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Hello there

Posted , 29 users are following.

Jenny031951
Jenny031951

Been following this group for a few weeks now and decided to jump in. I had bunion surgery, hammertoe, plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel release, all on the right foot on Feb 26. Have done really well except for falling twice and putting a lot of pressure on my foot trying to keep from falling. I am approaching week three and actually have more pain now than I did at first. Sutures are out, thank goodness and I am still no-weight bearing. I see the surgeon Friday and will probably go into a post surgical boot. I keep thinking I should be further along but I have to consider I had four procedures on one little foot! I am 63 years old and it is not easy getting around. Hubby rented me a knee walker and that really has been a big help. Happy healing to all!

6 likes, 1672 replies

1672 Replies

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  • Jenny031951
    Jenny031951

    Posted

    Good afternoon all!  I am on week 10.  Can you believe that, week 10!  Yesterday I walked 1/2 mile without stopping. I came in and put my foot up and iced it immediately.  Was able to go grocery shopping with hubby last night and NOT use an electric scooter!  Wow.  Today however, I'm swollen and sore.  I have PT in a few minutes, I hate that my foot looks like this right now.  Oh well.  

    Joan, there is no way I would have been able to return to work at 8 weeks!  I would have a tough time doing it now.  Hope this works out for you and don't let them bully you into returning before you and the doctor say it's time.

    Bob, you have inspired me!  I am going to join the gym today while at PT. Now, just to make myself get out of the house and go!!  

    Eileen, I really think it is par for the course that when we have a good day we do as much as possible and then pay for it for the next day or two.  And I agree, the exercises help a lot!

    Hi Carmen, Mel, Patricia and Anita!  Looks like we are all coming along!

     

    • joannyV
      joannyV Jenny031951

      Posted

      Kim,  possibly it is just normal procedure for your work to call in Occ Health.  But you definately don't sound ready.  My friend said to me if you could not evacuate the building safely then your work can't  make you go back eg if there was a fire, health and safety issue.  

      I have a desk job, but could not sit at a desk for 8 hours, plus it is a half hour walk to my work from train station.  

      Jenny, I am going to write some things down so they don't try bully me, thanks.  The health and safety issue is a good one.  

      Maybe they just want to help me get back to work, but my doctor will make suggestions he thinks would be good.  I don't really get on with my line manager, sometimes I just need to hold my tongue and see what they have to say. 

      Rant over.  Feeling better now, pen and paper at the ready to list my aches and pains. 

    • kim1911
      kim1911 joannyV

      Posted

      Hi Joan, yes OH just assessing me because I said I'd go back to work before my certificate runs out (more fool me!) I don't think work would be too worried about me getting out in an emergency because it's a GP surgery so we're geared up to helping infirm old people with evacuation procedures.

      Did you have a scarf osteotomy? What aches and pains are you getting at the moment- you're a week ahead of me.

      I'm concerned at the moment because I'm getting so much low back now.It's stopping me from walking more than for about 10 minutes and even sitting is uncomforable. I will ask my consultant if I should have some physiotherapy to help me with my walking to try and stop limping which might help reduce the pain. I'm obviously all lopsided!

      Eileen- thanks, I'll have a look at the ''too soon to return to work'' replies.

    • joannyV
      joannyV kim1911

      Posted

      Kim, lower back pain for me too, comes from limping I think, I am making an effort to walk normally but it just is not happening  yet.  And good leg aches too, just muscles I think, as I am doing more walking.  My foot is burning and red tonight, I am icing first time for ages,  must have been the swimming today. But maybe need to push yourself a little to get results, always worry about doing damage but dont know if you would 
  • eileenf
    eileenf Jenny031951

    Posted

    Kim, Jenny- have a look at the replies on "Too soon to return to work". Lots of comments there. I think you are only safe at work when you can move about without too much pain.  I reckon I should have waited till 10 weeks. Good luck with the assessments and don't be bullied. Let us know how it went. 
    • joannyV
      joannyV eileenf

      Posted

      Going to look these up Eileen.  In case I need to refer to them 
  • bob19826
    bob19826 Jenny031951

    Posted

    WEEK 7 DAY 2

     Morning. 2nd day of PT yesterday. Honestly I think it's a waste of time. That's for me tho. I'm going to keep going. Went to the gym day 3 and did 10 times more what they do and get so much more out of it. Foot still swells quite a bit. Stationary bike is the answer now for cardio.

