So yesterday was day 4 - well 3 1/2 - since my surgery and I got out and about. I lowered my Meds to: 1 Percocet every 4 hours, 3 ibuprofen 3 times per day. In the morning I really wanted to take my boys to school so we did a trial run. My husband drove and I went with and did all the dropping off via crutches.
It went well, but I admit I was toast by the time we got home. My boys go to two different schools. One is a preschool (he starts kinder next year) and the other is in kinder at school where I teach kinder (he's not in my class!).
I went home and put my leg up and did the iceman while surfing the net and reading the rest of the day.
Since it went well, I went solo in the afternoon and picked them up. Again, super tiring - especially since my kinder son is in a running club and being the first day I had to crutch all around to find him!
This morning I took them again, dropping my littlest off and then picking up a kinder from my class and dropping both her and my son off for morning fitness...
I got a coffee and muffin from a drive through place and am back home. My husband hit the gym and had left the iceman all set up for me.
Phew. I'm toast again, but good. The pain is really minimal. I only feel it in between meds at night or right when I wake up. I think the iceman is really helping.
I'm going back to work on Thursday and think I'll bring it with me. I get my stitches out and cast on next week on Wednesday.
__________________ Peroneal brevis debridement; peroneal longus transfer to brevis: tenosynovectomy, 11/20/12
That's is GREAT progress PZNATTI!! Your experience is sounding a lot like mine! I got out on my 2nd day out from surgery and just rode around and was exhausted after so I remember that! However, I don't have young kids to chase after so I'm impressed! Glad you are doing well! Here's a brief update on me:
I'm currently 5 wks out still in a hard cast and NWB for one more week I hope. My next doc appt is Mon 4/2 where I hope to move to the boot and am allowed to begin the transition to FWB as well as start PT. I'm nervous about this because it's going to hurt. I remember transitioning after my first Brostrom. Afraid this will hurt worse because this time I had the tendon fixed and the bone broken/drilled. I have saved my stronger pain meds for this! As far as pain, it's pretty good most days! Yay! I still ice at night or whenever I feel I need to. I usually need one pain pill at night along with the Vistaril so I don't itch and a muscle relaxer to help the twitching/jerking. That can be reall painful. My foot can stay down for a while now, but 7 hours out like today was pushing it. That was the longest I've been out since surgery. Makes me nervous for weight bearing. All in all, really good experience so far, knock on wood!!
That's awesome! You sound like me, ready to get up and resume daily activities... feel like missing out on something with family/kids if I don't! LOL I'm so that same type! And, I have 4 little boys so I know how hard they can run you! LOL I have three in elementary and one still at home. Boys are awesome! I'm so glad you are doing well and not in too much pain. But remember not to totally overdo it so you don't have set back!
Oh I wish I'd read those words yesterday... I really messed up trying to go Percocet free... It's not bad but one isn't taking the pain away like before. I am going to take 2 but not until I get back from bringing to he boys to school...
At 1 yesterday, time for the next 1 percocet, I skipped it. I'd taken ibuprofen at 11, and wasn't hurting. In fact, I was even almost doubting I'd had anything done! Silly. By 2, I was hurting and could definitely feel it. It was only 1 hour later but oof.
I left at 3 to get my boys and spent an hour with my foot down chatting with my student teacher because she needed support... By the time I got home, my foot had been downfor 2 hours. It was okay.
I should have put it up but decided to do some cleaning up and sat with my boys during dinner and bathtime. It wasn't until 7 that I was elevating and icing again - 4 hours down.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I slept fine but felt twinges and this morning going to the bathroom was definitely painful. I'm in bed right now dreading the whole drop off scene. My next percocet is at 10 and I'm going to take 2 if it's still tweaking.
So how will I know when I can take less? Seriously, at 1 yesterday, I hadn't had any pain in a while. I'm def bummed to go back to it now. Bah.
And Hollywood, your update is great. I am in nearly the same boat. I had tendon repair (kind of unexpected) but no none drilling. I sure hope things go well for you once you get your boot!
