August 17,2013 over two years since surgery

Many, many months since I've posted.
My foot is still numb but it is pretty solid when I walk.
My other foot is now my problem foot!
I have resolved that I will wear an ankle bracelet if I plan on a long day of walking.  I don't always need it but the extra support is helpful.

Overall, I am thrilled witht the end results of having this surgery.  I still have a few issues but overall, nothing compared to what I was like the years before surgery.

Feb 21, 2012 - 9 months post surgery

I haven't updated in a long time.   I have read another's blog that had this surgery, but I think a more severe surgery than I did and he is still having some issues also.   The issues I am dealing with this far out are:
I still am completely numb from about my ankle to the back half of my foot.   The tendon area is still "weird" feeling.   This is hard to explain, but when I massage the tendon it tingles up and down my entire foot.   I also have a lot of heel pain if I try to make a day of walking or an hours worth of eliptical training.     The heel pad just hasn't heeled yet.   My foot looks deformed.   The back of my heel is VERY tender where that screw is,   Yikes does that smart when I try to put on a  shoe or even try to rest the back of my foot against something.   Just can't do it.   I am not discouraged yet because the surgeon said it would  take a long time to heal.   I highly recommend to anyone healing from this that as soon as you are cleared to do this, start exercising your foot.    The exercising is the only way I can get my foot to stop swelling.  The best exercise for me has been simply to stand on one foot.   The wiggling around trying to stay balanced builds the foot and ankle muscles.   I still twist my ankle easily which totally chaps me since this surgery was suppose to fix that!!!

Sept 6, 2011 Day 104

My ankle is killing me today.   It is the inside part of my leg.   I still can't walk too far before my heel starts hurting and forcing me to limp badly.

All in all, I am not progressing very fast.   This is frustrating!!

Sept 2, 2011 Day 100

I am very discouraged with my lack of progress.   My foot is very uncomfortable.   I tried to walk around a mall the other day and that couple of hours on my feet has set me back for two days now.   I am walking with a very bad limp.   I'm not using my crutches because I caught the MRSA bacteria on the upper inside of my left arm.   If you don't know what the MRSA bacteria is, google it.  It is scary stuff.  I fought that for 11 days.  

Also, the back of my heel is still sore from the screw.   I am having slight pains in my arch and heel.

Enough whining today.

Aug 26, 2011 Day 93

The little walking I did today in and out of my office building, I did without my crutches.    My PT is trying to correct my gait since I walked with a limp prior to surgery, it seems I need to learn how to walk.    He said I wasn't letting my new aligned foot do its thing.   Right now that new foot aches and the bottom of my heel still fills like a gigantic bruise.       The back of my heel where the screw went in is still hard, crunchy skin.   I also have had more of those stabbing pains this week and shooting pains in the arch of my foot.   This surgery is one huge test on a person's patience.

Aug 14, 2011 Day 81

Doesn't feel like I have anything new to report.   I am still in a boot, partial weight bearing and with crutches.   My heel is still very uncomfortable and I have developed an "indention" on the inside of my heel that I am now concerened about.   I have also had lots of swelling.  I started a desk job so I'm not elevating during the day and by the time I get home, I am not able to put much weight on my foot.   I have been trying to go barefoot around the house and just touch my foot down.   I have very, very poor range of motion and doing the circles really causes my foot to be sore.   I also still have some "seeping" where the screw went in on the back of my heel.   Gosh, I hope I am not allergic to titanium!!

I really hope to be able to report positive news soon but right now, this is still a huge struggle for me.

Aug 6, 2011 Day 73

I still have a lot of numbness in the foot.   I really don't have much of an update other than at times I can put  a little more weight down on the foot.   I am still dependent on the crutches and knee walker if I have to go very far.   I called the surgeons office because I wanted to make sure that the incision where the screw went in was okay.   Because I ended up with a huge blood blister there it is taking time.   I was told to be patient.
Also told that they are hoping I can walk in my boot by the next visit which is in two weeks.   I am no where near being able to do that right now.   My heel still feels completely numb and like I'm walking on edging.  Ouch.   I was also told to keep elevating and icing.   I guess I kind of got lazy on the elevating since the intense pain is gone.  

Start working again on Monday.  

Aug 1, 2011 Day 68

Foot is feeling a little better now.   I can put more weight on it.   I still have the feeling that I am walking on a grill but it isn't as sharp as it was a week ago.   Hopefully, another week and I'll be feeling even better.
My foot is still completely numb on the outside of my foot, and my heel is quite numb.   The new skin on the back of my heel is tender.   Some more of the scab from the blood blister on the back of my heel is gone.    Hard to believe that scab/blood blister has lasted this long (10 weeks in two days or 68 days today post op).

