weeks, continued to be non-weight bearing. As time went on, I would take the boot off more and tried touching my foot to the ground. The nerves would fire like crazy. After a week or so of doing that, the bottom of my foot felt normal. The last week of NWB i decided to try to put some weight while wearing the boot. Granted this is against doctors orders but I felt okay...after a few days I was basically walking in the boot. My most recent appointment was on Jan 25th and was given the okay to start physical therapy and full weight bearing. I told the dr i'd been doing some walking anyway, which he said not a good idea but everything looks great so continue. He said use the boot but I will give you a stabilization brace too if you want to try with shoes. Well, all weekend with the brace and shoes, I'm walking. I start PT today to get some additional movement from the repaired tendon, but no crutches, no scooter, and shoes. This entire thing is almost over, about 5 weeks to start walking. I'm so happy :-)

Update Jan 8 2013

Newlyshiftfoot — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:44:41 GMT

So I haven't posted in a couple weeks. A lot has gone on. I got the cast off, stitches out, and am now in a boot. The doc told me to take the boot off 5-10 times a day and start doing movement, like ankle rolls, moving left to right, etc. It is really nice to be able to move, there is a little pain here and there but nothing major. The pain pills are still only taken sporadically. Taking an actual shower was awesome, didn't have to worry about getting a cast wet, I could just go in the shower. The scars are pretty gross looking and my 5 year old makes sure to tell me how gross they look :-)

All in all, everything is progressing well. My next appointment is in 3 weeks and then I can start partial weight bearing. I'm really looking forward to that.

Dec 27, 2012

Newlyshiftfoot — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:37:13 GMT

2 days back at work and the worst part is that I can't keep my leg elevated high enough so the cast gets tight toward the end of the day. Still no pills during the day. Another relatively easy day at the office.

Now, when I got home, I did my typical routine, got my leg up high enough and put ice behind my knee for comfort. After a bit I stood up and lost my balance and stepped right on my heel. It felt like a bolt of lightening went through my foot. I am hoping I didn't screw anything up in there. I promptly took a pain pill and spend the rest of the evening on the couch with ice on my knee and resting. When I went to bed, I took another pain pill, kept my leg up and hoped for the best.

This was by far the worst pain I've felt so far and it was basically due to my own stupidity and clumsiness. I will know more tomorrow about the pain.

Dec 26, 2012

Newlyshiftfoot — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:09:24 GMT

So the 26th was my first day back at work being 1 week post op. I was able to keep my foot up most of the day and using my scooter, able to get around the office. The day was fine, nothing major, no pain pills.

When I got home, I was pretty tired. I didn't realize sitting a desk would take so much out of me. I also noticed my leg felt more swollen in my cast toward the end of the day. I had to elevate it more and ice under the knee, but not much pain. It was nice for a change of scenery and all my coworkers are very supportive, even though they like to giggle at me when I 'scoot' past them :-)

I'm very happy to have been able to get back to work so quickly after this surgery.

A good first day back and getting toward a normal life.

Dec 22-25

Newlyshiftfoot — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:06:58 GMT

Over the Christmas holiday was not as hard as I expected but I had to get up a lot. I wasn't able to just lie in bed and watch tv. I also wanted to get out and have a change of scenery and see other people. I have 3 levels on my house and have fallen a few times while on crutches but luckily the falls were just on my knee and nothing on my bad foot. The cast is a bit uncomfortable at times and I feel my leg swelling and coming down when its elevated and not. The pain is pretty much gone, more of just some uncomfort once in a while. Between Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I only took two painpills and slept pretty good. I'm trying not to let being in a cast stop me from doing a lot. . We all had a very nice Christmas.

I was home alone all day on the 23rd, that was tough, only becuase I had a tough time getting anything to eat or drink. I had to settle for just ordering a pizza, which is against the diet I'm trying to stick with, but better than starving. Bottles of water fit nicely in my pockets so I can get them filled when neceessary to get around.

I am still going to say, this is not as hard as I expected. I go back to work on the 26th...I will update after the first day of work is over...1 week after surgery, back to the office :-)

Dec 21, 2012

Newlyshiftfoot — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:01:49 GMT

So last night was hard, I was in a bit of pain all night and couldn�t sleep. The pain wasn�t unbearable but it definitely made it hard to get comfortable. I ended up switching between oxycodone and valium all night. It is obvious the nerve block wore off. I was able to move my toes more and that put some extra strain on my foot which didn�t help. Keeping it elevated and iced is making things much easier.

