Depression after surgery
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi,
I had a surgery in June to repair my toe that was damaged in an accident a few years ago. The procedure was similar to a hammertoe surgery where my toe was pinned for 4 weeks. After the surgery I got severely depressed but came around after a little bit. Now I had the pin removed yesterday and I'm feeling it again. Looking af my foot makes me want to cry. Realizing how much my strength has diminished in that foot and lower leg makes me want to cry, and feeling like it's never going to be back to normal. I think a big part is that I have so many questions and it's hard not really knowing what to expect. He has me off work for another 4 weeks and i dont know why but I feel guilty about that. If you felt like me, please tell me it's all normal and that I'll bounce back quick.
2 likes, 13 replies
martha010 julie80336
Posted
Hi Julie,
? i hate that you are depressed. i can't say that i'm really depressed ---i'm mostly bored to death but can't seem to busy myself to make time go more quickly. i feel like i should keep my foot elevated more than i do and most activities require sitting and doing something so i've been watching a lot of TV and that is depressing in itself. My surgeon is a man of few words and will answer my guestions but nothing extra. i have guestions too but maybe he doesn't know the answers since everyone reponds differently. Time will tell i guess. i'm still in the boot for another 7 days and i think getting out of it will make a big difference to me although i have no idea how i'm going to walk without it. i still have a lot of pain when out of the boot --- i think it's gotten better though and hopefully another week will help that too.
?i'm 63 and i've lost muscle tone big time and the incisions are not pretty that's for sure --- i wish i had been exercising more before my surgery now. the back of my calf feels small and weak and i've vowed to start exercising it and walking a lot when i'm OK --- then i worry i won't be able to walk a lot. i'm a retired R.N. so at least i don't have to return to work or feel guilty about staying home. maybe you feel like "it's just a toe" and that people at work don't understand why you would need off that long for it.
?I do think that your depression is normal and facing another month isn't easy. I hope you have someone in your life to help you. Don't know if you are on pain pills but they may be affecting you too and causing depression. Your strength will definately improve when you can move freely again --- getting the pin out is a good start. i would be happy to talk on the phone with you if i could figure out how to give you my phone number.
julie80336 martha010
Posted
My hubby took today off, so we had a nice long talk which helped. I think you're right about me feeling like its just a toe
...especially since a girl at work had her gallbladder out and was only off for 3 weeks. It seems much more serious! I wasn't even asleep for my surgery. I told my hubby this and he pointed out that you don't stand on your gallbladder, Hahaha. It's true though....I just need to be gentle on myself and stop feeling guilty for needing the time to recover.
I wish you a speedy recovery and I'm sure you'll be marathon walking in no time!
nancy0814 julie80336
Posted
Julie I know how you feel. Being cooped up at home is depressing to me too. I have been laying on the couch mostly for a week and still have two more to go. I did do a short walk outside and sit in the backyard. I miss swimming this summer the most. You will get your strength back that is the easy part. PT will give you exercises to do. I have been reading, watching series on cable starting at season one, and doing book work sitting in a chair. My surgeon told me nothing either. I did a lot of surfing on the net to figure out what's in the future. I had my finger fused two summers ago and my right hand was useless when I got the cast off. I went to PT and they taught me how to use my hand again and gave me manipulatives to strengthen my hand and I regained what was lost. You will get all your strength back don't worry. I think doctors don't say anything anymore for fear of law suits later on if promises aren't realized. Hang in there. It will get better for both of us!
julie80336 nancy0814
Posted
I feel a little better now. I swept the house and had a good talk with my hubby about how I'm feeling, and i feel a bit lighter now. I don't think surgeons understand the emotional side of having surgery, plus they are so busy, so I can't really blame them for that. I guess everyone responds differently so it's hard for them to tell you what to expect. I can see the light at the end of the recovery tunnel now, which is why this depression took me by surprise. I think I just underestimated what I had done and thought my foot would bounce back quicker. This surgery and recovery has almost been as hard as the original accident! I thought it being in the summer would help as i could at least enjoy the backyard, but I feel like I'm missing out on a lot. At least I can start with small walks now and today's goal is the community mailbox and back! I hope you feel better too!
martha010 julie80336
Posted
your husband is so right. feet are delicate and we put our entire body weight on them. we take them for granted when there are no problems. we are lucky to live in a time when we can have surgery and something done about our problems. i think about my grandmother who had rheumatoid arthritis so badly and was deformed by it. she lived to be 86 with no Advil, etc......
?i worked with a woman once that went back to work in just a few days after foot surgery. i asked her the other day how her foot was and she replied that the surgery didn't do a thing for her but that she didn't follow any instructions following surgery and that it probably didn't help.
