The dressing was removed today, and stitches were taken out. The foot is swollen, but I can walk quite well. No need to wear the post-op shoe if I do not want to. In the evening tried to put my foot into a "regular" shoe. The shoe went on without much problem, but walking is not too comfortable. So I think I will wear the post-op she for another few days. But I will have a shower without the "cast protector"!
My Doctor showed & emailed me a photo taken during the operation. Unfortunately, part of the cartilage is badly damaged, so I may need the fusion soon. There's probably nothing I can do about it.
I will be working from the office this week. Friday flying for a meeting. I will go to the gym on the weekend (but no running definitely, this will have to wait).
21 May, 2012
43 comments :
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Hi all
ReplyDeleteHaven't been here in awhile - sorry for the lapse. Day 6 was *rough* and had company on Day 7 as it was a holiday. Days 8 and 9 I was adjusting to some new morning routines, resting afternoons, and getting my very sensitive digestion back on track.
I'm resuming daily blogging here and will back post on some of the other days as there were events I want to share that might help others.
Unlike Parsifal, I am still in my own stitches and will be here until Day 19. When I went for dressing check on Day 5, I saw at least 20 stitches on the chelio toe alone, with anywhere from 6 to 10 stitches on the arthroplasty toe. The tumor excision site had 4-6 of its own stitches as well.
I expect that the length of the scar and the extent of the cleanings (both toes had spurs both on top and on the side - the lateral spur on the Great Toe was visible enough to call it a mid sized bunion) may explain why I will be favoring the main surgical foot for some time.
On the rare occasions when I do accidentally apply pressure to the surgical toes they seem to buzz or shock as if my nerves were more active than usual. This doesn't scare me, but it tells me there is reason for me to remain careful with this foot for now. No pain unless I over do - then it's time to elevate and meditate.
Digestion seems to be coming back online. I have some good recipes to share for facilitating that if Parsi wants to post them in a stand alone blog entry. I'll send them on nearer to the end of my journey.
Today I rigged up a way to get myself, a small travel sized chiropractic pillow, and a hand knitted blanket into my husband's Captain's Chair. Then I dozed off for a blissful 3 hour nap, which I urgently need as I have been very sleep deprived in the last 10 days.
Kidney output is more within normal range (I was peeing so much that I became dangerously dehydrated on Day 6) and post surgical headache (dehydration, liver toxicity) has run its course. Nightmares from anesthesia (toxic liver?) are no longer a problem.
I'm crutching around fairly well these days, knowing that I need to watch for over confidence as I am using a joint replaced/trans tendon sheared foot and former 3d sprained ankle for most of my locomotion. Hand arthritis issues will be covered in post for Day 9.
Chiro adjustment originally scheduled for today had to be postponed due to change of plans by practitioner. Fine by me - that long nap will be the hi-light of my day and the best healing intervention for my needs.
Big outing tomorrow - will share after it happens. Stay tuned!
Lady Toes
My stitches were reoved today. The doctor recommended that I move the toe as much as possible despite some tenderness and swelling. I am amazed at the flexibility of my toe, though it does hurt to move it. I left te office wearing a sock and surgical shoe. I did experience some buzzing/shock sensations, as Lady Toes mentions above. It occurred to me that my toe has really been mostly immobile even for many months prior to surgery.As I do not have a medical background, I am curious about the healing process.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very good to me - when my stitches had been removed, I was unable to move the toe too much. I did not have any unusual sensations in the toe, but everyone is different of course. Thank you for sharing your experience, I wish you a successful recovery!
ReplyDeleteI had the surgery on a Wednesday, and am getting the stitches out on a Thursday, two weeks and a day later. That seems like a long time. Hope is doesn't hurt!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen anyone not scared of taking stitches out, but on the other hand I have never heard anyone saying (afterwards) that it has hurt.
Deletehi, I have been reading blog every day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI had my left big toe surgery 10 days ago. Stitches due out tomorrow. I also had a ganglion cyst on top of foot removed at same time.
So I have stitches on big toe area (maybe two or three inches) and then stitches( two or three inches) across top of foot. The cyst was deep and entwined to toes. I believe some veins were removed during surgery because of the cyst. We were not aware of how bad it was until the surgery. It just seemed like a little bump on top of foot.
The pain is bad. I have found mornings to be really bad. The top of foot hurts more. The pain seems to sizzle and the pressure feels like it will just all burst. I do wiggling of toes to try to get pressure relief.
