I am sitting here in my bedroom looking out at spring erupting. I wish I could see all of the yard, but this view is great! daffodils, violets, azelias, ..birds flying past.,,
I was very lucky (except for the past 5 years, took me that long to find a Dr willing to operate.) The Dr believes that the tear was quite old but there was no swelling and I think this has lead to a tolerable pain level. I only stayed on percocet all day 1,&2, then night only for 3,4,& 5. Last night I only used tylenol and arnica pills. I have more pain in the small my back from resting on my back. I have always slept on my side. Any suggestions on my back??
I found the constipation from percocet the largest pain of all. It did not agree with me and I am glad to be done with it for now. I am still reading posts and see that recasting and walking after nwb cast may require a few more percocet.
I want to thank folks for all of the suggestions, I love my toilet seat with arms. My husband or son switch it quickly from upstairs to downstairs with little trouble. I love my transfer seat the shower feels so good with my trusty blue bag aka cast protector. ??Has anyone ever gone swimming with those heavy duty ones I see everywhere??? in stores, on web ??
I am a teacher and I received a box of cards from my students the envelopes were marked day1, day2 I was given instructions to open and read one each day as I recover.
I know some of you will appreciate the "kid response" the day 1 card said " Can you walk yet? When will you be back?"....... ah if it were only so easy.
I find that I have to be patient in so many ways, I want to be done and out and about, I have to learn to enjoy the time and all of the assistance I am receiving.
I love my ugly raised toilet seat-but it has been a lifesaver. I also stopped my pain meds quickly but was told to take ibuprofin because some of the other otc meds interfere with bone healing. It is still so soon after your surgery you really need to rest as much as possible. Since I live in a multi-story house I rented a hospital bed the first month so I could live in the fam. rm and be on same floor as bathroom. I too am a side or stomach sleeper and it has been difficult on my already bad back. My husband bought one of those memory foam mattress toppers and it has helped. You will soon be able to sit outside with a good book and enjoy the beauty around you. Good luck.
Mary, You sound like you're really celebrating having your surgery behind you and being on the way up. My surgery was three months ago and I remember feeling like I was on the other side of a tunnel!
About your back, have you tried sleeping sort of 45 degrees toward your side? Turn the bad foot out, bend the knee and lay it sideways on a pile of pillows. Then take more pillows and prop your good leg sort of parallel to it. It might fool you into feeling like you're on your side. I know, sleeping was hard for me, too. I took my painkillers more to fall asleep than because of serious pain.
Lynny
Canuck, I'm surprised they told you ibuprofren was okay. I was told avoid all anti-inflammatories and they specifically named ibuprofren, motrin, aleve. Guess all doctors are different.
Mary, I too did the laying partway on my side thing on a bunch of pillows. as time went on I was able to lay on my stomach with my foot at sort of a ninety degree angle hanging over the top of a pile of pillows. Took some acrobatic moves to get in position but it felt so good! Glad to hear the pain is tolerable. I was on percocet the first month!
Yay Mary! So glad you are through the first week and on your way to recovery!
Oh, those cards are adorable. Can you walk yet? How sweet! How naive!
Emmie - I was on Celebrex and told not to take any anti-inflammatory meds while on that, but once I quit taking the Celebrex, I could use Motrin. She's taking Tylenol and arnica (a natural anti-inflammatory). Like you said, all doctors are different, so who knows.
SoCal, are you saying Ibuprofren is Tylenol + something natural? Wow, I didn't know that. I can't take NSAID's because of a past problem with stomach ulcers. Wonder if I can take that?
Emmie, No! Tylenol is acetominaphen, not an anti-inflammatory, but a pain reliever. And arnica is a separate, natural anti-inflammatory. The two are not one in the same, but two entirely separate things. Check with your doctor - you might be able to take arnica. There are several natural anti-inflammatories that do not harm the stomach lining. Some doctors are skittish about 'natural' medicines, so maybe find a naturopath who can help. I have found in my old age (44) that sometimes the 'natural' medicines work way better for me and keep my mood lighter than 'traditional' medicines. I wish I'd known in my 20's what I know now about natural medications. I guess it's never too late to learn.
Last edited by SoCalGal09; 05-08-2009 at 06:21 AM.
Hi all, Weird about differing Dr. views on OTC NSAIDS. I also worry about what this is doing to my stomach but take my nexium religiously. Mary, attitude is everything! This is a long recovery and I decided for me - I was not going to allow myself to become depressed. I just keep in mind that this is at best a temporary situation and I see many people who have to live with lifelong disabilities....so I have been reading, visiting with friends, catching up on movies etc. and enjoying this hiatus from my everyday busy, stressful life and am smelling the flowers! Good luck. Mar
Hi all,
Thanks for your well wishes.
I am resting more today and that is good.
Yes, I am taking tylenol and the homeopathic product arnica in pill form. I am also taking two flower essences for my impatience with it all. I also had accupuncture the day before surgery,and was hoping to have it again on Friday, but the practioner was ill.
I have tried the faking it side rest and thanks.
Last year I threw away an egg carton pad I used to use for camping. Makes me think I will try my therma rest pad and see how tht feels.
