Surgery due THIS Thursday.

Hi Amanda, if you search through all post on this topic in this section you will see differents experiences from people of all ages and lifestyles. It appears that there are slightly different procedures for similar surgery and also different recovery times etc. So it's difficult for one experience to to match another but I'm guessing that the common theme throughout is that you have to do as the surgeon tells you regarding after care and try to rest up your foot as often as possible. I'm sure that you will have your hands full with your 3 yr old and without much support from your partner owing to his work etc. I would suggest that you try and lean on as many family members and friends as possible to help you out with your liitle'un, your household task, shopping, cleaning etc and let them know that it is easier for you and it will lesson your recovery time if you can try and rest up and get as much help as possible especially in those first few weeks when you are likely to still be taking painkillers.

Before the operation I was offered the choice of having a nerve blocker or nerve numbner option and I said yes because it helped greatly with the after pain. Providing you get advice on suitable pain relief and ask about the recovery procedure when the surgeon makes his visit to you after the OP. I won't go in to my surgery or recovery because my situation, family, health, age could be different to yours and you might have a completely different experience to mine. But I am pleased that I had the surgery and I know that over the months it will improve my walking, balance and the severe pain and discomfort that I use to have before the OP..  Good luck and have a look through some of the other posts on this forum, there's some very interesting reading lol. 

Hi Amanda, I had my surgery 3 months ago today. To be honest I underestimated the amount of recovery time needed following the surgery, however I also underestimated how good the result would be! This is a post a few weeks after my surgery https://patient.info/forums/discuss/i-ve-seen-my-foot-for-the-first-time-since-surgery--300725

I didn't have much pain the next day or so following the surgery, however I was a little groggy, so I would definitely recommend having someone around to help the first day or so especially as you have a little one to look after. As 3bohemia has said, it's hard to comment on exactly what it will be like as we might have different procedures etc. but I would just say be patient, do as the doctor says (especially when they tell you to start moving your toes again, it feels weird and wrong initially but it's the only way you can get movement back into your foot), and rest as much as you can in the first 6 weeks. I had 2 weeks sick leave followed by 4 weeks working from home. Then started walking in trainers - which was a little painful at first because I didn't have much flexibility in my toes, but physio has really helped. I now don't experience pain and am carrying on with my physio - I have a hydrotherapy lesson on Friday. My foot is still a bit swollen snd I need to stay in flat shoes for another month or so, but I am so happy with the result! 

Ive attached a recent picture too so you can compare to the other article. 

Hi Amanda 

regardless of type of surgery you will have (and they differ drastically in technique and time of recovery) you will need help at least through the first week.  It is highly unlikely and possibly detrimental to your recovery to be able to manage a 3 years old in those first days.  Most people have to stay in bed with foot elevated and get up only to the bathroom,  this would put your child at risk so my suggestion is:  you need your child in care or you need someone in the house.    There are significant risks of destroying the effects of surgery or prolonging recovery from few weeks to many months if you  do not follow medical advise.  

Talk to your specialist,  ask what he/she expects and follow it.    I know it often is easier said than done but the risk to both you and your child may really be not worth taking

oops,  pressed the button a moment too early

wishing you all the best

in a long run people recover and it seems that great majority are very happy with the results

ps general anesthetic these days is not that unpleasant as they have much better drugs (obviously it is not that much fun either)

all the best

Hi Amanda,

I agree with everyone. There are so many different experiences and techniques. What is a given however is the following if you want to reduce any possible pain and make the surgery successful:

* Elevate, elevate, elevate! You cannot do enough especially during the first 2 weeks and really, if you can as much as possible Up to about  the 6 week mark. 

* Do take your pain meds even if you don't feel you need them. It is important to keep ahead of the pain. If you don't then your body has to deal not only with the healing but the pain also which compromises the healing process.

* Do try and keep a positive mind set. Accept that you are going to be incapacitated and try not to stress about things you cannot do anything about. 

* Do follow your surgeons instructions to the T.

With a 3 year old to look after you are going to face challenges but definitely you will need to have help for the first week or so.  Do you have friends/ family who can help for the first 2 weeks?  The aneasthetic is a breeze these days; try not to worry too much about that. Finally, you won't regret it and will be do relieved to have it all behind you! I am just over 6 weeks post op and had both feet done using the minimally invasive technique. So happy with the results! Good luck Amanda you will be just fine! 😀

 

Had some anaesthetic in foot as well as general

felt great when came round so was moving round quite happily later in day

big mistake - had to go to A and E as kept bleeding - took 3 days for bleeding to stop

so do keep feet up for first few days as much as poss - friends and family r great when u ask for a bit of help - don't need to be there all the time

good luck

please,  please listen to your specialist,  it all depends on the type of surgery you are going to have.  In my case I was advised to keep my foot up for 6 weeks as much as possible and even today at 6 weeks mark and after the x-rays I was fitted with another post-op boot and was advised to keep it up and NOT move my toes which is contrary to what other people on this side have been advised.

I was told that it will take another 6 weeks to heal fully as they also broke several bones in my mid foot and they are taking time to heal.   It only shows that there are many different techniques of surgery and the recovery requirements also differ

All the best

Hi Amanda, I had my surgery 6 months ago and still have swelling on a daily  basis. I was on my own for 2 months as my husband works away and have no family here. I think it would be a pain having someone in the house day and night, but for  shopping and walking the 3 dogs, I found a local lady able to help. Walking on your heal with uneven feet can be hard on the back, but you do work though it, you just say to yourself " I made this choice so let's just get on with it" your three year old could be very helpful and a good time to get out story books and let them know you appreciate their help. There will be days when  this won't work so well, but that can happen without a sore foot too! Best of luck with your op, there is alway social media to let your friends know you may need help. I did that when I ran out of void etc and most are willing to help. They never know when they will need your help.

Hey, You will be fine afterwards, just keep your foot ice and with pillows under your foot, u will need them pain pills too!! I had mines done in August 6,2014, and I also had a 3 year old, buy if you can you need all the help the first couple of days, Rest your foot as much as possible!! Good luck,

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I'll definitely follow your advice as well as asking my surgeon/specialist about recovery etc.

I do have my partners help until Tuesday but then he's back in work, I do have the offer of help from family but they also work and have young kids themselves. I'm sure all will be fine with my little one, if anything I may "move back in" at home with my parents for a week, they'll bf thrilled haha!