hey19

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.