I did some peeking today. The back of my ankle is all bruised. The side of my lower leg near ankle has a bruise too. And the top of foot is swollen and warm.
Has anyone had bruising at ankle area?
Thank you for this blog. Your experiences helped me to have some things ready before surgery: the shower foot protector and the plastic white chair for showering.
I read daily. You have helped me so much and continue to provide great insight.
Feeling better today. Foot feels more comfortable and I can hobble a bit without the use of crutches. (I do look like a hunch back doing it though). I am also able-- for the first time since the surgery--to sit up without my foot being extended and propped on pillows, at least for short periods of time. Even something as small as sitting up on the couch like a normal person (which I am doing right now), is a major break thru for me. My high school daughter tells me she misses coming home to a neat house and a good dinner, (nice to be appreciated!) , but my husband continues to hang in and do the best he can. Making the decision of when to schedule the second foot will probably be as much his decision as it is mine.
ReplyDeleteDay 10 - foot 2 left foot
ReplyDeleteSo happy that I got to bike today at PT. Worked out 35 minutes and intense. It felt so good! No pain in newly operated foot and right foot at 12 weeks although tight is pretty good to go.
Interesting to me how all of our surgeons have so many different approaches. I don't get my stitches out until 2 weeks, but after 2 days I change my dressing, betadiine and bandage twice a day. I also let my foot air out a lot that helps healing. Massage and a lot of toe excerises are also encouraged.
As for getting the stitches out Parsifal, I think it really hurts and I am highly pain tolerant. On my last foot, I have to day it was the most pain I experienced the entire post-op period. Luckily it only lasts a few minutes. This time though I will be prepared with a percocet on board! :)
OK Kimberley - you are the first person who told me that taking stitches out actualy hurts (and I did take out a number of them myself, from other people). Nothing to be ashamed off in my opinion - to me, other things hurt that most people just do not care about. That's what makes each of us so unique!
DeleteGood to know Parsifal! I believe you! Makes me think my doctors nurse is aweful at removing stitches. I have a high pain threshold....you are talking to someone who stopped to rent some videos while in labor on the way to the hospital. :)
DeleteKimberly, did you ride the bike in a post-op shoe? Just curious. Thanks!
DeleteI know this is not directed at me, but I am just coming across this blog. I had this surgery 11 days ago and I am riding the bike and rowing while in the post-op shoe. My doctor gave me the go ahead to do either at 3 days post-op (I was highly active prior to surgery if that makes any difference).
DeleteThanks, Stacelet77!
DeleteBefore getting wheeled in for my second surgery last Tuesday, I reminded my doc to use sutres rather than staples this time. (Getting my staples out was excruciating and I didn't want a repeat performance, which was made note of at my post op visit) Well, my doctor now tells me sutres will be just as painful, but agrees to not do staples . But now I am getting nervous! A big part of me wants to prove him wrong and show him that I was screaming at the top of my lungs during the staple removal for good reason! I think the percoset idea is a good one. Is it safe to take one a half hour before my appt to relax me?
ReplyDelete2nd foot update - Well, I had my sutres taken out yesterday and after all my worrying because of the staple (horror show) removal from my first foot plus my doctor telling me sutres would be just as painful...I am here to report I DID NOT FEEL A THING! I guess my doc thought I had a low pain tolerance or something. He was not in the room the first time when that other doctor (resident) filled in for the nurse who normally removed the staples. Well my husband was there and he confirmed that the guy was digging into my flesh like I was a human bulletin board! I think experience is key. perhaps if someone more knowledgeable had removed the staples, it would have been as pain free as the sutures. Thankfully, I don't have third foot to test my theory...
ReplyDeleteParsifal, I am only one day post op, (I dropped a heavy file cabinet on my foot 20 years ago abd started having pain about 10 years ago and learned that I had a bone spur maybe 3 or 4 years ago). Am going for my first postgop follow up appt tomorrow. But my doctor told me right after surgery that there was much more cartilage damage than she'd expected and that I'd need the next surgery, which I presume is the fusion, within a few years. So I have 2 questions. When do you think you'll have the fusion surgery - within how many months or years? And, secondly, do you think if I'd have had the cheilectomy surgery sooner, I could have avoided this cartilage / fusion situation? I'm wracked with guilt for waiting so long but the pain wasn't so bad that I thought I needed the surgery before now, and didn't even know that surgery was an option til a few years ago and, even then, my doctor didn't say that I should have the surgery right away. I know I'm just being emotional, but I wondered what your thoughts are on whether I should have had the surgery earlier.