Today is a big day, I get the dressing off, an xray and a new cast. I�ve heard this is a painful experience and to make sure to take meds before the appointment. About an hour and a half before the appt I took two oxy�s. The doc was pretty quick to get me in and they took the dressing off. Lots of swelling and stitches. The wound started to bleed again from the xray. That was pretty uncomfortable, I had to move my foot in a few odd positions. I have posted pictures of the xray with the screws too.

Now the most painful part, the cast tech forced my foot into a 90 degree angle for the cast. It was literally forced. After a few minutes, the pain subsided but it was still the most difficult part so far. The cast went on, I went with purple and made my follow up appointment for 2weeks and left.

My foot feels more stable in the cast then it did in the dressing. I have my knee scooter too to ensure I can get around more. Crutches are just not easy.

So after the doctor I came home and slept for about an hour and a half. It was much needed. I woke up pretty refreshed and was able to get my face wet, wash up and go to the winter program. It was nice to get out and be part of society.

I�m downstairs just enjoying time with the family. I took another oxy just to make sure I�m not in the same amount of pain as last night.

All in all, this isn�t the horrible experience I expected and I�m trying to just take it easy and follow doctors orders. I�m also making sure to keep my diet as free from processed foods as possible.

Good night.

Dec 20, 2012

Newlyshiftfoot — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:00:34 GMT

I woke up this morning a bit early, around 5:30am and in a bit of pain. Nothing that wasn�t manageable but my foot was sore. I took the pain pill around the time I woke up and watched some tv. Pretty uneventful. I tried hard to just take it easy. I was in more pain and I could tell the nerve block was wearing off.

As the day went on, I got a knee scooter so I can get around easier. It wasn�t hard to get out of the house, but it definitely makes things more sore. As the day went on, I took my pain pills about every 2-3 hours, I would take 1 pill. The pills definitely work, so I make sure to take them as needed.

I�m working on keeping my diet to non-processed foods, no alcohol, no cigars, and a lot of water. Right now I�m downstairs watching tv typing this out instead of the bedroom. Just needed a change of scenery for a bit.

I was thinking today would be the hardest day and most painful, and if this is the worst, I�m really glad because it isn�t too bad at all. On a scale of 1-10, the worst today has been about a 5 and that is right now and I�m about ready for another pain pill.

I have to say, if you have to have this type of surgery, you need someone with you.

I hope this helps�stay tuned.

Dec 19, 2012

Newlyshiftfoot — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 19:58:57 GMT

It is about 1:30 in the afternoon and I had my surgery this morning. I was at the hospital at 5:30am, did the paperwork, then they called me back.

Here is a timeline up until I had the surgery.

The RN was awesome. She kept me at ease, made sure I was comfortable and got me magazines to read. If you have to have this or I�m guessing any surgery, bring a book or magazine. There is a lot of downtime before you go to surgery. After the nurse was done, I read some magazines and eavesdropped on the people around. It was entertaining. I eventually met with the anesthesiologist. He was a younger guy who explained that they were going to put me under and give me a nerve block. He even let me see the ultrasound and showed me where my nerve was. It was painless. Then the PA came by to explain the surgery again and finally the doctor. While his bedside manner isn�t great, he is a bit cocky, I�m fine with that, I�m not going golfing with him. I want him to be cocky and good�

Time to go to surgery�

When I woke up in recovery, I was a bit groggy, but not too bad. They had to check my vitals and make sure I was feeling okay. They moved me across the room to the person who explained all my meds and what I should and shouldn�t do. I got back into my own clothes. My leg was in a huge wrapping and there was no pain. I just wanted to get home.

Once home, I was still getting used to crutches but was able to lay in my own bed with my leg elevated. I was pretty hungry and dehydrated so I had a sleeve of crackers and a Gatorade. I felt better but needed to lay down more. I watched a lot of TV, took my meds a few hours later, and had some soup. I didn�t have the upset stomach they said I may have, and all in all day 1 was pretty easy and uneventful after the surgery.