Posts

Six (Plus) Weeks Post Op (Appt. #3)

Image
Physical therapy has continued over the past couple of weeks. The focus has been upon stretching my foot and getting muscles, tendons and ligaments moving as they haven’t been for some time. It started with “up and down” movements of the foot and only recently moved to a side to side (windshield wiper) motion; the latter of which engages the peroneal tendon. We’ve also used some weight machines, primarily the leg press and abduction machine. It has been one-on-one with a therapist with great individualized attention.   The pain level has gradually lessened; particularly during the day. My physical therapist says it best: it isn’t pain as much as soreness and fatigue. The only time that pain does exist is at bedtime. I continue to take a pain pill at that time to help me get to sleep. Efforts to do otherwise have resulted in no sleep. During the day, though, I get by just fine on Tylenol and Meloxicam.   After the first week of physical therapy, the crutches were ditche...
Post a Comment
Read more

Physical Therapy (about 1 mo. post-op)

 The next big step after my second post-op appointment was to start physical therapy. I originally selected a large outfit that came recommended by several, but a friend gave me a phone call with some advice. His wife has been a physical therapist for many years, and he said other than qualifications probably the most important thing is that the therapist give you one-on-one attention during your sessions. Many larger businesses assign two or three clients to the therapist at a time. What happens is that you might be by yourself, doing the therapy slightly wrong while the therapist is with someone else. I took this to hear and went to a smaller business. So far I've been to two sessions. Most of our work to date has been pretty basic. A lot of stretches and moving the foot around. He gave me instruction about how to move about on the crutches well, and also how to use just one crutch.  One of the homework exercises consists of weight shifts. You gradually put more weight on th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Post Op Appt #2 (3 weeks)

Image
Post-op appointment #2 allowed me to talk to the doctor and get the skinny on the surgical steps taken. He let me know that he repaired the tendon along with a graft wrap, repaired a ligament (the one closest to the tendon) and gave me a shot in the Achilles (what they call a "brisement). So it was really the full deal.  He liked the looks of the wound, though, and said physical therapy was the next step. A nurse then removed my stitches, which was somewhat painful but not all that bad. The wound still looks pretty gross but should get better with time. She said using Neosporin on the wound would help get rid of the blood that is sticking there.  One thing the doctor said is that he thought I'd be driving in "a couple of weeks." I was pretty surprised by this, as I've not put any weight on the foot at all.  He re-upped my pain meds in case the PT causes additional pain. Another follow up was set for three weeks later (six weeks after the fact).  GLAD I GOT THIS B...
Post a Comment
Read more

Third Week Post Op

Image
 Another week of rest, keeping my foot elevated, and waiting to get better. The pain has gradually lessened. It has gone steadily from taking one in the evening and then one at night to just one at night.  Confession: I've been removing the boot from time to time. Not while I'm moving, but just while I'm at rest. Honestly, this lessens some of the pain. The boot tends to hurt sometimes. I've only done this the last couple of days of week three; just prior to my appointment tomorrow. This is against order, but it helps so much.  Appointment is tomorrow. I guess stitches are ready to remove? It still looks a bit nasty. Definitely better than the first appointment post-op, but it is rather ugly. Perhaps if it is cleaned up after stitches it'll look better.  I've done some research and have a couple of options for a physical therapy provider. I'm going with a new place; wasn't quite impressed with my old one. I'll ask the doc if he has any preferences, b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Second Week Post Op

Image
Two week out of surgery, the days have become pretty similar. The mornings are good. While I'm not very active, medicated (except for pain pills) and fully booted, the ankle feels very good. I've sat outside with the dog, taken a car ride or two, made my bed and minor things like that over the days. This recovery week was also over the Christmas holiday, so I've had some visitors come by. By the evening time, usually around 6pm, pain sets in: anywhere from a bit chirpy to fully painful. The pain area isn't any surprise now. It is located right at/around the main incision site. Right where you'd expect it to be. A few times I've had some interesting nerve "shocks" within the foot and ankle, as well.  So I'm holding off on pain pills until the evening time most every day. I then tend to take one and then another at bedtime to help me doze off. Sleeping has been a bit problematic. Perhaps it is all the meds, naps during the day, the boot...I really do...
Post a Comment
Read more

Post Op Appt w/Gross Pictures (10 days Post)

Image
I'm not sure if excited is the right word, but I was glad to be going to the post-op appointment. The foot had been wrapped up in a mummy bandages with 10 lbs of cotton for tend days. Just getting it released from this bondage was something to look forward to. I was also wanting to hear more from the doctor about the actual surgery. Mummy Ankle elevated in front of the TV In some ways, things went good but in others, not so much. I met with a nurse instead of the doctor. She wasn't part of the surgical team for my work, so I didn't get any more details from the procedure.  The bandage did come off, though, revealing two small incisions on the top of the foot that were used to look at the underlying ligaments. I don't know if he saw anything or did anything to these still, though. Also revealed was a the large incision on the outside of the ankle/foot complete with stitches. Frankenfoot for sure.  Pretty Gross It felt good to have them out in the open, but also I was pre...
Post a Comment
Read more

Wrapping Up First Week of Post-Op

Image
 I've generally settled into a pattern with the ankle. The days aren't bad; I feel pretty good. Granted, I'm doing nothing at all. Occasionally I'll get up and knee-scoot around to clean up, do some things, and even at one point sat on the deck (same level as where I'm "residing") and three the ball for the dog. I've kept myself busy with cleaning out old emails, pictures and stuff off the computer. If I don't stay busy, my mind tends to focus upon the sad state of my foot.  An appreciative dog; finally got the owner off his rear end The evenings are when things start to hurt. I don't take a pain pill (Oxycodone) until then, but usually will take one late in the evening and then before bed. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I'll often take one then, too. The gabaepentin and acetaminophen, though, I take religiously every 8 hours. Sleep is off and on; sometimes it is difficult. The meds help.  So it is pretty tolerable until the night...
Post a Comment
Read more