ReplyDeleteShanti, I wish I could answer your questions, but first I am not an orthopaedic surgeon, and second, each person is different, and it is very hard to know something like this precisely - even if you are an orthopaedic surgeon with 100 years of experience... Each of us is different, some of us get injuries without any cosequences, and some of us get horible health problems without any apparent reason. I think your doctor things about it from the likelihood perspective, i.e. with what he has seen, he thinks it is likely that you will need a fusion. "Likely" may mean that e.g. based on his experience most people wth their joint looking like yours need it within X years - but you may be well outside the "most people" group. All research, especially in medicine, works on the probability basis, and thus it is so hard to say things "definitely". But an experienced othopaedic surgeon is probably the best person to discuss, just let him know that you would like to understand the likelihood of having the fusion and when.
DeleteI had my cheilectomy two years ago. And I was told the same thing - that the damage had been very bad and that I would ikely need fusion. But so far, I am absolutely fine, yes I do feel a little discomfort in the foot but it is not interfering with any activities in my life, especially running, etc. Compared to the pain I had before surgery - it is just not relevant. So my advice is: please wait and see, you cannot turn back the time, just deal with the future best you can! Guilt is a terrible feeling, I know, but somehow take it by the horns and use it for your future benefit, rather than allowing it to turn your life into a nightmare (and it can if you let it - it is like a weed that needs to be controlled, I know something about it very well).
Thx, Parcival. Good to know that you're 2 years post op and feeling fine. Saw my DPM today and she said that the damage could have started building so long ago that it's not relevant /important to think I waited too long for the surgery . That it's impossible to know when the perfect time for surgery is. She also said that, based on what she saw in the joint and based on her experience, I'll need the next surgery (fusion or joint replacement) in 5 years. For now my foot is mending well. So I'm thankful and hopefully my post surgery emotional state has passed. Thx so much for responding and for creating this blog. It's a wonderful resource
DeleteCR - Day 10
ReplyDeleteFive more days to bandage and stitch removal! My bandaging is loose and it is getting difficult to keep it from slipping off completely. It is held in place by some combination of dried blood, stitches and gauze, I think.
I mostly wear a tensor and/or sock over it...I walk around the house this way. Only use the post of sandal if I am going out. Trying to figure if there is any improved upward movement in my big toe, or if that is a work in progress. My walking continues to improve.
How long are you instructed to use the post op boot? Is there a requirement to keep it on while stiches are in?
ReplyDeleteI could not wear anything else because of the dressing. Once the stitches were out, I found a giant shoe and put it on :-)
ReplyDeleteDay 10 for me. Went for my first post op visit, and while I was able to get rid of Frankenstein, the stitches have to stay in for another week, albeit with a much smaller surgical boot. To my delight, my foot was only swollen just above the joint, and I was able to put my own shoes on comfortably. But my surgeon won't let me wear them, or my running shoes, as she wants me to air out the incision. I'm wearing a small piece of gauze held in place with a regular band aid. I can shower without a cover; just have to replace the gauze and the band aid. I can also start riding my stationary bike...with the surgical shoe. Oh well, at least I can get moving again!! Walking is fine, just the slightest of limps, and nearly no pain. I think I'm just being cautious. I can actually wiggle the toe better than pre-op, and without pain!! This is good! Making me think about getting the other foot done at some point fairly soon, now that I know the ropes. It's not as bad as this foot, but well on its way nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteHad my stitches out today. There's minimal swelling and I was able to put my running shoes on and go for a formal walk. My surgeon said I had minimal cartilage left, and she did drill some holes to encourage some kind of growth in there. My incision is held together with steri strips that have already begun falling off! What to do?? She didn't want me to cover the wound with a bandage completely before, so I think I'll leave it open to the air and wash out with Peroxide, as she directed me to do. It looks so good right now, I don't want to impede the healing process. Is this wrong??? She also suggests I wait till I'm completely healed to do the other foot, using pain as my guide. The other foot is less involved, but on its way.
ReplyDeleteAfter 10 days your wound should be holding together without any steri strips etc. I would just keep it clean (without soaking) and definitely wait with any formal walks, runs, cycling, and any other exercise that makes your foot work. Give it 4 more weeks and you will be completely OK. The last thing you want is the wound to open.... if it does, go see your doctor at once.
