So much to the doctor's surprise I had no swelling of the foot by Thursday evening even tho I was on it quite a bit for the first day. Friday still saw no increased in swelling altho I wasn't on it quite as much as on Thursday.
On Saturday, Mike and I went out to my shop to get it set up for my return to work on Tuesday. I had all my dog crates and training equipment stored in the shop over the winter instead of in my car which is where it normally stays as I train every week with the dogs and thus the training equipment and crates stay in the car.
It took maybe 45 minutes to set things back up and I was out for about an hour and half. When we came inside, I could tell that my toes were more swollen. I wasn't concerned as this was expected, so I put it up with ice and in a few hours the foot looked like it has - some swelling in the toe and joint but not overly much.
Sunday, I went to East Peoria to visit a friend in the nursing home. Judy was diagnosed with a rare muscle cancer and started chemotherapy just before Thanksgiving. And that's the last time I saw her. We've talked by phone but my foot has hampered my ability to visit.
Now I've been thru cancer in my family a couple of times so I was prepared to see Judy, or so I thought. What a shock. I truly wouldn't have recognized her with the weight and hair loss. She looks like my mom did in her final days. I don't know how much time Judy has left but it doesn't look good. I took Beckett along with me as she loves Judy but other than a cursory finger movement, Judy didn't acknowledge her.
Judy was uncommunicative and never opened her eyes. She was so weak she couldn't hold her head up to get a drink. She couldn't even suck thru a straw. It was very depressing and very sad. I'm hoping to make another visit next weekend. Was planning on going over on Wednesday but they're calling for 12-18" of snow here by then. Guess I'm staying home! Have to reschedule that cocker spaniel that is scheduled for a haircut on Wednesday.
So when I got home Sunday mid-afternoon, I took my boot off and found my ankle swollen quite a bit. Hm-m-m. And this morning it is painful to walk on, kinda like I sprained it. Hm-m-m again. Toes are okay right now. I didn't do all that much yesterday. Nursing home for about a half hour, Walmart for a quick walk around as I am scoping out new dog foods, and then PetSmart for about a half hour. Really wasn't on it that much.
Whatever is going on, I have to work thru it because whatever is going on with this ankle, I'm living with it. If I have to walk with discomfort the rest of my life so be it. The toe/joint feels much better and is at a point where it is livable even if it never gets any better (which I'm sure it will). The ankle? Well, we'll see . . .
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
8 Weeks
So today marks the end of my 8 week healing phase.
The foot looks much better this time around compared to the last surgery -- markedly better.
I have been released to walk as long as it is in my ortho boot. This next phase is for three weeks. It will take at least that long for my back and knees to get used to bearing weight and standing upright. Last night, my back and knees were killing me but it was worth it!
After my doctor's appointment, I went grocery shopping. I wasn't out long as I didn't need a lot, but it was nice to do it myself instead of asking Mike to do it after work. I hated having to shop after work when I was working full-time outside the home. Just made my day longer, so I don't blame Mike for not wanting to do it.
After I got home and got the groceries in the house, I went out to the barn to look at my chickens. They sure looked rough. For some reason they decided to moult (lose their feathers) in January during the coldest cold spell we've had in years. Luckily they are already growing new feathers. Usually chickens moult in August when it is hot enough that going around naked is appreciated. Really don't understand what drove this set of birds to moult in the middle of winter.
So on the way back to the house I did a little obedience practice with the dogs. Beckett was overjoyed to be playing obedience again. She almost turned herself inside out she was so happy! Trey did the job but being as she really doesn't like to do obedience, there was no joy for her. But she was very happy to have me outside and playing with her as she ran laps around the yard.
So my foot is to stay in the ortho boot for the next three weeks except when I do my phyiscal therapy. Then I am in both shoes and can stand ONLY -- no walking in the shoe yet. But it sure felt good to stand with two shoes on. And the right one was tied almost as tightly at the left. MUCH different than back in July!
The foot looks much better this time around compared to the last surgery -- markedly better.
 |
| Still puffy at the joint - non-weightbearing |
I have been released to walk as long as it is in my ortho boot. This next phase is for three weeks. It will take at least that long for my back and knees to get used to bearing weight and standing upright. Last night, my back and knees were killing me but it was worth it!
