Times up!

As of yesterday, I should be done with this boot and walking with shoes. I will,however, continue to wear it to work as Im afraid not to. I dont ahve lots of swelling and only a bit of pain here and there. My foot still has sensitivities and that is cool. I am walking better and better and as long as it isnt too much walking I am ok.

Bones feel great

Still satisfied

want a pedicure but just dont know about the sensitivity. . .

week 15

I am no longer walking like a just had a hip replacement. Being that I am starting a new job in a new place (see other blog), I have been doing a good bit of walking. Ive noticed that I have more mobility in my ankle-it moves up and down when walking more freely so that I am now walking with my foot instead of my whole leg.
I experience soreness from walking too much but I will add that both feet tend to hurt after a lot of walking as I am flat footed. Having said that, there is pain from walking to much but it isnt pain in the bones or a feeling of arthritic pain. The pain I feel is more so from the operation. No, I do not feel heel pain like some speak of feeling the screws in the heel. For that I am definitely grateful!
According to the doctore, I have one more week in the  boot but I may wear it for a bit longer. I noticed that my leg is still small from where the boot rests on my leg,lol.
Ill definitely be glad when I can walk comfortably again as I want to go and do lots of things in my new environment. I do wait patiently knowing that once healed, I wont be plagued with the pain of arthritis that no amount of pills would heal!

Ma salaam

Incisions

My incision is beginning to itch off and one and I wont dare scratch it. I did buy that liquid St Johns wort and I figured I wouldnt need it after having the cast on so long but it came in handy last night!!!!
I puts some on both incisions on the side of my foot.

*side note*
When I touch the incision,It creates this tingling sensation in my foot,especially on the opposite side of my foot-around the big toe.

So I put that on and it felt better. No itching or funny feeling all night. And let me tell you why!

liquid St Johns Wort helps nerve cells to regenerate and reduces pain. (It also helps with mood stabilization)
Natural Remedies: Nondrug Healing Strategies That Work Best

****Please keep in mind that all supplements,vitamins,herbs,etc are not created equally! So the items you can pick up at WM arent of the same quality of items at a reputable health food store. And that is not to say that you should go to a GNC either. Some of your mom and pop places are great, you can even get Tumeric from your local farmers market and cap it yourself as health food stores sell capsules by the bag.Also check out Eastern herbalists AND do your research!!!!!
These items have side effects for some as well. What works for me may not work for someone else just as with regular meds.

HAPPY HEALING!

Week 13

So Im getting about 100 readers per month. That tells me that people want to know about this deformity and about the surgery. I hope that blog is helping you guys-even if you arent saying anything,lol. I promise I dont bite. Right Amy?

Differences between my last update (9 weeks) and now?

• occasional discomfort
• walking more
• no need to readjust 'bubbles' in boot so maybe that has to do with less swelling
• big toe still sensitive,not numb but close to that feeling. I dont like it touched so no pedis for me
• have NOT walked on it without a boot. Will wear skechers shape ups sandals after Im dont with boot
• regular ibuprofen works fine but I take the prescribed ones if Im going to be doing a lot of walking
• still a little foot peeling-on heal and by big toe
• It is difficult to walk up or down stairs. I do it sideways
• no crutches but a cane would be helpful

I think thats it. Just wanted to update my status and progress. I havent been doing the 3 exercises with my ankle and calf daily but the doc said I didnt need physical therapy so its no biggie.

*I am still taking my bone health supplements because I wasnt taking them when I was supposed to so I have a lot left. FYI, they are horse pills and you (or I) have to eat with them or they will make you sick. At least thats my experience with most vitamins. And I think they make your nails grow.

If you are reading this and will be getting a procedure soon or have just gotten it-GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING and read about how to aide your body in the healing process. It has been my experience that this doesnt have to be such a bad experience as it has been for others. I have been blessed to go through this process with ease and I wish the same for you (or someone you know). God has given us everything we need on this earth. There are supplements you can take to  help relieve pain and to help your bones heal (coupled with a diet change and listening to your doctor).

