Still Recovering After Foot Surgery

It's November and a grey, gloomy day here in the UK. The only brightness is produced by the gorgeous yellow, gold and reds on the trees. I love autumn days but prefer them with a little sunshine no matter how cold it gets.

So, how is my foot doing?

Actually quite well. At my last physio appointment about three weeks ago, I was getting a bit frustrated. I was doing the exercises, working hard, but seeing very little results. I did not feel that I was improving that much.

The physio listened and then during the session, pointed out all the ways I had improved since I had last seen her! It just felt like such slow progress!

Then in the last week, something has happened: I have stopped relying on my stick! I can go for walks to school or round the supermarket without relying on something to support me. I even went round town yesterday without my stick. I am still limping slightly, but I am comfortable walking.

This is a huge boost to my confidence. I am so pleased. My foot is also recovering better in the evenings and I am finding that even when I put it up, if I roll a small squashy ball under my foot for a few minutes then I am able to stand up and walk without drunkenly staggering about.

It now truly feels that recovery is on its way.

Back to School After Foot Surgery

Well, it's happened! The days are getting shorter yet brighter and the leaves are beginning to turn all kinds of colours on the trees. It's time to go back to school.

I was so grateful for the help that I was given last term. I had people helping me with school pick-ups, with meals and with lifts while I couldn't drive. Now I have to get back into a routine.

DH still takes my youngest to school. That helps enormously and I encourage my eldest to get herself to school whenever possible. This week she's had a cold, so it's been a little more difficult. I am back to cooking, but DH clears up at night because my foot has had enough by the end of the meal. He is still putting the children to bed most nights.

It's good to get back into a routine. It's good to realise that I am starting to get better and use my foot more successfully. But my foot still aches when I use it too often and the balance between rest and walking can be hard to make.

Still Recovering After Foot Surgery

I saw the physio today. She is a bit dour, but proficient. She put me through my paces, but frustratingly my foot did not want to stretch very far. It was a bit early in the morning and I had just been rushing about doing sandwiches and getting the children off to school.

We went to the gym which was a new experience for me. I tried walking, standing on one foot and then my bad foot and walking backwards. I came away with a new hip-strengthening exercise to add to my repertoire.

As soon as my foot was in the shoe, it was much happier, so she suggested that I need to wear less supportive shoes to enable my ankle to get used to working again. Luckily I bought a new pair of supportive sandals just after I last saw the consultant. It's been a warm day so I've been wearing them, but they seem hard after my memory sole inserts! The plus side is better ventilated feet!!

Still Recovering After Foot Surgery

I have been doing my physio exercises more regularly and am beginning to see benefits. My foot is able to move better and further before it hurts and some flexibility is returning. I am still on Ibruprofen in the morning and try not to do too much. Following the advice of the physio, I am trying to keep my foot up more and rest if not due to do something in the following half an hour.

It's difficult to see how far this recovery will go at the moment. I am able to walk, but still prefer to use a stick if a short journey or crutches for longer walking or uneven ground. I know that it can take a long time to heal - many people have told me at least six months and at the moment it has been around 16 weeks. My foot is still prone to swelling if used too much and it can still be painful to walk, but I do feel that it is better than it was before the surgery.

Time will tell if this will improve at all.

Week 10 Going on Holiday After Foot Surgery

The Friday following the consultant appointment where I was told I no longer needed my boot, I went on holiday to Norfolk in the UK.

Perhaps not the most sensible move, but I wanted to get away and we found a great cottage on the Norfolk broads overlooking the marina at Wroxham.

There was a lack of seating, so in order for me to put my foot up someone lost a seat. I hogged the best one unfortunately.

It was a great holiday and DH was great at cooking and taking the kids for walks to the shops etc but I still overdid it on occasion and, even more terribly: I DIDN'T DO MY EXERCISES!

My foot still swells up when I have been on it for a bit and this makes it almost impossible to work my foot.

I got back this week and saw the physio. I do need to keep stretching out my foot, so this means a more concerted effort this week, although I am away again at my parents' house.

Week 9 Adjusting to Walking Without the Boot

Today I went to see the consultant. I'll admit it - I was confident. I've been able to stand for short periods without the Boot. I was happy with my progress: wounds have healed and are gradually desensitising and feeling is beginning to return to the side of my foot.