After my doctor's appointment, I went grocery shopping. I wasn't out long as I didn't need a lot, but it was nice to do it myself instead of asking Mike to do it after work. I hated having to shop after work when I was working full-time outside the home. Just made my day longer, so I don't blame Mike for not wanting to do it.
After I got home and got the groceries in the house, I went out to the barn to look at my chickens. They sure looked rough. For some reason they decided to moult (lose their feathers) in January during the coldest cold spell we've had in years. Luckily they are already growing new feathers. Usually chickens moult in August when it is hot enough that going around naked is appreciated. Really don't understand what drove this set of birds to moult in the middle of winter.
 |
| A fully feathered hen - she's lucky |
 |
| The whole flock - 3 feathered, 3 moulting |
 |
| Her new feathers coming in I don't know how she stayed warm! |
So on the way back to the house I did a little obedience practice with the dogs. Beckett was overjoyed to be playing obedience again. She almost turned herself inside out she was so happy! Trey did the job but being as she really doesn't like to do obedience, there was no joy for her. But she was very happy to have me outside and playing with her as she ran laps around the yard.
So my foot is to stay in the ortho boot for the next three weeks except when I do my phyiscal therapy. Then I am in both shoes and can stand ONLY -- no walking in the shoe yet. But it sure felt good to stand with two shoes on. And the right one was tied almost as tightly at the left. MUCH different than back in July!
 |
| Standing in shoes bearing equal weight |
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Almost Time!
If you can't tell, I'm very excited about the prospect of walking again.
My appointment with the doctor is this morning (I did that on purpose so as to be able to be walking again sooner).
I am so happy with how my foot looks and feels, not just compared to last time, but overall. It is SO much better that the first time around.
By lunch time I should be home on two feet again!
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!
My appointment with the doctor is this morning (I did that on purpose so as to be able to be walking again sooner).
I am so happy with how my foot looks and feels, not just compared to last time, but overall. It is SO much better that the first time around.
By lunch time I should be home on two feet again!
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
48 Hours
I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.
In exactly 48 hours I will be leaving for my doctor's appointment. I will leave the house on crutches but will return on TWO FEET!
I had trouble getting to sleep last night and tonight will be much worse. I am SO excitied at the prospect of walking again.
Especially since I am having no pain in the joint like I did the first time around. Relief is paramount in my emotions right now. This is what I expected the first time around and the fact that I am experiencing it this time makes me know that the foot was not right the first time and it is right this time. Goody.
The countdown begins . . .
In exactly 48 hours I will be leaving for my doctor's appointment. I will leave the house on crutches but will return on TWO FEET!
I had trouble getting to sleep last night and tonight will be much worse. I am SO excitied at the prospect of walking again.
Especially since I am having no pain in the joint like I did the first time around. Relief is paramount in my emotions right now. This is what I expected the first time around and the fact that I am experiencing it this time makes me know that the foot was not right the first time and it is right this time. Goody.
The countdown begins . . .
Saturday, January 22, 2011
7 Weeks
Wow, what a huge difference this time around. I just went back and re-read my posts from the first surgery. At this point in time I was still complaining about pain in my toe joint. At 12 weeks I was still complaining. And even at 16 weeks I was still complaining.
Right now at 7 weeks, I have no pain in the joint. I am not walking on it yet (6 more days!) but I wasn't walking on it last time at 7 weeks either. So I was having pain in the joint non-weight bearing. This really makes me feel good about it this time around. I am seriously hoping that I am still pain-free next week at this time.
I also had serious issues with getting a shoe on my foot the first time post-op. I doubt that I'll have that problem this time around. Again, the old posts on this subject said that the issue was pain in the joint, not because of the ankle surgery. Minimal puffiness in the toe area now so I really don't think I'll have any issues with getting a shoe on it.
Here are updated photos. It's looking real good!
And the best of all - matching footwear!
I am real glad that I posted about my progress throughout this process as my memory can play tricks on me. Now I know I'm not imagining the big differences between the two surgeries!
Right now at 7 weeks, I have no pain in the joint. I am not walking on it yet (6 more days!) but I wasn't walking on it last time at 7 weeks either. So I was having pain in the joint non-weight bearing. This really makes me feel good about it this time around. I am seriously hoping that I am still pain-free next week at this time.
