yeah there does seem to be some differences in doctors. im not going to overdo it, but it was nice to be able to push past the pain. he has me doing the exercise bike, and that helped a lot. i wasnt in as much pain afterwards, so that gave me the confidence to go for it. he was happy with the way ive been fusing, which is why he gave me the go ahead. the last thing i want to do is overdo it and have to go through all this again. it feels really weird when u first start to walk. ive had pins and needles along with the pain of when i push and walk. standing on it is no problem.
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Triple Arthrodesis Achilles lengthening and tendon transfer 1/11/13.
External fixator and achilles lengthening around 12/14/10.
Dave -
If they decide to separate vs limdu - before you accept anything, check how it will affect your doctor & PT. You may have to continue with VA vice the naval hospital & there may be a gap.
I know what's its like to just be done with it, but VA can be a bigger pain to deal with than the Navy docs. Long time ago they threw me out with my c-spine screwed up. I was pretty much SOL for a while with no doc, no insurance & no job. Eventually it all worked out, but just something else to think about.
Sorry it has been a while! Being back at work has cut down a bit on my free time. I had a friend driving me into work for a couple of weeks while waiting to get my hard cast off.
I had an appointment on March 20th (about two months post op) my doctor had me start weight bearing at 75% with two crutches on the way out. Thank God! I was more than ready. The main benefit was getting in the shower. That first shower all the dried blood came off and the soft skin all started coming off. It was a bit gross. She told me to increase my weight bearing by 25% a week. The first week was a bit painful at time and the swelling was terrible! It was a bit shocking taking my foot out of the boot and seeing it so swollen.
I increased to 50% the next week and with more regular use the swelling has not been as bad.
This week I am at 75% and am supposed to be using one crutch at all times. I rarely use a crutch at home and have been progressively started walking a little outside of my boot just out of impatience. Walking barefoot on hard surface is definitely painful, so I suggest getting some slippers or something. I am supposed to start weight bearing at 100% with the boot (cam walker) on Wednesday.
Quite honestly it is very achy. I would not say it is painful at all times. But it is so sore it is ridiculous at times. I want to start working out like YOU NEW!!! But my doctor won't let me bike, or swim, or anything else for that matter and I am feeling like a chunky monkey every time I get to the top of the stairs out of breath! My fusion is a bit crooked and I feel like I am walking on the outside of my foot, which bums me out. She mentioned doing another surgery to fuse down my first metatarsal so I can walk on my whole foot or she is going to brace it so that I am less affected. I can't imagine getting another surgery right now.
Under my big toe and my heel are still swollen and I am beginning to wonder if they will go down by themselves or if it needs to get drained.
I went into this determined to be able to run afterwards and this week with all the pain, and with my foot being so weird I am feeling a tad discouraged. I will figure it out. My wife, who has never been a runner, is starting to run to encourage me. She says that we can run together as I get better. It's nice to have that kind of support.
Wilk,
I really appreciate the advice. My doctor actually waited till after my surgery to even put me on limdu so I would have the time to recoup before getting out. They approved my limdu (which I was hoping they would not honestly) I want to get out now. I am a machine gunner and have already been to Afghanistan and did the whole deal. My battalion is not deploying again for another two years so there's no reason to be here. My company first sergeant and CO have been really cool with me and are letting me just check in for half days when there isn't anything going on. Oh, Wilk, did you have a case manager? Do you suggest one?
I have another appointment in a week and a half. I will keep you guys updated.
How's yours going NEW?
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Double Athrodesis
FHL Tendon to Achilles
Heal shaved
Dave! Great to hear from you! I haven't been on here much lately, and as of 4/11/13, will be my 3 month post op. Glad to hear you are walking, albeit painfully. That sucks that you are walking on the outside of your foot. I've heard about that happening to others. About my update-
Been walking for probably a month now, and had been going without crutches for about a few weeks now. When I started, my foot also was really swollen under the big toe and heel. I pushed myself and within two days of being given the ok to do weight-bearing with crutches, I tried walking without them for a few steps, and it was ok. I was also given the ok to start exercise biking. I had to do it bare footed, as I had no shoe I could fit in, so I was at the gym taking off the air cast and biking with one sock. It felt weird, but great to bike.