DeleteDay 10. Having changed the dressing and bandage at home because the clinic appointment was put back a week, I began to experience intense itching over past few days. We are experiencing a heatwave here and I discovered that I have athletes foot, making the post op shoes rubber sole really uncomfortable. Last night I removed the bandage, dressing and leaving only the gauze over the stitches, I cleaned the whole foot and applied athletes foot treatment. Today I will attempt to keep the foot open and aired staying barefoot around the house and wear a sock with the surgical shoe walking outside.
ReplyDeleteI have visitors coming to stay tonight so the house needs some attention which will require me on my feet more than I have been, but over past few days I have been much more upright and mobile, getting out with a crutch to local shops and park, making sure each activity burst is followed by long periods of rest with the foot elevated.
I do not want to burst stitches so not going to risk any significant exercise, gym or cycling around town on my bicycle
Today is my Day 10. Had my follow-up visit with the doc yesterday. They removed the bandages and trimmed the ends of my self-absorbing stitches. I was advised then that I could start walking, with attention to pain. (Stop walking if it hurts.) I was also advised that I could wear shoes if they fit AT THE END OF THE DAY, when my feet are their largest.
ReplyDeleteSo, now -- at the end of day 10 -- I am wearing shoes and walking. There is a little pain, but not from the collision with bone spurs, but from remaining tenderness around the incision.
I also was told that I could start driving when I felt confident that I could brake in an emergency. At the end of Day 10 I saw no reason not to.
All of this was a remarkable surprise for me. I had spent the previous days worrying about how long this confinement would continue while under the distinct impression -- from two previous meetings with my surgeon -- that I would be confined for much longer and unable to drive for nine weeks.
Of course, I'm going to take it easy. My little car excursion this evening wore me out a bit. My foot is again elevated. I'm not going to push it.
So I have a question for any medically knowledgeable folks out there. I got my stitches out yesterday (day 11 or 12 post-op). I don't even get to see my doc, I saw his PA, oh well. Anyways, he removed the stitches and said to walk in the surgical boot if and when I can then slowly transition to the stiff shoe. I asked about being worried about walking with some pain on the incision site or possibly where the surgery was he said that's fine and is normal.
ReplyDeleteHe also said incision site probably about 70% good to go, I can ease into stationary biking ect.. So I get home and start hobbling around with the boot on and it doesn't hurt too bad ect and spent most the day on the feet. Well, that evening I put the foot up, take the boot off and look under the ace bandage he put over my incision site (he did put a few steri strips over it in the middle of the cut) and there is some blood and dried ooze on the ace wrap. Further inspection showed that the incision opened or cracked at the toe end of the incision and is about 1/2 inch or so long and has oh about a 1/16th of an inch gap in it. Is this ok? I'm a little annoyed that he looked at it after he took the sutures out and said oh yeah your fine 70% healed and good to go. Should I go back in and have the doc look at it? Or will it just fill in?
My advice: go to your doc and have it checked. If the stitches are out, it should not open. If you leave it like this, it may heal on its own, but 1) it may take more time, 2) instead of the pieces of skin and tissues underneath growing back together, the wound may need to fill itself in with scar tissue (primary adhesion vs. cicatrisation). It may also get infected, etc. The latter will likely give you an ugly scar, and may actually affect the function a bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd give it enough time to heal properly. If you do, you will be back to your fitness level sooner. If you get complications, you will not.
yeah, just not sure what they can do now as it is starting to fill in.. I guess i'll give them a call (they are probably sick of me by now)
DeleteToday I went back to work for part of the day. I still have my stitches in and don't get them out for 5 more days. I did ok but my foot was starting to hurt as the day went on. It was difficult to find a good way to prop my foot.
ReplyDeleteI also drove myself a short distance last night. It pulls a bit so I won't be driving much yet.
I'm still experiencing a little bit of fresh blood on my gauze every day. Everything looks "ok" but I didn't think I still should be bleeding. The doctor's assistant said a little bit of blood was fine from her perspective and that is was probably stretching.
Mid day my foot feels pretty good, especially if I can elevate it. It starts hurting mid evening. I'm finding it very difficult to get comfortable to sleep. Then finally the worse pain is in the morning for about 2 - 3 hours. I'm making progress, just always wishing for more.