I also had serious issues with getting a shoe on my foot the first time post-op. I doubt that I'll have that problem this time around. Again, the old posts on this subject said that the issue was pain in the joint, not because of the ankle surgery. Minimal puffiness in the toe area now so I really don't think I'll have any issues with getting a shoe on it.
Here are updated photos. It's looking real good!
 |
| Only slightly puffy |
 |
| Most of the swelling still in the ball of the foot |
 |
| My Christmas slippers fit! |
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Adding PT
So I started doing some physical therapy on my foot/ankle here at home in the past week.
I dug out my therapy band that I still had from the previous PT session. I also had ordered a wobble board so I could work on ankle rotations. Altho it started out a bit rough, things are progressing nicely.
I've been doing range-of-motion exercises since the foot came out of the cast but had lost some of that range after having my foot down and in the boot all day on the 1st. That'll teach me to party. But I'm pleased to say that I've gotten all of that back now and then some.
I'm doing resistance strengthening for the ankle with the therapy band - 20 reps in all four directions three times a day. At first I really felt it in the back of my calf but that has since loosened up. I'm doing my range of motion (circles and writing the alphabet with my toes) also three times a day.
On the wobble board I am doing circles both directions and also heel and toe raises, which I also do on the floor. At first, the ankle did not want to allow the toe raises on the board. Just plain locked up when the toes were barely lifted. But on the floor, I had no problems. But over time, this problem has disappeared. The heel raises are modified so as not to put any weight or pressure on the still-healing joint but I am wanting to get the toe ready for when we do start weight-bearing (in just over a week!!!).
The only real issue I am having with flexibility is rotating to the inside. Pretty much can't roll that part of the circle. Time will fix that as long as I keep doing my exercises.
As far as the toe, I am manually flexing the movable joint, stretching the tendon which wants to pull the toe down since we fused the joint at such an extreme angle, strengthening the toe with resistance, and doing toe lifts which really don't lift the toe but is strengthening the tendon on the top of the foot. And lots of massage. It's looking pretty good.
And in preparation for walking next week, I've been doing less sitting in the recliner with my foot in the air. I'm trying to acclimatize the foot to being down a bit at a time and then putting it back up and icing it to keep the swelling out. That, too, is going well. I'm having fewer days where the foot balloons up and when it does swell it goes away pretty rapidly when elevated. I think I'm on the right track there.
I also started some core strengthening exercises as I had developed a bad back ache which would wake me in the middle of the night. I also had back pain after I started work after the first surgery. Standing half bent over while grooming a dog takes a lot of core strength and I had none and paid for it. So I am doing leg lifts, crunches, and back bridges before I get out of bed in the morning and before sleeping at night. It's helped as I don't wake with back pain in the middle of the night. I also got a stability ball and sit on it while at the computer. Hopefully my back won't hurt as much when I go back to work in two weeks.
I dug out my therapy band that I still had from the previous PT session. I also had ordered a wobble board so I could work on ankle rotations. Altho it started out a bit rough, things are progressing nicely.
I've been doing range-of-motion exercises since the foot came out of the cast but had lost some of that range after having my foot down and in the boot all day on the 1st. That'll teach me to party. But I'm pleased to say that I've gotten all of that back now and then some.
I'm doing resistance strengthening for the ankle with the therapy band - 20 reps in all four directions three times a day. At first I really felt it in the back of my calf but that has since loosened up. I'm doing my range of motion (circles and writing the alphabet with my toes) also three times a day.
On the wobble board I am doing circles both directions and also heel and toe raises, which I also do on the floor. At first, the ankle did not want to allow the toe raises on the board. Just plain locked up when the toes were barely lifted. But on the floor, I had no problems. But over time, this problem has disappeared. The heel raises are modified so as not to put any weight or pressure on the still-healing joint but I am wanting to get the toe ready for when we do start weight-bearing (in just over a week!!!).
The only real issue I am having with flexibility is rotating to the inside. Pretty much can't roll that part of the circle. Time will fix that as long as I keep doing my exercises.
As far as the toe, I am manually flexing the movable joint, stretching the tendon which wants to pull the toe down since we fused the joint at such an extreme angle, strengthening the toe with resistance, and doing toe lifts which really don't lift the toe but is strengthening the tendon on the top of the foot. And lots of massage. It's looking pretty good.