One day went to an outlet mall and I one crutched the whole time, which was very painful. My heal was killing me. I went to the doctor that week, and he told me to get a gel insert, which only helped a little. I went back the next week and said it wasn't working, so they gave me the go ahead to start wearing shoes with a fiberglass brace. I took my Dr. Scholls that I wore before the surgery (new ones) and got it fitted. It was really tight in there. When I wore the brace, it dug into my foot on the outside. The doctor's office said to get custom shoes. I went to the brace guy, and he said to try New Balance, which are wide at the front (someone else on here said that too). I got skate shoes, but was told I need a heal, so got the New Balance (great and comfy), but with the brace, still hurt. So, this week, I go back to the brace guy to try and adjust it. It may not work. I've been walking without it, and walking has actually reduced swelling on some areas, but also increased it in others.
I can get into my crocs now (the first ones I was able to get into), and wear them sometimes and my sneakers others. I get a lot swelling in the front of my foot, on the inside and outside where the foot bends. Pain is mostly in the back near the achillese and subtalor joint. I can walk barefooted, and have just a slight pull toward the outside, whereas before it was completely to the outside. Barefooted is sometimes the most comfortable. The most my foot does is wobble back and forth slightly side to side when I walk. I was told at the doctor's office that everything looked great before. It wobbles to the side, but then ends up in the front, right after the other. Icing helps. My metatarsals got moved, so I hear a lot of popping sounds as they seem to shift a little. If I walk too much, I get pain on either side of my foot where it bends. I think thats just from not walking right for a few years, and now walking a lot better. For the first time in my life, my foot doesnt pull to the inside. I seem to have holes or gaps on either side of my foot where it bends, so not sure what that means. I can go up and down the stairs one after the other, though I still have a tendency to hobble.
I'm a long ways from healed, but better than I was 3 months ago. I have questions still, but I hope things are ok. The heal still hurts when I walk, but the foot in general just gets sore if I'm on it for too long.
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Triple Arthrodesis Achilles lengthening and tendon transfer 1/11/13.
External fixator and achilles lengthening around 12/14/10.
Good to hear from you buddy! Glad to hear that for the most part the healing is going well. I've actually has a VERY similar experience with my heel. My heel bothers me more and is swollen more than any other part of my foot. Barefoot walking feels terrible on anything other than carpet. But I can walk in the boot for a good part of the day (and a crutch) with little swelling and pain at all. If, however, I overdo it it feels very stiff and painful and there is a thin line between fine and overdoing it.
How do the crocs feel? I've been thinking about getting some for around the house.
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Double Athrodesis
FHL Tendon to Achilles
Heal shaved
I am glad to see people are telling their stories on this surgery
I had mine in Oct of last year and i wouldn’t recommend it if you are not in pain. I am now starting to walk in a regular shoe
It is a long recovery period and a lot of support from the family is crucial
Good Luck to all
Heavy-sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience so far. I hope it gets better....
Dave-I did a bit of walking yesterday and wow, did my foot swell up! I had a lump of swelling on my achilles and on the front inside and outside of my foot, as well as in the back outside near the subtalor joint. the crocs are comfy, but my old ones tend to push my foot to the outside. I wore them for most of the day today, and I swelled up bad near my subtalor joint again. I got these New Balance sneakers, and they are a life saver! they have a wide front. I havent been able to wear my brace, as it hurts my foot. Im going in tomorrow for an adjustment on it. I dont think it will help though.....weird, this never sent. its the next day, and the brace is working better now!
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Triple Arthrodesis Achilles lengthening and tendon transfer 1/11/13.
External fixator and achilles lengthening around 12/14/10.