? we should do some activities / get something accomplished and put a smile on our face. the next month will fly by. By christmas we'll look back and wish we were forced to sit on the couch with our feet up.
traceyp julie80336
Posted
jenny5309 julie80336
Posted
Hi my name is Jenny! In December, I fell in my kitchen. I ended up with a lisfranc fracture, breaking my 2,3,&4 metatarsals. And a fracture in my cuboid bone. Oh the pain. I feel helpless. Because of ins PA and so on I did not have my surgery until Feb 16th. I have been going through this for 4 months. I have cabin fever, depression, and I just want to get up and walk.... I want my foot back!!! I took have lost muscle in my calf on injured side, and my heel and foot pain is still there. I am an Medical Assistant and so I work in the medical field, but I have not been able to work, no weight bearing, and I am just feeling so down. I know it is healing, but it has been a long excruciating process. Anyone else feel depression, or that anxiety? I just don't know what will help.
rose71920 jenny5309
Posted
Hi Jenny,
I am 10 days out of a fusion on my first big toe. I am experiencing some depression and anxiety this time around. This is my 3rd surgery since last August on both feet. I am with everyone else, no one understands how one is feeling going through this.. its such a LONGGGG process of recovery. I don't care what specialist says what, they don't know. They give you this time line like it magically just goes away! LOL That is the biggest joke ever.
I thank god daily that I have my husband who makes me laugh *at him* most of the time! and my parents who are always there if I need an ear to yap at.
By far I have found this forum to be a good sounding board. Not that to many people respond but just typing it out, I feel like someone is listening or reading!
I hope by summer I will be in the pool and then back to work which I haven't done in forever!
Best of luck to you!
Rose
Beckster65 julie80336
Edited
Hi Julie, I was wondering how everything worked out for you? I too am suffering from brevis tendon surgery that I had in April and it’s the end of July and I can only handle 50% weight on the injured foot. I cry thinking I’m never going to walk right again. I’m improving at the slowest rate. This is the most depressing recovery. No independence, and a doctor who told me I’d be fine in a few weeks. I’m a strong independent person and now I’m dependent on everyone for so many things. I hope your better by now. Thanks I just needed to vent😊
julie80336 Beckster65
Edited
Hi,
Everything worked out pretty good! My depression lifted once I was able to get out on my own, even for short walks to the mailbox! It was a long road and one I wasn't entirely expecting, at least the emotional side anyhow. I did have some problems after my recovery with my hip and back that was caused by muscle imbalances from my time not being able to walk, and my surgeon kind of brushed it off. I gave it a month and then decided to go to physio on my own and it cleared up with a few weeks of stretching and muscle building exercises.
All in all it feels like a distant memory, and I'm spending this summer doing the things I couldn't last year to make up for it 😁.
Beckster65 julie80336
Posted
Oh that is wonderful! I’m glad all worked out for you!! I can’t wait until I can walk without pain. I’ll probably scream from the mountain tops!!!! Thanks for responding 😊😊😊😊
elizabeth73331 julie80336
Posted
I too had foot surgery 6 weeks ago and have been unable to put any pressure or use my foot in anyway. I had a partial excision bone left fibula plus repair collateral lateral both ligaments. Plantar calcaneal exostectomy plus fasciae to my radical, left foot. Gastro Equinus recession on left foot which was done New Years Even 2019. I was left with stiches across my left heel, left ankle and up my left leg. Once the stiches were removed the Orthopedic Doctor imediately put a cast on. I am thankful for this discussion as I have been going through some depression and anxiety myself and am wondering how things will be once they remove this cast and I am able to walk once again. I have had 3 shoulder surgeries and thought that was the worst but boy was I wrong as not having a foot makes you totally reliant on other people and totally stuck at home and unable to go an do things. With shoulder surgey the pain was brutal but I was at least able to do things and go places. The walls are really closing in on me here. Walking was my way of working things out mentally and helped me to feel good physically and not being able to do this is really having a major effect on my moods.
Beckster65 julie80336
Edited
Hi there 😃 I was depressed after surgery too, binge watching a good tv series helped and talking to friends or family on the phone, I couldn't walk without help for close to 6 months and it was awful, but there is light at the end of the tunnel I promise, try not to dwell. and if it starts gettting bad ask a doctor for some low dose anti depressants, I didn't need them but I came close and just started to think positive and try to be grateful that I had family and friends to help me out and i wasn't paralyzed, and I wouldn't be like this forever.. feel free to chat anytime