I was checked over and referred to the Physio. I have seen her before. She checked my ability to mobilise my foot. It wasn't good because I had been in the Boot for over an hour. It always stiffens up after that. She gave me some exercises to do and agreed to see me in two weeks. I have a holiday coming up soon.

I was told that I no longer had to wear the Boot. I asked about the kind of shoes I could wear and was advised that high-top trainers would be best. I knew the type - I had lived in them for ages before the op. I had it in mind to go shopping for some new shoes and asked about sandals. Sadly gladiator-type sandals were out. I would need something very supportive to wear for my ankle in the short term.

So I went to town. I found an expensive pair of Ecco sandals (men's) which were very shaped and comfortable in the local Clark's shop.

Could I find a new pair of trainers? Not at all! It's the end of the season and many sizes are out of stock, so it was back to my old pair for the time being.

However it hurts! I overdid it in town today. It's not the first time I've been to town, but it's the most walking I have done and by the end of it, I was aching!

Planning to take it easier for the rest of this week!

Week 7 Walking More Easily After Foot Surgery

Week 7

This is starting to really speed up now! My Leg Caddy went back last week as I was getting about so well on crutches. It had to be packed back up into its box and sent back via courier which was paid for when I ordered it. The company, Wheelchairs r Us have been really great: ringing regularly to keep in touch and check that everything was all right.

I'm really motoring now. I've been out to two kids' sports days (with a companion each time and a fold-up chair) and coped reasonably well with rough terrain. I am comfortable walking for short periods round shops with one crutch and I am happy driving. My leg can get a bit stiff if it is in the boot for a while, but it soon eases once I am resting again.

It's nice to be more up and about, but I am trying not to overdo it. I have two more weeks until I see my Consultant again.

I reckon it's speeding up so fast because it's nearly the school holidays! Woohoo!

Week 6 Driving Again!

This week, I have got up the courage to drive!

I asked my consultant when they took the cast off when I could drive. I had already changed my car to an automatic and he agreed that I was fine as long as my insurance company said it was ok.

My insurance company said, well as long as the consultant says it's ok...!

I left it to this week. My daughter had a performance on Saturday and I really wanted to be driving by then! Then it was difficult for my friend to pick her up from a last rehearsal. So I took the car round the block. Then I went down the highway. It was as though I had never been away! My daughter has lost some of her legroom, however, as I need extra space to get in and out.

Great to be on the move at last! Now I just need to be able to get around safely when I get there!

Weeks 4-5 After the Cast

It was a very strange feeling to have my cast off and I have been very cautious about my leg. The surgery wounds were still scabbed over and my leg was covered in flaky skin! Ew!

Now I can have regular showers, things are improving. I have been able to soak my foot in the bath while sitting on the shower stool and this has helped to heal it nicely.

I have still been using my leg caddy to get to the door or the phone quickly. Strapping on a big boot takes time. My leg feels secure in the boot and it is comfortable to use. I feel that I am gradually getting back to normal.

Removal of Cast After Foot Surgery

D-Day. Today I had my red cast removed. I had to be squeezed into the schedules as I was only in my cast for two weeks. If I had had more done, then it might have been longer.

First I was sent for an x-ray which was unusual because I still had my cast on. Then I saw my consultant who was amazed that I still had my cast on! Things seemed to be ok, so I was sent to have it taken off. This involved a tiny vibrating circular saw and a very loud noise! It didn't hurt.

There was some discussion as to what I needed next, but I was fitted with a supportive boot which comes up my leg to a similar place to my cast. It is very padded and expandable. I have been told to wear it and I can put weight on my foot. I can drive my automatic car with permission from my insurance company and use my crutches to support myself.

I have decided to retain my leg caddy for now and the first thing I did was to go home and take a full shower!!

Going Out After Foot Surgery

A week after having my stitches out and my full cast put on, two of my friends offered me a trip out to a local big garden centre for coffee. I accepted.

I used my crutches to get down the steps and they kindly transported my leg caddy for me. Once we got to the garden centre, I used my crutches to balance while I got out of the car, but then they stayed in. I was able to scoot to the front door and round the shop.

It was really great to get out. I spent a little too much money and enjoyed coffee and a cake at the coffee shop. We enjoyed looking round the plants.

It was good to get out. It took a little planning and it helped that one of my friends spent last year in plaster, so she understood a little more about it. When I got back home, my good foot was aching from the effort, but it was worth it!

