5 days post op/pttd - Foot Problems Message Board

hurts2walk · 09-10-2008, 08:44 AM

Well....first time up sitting at the puter since surgery on Friday. I had a tendon transfer and calcaneal osteotomy. The doc said there was nothing left of my posterior tendon. When I had the MRI prior to surgery he said ruptured tendon but thought there may be some threads left there...there was not any. He did the transfer with the FDL and I have 1 long (3-4 inches?) screw in the heel after osteotomy. Doc gave me the pics of the screw being placed. The surgery took just over 3 hours. I have a hard half cast like splint wrapped in gauze and ace bandage. I have to say that I loved the pop block! And even with taking the pain meds I knew just when the block wore off! I had some trouble with the meds and pain over the weekend so I saw the doc on Monday. He took all the dressing off and said all looked great.....just some bruising and slight swelling. I did not look because I had been nauseated but my husband checked it out. He thought I had about 30-40 staples along with the stitches. Doc re-wrapped it with new dressings slightly looser and changed my pain meds. Since then all is pretty good. I have pain as the meds start to wear off and I am SORE as heck from using the walker and crutches! My arms are killing me! I go in next Monday to have the staples removed.....not looking forward to that plus it is a long drive to the docs office and uncomfortable to ride in the backseat! I am frustrated not being able to be active but I will make it! I am writing because I have appreciated reading other "survivor" stories so I am sharing mine so far............

lmrich · 09-10-2008, 11:33 AM

I am 7 days post op/pttd. I had the same procedures you had and my achilles tendon shortenend. I, too, had a terrible reaction to the pain meds and found myself vomiting for four hours. I had to spend one night at the hospital- an awful experience - my advice to others, have someone stay with you at all times! I have a wheelchair and walker that I can put my knee in and glide around the house. I can not have my foot down for more than three minutes without it pounding. What meds are you on now? I am on all tylenol based narcotics, the advil base products have given me acid reflux. I am also giving myself a shot to prevent blood clots - not painful at all, really; this medicine prevents me from taking prilosec to help with the advil. I have been very greatful for this board for all the helpful suggestions. I would like to add one - practice your walker, getting up your steps, etc.. when you are sleep deprived, hungry, drunk, and with five pound weight tied to your foot then you will know what you are in for after surgery! Just kidding. I am managing to keep a sense of humor throughout it all and hope that the next 6 - 8 weeks fly by and this will be a distant memory.

Did you bring a lot of pillows with you on you drive to the doctor's office to prop up your leg? I put them under my leg and behind my back as well. I also brought my ice packs and a cooler so that I would be ready to go back home.
Best of luck with your recovery and I will check in with you often.
Linda

hurts2walk · 09-10-2008, 01:00 PM

Linda

Thanks for the laugh...practicing with the walker drunk, tired and hungry......so good! I switched from percocet to vicodin and it is so much better for me...everyone is different. I did bring my pillows for the car ride BUT I did not think of ice so thanks for that tip! I did manage to bathe today(sort of) and that makes such a difference in how you feel! Take care!

smile2006 · 09-10-2008, 03:23 PM

Hello- Congrats on having the surgery behind you. One tip I might give is in regard to elevating and icing your foot. My doctor recommended two 10 bags of ice, 40 minutes per icing, done 6-8 times a day. Leave the ice in the bags it comes in and slide the bag inside a t-shirt. Place one bag right on top of your foot and ankle and the other under your heel. I thought 10 pound bags of ice was sort of over the top and didn't use 10 lb bags until 5 days post-op when I told my doctor I was using gallon size ziploc bags. I have to say this really worked to control swelling and felt great (soothing). I did this pretty consistently for the first 2 1/2 weeks (although not as frequently when I returned to work) or on days when my husband couldn't be around due to his work (you definately need someone to place the ice

). Even through a hard cast you could feel coolness. Also, the ice didn't melt down quickly and I used the same 2 10 lb. bags the entire time. Good luck getting around. Elevate and ice!!!!