__________________ Peroneal brevis debridement; peroneal longus transfer to brevis: tenosynovectomy, 11/20/12
No progress to report other than I am home from the surgery. I can't believe that all the meds I got were 4 days of hydrocodone. I also got a cast, which I was not expecting. This will make driving a challenge. Grrrrr.
They can only prescribe a little at a time... And they can't phone in refills... So in a day or so, make sure you call and have it written and either have them mail it or someone pick it up for you. I also only got 4 days of the same stuff - but Percocet (oxycodone paired with acetametaphrine). I should get my refill script in the mail today actually.
How did the surgery go? I'm going to go look and see if you wrote a post I missed. And be glad of the cast... It will protect you. If its your right foot you cannot drive for a while. Most places say 6 weeks. Did they prepare you for that? Meep!
__________________ Peroneal brevis debridement; peroneal longus transfer to brevis: tenosynovectomy, 11/20/12
PZNATTI--I'm so sorry you were hurting after missing Percocet! And then had to do all that stuff with your foot down for 4 hours! You're a trooper! Honestly, for me, figuring out when to decrease the Percocet was trial and error. I took 2 Percocet every 4 hours first the first 3 days and then the 4th I did 1 every 4-6 hours and then gradually tapered off. Partially because I realized I only had 5 days of Percocet if I kept doing 2 every 4 hours so I figure my doctor wanted me to taper off. I knew that the Rx for Percocet has to be written. (You can actually call in hydrocodone or lortab in most states). I also knew my post-op visit was on day 6 so I made them last and had just under 1/2 the bottle left of Percocet 7.5. At my post-op visit, my doc handed me another Percocet Rx for 5/325 b/c I asked him to decrease the dose. I have saved the 7.5's for when I start walking and doing PT. Then 2 wks later at my 2nd post-op visit, he gave me another Percocet Rx. I still need 1 Percocet at night and am totally expecting to need it more often after PT starts. So I'm glad you have another percocet Rx coming in the mail! Stay on top of the pain. Everyone is different! Also, it's okay if you taper down (not off) and then have to go back up. I had to do that too! Nothing wrong with that! Different stages of healing bring different pain levels! Yeah, the tendon and bone work is what has me scared of a painful transition to full weight bearing. He told me before surgery that the bone stuff would make it a lot worse for me. I think that's why he keeps giving me Percocet. It has hurt more than my first surgery which was just a Brostrom and the bone pain did kick in later!
DMBNJ--Glad surgery went ok! As PZNATTI stated, it's normal to only get 4-5 days of pain meds. I only got 5 of Percocet, but that was if I took 2 every 4 hours without fail. You will probably find that you will taper off some and it will last longer. However, do what PZNATTI said and go ahead and call your doctor's office and ask for a refill. They may be able to call lortab (hydrocodone) in. Most states can. They can't call Percocet in because it's a stronger, higher schedule/class of controlled meds. Stay on top of the pain, keep your foot elevated and iced! Also, again like PZNATTI said, be glad for a cast! Much better protection! I feel a lot better in the cast and even asked for a 2nd one 2.5 wks ago when I could've gotten a boot. If your surgery was on your right foot, you can't drive whether boot or cast. If its your left foot, you should be able to drive whether cast or boot as long as you are NOT taking pain meds and your doc says it's ok! How long are you NWB and did they prepare you for that?
My first milestone. Picked up the kids from from school today as I had no one to do it. Driving wasn't bad. Standing around for 30min while they played on the playground wasn't as bad as I thought. No pain meds today since I was planning on driving.
Holy moly. I am in good spirits today but oh so tired. Went to Jack's Odyssey of the Mind tournament. It was great and I could sit lots but no elevation from 7:45 until 1 when I got home. I'm a zombie and tired. I tried to push the Percocet to 5 hours but after 4 1/2 hours I was a mess. It just started feeling better but I'm super tired. Happy to be out of pain but ready for a nap.
But. My boys want to go outside. So here I go.
__________________ Peroneal brevis debridement; peroneal longus transfer to brevis: tenosynovectomy, 11/20/12
Guess I should join in on the update I am status post a brostrom procedure on 2/22/12 as well as debribement and cleaning out torn muscle that somehow worked it's way down to the ankle joint.