Removal of Stitches From My Foot

Nineteen days after my surgery, it was D-Day. Time for the stitches to be removed from my foot. I knew that there was no infection under there because I had had the plaster changed about five days ago. It didn't mean I was looking forward to it.

Met with the Consultant. We chatted as the half-plaster was removed, then he took the dressings off (imagine removing large plasters) and checked the wounds. They were fine. I arranged to have more medication from the hospital pharmacy and was pleased to hear that it would only be two weeks with a full plaster before getting my air boot. It could have been two more weeks, so I'm really chuffed with that!

Then the painful bit! The problem is that I have stitches all over my foot! The first few were the worst, but then it got easier. The problem is that my arch is quite sensitive!

I have had a red plaster cast put on my leg. It is a full cast to below the knee. My leg still itches sometimes on the wound site, but at least I feel I am on the mend.

Removal of Foot Plaster Cast

Week 2 Post Op

The stinging pain continued whenever I moved my foot. It particularly hurt as I swung my leg over in the morning and the stinging sensation would shoot right the way up my leg.

I was concerned that I might have an infection, so rang my GP. He wanted to come and check it out but could not re-plaster my leg after checking it out.

I rang my orthopaedic department. They spoke to my consultant and booked me in for 2.30 that afternoon.

My husband came home and we took a taxi to the hospital. (DH doesn't drive) After a short wait, my half cast was removed. The stitches were fine, but the dressings were matted with dried blood and that is probably what was pulling on the skin. The dressings and plaster were replaced and I had the added peace of mind that all was OK underneath the cast.

The Second Week

I am trying to wean myself off the painkillers. Apart from the operation, I have mostly been on Paracetamol and Codeine (separate tablets) but I have been on eight a day. Swinging my leg down to the ground stings. I have not put any weight on it save slight steadying.

I am getting about well on my leg caddy. Went for a scoot with the kids one day. DH came too and we just went up to the shop in the middle of our road. They went in and I sat outside. It was nice to get out and I was not too tired afterwards.

The kids are coping well. The older one continues to scrounge lifts left, right and centre. The younger one has accepted that he must sometimes come home with someone else. DH is doing well in the kitchen - luckily he's a good cook.

Hurrah for Web-based supermarket deliveries! They are the best in this situation!

Using a Leg Caddy

One of the best things I did was to hire my leg caddy. It is brilliant!

I found using crutches really hard. It was wobbly, tough on my hands and on my good leg which has already taken a battering because it has been doing most of the work for over a year.

The leg caddy is a lifesaver. It looks a little like a knee scooter. It has an adjustable padded shelf on which you rest your knee and it can be changed to suit left or right leg. The handlebars have brakes, which is great when you are trying to get onto it, and you can include a basket in your hire which allows you to fetch and carry things round.

If your partner drives (mine doesn't) you could even take it round the shops! I have however gone up the road to the corner shop on it with the kids scooting beside me and we had lots of fun.

There are companies in the UK which sell and hire them, but your local physio dept may not have heard of them yet. Mine will have by the time I have finished with them!

The First Week Post Op

I decided that I was going to sleep downstairs for a bit. We have a bed settee in the lounge and a downstairs toilet. All the disabled aids were brought downstairs, and I relied on DH to put out the bed and put it away each night and morning.

The first morning I was home was a school and work day. DH got up extra early and got the kids up. The eldest is 11 and able to sort herself out. The youngest is 5 and needs some help, but is still pretty independent. They managed to get up and sorted by 8 am and managed to get out of the house at 8.05. They were both able to get a lift with friends.

My daughter was to get herself home, either by walking or cadging a lift (she's proved very good at this!). DH was coming home early to pick up the younger one. I had sandwiches ready in the fridge and everything to hand that I would need. I coped fine. The week went slowly but passed finally.

After the Operation

I can't really tell you about the operation itself. Fortunately I was asleep! I was brought round in the anesthetic room and was vaguely awake as they wheeled me back. I was pretty sleepy for most of the day and unable to eat very much.

The following morning I felt much better and able to eat breakfast. I was able to chat with some of the ladies who were left. I was offered crutches and the chance to go to the toilet on them. I felt normal.

I also learned to use Clexane as I was considered a risk for thrombosis. This is because my mother and my sister had both had one. Clexane is self-administered injections in the stomach. I had dreaded this, but found that doing it myself is possible, if a little scary the first time.

