Lovely photo, isn't it?! Yes, I know. My pride and joy right there.
I'm walking a bit better. It's still very sore, it feels a little bit better than when the screw was in there, but I can't really tell for sure yet. The whole area is still so sore from surgery, ugh. I still can't touch the outside of my foot, nor can I touch my heel of course...it still has stitches in it, for another week. So it's sandals for me for a while!
My soon-to-be sister-in-law, Ana, so kindly donated her bike to me, so after my Dad and Juan spent some time fixin' it all up for me, they're so wonderful, I finally took it out yesterday afternoon. I don't think I've ridden a bicycle that wasn't permanently adhered to the gym floor in oh...say...10 or 15 years. Okay, that's a lie, I rode once a couple years ago. Anyways, it was tricky at first, but after a lap around the block, I felt confident enough to take it for a real ride. So I "biked" my errands yesterday. So much fun! And today, my legs hurt in a strange way. Not like the muscles inside hurt like when you normally get sore, but my legs hurt to touch... like even my skin hurts! It's very odd, but that's okay. I'm excited to have this new bike to play with. Hopefully I'll be running in the next 2 weeks, but, *sigh* I will bike for now!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Day 167+, Surgery #2, Hardware Removal
So here I am, right after the second surgery to remove the huge painful screw from my heel. And after looking at it I realized I shouldn't feel like a wuss for being in so much pain. That thing is enormous, and really shouldn't be inside your body, or sticking out of your heel. :)
Surgery went well, it was tougher and more involving than the surgeon let on, but oh well, it's over now. It only took a few minutes for him to unscrew, by hand, and remove the heel from my bone. There is a nice incision on the back of my heel and two huge stitches closing it back up. I was under for quite a while, and pretty much slept all day. Something about surgery, it's the best sleep ever! No interruptions! It was pretty painful that day, not nearly as painful as the reconstruction itself, ugh...that gives me the shivers! But I couldn't "walk" out of the OR like the Doc said I would be able to. I couldn't bear any weight the day of surgery.
By the end of the first day post op, I could bear a little bit of weight, so that's good. I was on pain meds the first day, and that was it. Didn't need them after that! Yippie! But was really sick the next couple days, just slept straight through them.
Overall, hardware removal was a definite success, and I even got to take the screw home with me. It's definitely my favorite piece of hardware, even above all the trophies and medals I've collected over the years, because this shows what I've gone through more than any award ever could!
Surgery went well, it was tougher and more involving than the surgeon let on, but oh well, it's over now. It only took a few minutes for him to unscrew, by hand, and remove the heel from my bone. There is a nice incision on the back of my heel and two huge stitches closing it back up. I was under for quite a while, and pretty much slept all day. Something about surgery, it's the best sleep ever! No interruptions! It was pretty painful that day, not nearly as painful as the reconstruction itself, ugh...that gives me the shivers! But I couldn't "walk" out of the OR like the Doc said I would be able to. I couldn't bear any weight the day of surgery.
By the end of the first day post op, I could bear a little bit of weight, so that's good. I was on pain meds the first day, and that was it. Didn't need them after that! Yippie! But was really sick the next couple days, just slept straight through them.
Overall, hardware removal was a definite success, and I even got to take the screw home with me. It's definitely my favorite piece of hardware, even above all the trophies and medals I've collected over the years, because this shows what I've gone through more than any award ever could!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Day 162+
Day 162 post op, 4/16/09. My foot swells so much, that with a shoe on, all the swelling gets pushed up to where there is no shoe constraining it. Nice. Real nice. This picture was taken in the middle of the day, after I had been sitting all day. Oh, wait, actually—— I did go to boxing that morning. But still, it gets sooo swollen all day.
I had my 5 1/2 month post-op check up with the Doc on Friday. He said it looks great! It feels amazing (minus the screw). The doc said last time I was in that I could run if I was up to it. Unfortunately, I only made it once because the screw causes so much pain I can't push off of the ball of my foot. He felt the back of my heel, where the screw head sticks out and mentioned how big the screw head was, as if I can't feel how big it is. :) So he asked me if I wanted it out, I said yes, he asked when, I tried to get him to do it the next day, hehe, but he actually said I could do it Tuesday (tomorrow) to my surprise. He had initially told me after 6 mos I could get it removed, but I am long since healed so we are good to go!
So tomorrow morning I go in for "hardware removal." He said it wasn't a big deal, but the nurse already called me and I have to prepare for "surgery." I wish they wouldn't call it surgery. I can't handle another one. It's exhausting. But then again, I'd rather prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised than the opposite.