And in preparation for walking next week, I've been doing less sitting in the recliner with my foot in the air. I'm trying to acclimatize the foot to being down a bit at a time and then putting it back up and icing it to keep the swelling out. That, too, is going well. I'm having fewer days where the foot balloons up and when it does swell it goes away pretty rapidly when elevated. I think I'm on the right track there.
I also started some core strengthening exercises as I had developed a bad back ache which would wake me in the middle of the night. I also had back pain after I started work after the first surgery. Standing half bent over while grooming a dog takes a lot of core strength and I had none and paid for it. So I am doing leg lifts, crunches, and back bridges before I get out of bed in the morning and before sleeping at night. It's helped as I don't wake with back pain in the middle of the night. I also got a stability ball and sit on it while at the computer. Hopefully my back won't hurt as much when I go back to work in two weeks.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Go Packers!
Well it was a pretty good weekend for my football picks. My teams won three of the four games, but my longshot team, the Seahawks, are out due to a loss to the, ugh, Bears. But the Jets beat the Patriots, the Steelers beat the Ravens, and the Packers won against the Falcons.
So that makes this weekend Packers vs Bears.
Go Packers!
So that makes this weekend Packers vs Bears.
Go Packers!
 |
| Packers QB Aaron Rodgers |
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Folow-up to Post
So the doctor sent me this email in reply to my faulty memory in the previous post -
"I compared 8/18/10 (8 weeks post the first time - first real 'weightbearing' pictures from the first procedure) to 1/13/11 and on the AP (up and down) view, they look almost identical - full fusion on the medial side, slight grey are on the lateral). The LATERAL pictures are significant though - the 1/13/11 picture has MUCH more "white" stuff (ie fusion) on the dorsal cap - where the fracture occurred. I am pleased with the progress and it looks fused radiographically NOW as much as it did THEN, and the lack of pain and MOTION at the 1st MTPJ (big toe joint) is nil at this time. In fact, looking at the 10 degrees dorsiflexion on the 10/28/10 view compared to 1/13/11, it even looks better now. Very pleased overall."
She is going to give me the x-rays to bring home at my next appointment and, with her permission, I'll post them here.
I'm pleased that she's pleased and I'm thrilled that I am experiencing no pain. Especially since I was in constant pain the entire time after the first procedure until the bone broke again!
"I compared 8/18/10 (8 weeks post the first time - first real 'weightbearing' pictures from the first procedure) to 1/13/11 and on the AP (up and down) view, they look almost identical - full fusion on the medial side, slight grey are on the lateral). The LATERAL pictures are significant though - the 1/13/11 picture has MUCH more "white" stuff (ie fusion) on the dorsal cap - where the fracture occurred. I am pleased with the progress and it looks fused radiographically NOW as much as it did THEN, and the lack of pain and MOTION at the 1st MTPJ (big toe joint) is nil at this time. In fact, looking at the 10 degrees dorsiflexion on the 10/28/10 view compared to 1/13/11, it even looks better now. Very pleased overall."
She is going to give me the x-rays to bring home at my next appointment and, with her permission, I'll post them here.
I'm pleased that she's pleased and I'm thrilled that I am experiencing no pain. Especially since I was in constant pain the entire time after the first procedure until the bone broke again!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
6 weeks Post-op
So I saw the doctor today for my six-week post-op visit.
X-rays show that it's not quite healed yet. The left side (outside of foot) of the joint is solid but the right side (nearer the other toes) still has a gap where the two bones are trying to become one. If I remember correctly, the first time the entire joint was filled in but not hardened off yet at this point. So this is puzzling (if I'm remembering correctly).
She wanted to start PT next week but I cannot afford to do it. I've lost over 4 months of work in the last seven. But since I've been thru this before (several times) I know what exercises we'd be starting with and I can do them myself here. Doctor is good with that. If we need to do ultrasound therapy then I can go in once a week or so and get that done. But the actual PT - I'm an old hand at that!
I won't over do it. I'll be a bit more conservative than they would be actually. But I will get it done without injuring myself. Just can't afford to pay that much out of pocket.
But the good thing is that she let me stand (briefly) on the foot - twice! Once in just my sock. It felt SO good to let those toes and bones lay flat and spread as they took my weight. It's hard to explain unless you've been off your feet for an extended period, but damn! it felt great. Then she had me put the boot on and stand again. Wonderful!!! Then she had me sit right down and said that that was the last time I could do that for two weeks. But no pain or anything.
