Ankle Update

With all the talk recently about ankles, I thought it best if I updated as its been about 17 months since my surgery.

I spent the other day walking the Dubai mall. I was so tired and by the time I got home I could barely walk. I wondered what the following day would have in store for me. . .

If you suffer from the same pain, you know that any amount of walking results in the following morning of dread riiiiiiight before you step out of bed.That initial step will let you know if you will be able to walk and also whether walking that day will be close to unbarable.

So I get up the following morning and its like Id not walked at all the previous day.

No pain.


A year ago I wouldve been crawling.

Literally.

first time in forever

my ankle is feeling that familiar throb that I had pre-surgery.its nothing horrible and the doctor told me that there was still a little arthritis in the bone so its not so surprising although Ive been rather sedentary this past month.

I begin work next week so time will tell if this is a sign of something new to come.
I sure hope not!

A Year Has Passed

A year ago this time, i was healing from major surgery,wheeling around my house.Tired from a trip to the kitchen to get a drink and a bite to eat.

 was elevating my foot, icing my cast to keep down swelling,and taking supplements to help with bone healing. I was BORED OUT OF MY MIND sitting in that apartment and constantly thinking about my next move halfway across the world.

Today, Im sitting here with the same foot propped up. Ankle is good though i did feel a twinge of something last night that I wouldnt quite call pain though a little irritating. Ive walked more in this last year than I have in years back home.

Had I not done this, I dont think Id be able to look back on this year with such a smile on my face.

slooooooooooowwwwwwwwww dooooooooooowwwwwwwwnnnnn

Now that Im not walking as much,Ive started to gain a couple pounds.Not a biggie in and of itself but I was able to eat more without fear because I knew Id be exercising on a daily basis. The insoles have helped *maybe*. It could just be that I needed rest for my foot or a combination of both. Id said that if it didnt stop soon Id go back for an MRI to make sure there wasnt a stress fracture.

Yeah,doc,I see what youre saying about my old bones but Im 100% positive I was fine and then all of a sudden BOOOOOOM!

On the bright side,its all the same foot so I dont have both feet with issues. Even brighter still is that it isnt my ankle or any part of my foot that had the surgery. In a couple weeks it will have been a year since the surgery and if this is  your first time reading,go back to the beginning.If youre contemplating and thinking that you just have occasional pain or that when you lay off it goes away please know that eventually it will not go away and you WILL need something besides an insole.If you dont have arthritis in the bones,its the best time to do it.Not to mention cheaper,shorter healing time,etc.

happy healing everyone!

almost a year

In July, a year will have passed since my operation. Lots has transpired. Since I last wrote,Ive continued to walk much more than before. Each morning I walked 1-1.5 miles easy and then walked throughout the day,all without pain. I wore heels once but since my feet are flat,they still hurt my feet. My big toe feels normal though there is a little difference in the sensation when its touched. My incision points are still sensitive but as long as the entire foot is touched, ie pedicure,its ok.Ive even been going to dancing lessons and am in the intermediate class. I can do turns that turn toward the "good" foot,just not the other.

One Problem: Last week I started to feel pain in my foot...but not the part operated on-that part feels great.Its in the middle of my foot at the top,before you get tot he toes. I was worried that it could be a stress fracture so I put on my boot  for awhile. Being out of the country, I was leery of going to a doc but found a German doc who has a good reputation (I suppose). He xrayed me and said Im ok,that I have ________:something akin to arthritus but cant recall the name right now. He explained to me my foot is about 70 years old.

"thanks for putting that into perspective doc". In my mind, it doesnt explain the sudden pain that I started to feel when everything was going wonderfully. He sent me to a place to get custom made insoles that have to be "perfect for my sensitive feet". I can agree witht hat. I should have had those a long time ago. He talked about how I would have pain in my lower back,knee, and other foot bc of the misalignment. True,Ive been having pain in my knee and know its because of how I walk. If the pain isnt gone after wearing these insoles, Ill go back to see whats going on.

So no more class for me. I will be an intermediate for awhile.Besides, I could use the time to hone in on what ive learned thus far.

How is YOUR foot and healing process going??

9 months

Its been 9 months since my operation. My posts have become less frequent but thats because not much changes from month to month as it has in the past. Not sure what I posted last time and too lazy (for lack of a better word) to go back and check.

Heres the latest:

I walk a couple miles each day in total as a result of walking part of the way to work and walking home from the bus stop. Most places I go involves a good amount of walking and there is no longer the need for down time associated with those walks. There are times when I may walk slower than others but the fact that there is no pain makes me think about how blessed I was to be able to get this procedure done!!!!!!

The other night I went out and wore heels for the first time in about a year. I have flat feet so any shoes (flat or otherwise) hurt my feet within ten minutes of wear. I was wearing a short dress,though,and *needed*,lol,to wear those shoes. I figured id rest my feet here and there and see how the night progressed. I wore them on and off with rests in between for about 5 hours. There was NO ankle pain to speak of and the next day before getting out of bed I was a little concerned about how it would feel to walk and after a few steps,I was good and felt perfectly fine the next day.

If youre contemplating this-DO IT. whatever inconveniences,pain,or irritation you currently feel will only get worse with time if in fact you do have this same bone deformity.
I would say, "let me know how your procedure went" but Ive asked that before to no avail...
whats up with you people?!?!?!?
:-P

progress

Im back to where I was before I hit my toe on the couch...

walking well

no pain to speak of...

only wearing my Merrell sandals which i LOVE.

I recommend them or Privos as they are both excellent shoes to wear and well worth the money!!!!

and this is coming from someone who has problems with most shoes.

HOW ARE YOU HEALING?!

setback

Its been awhile. I was doing very well.Walking normally most of the time...no more meds...Occasionally Id lose footing and would feel it for awhile. But last week I hit my foot on the edge of the couch and it HURT. Ever since then Ive gone back to a slight limp,some days using my cane. Back to taking meds on some days. I have started taking my chondroiton/glucosamine. Its good for joint health,read good reviews. I bought it before the operation but havent taken it. Nows the time I think.

If youre recovering,about to have surgery,good luck with everything! I hope your journey will be as easy as mine has been. Also,leave comments here or on youtube.People are just like you-they want to know the good,bad, and the ugly!