I stayed one more night then spent the next day determinedly getting ready to go home. It took a while, but I finally left at 7.30 pm and was glad to be back.

Preparing for the Operation

I had had only two weeks to prepare for this operation and that included the pre-op the week before. It has been a while since I prepared for an op, and I was surprised but pleased to see that they included a test for MRSA. Thankfully I was clear.

I was given a list of things to bring with me and instructions to ring the ward at 6 am in order to check that there would be a bed for me by 7. There was.

So the grandparents came over to take over the childcare and DH and I went to the hospital. We were given the bed fairly quickly, then we waited. The ward consisted of six beds. There were two older ladies opposite, a lady who was due an operation that day on her shoulder, a knee op and another foot op.

I met the consultant and he drew two big arrows on my leg. Apparently I was going to have two scars! I met the anesthetist and after a little discussion, I was to go first. I went down to theatre about 11 o'clock.

Finding the Things You Will Need After an Op

I managed to find a great company that hires out wheelchairs and knee caddys - www.wheelchairsrus.co.uk and I found them very friendly and helpful. I really wanted to borrow rather than buy things. I was amazed at how expensive the disabled market was.

I bought a leg rest pillow and a cover for the cast in the shower. Then we were told about the Red Cross.

In the UK, the British Red Cross keeps a selection of wheelchairs and other disability aids which are available to hire for a deposit and a donation. We found our local branch helpful, but there is also a big branch in Coventry which has a great selection. We found a disabled toilet seat and toilet frame as well as a shower seat which fitted across the bath which saved us a lot of money. If you live in the UK, it is definitely worth checking out.

What Will I Need After My Foot Operation?

I had two weeks exactly to prepare for my operation and its after-effects. I talked to friends about helping to get the children to and from school. I filled our freezer with food. I spent a lot of time on the internet trying to find some equipment.

After some research, I decided that I would need:
a leg rest pillow
a foot stool
a leg caddy (more in a minute)
a wheelchair (one was offered that we could borrow)
a shower stool
a disabled toilet seat (lifts you up so its easier to get up)
a frame to go round the toilet

The leg caddy I came across in some of the forums. It is a bit like a knee scooter and it allows you to move around so much more easily than on crutches, and if you hire a basket, then you can carry things too. In the UK they are available to hire as well as to buy and I chose to hire mine.

Finally - an Op Date!

The first phone call came out of the blue. My consultant's secretary wanted to book me an appointment, but the date she offered was completely unrealistic for my life. I turned it down and there were none left. She explained that I would be put at the top of the next list when some new dates for operations were given. I was due to have my operation by 30th June at the latest.

The next call was even more out of the blue. I was offered a cancellation on 21 May - which was in exactly two weeks' time! I could think of no good reason to turn it down, so I accepted and had two weeks in which to prepare to be immobile for up to eight weeks!

Why Do I Need an Op?

The process was underway. I had signed up for an operation. After over 14 months of limping, sitting out long walks and struggling round the shops, an end was in sight.

I had wondered many times just what had triggered my sore foot. I had finally arrived at two possible events that may have contributed to it. My foot had been stiff for a while but it had not really given me any trouble. One day I fell and sharply twisted my foot. I was with my young son who had run out into a car park and I was more preoccupied with him than the rough ground I was walking over.

My foot felt like a sprain, I was able to limp over to the car and to drive and the pain went away fairly quickly, but it had been a nasty twist and I didn't get it checked out.

The second event may well be responsible for a whole pile of foot and ankle problems - the closing of Woolworths! I queued for three hours to buy some items (obviously not realising that it would be that long) in a pair of old, unsupportive trainers. A couple of weeks later I was limping round. Was my son's Scooby Doo T-shirt worth it? Well, he still loves it now...!

Deciding to Have an Operation

The MRI scan had been inconclusive. There was no real indication what the problem was. My consultant happened to be meeting with other consultants on Friday and he decided to put my case forward for discussion. I would be back in the hospital as it happened, having my weak wrists checked out so I was invited to drop by and be seen by the other consultants. He hoped that this would give him a way forward.

I dropped by on Friday and my foot was checked out. It was a long wait as my consultant did not talk to me until the following Tuesday afternoon. So what was the result?