I woke up today and my heel felt great. All day it felt great, really. I thought it was a sign, that maybe I should just give it a couple more months, that maybe the pain will subside. So I went for a "run" when I got home, and that definitely convinced me that I am making the right decision. I didn't make it far at all. Granted, I did much better than last time, but it's just not worth it right now. I am for sure going to pull another muscle or throw something out of whack because of how bad I am limping when I run. It's just not right!
So wish me luck tomorrow, I'm pretty nervous and very anxious to be myself again. I can do two a days at boxing class, but still cant run. I REALLY want to run. Soccer...well, we'll talk about soccer later. The doc said I could play, but I dont think he understands that I, nor the people I play with, play for "fun." :)
I had my 5 1/2 month post-op check up with the Doc on Friday. He said it looks great! It feels amazing (minus the screw). The doc said last time I was in that I could run if I was up to it. Unfortunately, I only made it once because the screw causes so much pain I can't push off of the ball of my foot. He felt the back of my heel, where the screw head sticks out and mentioned how big the screw head was, as if I can't feel how big it is. :) So he asked me if I wanted it out, I said yes, he asked when, I tried to get him to do it the next day, hehe, but he actually said I could do it Tuesday (tomorrow) to my surprise. He had initially told me after 6 mos I could get it removed, but I am long since healed so we are good to go!
So tomorrow morning I go in for "hardware removal." He said it wasn't a big deal, but the nurse already called me and I have to prepare for "surgery." I wish they wouldn't call it surgery. I can't handle another one. It's exhausting. But then again, I'd rather prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised than the opposite.
I woke up today and my heel felt great. All day it felt great, really. I thought it was a sign, that maybe I should just give it a couple more months, that maybe the pain will subside. So I went for a "run" when I got home, and that definitely convinced me that I am making the right decision. I didn't make it far at all. Granted, I did much better than last time, but it's just not worth it right now. I am for sure going to pull another muscle or throw something out of whack because of how bad I am limping when I run. It's just not right!
So wish me luck tomorrow, I'm pretty nervous and very anxious to be myself again. I can do two a days at boxing class, but still cant run. I REALLY want to run. Soccer...well, we'll talk about soccer later. The doc said I could play, but I dont think he understands that I, nor the people I play with, play for "fun." :)
Day 139+
Day 139+ post op, I can stand on one leg all by myself! This was taken two months ago now, haha, I've been a bit busy, but it was very exciting! I've been back at boxing for about 2 months, I even tried running once! It was a beautiful day, I went out for a "walk" and was uber frustrated right off the bat because I'm so tired of walking. I want to run!! So I tried very slowly to run, and to my surprise, I could do it! I must have run a mile! Very slowly, and embarrassingly, but I ran a mile! I cried a little too. From happiness. Very overwhelming. I've been through a lot these past five months! More later!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Day 126+, Past 4 months post-op
So, I haven't blogged in quite a while, it's probably been good for me. Today is actually day 126, but you'll be happy to know I have actually stopped counting UP the days. Now I'm back to counting down. Now I'm counting down the days until I go to boxing class (1), until I can try to run (16), until I can REALLY run, play soccer, walk in the middle of the night, things like that.
I had my 4 month post op appt last Friday. I went in with a long list of questions, anticipating the worst, ready to discuss all the pain and swelling and the many days I have ahead with more of the same. I was half right. I have more days of the pain and swelling. However, he said this is normal, which I figured at this point was not. Apparently I am crazy. He again reiterated "we CUT OFF your heel..." yeah yeah yeah, I got it. But at what point do we get to stop saying that, and I'm supposed to just be "OK?" Apparently this sort of thing doesn't happen with reconstructive surgery. It's apparently a pretty big deal. :)
ANYWAYS...the doc said I am WAY ahead of schedule. Shocked me! He said for being only 4 mos post op, I have much more functionality in my foot/ankle than he thought I would. Awesome! He was impressed at how well I was walking. Laughed at my sunburn. (Was taking good care to cover up my scars in the sun, forgot about the rest of my foot, ouch)! And said if walking goes well I can try running in 3-4 weeks. I asked him if he was sure. He looked me, puzzled, and I told him I just wanted to check, because as soon as he says I can run, I'm not going to stop. :) He understood. I love this guy. He is the best surgeon ever. I wish he would have done my previous surgeries as well!