I am going stir crazy but there is light at the end of the tunnel (I hope). Perhaps in two weeks I'll be able to bear weight on it in my ortho boot. Awesome.
I also mentioned March 19th as a goal for my first obedience trial. She seemed to think that it was do-able since it is eight weeks away. Definitely in the boot but potentially in my shoe. Keeping my fingers crossed. Would do the toes but don't want to hurt myself!
So overall, still optimistic with a conservative bent.
X-rays show that it's not quite healed yet. The left side (outside of foot) of the joint is solid but the right side (nearer the other toes) still has a gap where the two bones are trying to become one. If I remember correctly, the first time the entire joint was filled in but not hardened off yet at this point. So this is puzzling (if I'm remembering correctly).
 |
| Redness is due to the foot being very cold! |
No walking yet (which I was going to fight if she had said to walk on it). I go back in 2 weeks for another set of x-rays and potentially to start weight-bearing in the boot. Then she said two weeks after that I was to bring in my shoe and we'd start tweaking the orthotic inserts that I bought the first time around. Don't know what the plan is if the joint hasn't completely fused by then! But let's not borrow trouble.
 |
| Swelling is very minimal |
I won't over do it. I'll be a bit more conservative than they would be actually. But I will get it done without injuring myself. Just can't afford to pay that much out of pocket.
But the good thing is that she let me stand (briefly) on the foot - twice! Once in just my sock. It felt SO good to let those toes and bones lay flat and spread as they took my weight. It's hard to explain unless you've been off your feet for an extended period, but damn! it felt great. Then she had me put the boot on and stand again. Wonderful!!! Then she had me sit right down and said that that was the last time I could do that for two weeks. But no pain or anything.
 |
| Most of the swelling is in the ball of the foot |
I also mentioned March 19th as a goal for my first obedience trial. She seemed to think that it was do-able since it is eight weeks away. Definitely in the boot but potentially in my shoe. Keeping my fingers crossed. Would do the toes but don't want to hurt myself!
So overall, still optimistic with a conservative bent.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Bummer
So I'm a big Colts fan - or as big a fan as I can be since football isn't my #1 sport to watch. But I've always rooted for the Colts way back when they were in Baltimore.
Yes, it's the name that got me as a girl since I was and am horse-crazy. But mostly I didn't want to be a Bears fan, just to irk my dad like I did when I became a Cardinals fan instead of a Cubs fan.
So when they moved to Indy I was thrilled and when the kids moved to Indy and became fans, I was delighted to share the ups and downs of the season with them. So I've become a bigger fan recently.
Now that the Colts are done for the season, I don't have to pay much attention to the rest of the post-season, just enough to root against the Bears! So now it's "Go Packers!"
And my long-shot pick is the Seahawks.
Not that I really now care who goes or wins the Super Bowl as long as it isn't the Bears!
Now that the Colts are done for the season, I don't have to pay much attention to the rest of the post-season, just enough to root against the Bears! So now it's "Go Packers!"
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Not Quite 5-weeks Post-Op
Photo update! Here's my foot this morning at two days short of 5 weeks.
The joint is a bit puffy this morning, as it has been since Sunday. Saturday it was in the boot all day and not elevated as much as normal as I wasn't home most of the day. Pain-level is about the same -- nil -- but the persistent puffiness is kind of a bummer. Doing lots of massage to try to force the fluid out.
The worst of it is that the ankle is now very stiff and kinda ache-y with some slight puffiness. Been really working my flexing and rotating to try to work it out but it stays about the same. Think I'll get my T.E.N.S. unit out and do a few days of e-stim to help it out.
 |
| A bit puffier - sigh |
The worst of it is that the ankle is now very stiff and kinda ache-y with some slight puffiness. Been really working my flexing and rotating to try to work it out but it stays about the same. Think I'll get my T.E.N.S. unit out and do a few days of e-stim to help it out.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's Advice
These aren't my words but I sure like them!
An Old Farmer's Advice:
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered . . . not yelled.
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Don't judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don't pick a fight with an old woman. If she is too old to fight, she'll just kill you.
An Old Farmer's Advice:
Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered . . . not yelled.
Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Every path has a few puddles.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Don't judge folks by their relatives.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
Don't pick a fight with an old woman. If she is too old to fight, she'll just kill you.
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