    Today will be a rough day. Funeral of a close friend, hit by car,then to gym, PT and go see mom. Mom is having tough week.so it makes everything else a bit harder mentally.

     Carmen - Good luck and keep working it in the gym. 

    Joan - Only suggestion at the gym is make sure you get there and everyone is different. I have my own routine I work. Careful you don't hurt yourself.

    Mel - Glad you had the screws out. Get off those pain meds ASAP

    Anita - The 5th week seemed the most frustrating for me. Keep moving forward . We don't want our progress to stop. Doing awesome Anitagirl.!!!biggrin

    eileenf - Sometimes ( all the time ) I have to work thru a bit of pain. Not injury tho. 

    JENNY - Good to hear you will be joining the gym. GET YOUR BUTT OVER THERE. No excuses.I'm with you, not liking the way my foot looks like, especially at night.

    Kim, Rena, Patricia - Hope all is well

    To all my bunion babes ( in a joking manor ) I pray for you all to have another positive recovery day and acknowledge the gift of our new feet we are blessed with. 

    Have a great day!!!

     

    • eileenf
      eileenf bob19826

      Posted

      Haven't been a babe in quite a while Bob-thank you! In celebration I painted my toenails in "Wine shimer"-very sparkly!
  • Anita2014_MARCH_28_Lapidus_right_foot
    Anita2014_MARCH_28_Lapidus_right_foot Jenny031951

    Posted

    WEEK 6 !!!!  WOO HOO

    Before I started this, I was told non-weight bearing for 6 weeks.  Here is what I thought. Week 6 will come, I can walk, get on the treadmill, drive and life returns to normal like nothing happened expect the bunion is gone.  WRONG. THis is a long process. I dont see my surgeon till end of the month, no driving, learn how to walk and use DA BOOT while wallking, grrrrrrrrrrrrrr  I thought this would be all over with.  I guess they dont want to tell you everything before you go in. Life sure is different and its takes a long while to get through this.

    On a good note, I am walking more and more around the house.  Got my timer on my IPAD and doing my excercises.  WOW, one minute sure is a long time when your doing ankle circles et.  Thats ok, I want to get through this and move forward. It really is hard to excercise while company is over for a visit but I try the best I can.

    Bob, so sorry to hear about your friend. Way to go on heading to the gym again. I am sure you missed it.  Take care of your Mom. Sounds like a very busy day for you today.  Remember "you" and your foot.

    Mel, hope things are going well with you being 'unscrewed' and the pain wasnt too bad last night.

    Carmen, Joan and Jenny, Eileen way to go on working it again. So looking forward to that.  I need to get rid of some of this smypathy weight.

    Kim, Rena, Patricia, hope things are well with you.

    Its FRIDAY, another week done. Enjoy the weekend with your loved ones (Moms and all the Moms here too). Happy Mothers Day on Sunday!!

    Bunion Babe Anita

  • Ram2645
    Ram2645 Jenny031951

    Posted

    WEEK 6 DAY 2

    Hi there all!  It's been 2 or 3 days (too busy on FB...hard to keep up with all this communication!! LOL) since I've posted but all is well.  This week 6 is really a break through for me.  Am in sneakers or sandals when I am out and on Wednesday did a big supermarket run walking/slightly limping continuously for an hour in the store.  In total was unelevated for about 2.5 hours and definitely needed ice and elevation after that.  My discomfort is the swollen 2nd toe and the ball of my foot so my toe to heel walk is not 100% complete. Yesterday found I needed to cool it at home elevated most of the time before going out for dinner for 3 hours. (Super Thai food and decadent ice cream after...)  Was able to be elevated in the restaurant. I discovered an important thing last night.  I tried on a pair of Orthaheel sandals I have which have a built in orthotic.  I need orthotics because of my pronation.  It immediately took alot of pressure off the ball of my foot. Now I need to get used to wearing orthotic support again after not doing so for so long!  Today will be busy.  Making a quick supermarket run for some ingredients, cooking and baking this afternoon and then out to a birthday dinner (not mine) at family.

