Mixed news from the surgeon today. I got put into a boot! But! I still have to be non-weight bearing for another week. It felt so good to get the dressing taken off. My foot is a bit swollen and very black and blue and yellow. The incision looks good and is healing well. They will take out the stitches next week.
They took more x-rays today. I have one pin in my big toe and two in the bone below it. Basically the doctor broke two bones and screwed them back together again. Everything looked like they expected it to look today.
The PA was amazed I am off pain pills already. She did warn me that I have lots of healing to do and it will take lots of time. One more week of non-weight bearing and then four weeks of partial weight bearing. She said the six weeks after that will seem long as it may take that long before I am pain free in walking with full weight.
I have to do twice weekly physical therapy starting next week. Not sure how I am going to do that since I will be in Stillwater next Wednesday for two weeks and then back to Strong City for two weeks. May have to drive to Wichita twice a week as that is about half way between Stillwater and Strong City. She said I may only need PT for two weeks. Guess I’ll figure that out what and where next week.
I realized today I won’t be able to do chicken chores for five more weeks. I won’t be able to carry a five gallon bucket of water if I can’t be full weight bearing. I hadn’t counted on it taking that long. May have to get creative to find a solution to that problem. Anyone want to move in with me?
I have guests coming Saturday that are staying until Monday. I had been hoping I could get downstairs and do some cleaning but that isn’t going to happen. I may have Jim drive me around to the back door downstairs and I can get in without doing the steps. Jim offered to make the bed and do the floors. I had cleaned downstairs before surgery but my intern was still here and I didn’t get his room cleaned good after he moved out. Good thing the guests coming are easy guests and won’t notice a bit of dust.
I took a nap when we got home. Going out still wears me out! I didn’t sleep well last night as I had taken too long of a nap yesterday. Hoping the shorter nap I took today won’t prevent me from sleeping tonight.
Feeling a bit discouraged today. While my foot is healing well I realized how long this process is going to be and then I get to repeat it! The neuroma surgery was much easier and healing went faster. At least that is my memory of it.
The boot is heavy and my foot is in a new position so it is cranky today. At least I get to take the boot off two or three times a day so I can rotate my foot around. I do have a dressing on it yet that can’t get wet or be removed. Not sure my shower cover will fit over the boot so may take the boot off for my shower and bath time and rotate my foot then.
The boot is thick and is creating problems with the scooter. Trying to figure out how to raise my knee higher so it is more comfortable when riding on the scooter. I am trying to use the crutches more but I am still unstable on them.
The PA recommended I order a device called EvenIt. I put it on the bottom of my good foot’s shoe and it raises that foot up so I walk level with the boot. It is to prevent hip problems with the uneven leg length due to the boot. Oh the things they make these days!
And this too shall pass…… Healing takes time……. Thinking about hiking without foot pain next spring.
Grateful to have the dressing removed today, grateful the foot is healing on schedule, and grateful for Jim’s presence and assistance.