Foot does swell when I walk much.   I know others have been walking in a shoe without crutches by now but I am not so lucky.   I am obese and that probably has a whole lot to do with my slower progress.

July 31, 2011 Day 67

Walked quite a bit this morning with my crutches and boot.    Foot just hurts.  Still feels like I'm walking on a grill.  However, I think it might not feel as sharp so that is a good sign.   Maybe the healing will be slower than I thought.   It is so blasted hot here that I am now sitting in my chair elevating my foot and contemplating a nap.

No pain pills.   If I thought I could stay awake I might consider one but they do cause me anxiety that I don't need.

God Bless.

PS.  Yesterday after walking with boot and crutches my foot was a sausage foot.

July 30, 2011 Day 66

I can't believe it.  I made it 65 days without falling and today I wiped out on my knee walker.   I didn't hit the ground but I put full weight on my bad foot.   It didn't hurt that bad and I didn't twist my foot.   Another blogger has helped me tremondously.   I didn't twist my ankle and I think pre surgery, I would have twisted it immediately.   Maybe, oh maybe this surgery will actually make my foot better.   Cuz I'm such a chub and need to get tonnage off of my little feet, I started the HCG diet.   I'll be posting comments on that as well.

God Bless.

July 29, 2011 Day 65

Bad day.   That's all I've got to say about the foot today.    I had those stabbing pains hit me hard again today.   They had stopped weeks ago and then bang.   I could also hardly walk on it.

July 28, 2011 Day 64

I think I've finally figured out how to maneuver on my crutches and not bear as much weight on my foot.
My heel is still quite uncomfortable.  I guess I write this down so that I can remember how far I've come when I look back on my healing process.   I do think I am a bit better today then I was on Monday but dang, my heel is uncomfortable.  Next time I go to the store, I am going to pickup a tennis ball so I can roll my foot over the ball and give myself a little foot massage.   Still have the heel scab but it is loosening up.   The side of my foot still burns but much less often then before and not nearly as severe.  So there you go, just typing about the incision has reminded me that I have healed in the last couple of weeks.
That's it for today, boring I know, but this is a sllloooowwww process.

God Bless

July 27, 2011 Day 63

Two days of bearing weight and my heel still feels like I'm walking on the edge of jar lids or landscape edging, or like a grill.    The blood blister/scab I had on the back of my heel is still there.  I am putting antibiotic ointment on it to keep it soft.   If I don't when I bear any weight it feels like it is pulling too hard on my skin.    Pretty discouraged today because of how uncomfortable it is to step down.   No pain pills though.   Pain isn't that bad, it is just extremely uncomfortable.

July 26, 2011 Day 62

Yesterday was a big day for me.   I had my doctor's appointment, another XRAY, and received good news that my bone had "filled" in.   Now I am able to start bearing weight.   The incision had scabbed over (even though I don't see a scab and it still burns).     I did alot of walking yesterday with my crutches.   I am way overweight so I only put about 75% of my weight on the foot.   This morning, it is a little sore.   When I step down, it feels like I am walking on bars or a very sharp, uneven surface.   I called the doctor's office and was told this is because I haven't been walking.    They also gave me the okay to start using my stationary bike.   I can already see the muscle in my lower leg start to develop.   I had nothing but flab there two weeks ago.   This is going to be a long recovery but I am at least starting a new phase and am encouraged about that.

Have a great day and God Bless.

July 17, 2011, Day 53

I slept hard last night.   I didn't sleep well the night before so I was overly tired.    I think the antibiotic is taking its toll on me.   I have a little rash on the top of my foot/lower leg area on my booted foot.   It looks like a heat rash.   Mom thought it was probably some sort of allergic reaction to the antibiotic.    Thank goodness I only have 2 days left.
My foot aches.   I've had more of those shooting pains that I was getting severely at three weeks out.   However, they are not as severe.   Also, I'm not feeling that tingling in my arch that I was feeling in the cast.   My skin was sooo dry in the cast that I think it was cracking a bit.    I struggle changing the bandages and wrappings on my foot.   My weight is in the way and is going to have to be addressed.   I've done so many diets and failed that I'm trying to just cut done my portion sizes.  
I am ashamed at how little I'm accomplishing during all of this.   I  am physically uncomfortable trying to sit up for too much time so I'm discouraged.    These meds make me tired so I'm hoping that once I'm done, I'll be more optimistic.   I haven't taken a pain pill for 6 or 7 days and even then it was just one 5/325 Norco.    The discomfort is minimal so I'm not going to allow myself to rely on those.   They cause a huge amount of anxiety once I stop taking them.
I'm not walking on my foot at all and struggle with the crutches.    I have 8 more days until I go back to the Doc's office.   I'm counting on him telling me that I'll be able to bear some weight.    God help me if he delays me again!!

