15 May, 2012
Day 4 - Painkillers not needed anymore
No pain at all; therefore, no painkillers are needed. I can walk without any problem (well, the post-op shoe is a problem - I would happily take it off together with the dressing). I am moving my toes and bending my foot as much as the dressing allows. I have not tried jumping yet...
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made it outside today, and we live in a city, so trundled down to the store and got another post op shoe, did some shopping, but most of the time. on couch, with the foot elevated on the wedge foam pillow.
ReplyDeleteHi Parsifal and all
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention the lack of a need for pain Rx. I haven't had to do a pain/distress intervention since the middle of Day 2. That doesn't mean I can take any over confident chances at this point, it just means I dodged the pain Rx bullet which is a very good thing for me. I have liver and kidney issues which make taking any kind of pain Rx a problem for me.
Hence the liberal use of alt/natural medicine methods. The real hero in my healing so far has been my Qi Pulse laser pen, which has been my constant companion ever since I came home from the procedure. I've used it every time I iced the site/s (since I had procedures done on both feet, with a much less serious one on the Left), anytime I am sitting for more than three hours, and - well - pretty much any old time I feel like it (for now, when the trauma is extreme. Later I'll have to ramp it down some because there will be other interventions needed to deal with the edema and transverse arch issues).
Today's progress - having learned from yesterday I'm crutching about a lot less. I can also say, with some honesty, that the foot feels a lot better. Most of what I feel is the stitches pulling - as long as I don't do anything to push that I think I'll be ok until the dressing changes tomorrow.
Today's big adventure was an at home visit from one of my acupuncture team (a real practitioner, with needles and all). We planned this for palliative care but discovered that I didn't need pain relief so we chose to work on my kidney and spleen issues seeing as that's what's bothering me the most right now.
Getting up a flight of stairs on my hiney to get onto a proper bed (oh heaven, a real mattress, a gift to my poor neglected back) was a huge exercise. By the time I made it supine on the blankets I was completely spent. The needling really helped me to regain some energy, and I had a wonderful visit with the healer.
In time, when I can sleep in a proper bed again, I'll be able to do some laying down yoga to stretch out my lower spine and help out with my trend toward a sluggish bowel. (even today I figured out how to arrange my pillows into a modified Plank Pose which was divine). Once I do that my internal toxicity will lessen, the kidney and liver things will calm down, and I'll have more energy for binding bone and knitting cartilage again.
Like Miley Cyrus sings, "Its a climb".
I'm on the way up, one crutch step at a time.
For those who may have an interest (and who have a skilled practitioner to assist them in knowing how to use it safely) I'll offer a link to the Qi Pulse Laser Pen:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.acu-market.com/Qi-Pulse-Laser-Pen/productinfo/130172/
Follow all instructions carefully and keep it clean, dry and safe from impact distress.
Remember, this is a serious healing tool, so get good instruction before you use it. And don't misuse it. It has powerful healing properties. I have learned to engage them with appreciation and caution.
"I have not tried jumping yet...."
ReplyDeleteParsi, you're TOO funny! :)
"Life is very short, and there's no time
DeleteFor fussing and fighting, my friend."
The Beatles: We Can Work it Out
I am on day 4- the third day after the surgery. My toe is recovering well from the surgery. No pain and I can bend it somewhat. Seems to bend as much as the big toe on my other foot, which does not have that great a range of motion either and has very minor arthritis.
ReplyDeleteI am recovering a little less well. I caught a cold/ viral infection at the hospital. The branch of the hospital doing foot surgery is at a different location from the main hospital. The main hospital is a brand new palace with a well known medical school, designed by famous architects with a nice food court in the lobby. I had my surgery in an old building undergoing renovation, part of a small hospital they acquired in their quest to buy as many hospitals as possible in my area.
I walked to the hospital before the surgery - about 28 city blocks, and saw the building was under renovation. When I walked in and they sent me to the basement, I knew something was off. The ambulatory surgery waiting room was tiny and packed with people, some of them sick. Everyone was there for orthopedic surgery or a relative of a patient having surgery. People were coughing. I waited for a long time in the waiting room with sick people jammed next to each other. Maybe 80 people in a tiny basement room with plastic chairs lined up right next to each other, and finally no empty seats. The pre-op, operating room and post-op facilities were first class - only problem was the germ infested waiting room - like being in a crowded subway car but for over an hour.
However, the long and short of it is that by the time the anasthestia started, my head started to hurt. Turns out it was something I caught, likely in the waiting room - not the anasthesia. My head still hurts and am a getting cold symptoms now.
