Hello - 1 week po PTTD and FDL - ouch! - Foot Problems Message Board

sandcastles · 07-31-2008, 07:34 AM

Hello,

Wow. So nice to come to place where people understand what you're going through -

Last Wednesday I had surgery (just over 4 hours): Calcaneal osteotomy, Tarsal osteotomy calcaneal cuboid, FDL transfer to navicular, deep, left, soft tissue correction brevis transfer to first metatarsal, revision hammertoe.

How have others made out from these procedures? I feel so scared and rather alone. People think, "oh just foot surgery" - it's so much more and very complex.

Thank you very much,

Sandy

emmie54 · 07-31-2008, 08:25 PM

Sandy, people absolutely do not have a clue about foot surgery unless they have been through it. They think of foot surgery as having an ingrown toenail cut out. It is sooo complex and so painful and so slow to heal because it is the farthest from your heart. you have made it to "the other side" so now the healing begins. The next few weeks will be the hardest then you will have a reduction in pain until you begin weight bearing. Pain typically increases then and then will get better and better. You will have some bad times when going through PT and they add new stuff but at least this is healing pain, unlike what you went through before surgery. Expect some emotional highs and lows for a while,too. All normal. Vent here if you need to.

Happy healing!

smcatharine · 08-03-2008, 12:14 PM

Hi! I had all that on April 23rd. I was 8 weeks non weight bearing in a cast and then 2 weeks with a boot.
I'm in sneakers and have been going to PT 3x a week for a month. Healing is coming along SLOWLY! The heat hasn't helped and I've been in a lot of pain since getting into sneakers but I'm told that is normal and TIME will take care of it...and PT.

Keep the foot elevated and iced! I found that resting my foot on an ice pack was the best thing. The cold did make its way through the cast.

Keep your spirits up!

sunny77 · 08-04-2008, 09:12 AM

We don't realize how important our feet are until we can't use them...which is probably part of the reason people don't get how difficult and painful it can be to have major surgery down there! Being NWB, on drugs, having to ice and elevate...everything is harder on a daily basis!

It can be frustrating at times, especially when tired, on meds. And I noticed that I was more irritable when on pain meds (family pointed that out too!!), so that can be part of it too. But as you see changes and improvements, it motivates you to keep going. You've made it this far and probably the worst of it is over...now it's pushing forward, with the ups and downs, and getting closer to having your life back!

I've had this surgery on both of my feet, 10 months apart and am 6 months post-op on the second one now. I've been able to return to running and being active in general and am sooo glad to have good feet and a more normal lifestyle again! You'll get there too!

sandcastles · 08-04-2008, 07:31 PM

Thanks to all of you for taking the time and being so kind to reassure me that things will be OK again.

Last Friday I went to the surgeons to have the Jones cast replaced with the permanent one - - when they removed the Jones cast, they found cellutitis - I was heartbroken. They sent me to the hospital for a PICC line and now I have an IV antibiotic everyday.

I went back today - they removed the Jones cast - and removed some of the stitches - and again reapplied the Jones cast. The antibiotics will continue until next Monday. The inflamation is going down, but continues to be inflamed and tender. Hopefully next Monday - I’ll get the remainder of the stitches out and get a permanent cast and be free of that darn infection!

My surgery was four hours - the surgeon said it’s the most surgery that can be done to a foot at one time. I’m 50 and have very week bones - but I’m trying to stay positive. (Thanks to many of the stories that I have read here, I am inspired).

I did get my Roll-a-bout today; with a basket to boot! : ) I’m hoping that it will give me a sense of independence and not feel so claustrophobic! It sounds very juvenile, but there are times that I just don’t think I can take the fact that I cannot move effortlessly. Shame on me for being such a baby!

Thanks for listening.

Sandy in NH