Yesterday I used the shower cover on my foot and took a shower finally. It was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteToday I went for a quick shopping trip and a lunch date with my husband. It felt great to be out and about in the "real world." My foot was a bit swollen when I got home and it hurt a bit more than it has been, but it wasn't too bad. I've been resting with my foot elevated since I got back. I can't believe how tired I felt from the relatively short time that I was out of the house. I am looking forward to being more mobile soon.
I have stitches that will absorb and I am very happy about that. I am glad I don't have to worry about getting stitches removed. I think that would make me nervous.
I'm going to let my husband and sons spoil me again tonight as they will all be returning to school and work tomorrow and I'll be on my own most of the day.
I've decided not to drive until the weekend, which is just a couple of days away. I don't really have a need to drive between now and then, so why not just wait. A colleague drove me to a work meeting today that involved a tour of a building. In spite of the amount of walking I'm doing at home, I decided to take one crutch. It was a good idea. I continue to find that walking around the house is quite different from walking to travel over distance or keep up with people. By about halfway through the morning, my foot was quite achy, but having the crutch made it possible to take some weight off of it and reduce the awkward grimacing that has a way of making other people in the room uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteThe dramatic bruising on my foot is decreasing a lot. I'm still working on flexing it. Very minor swelling. No major pain. Just nagging aching. I'm walk around barefoot all day, and it's fine. I'm still elevating and icing periodically. My experience with other surgery is that icing continues to offer value for quite some time. My foot is most uncomfortable at night now, when I get the weight of sheets on it. But that's easy enough to remedy, and icing at night makes that feel better, too. I even slept on my stomach last night. My foot was turned a bit so I didn't have a lot of pressure on the top of it, but it was totally doable.
And I'm still doing weighted squats and other weight-bearing exercises with my weight on my heels, as well as abdominals, arm weights, push-ups with my knees on the floor, etc. so that the rest of my body is happy. There are still plenty of ways to keep a body strong, even with a sore foot.
Not sure why, but my surgeon actually had me keep the stitches in nearly 3 weeks. And I am a very much, physically-fit, active (45 MILE a week walker) 50 year old. When I went for the post-op appointment on day 13, he said he'd just feel better if we leave them in another week. So tomorrow is day 20, and I would imagine that the stitches come out then. I have no more pain, whatsoever. So even with this surgical shoe, the bandages, the stitches, etc., I am in far less pain that I was pre-operatively, so I already deem the surgery to be a complete success. I hope to return to my 6.5 mile a day walks very, very soon. I miss them. I'm glad I did this.
ReplyDeleteI went back to work today, though not a full day. I managed to keep the foot elevated most of the time and it didn't feel too bad, though by the time I left it was definitely feeling quite swollen (my shoe felt very tight!) and uncomfortable. I was glad to get home and put my feet up for a bit, after which it was fine again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this invaluable resource! You wrote it 5 years ago now, and still there's nothing better! I decided after reading your blog, and everyone's comments, to get this done. I had been getting cortisone injections for the past few years at the podiatrist's office, but then when I went hiking in England last November, my ankle swelled up so bad, it was like a sprain, without having twisted it. Back home (Seattle area), I went to the orthopedist who said that I have developed a weird way of walking in order to favor my big toe, but it puts too much pressure on my ankle. He recommended cheilectomy and debridation. So here we are...
ReplyDeleteI am now on Day 10 post op, and am reassured by your and others' comments that my nighttime pain at this point is pretty normal so I'm not going to worry about it. Oh, and the bruising! I finally peeked under the dressing (I currently sport some sort of combination plaster and gauze, wrapped in an ace bandage, and supported by the dreaded post-op sandal) and saw a lot of dried blood and that all my toes are rather black and blue!! Again, based on reports by you and by others, it's all good. My follow-up is three days from now. Meanwhile, I am not driving. Not using crutches because they are more trouble than they're worth; I get other aches and pains that I can't deal with. Thankfully I am in a position that I can rest and recover at home as long as is needed.
Looking very much forward to being able to walk and run normally. I am usually pretty athletic (tennis, soccer) and I like to run half marathons. I wonder how long it will be before my next half.
This is Day 10 for me and I just had my first Physical Therapy session. I just wanted to make a comment. If you're going to have this procedure or if you have just had it DON'T skip Physical therapy. For me it was a confidence booster and they did some things for me that i would never have known to do. In addition i got a base line and a goal to shoot for. Right now i have 18 degrees of motion on my right foot and 22 degrees on my left. I have a goal of 60 degrees which they say is ideal for running.