I wanted to go to the gym today, but am starting to sneeze alot, and my head hurts when I walk around. Will put it off till tomorrow or when this viral infection subsides.
The foot is okay. Still does not look like it had surgery unless you look at the two bandaids on top. My soft UGG boots work perfectly outside. They are flat and do not irritate the wound as did the surgical shoe I got at the hospital.
I walked the dog to the edge of our property a couple of times- it is an acre. Not our usual half hour walk. The dog is dying for a long walk- he is a Finnish Spitz, and they like exercise. My son is taking him.
My UGG clogs fit, but they do not have flat heels, so I am not wearing them.
Other than my gym shoes, which I have not tried on since the surgery, I am back in all the winter shoes I could wear comfortably before the surgery.
Day 4 started very badly...
ReplyDeleteI got Percocet side-effects that totally side-lined me. Starting last night, my head began to hurt. Felt terrible through the night, and by morning I was nauseous, had a migraine, was cold and weak.
I called the Doc and he pointed-out that it's the Percocet and to stop it immediately. It took most of the day to slowly recover.
Careful that that Percocet.
Feet are doing as well as can be expected.
Woke up with my toe throbbing, but as day goes on, the pain is subsiding. I am dosing less with the percoset, though not ready to give it up entirely. I should mention here that along with my big toe cheilectomy, I had a hammertoe correction of the small (5th) toe. I now have a pin in that toe which will be removed at my two week post op visit on Oct. 21st. I definitely feel it if I try to put weight on that side of my operated on foot. The meds have been giving me the most bizarre intense dreams-- dreams within dreams in some cases. Really strange! I am still on the couch, sleeping, watching TV and emailing. Starting to get interested in taking a shower, will maybe attempt it this afternoon or tomorrow if I feel up to it.
ReplyDeleteHad to work today and be on my feet for a while. No painkillers whatsoever. My foot felt really good until about mid-day when it started with the painful twinges which were short-lived. I, also, felt like I overdid it as I became very tired early in the afternoon. I took the rest of the day off and came home. I took the dressing off and cleaned my foot with a wet wipe. It felt good to let my foot air out. However, it started hurting soon thereafter so I re-wrapped it with fresh bandages. It is bruised and kind of Frankensteinish, but doesn't look that bad. Hope to get some rest tonight.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great day for me- I had the day off work and knew immediately when I woke up that I had substantially less pain before even stepping off the bed. I went out to Costco with my spouse although walking around was still not great for a long period. I bought a bag from Walgreens that covers my foot- worked like a charm but looks stupid as it goes all the way up to my thigh. My wife and I went to the mall this afternoon to pick something up and we hit a happy hour.
ReplyDeleteCR Day 4
ReplyDeleteI very much appreciate being able to use this blog as a guide for my days, it is so very helpful. Overnight, I slept more soundly, one pill, foot on 2 pillows. During day one pill every 4 - 6+ hours, but some tolerable pain - similar to a bad foot day pre op. Spent 30 mins. in the morning doing bed stretching, exercise and Yoga. I am normally an active middle aged women who enjoys sports, the gym, weight lifting, and yoga. I am not a swimmer, but am looking forward o being able to do so as an alternative exercise.
Less nausea again, mostly early in the day. I was able to eat more food. Spent lots of time with feet up and ice packs. I tried out post op walking sandal with the walker and was able to step/shuffle lightly with some weight on my heel and side of my foot. Took my first post op trip out of the house and we went to a movie, should have brought an ice pack.
Thanks for this blog, it is interesting to follow. It is my fourth day, right big toe was done. It really has not hurt since day two except i get real sharp pains in mine overnight...really strange.
ReplyDeleteDr visit tomorrow, i am curious how it will look as i am taking arnica montana and have been sine day one. This has really worked in the past on various injuries i have had.
Fourth morning. Spent most of yesterday dozing and reading with foot up. Still on half doze cocodamol and anti swelling drug. Feel stabbing pain and itch around the stitches. Not left the house yet.
ReplyDeleteWalking with and without crutches around the house getting easier. But not comfortable to be on the foot too long. Looking forward to a bath or shower today as my partner is at home to assist
My first couple of days were so rough that I was very fearful I'd have a long painful recovery, but things are improving rapidly. I slept 8 hours last night without needing any pain medication, and woke up with my foot still elevated and still comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't put any weight on my foot at all for the first two days, but that's changing quickly. I'm still most comfortable only putting partial weight on it and using both crutches, but I can get around my house with just one crutch if I need to carry something.
I spent a couple of hours this evening talking with friends and sitting on the couch, with my foot just on the couch. That was a nice change, but now I'm ready to really elevate it again.