So I feel good. I think. :) When people ask how my ankle is doing I honestly, never know what to say. "Based on what?!" I think. Compared to right before surgery? Well, it's a hell of a lot stronger, but I'm in much more pain and can barely walk. But it's better. And compared to 6 weeks ago, it feels amazing! And compared to what it hopefully will feel like in 6 months? It feels horrible! :) It's a very complicated question. I still don't know what to say.
I put dress shoes on for the first time last Saturday. You can see the line of where the shoe came up to in this picture. It forced all the swelling up. It was disgusting. I'm going to try boxing tomorrow. I'm excited. I think. And nervous. I can bike. I can walk. I can swim. I can do the elliptical..well, sort of. I can only bear it for 10 minutes or so. Everything from my ankle to my knee seems to snap in and out, its extremely uncomfortable. But I don't have to crawl to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. I can kind of walk. It hurts like hell, but I can do it.
Doc wants to remove the screws at 6 mos post op, b/c it is giving me too much pain he said. And, he is right. I'm hoping that in these next 2 mos, the pain subsides and I can live with the screw in my heel. But seriously, you can feel the screw head through my skin. I can't wear shoes really. It hurts! I figured this would happen. He said it's an "easy" procedure. Compared to what?! Mentally, I CANNOT handle this again so soon. But he said they barely put me under, make an incision, grab their drill, unscrew the screw, and I walk out of the OR with the screw in a doggy bag. No down time. Yeah, right. Whatever. This sucks. It really, really, really sucks. But...it's going to be worth it. I know it.
There are already things I can do now that I never could have done before surgery. Like, stand on one foot, for instance. It is painful, but i can do it! I don't fall over like an idiot! That makes me so happy. Gosh, I can't wait until I'm back in the game!
Cheers!
I had my 4 month post op appt last Friday. I went in with a long list of questions, anticipating the worst, ready to discuss all the pain and swelling and the many days I have ahead with more of the same. I was half right. I have more days of the pain and swelling. However, he said this is normal, which I figured at this point was not. Apparently I am crazy. He again reiterated "we CUT OFF your heel..." yeah yeah yeah, I got it. But at what point do we get to stop saying that, and I'm supposed to just be "OK?" Apparently this sort of thing doesn't happen with reconstructive surgery. It's apparently a pretty big deal. :)
ANYWAYS...the doc said I am WAY ahead of schedule. Shocked me! He said for being only 4 mos post op, I have much more functionality in my foot/ankle than he thought I would. Awesome! He was impressed at how well I was walking. Laughed at my sunburn. (Was taking good care to cover up my scars in the sun, forgot about the rest of my foot, ouch)! And said if walking goes well I can try running in 3-4 weeks. I asked him if he was sure. He looked me, puzzled, and I told him I just wanted to check, because as soon as he says I can run, I'm not going to stop. :) He understood. I love this guy. He is the best surgeon ever. I wish he would have done my previous surgeries as well!
So I feel good. I think. :) When people ask how my ankle is doing I honestly, never know what to say. "Based on what?!" I think. Compared to right before surgery? Well, it's a hell of a lot stronger, but I'm in much more pain and can barely walk. But it's better. And compared to 6 weeks ago, it feels amazing! And compared to what it hopefully will feel like in 6 months? It feels horrible! :) It's a very complicated question. I still don't know what to say.
I put dress shoes on for the first time last Saturday. You can see the line of where the shoe came up to in this picture. It forced all the swelling up. It was disgusting. I'm going to try boxing tomorrow. I'm excited. I think. And nervous. I can bike. I can walk. I can swim. I can do the elliptical..well, sort of. I can only bear it for 10 minutes or so. Everything from my ankle to my knee seems to snap in and out, its extremely uncomfortable. But I don't have to crawl to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. I can kind of walk. It hurts like hell, but I can do it.
Doc wants to remove the screws at 6 mos post op, b/c it is giving me too much pain he said. And, he is right. I'm hoping that in these next 2 mos, the pain subsides and I can live with the screw in my heel. But seriously, you can feel the screw head through my skin. I can't wear shoes really. It hurts! I figured this would happen. He said it's an "easy" procedure. Compared to what?! Mentally, I CANNOT handle this again so soon. But he said they barely put me under, make an incision, grab their drill, unscrew the screw, and I walk out of the OR with the screw in a doggy bag. No down time. Yeah, right. Whatever. This sucks. It really, really, really sucks. But...it's going to be worth it. I know it.
There are already things I can do now that I never could have done before surgery. Like, stand on one foot, for instance. It is painful, but i can do it! I don't fall over like an idiot! That makes me so happy. Gosh, I can't wait until I'm back in the game!
Cheers!
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