This board is a great resource. Thank you everyone who takes the time to come on and type.
Hey a request....How the heck do you type on a lap top with ease??? If I am erect enough I can't get my foot high enough and if I am low enough I can't see the keys. I have imagined a small tray like a hospital tray that can tilt slightly and has magic to hold on the computer only. Does anyone know of one??
I have this groovy thing that looks like a desk top with a cushioned bottom. It fits right in my lap, can be adjusted for my laptop and helps with the 'lap typing'.
I believe my husband got the lap desk thing at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Check it out!
Hi All,
I forgot to say that I slept a bit better with my camping pad under me. It provided a bit of cushion to my sore back . Thanks for the suggestions.!
Last edited by mary2; 05-10-2009 at 05:56 AM.
Reason: printed the #13 twice
Happy Mother's Day to you too! And everyone else on here who is a mom!
Good to hear you slept a little better. I love those egg pad things for the bed (I swear, as I'm progressing in my recovery, I'm getting worse in my lexicon! Yesterday I completely lost my verbs, today it looks to be nouns.)
I am writing this from my new lap top desk. Thank you so much it makes typing so much easier. I am excited to see the Dr tomorrow and see how this leg is doing. I may take the camera as I saw others did in the past.
I am excited to hear what he found in surgery and how I am doing.
It is hard for me to rest as much as I think I should....I get exhausted!
I spent a few hours outside on my porch with my leg up on a sawhorse with pillows on top of it. I put the foot in the sun and I think I gave my exposed toes a bit too much sun. The rest of me was in the shade, Oh sweet bird sounds and sunshine and a humming bird asked where my hanging plants were from last year. Another task on the honey do list. Later all!
So glad to hear you are doing so well. i hope your doctor's appointment goes well tomorrow!! I say most definitely take the camera----this may sound silly---but we actually took my pictures on my cell phone---b/c that way, for my friends who DID want to see what my incisions looked like, I always have my cell with me, so I could show that to them---and now that I am in the boot---I hate undoing the velcro and all that, just so people can see what it looks like---so I can just whip out my cell phone still!!
And I am soooo not an outdoors type gal----so i think its great that you are going outside and enjoying the sunshine----I wish I liked the outdoors more---but I would just rather be inside!!!
Well, hang in there----keep up what you are doing-----rest as much as you can----don't do more than you can handle!!!!
Mary - I'm so glad you found one of those desks and it works for you! I have one upstairs for my bed and one downstairs for the recliner. My son has taken over the recliner and I'm so glad to be out of it! Sitting in other chairs/couches around the house is so liberating!
Tracie - not an outdoors type? Not even the backyard for some sun? You and my husband are so alike in that regards! He'll go outside to play with our son, then say, 'can I go back in now?' after a half hour. Too funny. I could stay outside all day. In fact, I'm going to spruce up the backyard today hoping that will lift my doldrums. Of course, it's May and that means cloudy, overcast skies until after lunch, but oh, well! No sunburn at least!!!
Well ladies and gentlemen, have a great Wednesday. I'm staying in my pajamas all day! I love pajama days.
A camera...never thought of that. May try to remember to do so too. I purchased a lap desk after reading your posts and have sent it to my friends home where I will be for the first 2 weeks after surgery. It is very lightweight. I'll use it a lot I'm sure.
Good luck at your appointment.
Peg
I am now 17 days post op and I saw the Dr on wed. I have not posted because I blew out my crutching muscles after the Dr visit. The casting person reset the height of my crutches and it was too high, previously the setting was too low. I feel like the story of the three bears and I think I now adjusted them just right!! But I had such bad pain so I tried not to get up or around much Thurs and Fri. Still feeling it a bit.
I was planning on getting a knee walker but the pain put my search into high gear and thankfully my husband was able to pick up a rental on Friday and what a relief it is!!! It has a thich pad for my knee and no problem as others have reported but then I only use it for 15 mins at the most. If others have used knee walkers that do not turn easily, then don't think all walkers are alike. I tried one pre-surgery at a store and it was a piece of junk compared to this one. I must admit that it rents for more but worth every penny!
Dr said I am doing well and the new cast will be on for 2 weeks, then another cast for 4 weeks...then into a boot, pt and learn to walk again. I have already asked a friend to borrow a walker for the wb time...thanks again to all of you for the knowledge.
I took the camera and snapped a few then gave it to my husband as they started to take the staples out!!!! YEEEOOOOWWWWWWWW, I can be quite vocal, I screamed, bit down on my journal, squeezed my husband's hand and then I even stomped the good foot down on the floor as the tenderest staples were pulled out. My husband did get a picture of the nurse taking out the staples I am sorry he did not get a pic of my contortions! The pain was fine after they were out. Did anyone get a local for the removal of staples??????????????
My new cast is kinda funny looking. I picked yellow and then the nurse, casting tech, and my husband started talking about two colors. I thought that light green would go well. I was envisioning a thin stripe. The tech said like a vine....Yea I said, well it ended up looking like a barber shop pole or a Dr Seuss stripe. I will know better next time.....no extra colors!!!!!!!
Re: 6 days post pttd 