ReplyDeleteDay 6-10....I know I posted day 6, but can't find it and can't really remember what I wrote. Off Rx pain meds. Minimal swelling, but enough that I can't comfortably fit into any of my shoes. I have gotten use to the surgical sandal and plan to just keep wearing it for the time being. No need to irritate my feet if I don't have to. I do walk pretty well with just socks around the house.
ReplyDeleteI had my post op follow up on day 8 and he was really happy with how everything looked. Bandages removed, but then replaced!!! Apparently he didn't want me leaving the office without it being covered and I could take it off whenever I wanted (next shower for sure).. I go back in a week for him to snip off the tail/knot of the dissolving stitches. In the mean time each toe has 3 steri-strips and a few bandages protecting them. He also has me doing ROM with my toes several times/day. I think it is pretty close to pre surgery with minimal discomfort. My ROM wasn't that limited, just more painful with activities and that I wanted to do and with shoes I wanted to wear (NOT high heals).
Drove for the first time on day 9 without any difficulty!!! The post op sandal works beautifully for that! Two outings on that day though and by the end of the 2nd one my feet/toes were aching a bit, so I iced and did take half of a pain pill to make sure I could sleep comfortably.
Day 10/today taking it a little easy. Glad I have enough time off of work....don't want to rush back to 12 hour shifts that are mainly standing/walking....If I had a desk job where I could elevate my feet I think I would be close to going back. Also the post op sandal would violate my dress code and I can't comfortably get my foot in anything else yet..
My plan for tomorrow is to go grocery shopping, good thing I stocked up before my surgery because nobody (husband or 22 yo son) has replenished anything.
Day 10, stitches look to be healing well, bandage off as it was constantly unravelling. Foot felt fine round house, so went for a walk with dog in soft wide shoes as was proud to have done it. However an hour later excruciating pain and realised I’d done too much! Lesson learned. Foot up all,afternoon, feels fine again.
ReplyDeleteWithin reason I can do a lot of everyday things now. I can shower standing with a plastic protector over my foot, walk/crutch down the road to the local shop, cook, etc.. I went out properly for the first time last night, going to a comedy gig, and for a beer. That is probably the longest I have been without foot elevation and it was OK. Still definitely nice to get home and put my foot up with an old man ‘aaahh’, but OK.
ReplyDeleteI can’t drive as its illegal in the UK with a post-op shoe and the bandaging is too huge to even attempt any other shoe. And to be honest I just don’t know if I’m up to emergency braking – the law has a point! I have not been to work – I am going to take it easy a while yet and am not going to rush this, although I have been doing a bit of work from home.
I am getting very occasional and mild twinges from the joint, but its very minor. The only thing that is making me less optimistic at this point is that as my operated leg gets better and better, it is becoming more and more obvious that the knee problem on my other leg is not getting better. I saw a physio a few months ago and they thought I have a small tear in the meniscus/cartilage. I had naively thought that a period of enforced rest might help it, but the reality is that I’ve been putting all my weight on it. Looks like I’m going to need a dodgy knee blog – maybe a stem cell patching one, if I can afford it (you don’t get that on a national health service).
My best day by far. No pain killers. Gym and a few weights, a spin on the indoor bike trainer.
ReplyDeleteDissolvable stitches clipped tomorrow and hopefully a more minimal dressing if at all???
I really want to swim. I hope that is only a few days away.
1st 10 toe exercises today. Not pleasant but I think helped. 10 more before bed ��.
I had my 10 day post-op today and they removed the stitches. Doc used an invisible bridge method and it looked quite smooth. I have been walking without pain on my heel for days now and doing low impact and chair workouts to get my cardio in.
ReplyDeleteThe toe looked swollen and a little bruised under the foot but the scar looked great. He told me to walk with my surgical shoe on for another 10 days and no spinning. I wasn't provided any exercises for the toe,but I think I should be doing some to increase mobility.
At day 10 with surprisingly comfortable experience so far . . .
ReplyDeleteMY PREOP CONDITION:
Advanced arthritis (<10 degrees upward bend)in great toe joint (both feet) likely brought on by my hereditary hemochromatosis (not sure why but this is common). I am 64 year old, 205lb. active male.
RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES:
First saw surgeon 3 years ago and he recommended fusion on right foot and cheilectomy for the left foot. My busy life intervened and I only this year managed to carve out the recovery time necessary. Updated recommendation: same surgeon said further deterioration of left foot points to fusion procedure now on that foot. I challenged based on higher than 90% predicted cheilectomy success 3 years ago. What now . . 30%, 60%?? He said still better than 50/50 and I asked what it would fail to. He said what I have now. I said I am ok with better than 50/50 and if successful, would it changed the recommended procedure for the other foot. He said yes. I thought woohoo, a chance for both feet functional again.
ACTUAL PROCEDURE:
Left foot cheilectomy with orthochondral drilling (everyone else have this as part of the procedure?) to stimulate cartilage formation. Not the good smooth joint cartilage but better than nothing. Anesthesia: Propofol administered first and then local injections of which I was blissfully unaware. Seemingly just a moment later I was in the recovery room feeling pretty normal. I had checked in at 6:45AM and was being driven home at 10:30AM, foot dressed and in a post op shoe.
POSTOP CARE PLAN:
Rest, elevation and icing with Percocets up to 2 every 4 hours. Planned appt for dressing change/inspection at 1 week and suture removal at 2 weeks.
HOW IT HAS GONE:
Way, way, way better than expected. So lucky! Took 1 percocet every 4 hours after getting home on surgery day. Not really because of pain but rather to prevent it from starting and getting away from me. Next day 1 at 6AM and another at 10AM. Had Ibuprofen in the afternoon and still really had almost no pain. Had tylenol with codeine at bedtime but as a preventative and protector of sleep. Thinking that the second day after surgery might be tough with the injections more fully worn off, I had 1 percocet each at 5am and 9:30am. After that it has just been ibuprofen but I have kept the percocets with me just in case. I have been good about resting/elevation/icing. I have been able to stand on the heel in the postop shoe since the beginning and hobble about a little. It is hard to make myself walk slowly in it if I am trying to go more than 20 feet. If I try to speed up I wind up involving the forefoot too much. I am using both a Knee Rover scooter and and iWalk knee crutch to prevent overuse. My 1 week appt/dressing change was handled by another surgeon who had been in the operating room for my procedure. She indicated there were chunks of bone all over in there but that they got it all out and restored good range of motion. Advised only the smallest amount of toe wiggling until sutures come out. Eager to be doing more but my surgeon, when I asked about primary keys to successful outcome, he very emphatically said "Have your recovery run your life not your life run your recovery. Elevate, elevate, elevate." I guess if you are elevating alot, you are also resting adequately and not abusing the recovering foot. Never has my postoperative pain exceeded a 2 out of 10.
Day 10 now after bilateral cheilectomy. I'm still wearing the postop sandals for any standing and walking, except when I have my feet elevated in bed during the day, which is most of the time. I've continued to leave them on at night so I don't have to deal with putting them on to go to the bathroom.
ReplyDeleteThere's still some bruising, but very little swelling anymore.
This morning I tried walking to the kitchen to make coffee, and after about 20 minutes, my feet started feeling a bit sore. That was the first time I did more than a few minutes of walking around. Back to bed to elevate and ice, but then later I did my third day in a row of the stationary bike. I do it with the postop sandal on, so I'm not using my toes at all. There's a little soreness from the vibration of the bike, but that's about it. Today I did 20 minutes, and burned 100 calories. Then I did about 15 minutes of situps and some stretching.
I'm wiggling my toes and rolling my ankles fairly frequently, and maybe once a day trying to see how far up my toes will dorsiflex with passive stretching, but I'm not pushing it. There will be time for that later. It looks like I have about 45 degrees on each toe right now, (pre-op had 30 degrees on the left and 10 degrees on the right, and he got about 75 degrees on both sides in the OR).
After all that activity, I took 600 mg of ibuprofen, put more Traumeel cream on my feet, rewrapped the ace bandages, and got back into bed to elevate and ice.
Later in the day I took my third shower (others were on day 6 and 8) and then soaked my feet for the first time in an herbal sitzbath for 10-15 minutes. That felt amazing. I do still have my sutures in, but the incisions are healing well, and I know from past experience that these sitzbaths really speed the healing process. It's been about 5 hours since then and I can't believe how much better my feet feel. I'll probably do another one tomorrow.
It's very hard to just stay in bed and keep my feet up most of the time, but I'm hoping it will pay off with a smooth transition back to my usual active life.