July 15, 2011, Day 51

I haven't had the best week.    Last week my foot and legs felt strong.  Unfortunately, I haven't been up walking much for a week and I lost quite a bit of strength.  Today, my mom took me to the local mall and I roll/walked for about 15 minutes.   I was pretty tired.   Then we went out to lunch and I am tired.
Last week, when I thought that the burning I was feeling on the side of my foot was the incision area or nerves, it turned out to be that about a two inch section of my incision had opened up.   I believe my last post talked of this.    I've been treating it for 5 days with the wrap that the doc said would help it heal faster.   It still burns.     I don't have much to report.   The antibiotic makes me pretty sleepy and dizzy.   I have about three days left and then I'll be done with that.
Have a great day.

God Bless

July 12, 2011 Day 48

Day 48, it has been a couple of days since I posted.    I survived a 9 hour drive with only one stop.   I paid for it a bit the next day in that my foot was sore and I was exhausted.     I don't know why I am exhausted when all I do is sit and do nothing.   I had my doctors appointment yesterday and had the cast removed at day 47.    I had an XRAY done and the doc said the bone hadn't healed so I am in a boot, not bearing any weight.   I go back in two weeks.  (day 61!! almost 8 weeks).   My incision on the outside of my foot had opened up so I have to do a daily cleaning and am on an antibiotic.   I do get to take a shower!!  I bought a shower chair that is wonderful.   It is a transfer chair so no fear of climbing in and out of the tub.  My first shower was today.   First shower in 7 weeks.   (no more bending over the sink)   My mom has to help be clean my incision.    I can't bend over that well without twisting my ankle (I am overweight).   We have to "pack" the incision with some bandage that has silver particles in it.   I am told that speeds up the healing.   Interesting.    Well enough for today.   The antibiotic makes me a bit woozy and very, very tired.  
Have a great day and God Bless.

July 9, 2011 Day 45

Didn't post anything yesterday but I had a pretty good day.   I felt a few aches and pains in my arch area but didn't really feel that burning sensation on the side of my foot that I have been feelng.   Today, the burning sensation is back.   I'm not sure what is causing that.   Also the skin going up my heel feels very tight inside my cast.   I've been stretching my toes a bit and maybe that subtle movement is stretching the skin.   No idea.   I'm a little braver wiggling my toes, etc since the doc originally wanted me to return at 6 weeks which would have been Wed - Friday.   Their offices were closed so I don't go back until Monday which will be  be at day 47, nearly 7 weeks.   The skin on my legs feels disgusting, the little part that I can reach.    I haven't had a pain pill/aspirin/ anything for a week.  Tomorrow we are going to be in the car for about 9 -11 hours (depending on how well I ride).     I'll keep my leg as cool and as elevated as I can.   May have to take a Norco just to keep me settled and able to sit.   Pretty uneventful couple of days.   I'm just in the "waiting" mode right now so not alot to post.   If you are going through this, I just wanted to share.

July 7, 2011 Day 43

I roll/walked at the mall today.   I actually kept moving for 30-35 minutes straight.   I, of course, was a sweaty mess and my resting knee was killing me.    I sat and people watched for the next hour and a half while I chatted on the phone.   Remember to get out of the house.   Don't get cabin fever.     I've talked about the change of scenery in previous posts but it really does make the day worth while vrs just enduring.

I still have the burning sensation on the outside of my foot and I assume that is the incision area.   I get the cast off in 4 days.   No pain pills today.

Remember, it's not about what you can't do but what you can.   Ask for help!!!

July 6, 2011 Day 42

I had my surgery six weeks ago today.    For some reason, I thought that on this day my foot would magically feel so much better and I'd be stronger.   Well, my foot does feel a bit better but the bottom half of my foot is still completely numb, and the side of my foot still burns.    My mom dropped me off at the mall today so I could go roller walking.   I made it nearly two hours.  Ya hoo.  Of course, that was roll walk for 15 minutes sit and people watch 15 minutes.   I still sweat like a pig when I move but since my cast comes off in 5 more days, yes I said 5 more days, I'm not as concerned with it getting sweaty and smelling.   This cast is on its home stretch!!    Then my sis in law picked me up and we came back to my mom's for lunch.   Geez am I tired.   Change of scenery is good and helps tire me out.   I'm hoping to sleep better tonight.   I didn't have any of those miserable shooting pains yesterday and so far today, none.   Oh, how I hope I am done with those.    Haven't had a pain pill in, 3 days I think, maybe 4 now.     This pain is tolerable and when I think back, the pain was tolerable, but the endless hours of immobility weren't.   Not moving, not seeing the outdoors has been very difficult.   I still can't climb steps without a railing.   I know, I know, that is just weak!!
If you are having or had this surgery, try to get out and see something new today.   Remember, it's not about what you can't do or see today, but what you can do and see.

God Bless.