I am retired 61 yrs old and abruptly single without warning. I have to have cheilectomy on left big toe in the next 6 weeks or so and am very concerned regarding recovery with no help, no public transportation. I have 2 large dogs, (but do have a fenced yard.)
Will I need any overnight or all day care immediately post surgery?
Any tips to smooth post op recovery by myself - I admit to being quite scared.
Most doctors let you walk on it within a few days. What does your ortho say about that? My first one was on my left foot and the doc let me walk on it from day 1 though I did have crutches if I needed them. I was fine on my on. The second one was on my right foot and that surgeon wouldn't let me walk on it till day 5. I had someone stay with me the first two days and nights and was on my own after that. I couldn't drive, of course, with that one as it's not legal here to do it with a surgical shoe or boot on the right foot. Had stitfches out at 2 weeks and drove from then on.
Thanks Titchou...I need to get more detailed info from ortho. I realized I never asked specifics, like crutches, icing it, elevating it, etc. He did say I would be "able" to walk on day 1...Were you confined to bed for any number of days? Most post op online describes elevating foot 90% of time for a week at least.
I have never been on my own before, have next to no support network and I realize there is probably a lot of stuff I can/should do before hand to inconvenience the person I do have the least.
I was never told to ice - elevate as much as possible, of course but no firm directive on that either. I was told by my last surgeon when I asked that icing it restricts blood flow to the toe and that's counter to what they want to happen. I never had much swelling with either toe anyway so I couldn't see why so many people seem to have to do that.
And I was never "confined to bed" but this last surgery just was rougher for some reason - one because they made me take an antibiotic for 2 days afterward and I was very sensitive to it and had horrible nausea. Had surgery on Wed and went back to work the next Tuesday with no problems. I imagine you'll need help with the dogs - and maybe for a day or two otherwise but that's about it...
I was never told to ice - elevate as much as possible, of course but no firm directive on that either. I was told by my last surgeon when I asked that icing it restricts blood flow to the toe and that's counter to what they want to happen. I never had much swelling with either toe anyway so I couldn't see why so many people seem to have to do that.
And I was never "confined to bed" but this last surgery just was rougher for some reason - one because they made me take an antibiotic for 2 days afterward and I was very sensitive to it and had horrible nausea. Had surgery on Wed and went back to work the next Tuesday with no problems. I imagine you'll need help with the dogs - and maybe for a day or two otherwise but that's about it...
The Following User Says Thank You to Titchou For This Useful Post: brien25 (03-28-2012)