Doing okay. I was one of the few that doctor said I could bear weight after 48 hours...that was a joke. I'm still on crutches unfortunately but have been transferred over to a lace up boot. The pain during the day is tolerable, still taking tramadol, but have stretched it out to every 6 to 6.5 hours. Taking vicodin at night along with a muscle relaxant.
Stayed with some dear friends, just got back to my house this past Wednesday. It has been more challenging since I've come home - to get around and not fight with cabin fever so much. My full time job has been letting me work at home since the second week of surgery. Surgery was on my right foot, so I'm still not driving and starting to get really antsy about it.
All of this happened while delivering a pizza - so this is all workers comp, which has thrown a wrench into everything. I don't start rehab until the beginning of May, actually I don't even go back to the doctor til 5/8/12. So we shall see
Good update! I guess the fact that workers comp covers the bills is nice but trying to get anything done is a fight...
Yes it is quite the fight. I had to hire a lawyer cause it's getting so ugly. My friend Judy had to pay for the lace up boot out of pocket cause workers' comp was giving us crap about it. Now i have to submit receipt to lawyer to get reimbursed for it.
Guess I should join in on the update I am status post a brostrom procedure on 2/22/12 as well as debribement and cleaning out torn muscle that somehow worked it's way down to the ankle joint.
Doing okay. I was one of the few that doctor said I could bear weight after 48 hours...that was a joke. I'm still on crutches unfortunately but have been transferred over to a lace up boot. The pain during the day is tolerable, still taking tramadol, but have stretched it out to every 6 to 6.5 hours. Taking vicodin at night along with a muscle relaxant.
Stayed with some dear friends, just got back to my house this past Wednesday. It has been more challenging since I've come home - to get around and not fight with cabin fever so much. My full time job has been letting me work at home since the second week of surgery. Surgery was on my right foot, so I'm still not driving and starting to get really antsy about it.
All of this happened while delivering a pizza - so this is all workers comp, which has thrown a wrench into everything. I don't start rehab until the beginning of May, actually I don't even go back to the doctor til 5/8/12. So we shall see
I only made it 48 hrs w/o driving. I couldn't imagine being 5.5 weeks. But then again, I am widowed and have two small kids that need to be driven around and no one to do it. My mother is in a nursing home and she is my only other living relative. So necessity prevails.
The following user gives a hug of support to dmbnj: Hollywood48 (03-31-2012)
Holy moly dbmj... And I thought this was hard with two littles and my husband is here. I am so sorry for your loss.
Do you have support? And are you training yourself with your left foot? I've heard of many doing that. I hope you have some help and yes, necessity changes thing for sure.
__________________ Peroneal brevis debridement; peroneal longus transfer to brevis: tenosynovectomy, 11/20/12
Not a big deal. After three years it's normal. I have been driving with my right. Surprisingly easier with a cast than a boot, not that I recommend it for legal reasons.
I only made it 48 hrs w/o driving. I couldn't imagine being 5.5 weeks. But then again, I am widowed and have two small kids that need to be driven around and no one to do it. My mother is in a nursing home and she is my only other living relative. So necessity prevails.
Wow, good for you. My doctor was adamant about not driving for the first 6 weeks. I tried driving yesterday and it hurt like crap. I'm impressed, and yes you are right, necessity prevails....
DMBNJ--Wow, I am so sorry for your loss! I do hope you have friends or coworkers or a church group that provides some support? You are right, necessity does prevail! I'm very impressed that you are driving in a cast! I can kind of see how it would be easier to do than with a boot with the boot being so bulky and all! Does it hurt when you have to push down hard to break? Especially since you are so soon out from surgery? I've been lucky that it's my left foot/ankle that is injured so I've been allowed to drive from the start as soon as I felt like my foot could be down that long and I wasn't on pain meds while driving. I've only driven twice out of necessity as well. Hang in there girlie! I can't imagine! So sorry!
Progress after Brostrom... ! 
I am going to take 2 but not until I get back from bringing to he boys to school...