    Anita.....sounds as though you are doing great.  Keep it up girl !!  You are not to far away from kicking that boot to kingdom come !! smile

    Bob....so sorry to hear about your good friend...tough.  Thinking of you today.

    Mel....you're awfully quiet today.  Hope your not in too much discomfort.

    Joan, Jenny et al who are ahead of us....love your posts and look to you gals for information and encouragement.  You are truly paving the way for us !  Thank you.

    Patricia....you also seem quiet today.  Everything ok?

    Carmen....I can only marvel at how well you are doing.  WTG girl!

    Have a great day and a wonderful weekend all ! smile

     

  • joannyV
    joannyV Jenny031951

    Posted

    Rena, great to reach week 6, its all downhill now, though you might have a few sore days because it is easy to overdo it when you are feeling great, limping definately makes your back and your good leg a bit sore.  Your shoes are very important, I cant believe how much, I am so much more comfortable with the anti shock soles and nice soft leather insides.  sounds like you are going to have a great day today. 

    Bob so sorry for your loss, life is so precious,enjoy every day.   Im going to get some advice from the gym instructor about what I can/cant do, sounds like the bike is good for us, so bike and swimming and maybe some weights, that will do me fornow.

    Anita, you will find an improvement every day, before you know it it will be week 8.  I don't even fancy driving yet,  maybe next week, I am pleased enough that I can get out to bus/train stop now, but then I am lucky where I live that we have excellent transport links to anywhere around. 

    Hello to everyone else too.

     

  • joannyV
    joannyV Jenny031951

    Posted

    On to my work assessment now - Thank you Eileenf for sending me to the link Too Soon - I found it very interesting.   My line manager and another manager from my team came to my house, aftersome chit chat I showed my foot, and talked about the healing process and the actual procedure and how every day I was a little better but still sore and foot still swelling after a while, said I was doing a little walking, and trying exercise out in the swimming pool.

    My manager asked what date my line was up (although she know this obviously) I mentioned 21st May but that I would expect that it would be extended at least a week, as I only had to contact the doctor by telephone, she said can I not phone the doctor up and ask to get an appointment so they can assess me, I have replied that the doctor requested that I just telephone to renew my sicknote, and probably will assess me the next time, that this was probably the standard time that someone with thistype of operation would be off work. Well she wasn't pleased about that.  I also asked how would it be possible for me to get into work if a cannot drive and the train/bus station is too far for me to walk from.  She replied that HR dept would need to sort that out and I said the doctor probably would not agree to me going back to work until I was able to get to/from work safely.  So not a pleased manager - who then discussed someone that came to work while still on crutches after breaking their leg. 

    When I told my friend all this she thoughtI should go to HR and tell them that I was getting bullied to agree to go back to work, and this was harrasment and making me feel like I am lying about my circumstances. 

    Because I was on holiday abroad I wouldn't go to HR though just in case they find out as I am not sure about how that goes while you are off sick. 

    So the outcome will be I will tell my Doctor all this that they are harrasing me, just to let her know.  And I willl also take as much time off as I possibly can

    • eileenf
      eileenf joannyV

      Posted

      Poor you. Please don't be pressured into going back before you're ready- they very quickly forget that you need to be careful of your feet. Sounds like a bit of a difficult day. Don't give in to them.
    • kim1911
      kim1911 joannyV

      Posted

      I think you can go on holiday when your off sick if it was already booked before sick leave. Even if it wasn't you could argue that it helped with your recovery (warmth, swimming etc) .
    • joannyV
      joannyV kim1911

      Posted

      Thanks Kim, it's such a grey area, but they never asked if I had been away, though I was supporting a nice suntan.  I was actually only away for 2 working days.  

      Next week - week 8 is good, you are nearly there and yes I had scarf osteo thingy 

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