Basically, he didn't know! The meeting had involved a lot of discussion but no firm conclusions, therefore my consultant had decided that he was going to to an exploratory operation with a range of options available. The simplest operation would be tendon tightening and tendon repair, but it might also involve ankle fusion. I would have to wait and see.

Physio Didn't Work - Now What?

The physio took her time over me. She consulted with other physiotherapists, but eventually came to the conclusion that because I couldn't put enough weight on my foot, then I would have to go back to the consultant.

Unfortunately the consultant was on his Christmas break. I saw his registrar who suggested to me that surgery might be the answer. He suggested a tendon replacement operation at this point which would involve replacing the heel arch tendon with a toe tendon from the same foot. I said that I wished to see the consultant before deciding on a surgery option. It gave me time to get used to the idea.

February 2010 Appointment cancelled and remade for a month's time by the hospital.

March 2010 Saw the consultant, This time he talked to me about the surgical options. I had decided myself that the option of doing nothing was no longer an option. He booked me for an MRI scan and indicated that he would see me again to discuss the results.

Going to See a Consultant

Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy. I leave things too long and I wait for school holidays to be over before sorting things out.

I finally saw a consultant at the local hospital in October. He looked at my foot, sent me for x-ray (very quick - in department), discussed what might have caused it and was surprised that I had not yet been referred for physio.

He admired my orthotic and felt it was the right thing, but my foot was pretty rigid in the middle with very little ability to move. He referred me to physio which started there and then (physio also in the department) and then arranged to see me again in about a month to six weeks.

The physio gave me exercises to carry out and arranged to see me again in two weeks. Two weeks later, the foot was getting easier to move. It was still pretty rigid out of the shoe, but gradually relaxed and had got some flexibility back. She now tried me on weight-bearing exercises. These were not so successful and I went back in two weeks to confess that I was struggling to do them satisfactorily.

Going to See a Chiropodist

I lost no time in going to see a Chiropodist. I found a local man from a web directory. He seemed good and prescribed orthotics which were in-soles which I would have to wear in my shoes for life. These cost about £80, but I thought that it would be worth it in order to be able to walk.

The orthotic inserts arrived. They took a bit of getting used to, but I found them quite comfortable. I had to have a stronger one made of carbon fibre for my bad foot, but my good foot had an insert which just ensured my feet were the same height.

However they did not cure the pain, they just moved it. Now I was getting pain down the outside of my foot and I was struggling to walk more than ever. I gave the inserts two or three months, then I went back to see my GP and got a referral to a Consultant.

The Diagnosis?

My GP sent me for some tests including arthritis and thrombosis. My heel arch was swollen and that was where I was getting the pain.

As the results came back, he rang me on my mobile and sent me straight to A&E. I had tested positive for a possible thrombosis. A&E on a Friday night is no fun. I spent four hours before being injected with anti-coagulant. As there was no-one available to do an ultra-sound scan on a Friday night, or indeed over the weekend, I ended up going into hosipital for two more injections over the weekend before being cleared of thrombosis that Monday. By that point my stomach was black and blue!

My GP almost shrugged his shoulders, suggested that I try some of the stuff I had tried before to reduce inflammation and waved me off. I struggled on for another month or so, but it was still not getting any better, so I went back and saw another GP.

This time she saw straight away what he should have seen last time - my foot arch had collapsed and she recommended I see a Chiropodist.

About Me

I am a mother of two children and have found my increasing inability to walk extremely frustrating.

The first time I really remembering having a problem was at a Mama Mia party in December 2008. I was limping and unable to dance. The problem had started a couple of weeks earlier, but had just come on gradually. I had no idea what was causing it.

I changed my ancient trainers for new trainers, tried to take it easy and put my foot up and did all the things you would normally do for an aching foot, but the moment I started to do things again, the ache returned. It was easy when sitting down to forget I had a problem, but the moment that I stood up, my foot would remind me.

I kept going until the New Year, but the problem was getting worse and in January I booked an appointment with my GP.

My Sore Left Foot

Welcome to my blog.

I have been suffering with a sore left foot for nearly 18 months. There was no obvious cause, although I have a couple of theories, just a gradual nagging pain which turned into extreme discomfort which prevented me from walking too far and limited my life experiences.
I have just had an operation to correct this problem. I promise no extreme pictures, but I have found other people's blogs useful to read and I add this one into the mix to help other people.
Enjoy.
Sassie x