It's most painful when I stand, even briefly. I can stand leaning on one crutch long enough to brush my teeth, but then I'm happy to get off of it again, or even just to "walk." Even having it dangling while I stand on the other foot is painful. Otherwise, though, big progress today!
Better again today. I spent the day on the settee mostly with my foot up. It doesn't hurt too much but if I put it down for more than a minute or so it throbs. Wiggling my toes doesn't hurt and for the first time I can actually put weight on it without it hurting too much, so feel like I am really making progress. I don't want to push it too much though so will keep my feet up. Other than that my main issue is severe boredom - it must be bad, I keep checking my work email!
ReplyDeleteI had planned to go back to work on Tuesday, which will be a week after the surgery, but I don't think that is very likely - think I underestimated how long it would take to get my mobility back.
Day 4 was the first day I showered. Felt amazing! Also the first time really up and about. In my boot with crutches. Went outside. Still had foot propped up and iced, but felt so much better to feel like I could get up and about! Much better than day of surgery, and day 1-3 after surgery! Thinking last night sleeping on the recliner.
ReplyDeleteDay 4 was a lot like Day 3. Since both of my feet are bound up, I have difficulty getting around, but I'm hobbling, windmilling arms, and holding onto stuff for balance. I'm able to sponge bath with a detachable shower head, and now get up and down stairs (slowly). I haven't really needed any pain medication. The only real pain symptoms I have are stabbing pains when my toes twitch as I'm sleeping. Not terrible, but not too much fun, either. Both big toes are pretty sore so I'm not able to wiggle them much. Rest of the feet are fairly supple (except for being bandaged). My ankles are a bit stiff but do OK if I flex them.
ReplyDeleteI'm mainly getting impatient so I've been getting up and around, but I fatigue fairly easily. Also worked for a few hours today. Tomorrow I'll start making calls and trying to normalize the schedule a bit more.
Today was a setback for me. Pain most of the night kept me awake and the 4 mg of dilaudid is not helping. This was also the first day that I had significant pain (8 on the pain scale) ALL day. My prescription was for 2mg of dilaudid which I can take 2 pills every 4 hours. I was given 30 pills and now that the pain has increased, my supply is dwindling. I left a message with my doctor's assistant that I needed more pain meds or something else, but hadn't heard back and by 2:30, I had to call the office to make an appointment just to speak to a person. She then connected me to the assistant, who told me I had a prescription waiting at the front desk. Nice of them to let me know especially considering I live 50 minutes away and their office closes at 4:30. Luckily my husband was able to drop what he was doing and make the drive and stop and fill the prescription.
ReplyDeleteI think my bandage is too tight and that increased the pain. My nurse daughter took off the Ace wrap and loosened part of the sticky gauze bandage and that helped a little, but it's packed pretty tight below and on top of the joint and I don't want to mess with that. I wish it weren't so long for my next appointment. I am still elevating and icing. Hope the pain lessens tonight and tomorrow.
Slept well last night. Boot is getting better to sleep in. Still puts pressure on my knee. No hydrocodone in over 24 hours now. Still get a few twinges of pain, but not horrible. Moving around okay, but not great. Trying to make sure that I move every hour. Did some floor yoga today which felt good. Wish I knew more positions that would work well from the floor. Stayed in the house finished up my antibiotic (x3) today and just to my 2 anti-inflammatory pills with breakfast and dinner. Still keeping the foot elevated as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fit 49 y.o. male who 12 hrs post surgery passed out and spent the night in the ER. It was a vasovagal syncope caused by a bad reaction to too much anesthetic/Norcal, but since returning home Day 2 from the emergency hospitalization I've been pretty much hobbling around at will without crutches or a boot (though the Surgical nurse called me today and said I needed to wear it) and have been off the painkillers except at night when I've taken 2@500 mg Tylenol PM. I do spend lots of time with my foot elevated and iced, and have slept with it elevated too. But I think everything's on track for a normal recovery, and don't anticipate any setbacks or drama. So, I'm signing off this exceptionally helpful blog unless I have something noteworthy to share. Thanks Parsifal and everyone; this blog let me know what I was getting into, and it's been invaluable in anticipating the stages of recovery and the overall timeline.
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference a day makes. Back to weaning off pain meds, supplementing with aleve. If I stay off my feet (bilateral bone spurs removed) all is good. The longer I stand/walk the more my left foot is achy, but nothing like yesterday. I haven't tried jumping either and don't plan to in the near future.
ReplyDeleteFinally showered without incident. Planning on getting some online .edus done for work later today.