Last minute fears - 6 days away from surgery

Thank you, Gilly. Yesterday I did not come on here, because there was not all good news and I sort of isolated myself  I am having a scarf bunionectomy and the doctor told me about the pain, the possible ways things could go wrong (legally I guess he has to), but that it was a small chance...No weight bearing for two weeks and some kind of cream against nerve pain I start Wed. Saturday is surgery - he said I did not need crutches, but should get around at home on my knee walker...sometime after 2 weeks, then I could use a walker...When he brought up all the risks, I had a moment of thinking to back out, but I did not.  I'm thinking maybe I should not talk much about it until afterwards, because I'm getting more anxious now.  Even driving around, I have to be really careful....I am distracted and kind of irritable...BUT I'm hoping my final 4 days will be better.  I have a "pass" to send in for 6 months use of a handicapped sticker.  sorry to be a bit of a "downer".

I had my appointment and I too am going through a phase of 'what am I doing?  I can still walk!'  I know I am not you and I can empathise regarding these doubts.  He was happy to answer my questions and on the top was general or local anesthetic?  He said what would you like and I said general - no problem I can have this.

So Susan I have the name of the operation he is going to do and it will be three toes and mine is severe.  Hence last minute doubts. 

Mine is still should I be using a podiatric surgeon or a orthopedic surgeon with an interest in ankle and foot surgery.

So will leave off now and hopefully the initial shock of the consultaion will wear off for you and you can get back to planning.  Oh! One question I asked if I leave this will it get any worse and he said 100% - I thought really I thought it looked as bad as it could get now!

Take care. x

Oh Susan, I feel for you. Thinking back to how I felt before op I can remember making myself busy.  In the last few days I cleaned the house from top to bottom, did a really huge stock-up food buy, gathered everything together that I would need and put them in arms reach.  I even started a sewing project to give me an incentive to carry on after.  By the time the day came I was fully ready for the op, and in the meantime I had kept my mind busy so as not to worry.  

I think most positive people are successful because they can see themselves in the next step of their life.  So concentrate on how you are going to recover and keep busy in these last few days.

I hope these words help.

Gilly, thank you for your heartfelt reply.  Doubts, fears, anxiety - I have them all for my surgery, BUT I have a GUARDIAN ANGEL, who has been advising me about my severe foot problem for the last 10 years. The head podiatrist of the entire foot and ankle institute is a dear friend, a concert level violinist, someone I have known for 33 years; I used to teach her children piano lessons; she made sure my left arm ulnar nerve decompression done in 2007 turned out perfectly and it did and my left hand for the piano is stronger than it ever was - at that time, she picked one of the best neurosurgeons in the country. It sounds corny but I trust her with my LIFE, and she has 100% faith and trust in this surgeon- she handpicked him for me...I have tried every conceivable conservative treatment, short of surgery, and they did not stop the progression to the arthritic foot, etc. I now have...in my family, I have MANY brave members who faced challenges and overcame them...I'm following that tradition...This is just me mustering up the courage to go ahead and focus on the positives and not the negative...Gilly, I believe it will work out for you; in my case, I have no choice, so choose to think positive from this point on...

Barbara, I'm going to heed your advice and spend these last 4 days, doing everything I can from my to do list - and you all have helped me put that list together...As a musician, I have discipline, persistence, and can handle delayed gratification.  I will concentrate on how to recover and keep busy...Thank you so much.

Susan, I am pleased to hear you are going to get into the right frame of mind for your op.  But now you may be able to help me, I've  just read your message to Gilly.  You say you had an op for the left arm ulnar nerve decompression.  I have been search online for forums regarding this condition without success, for it is my husband who has this.

about a year ago he began with numbness and tingling in his arm and fingers, the doctor diagnosed a trapped tunnelled nerve.  He tried physio but it has gradually become worse.  Within 6 months he lost the movement in his 5th finger, his 4th is curling over and he has muscle damage in his hand.  At last the operation been arranged, our NHS have long waiting lists.  But he has been told that there is a danger he may lose the function of his arm, there may be nerve damage etc.  He wants to curb the claw hand that is progressing but doesn't want to lose his arm/hand which is functioning just ok.

Could you please  let me know what yiu think if the op, he is having the elbow shaved I think, which should release the nerve.  Was it painful, how long did it take to recover.  You were obviously pleased with it has you can still play the piano, perhaps yours had not progressed?  I know this isn't the right forum to talk about this, but I can't find one.

He needs to do something NOW - I would keep searching for a neurosurgeon; mine had only gone to numb 4th and 5th fingers; my "guardian angel" had the exact same surgery as me at John Hopkins and her violin playing improved; otherwise, I would have not had the courage...She wanted me to go to John Hopkins, actually, but I stayed in my state...IMO, you need to get your primary doctor on board and do something ASAP.  there is a danger in waiting too long, but I think he has time - I would be on this today, if I were you.  

We have waited for this surgery and now it is finally arranged for an orthpaadic surgeon to do the op on 30 April.  We saw him in January and it has taken this long for him to get to the top of the waiting list.

he has doubts about having it done though.  Did it take long to recover?

So your 4 and 5th finger were numb and out of use?  This is where he is, did it reverse, I guess it must have or you wouldn't be piano playing.  Really hope it works for him.

Barbara, right now I need to concentrate on my FOOT surgery in 4 days.  SO just a couple of sentences from me: re: my elbow: my surgery for the ulnar nerve took 1.5 hours and consisted of the doctor removing scar tissue pressing against the nerve - he did no shaving of the elbow and he moved an artery.  It worked and that's all I can say about it now - not meaning to be rude; I hope you understand

I'm sorry that I am a little "testy"...I can't tell you any more about that surgery other than that it was successful and called an "ulnar nerve decompression" - maybe I should not have mentioned it at all in this forum; I am anxious about Sat. ...sorry.

Hi Susan. No problems and no rudeness on your part.  I haven't answered before as I've been sitting in my garden soaking up our sudden warm weather. My garden here in UK is bouncing back to life with all the spring flowers and it was lovely just to sit in it reading, took my mind of my foot.

I apologise for asking you about the op, but thank you for your reply.  It is good to know that you had a really positive experience.  I wish you well for your next op, and I am sure that things will go as well for you.  Kind regards.  And keep posted.

okay, good, Barbara...something crossed my mind about your husband - he may have a bone spur on the elbow that needs shaved if it is pressing on the nerve...SO it is an example of what is your husband's problem is not what mine was - I'm sure it will be fixed for him ...and I'm glad it is soon...

Thanks ;-)