HAPPY HEALING!

walking

I
AM
WALKING!

well, for the most part. I was down to one crutch for the last couple days even though the doc said id be off in a week. Today, I still have it by my side but Im mostly walking on my own.

Now, its not a regular walk mind you. Its more of an elderly walk. . .like someone who has a "bad hip" kind of walk,lol. I also notice that my foot tends to land on the outside, as if Im walking on the side of my foot. Thats something that I pay attention to because I did read (somewhere) that you have to make sure you dont start walking that way.

Before I put my boot on this morning I stood up without anything on my feet. It feels funny and I have to make my foot touch the floor completely. Im supposed to be out of this boot by the end of October. . .

I do see that the swelling is less than I expected. Even at the end of the day, its not like I thought it would be. I imagined this big, sausage toe looking foot, possibly shiny from the skin being stretched so much, somewhat painful and needing elevation.

Nothing of the sort, thank God!

As stated before and it remains true-any discomfort I feel is virtually non existant when compared to what I felt before! Anything that i DO feel is in the foot as opposed to before where it was deep in the bone. Makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD!!!

and Im not even walking, walking yet.

Good thing Im not on the market for a man because the looks my walking will attract wont be the ones I want,lol.

skin

or scales as one would have it.
I did a very good job of NOT peeling off any skin. That was my plan initially but I decided against such craziness. As it is now Thursday, a week has passed and my foot is almost back to normal skin-wise. 2X daily moisturizing with shea butter and/or vaseline (shea butter is preferred)-of course socks are changed out as well.

I washed with a moisturizing soap and a gentle exfoliant on the leg and foot but not around any incisions. I would also let my foot soak while I sit in the tub and bathe. I continue to sit on a stool with the shower running as I do NOT want to sit in water with dead and peeling skin. TOO GROSS!

Not much itching to speak of and thats possibly because I keep it from being dry. I continue to walk on crutches-some days adding more pressure than others. Last night while sleeping, I would feel a small discomfort here or there. One doesnt realize how stretching pulls on the whole  body until something like this. I try to stop my stretch from going into the ankle,lol.

So far, short "pains" are more so in the areas of incision. No discomfort in the heal yet but that could change when I get into shoes,idk. I will be sure to post if I get pains that are equal to or greater than what I felt pre-surgery. That was the whole reason I did this after all-to get rid of pain.
So far I continue to be pleased!

walking

Since Thursday, my cast has been off. The doctor said I was doing well and that I should start to apply pressure immediately.
I was a bit nervous about that but I did it. He said that I did not need physical therapy and to apply more pressure daily . . .and put the crutches aside in a week. . .take off the boot by the end of October. . .expect full healing anywhere from 9-12 months.

Hows the foot?

crusty isnt the word! thick scales, surgery "tape", tight skin. . .
Not really itching. I have a regiment for my skin.

OH, and my leg IS little,lol. But back to my skin. First day home.

Soaked in hot water with soap and oil in water. Washed my foot and dryed it off. Melted shea butter and lathered it on my leg and foot and then carefully placed sock onto my foot. YOU WILL NEED HELP.

This is something I do day and night. Each time I remove a sock, skin comes with it. I WILL NOT PEEL. . .I dont want to have sore skin or to hurt on my foot unnecessarily!!!!

It is now Sunday and my leg is no longer crusty. The foot looks much better but still has dead skin. The tape is gone now. Less skin falls off now and I am pleased with it and hope it doesnt take too too long to get back to normal.

Im wearing long socks on that one foot and Im changing it out tonite again. TURN THE SOCKS INSIDE OUT WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF SO THE DEAD SKIN WILL FALL OUT AND SO THE SOCK WILL WASH CLEAN.

I continue to be happy with my operation and I dont regret it. I am taking it easy and adding pressure each day. I am also doing short excercises-rocking ankle up and down 20 times and resting-do this twice. I am also using a towel around my foot-push against towel for 5 secs. Do this 10 times and rest. Repeat. Also pulling back on towel to stretch calf muscle for 5 secs each for 10 times. Repeat.

I do this morning and nite and got it from a physiotherapy site that gave exercises to do after getting leg cast removed.