upcoming foot surgery on 3/28

Hi Karen! I had my right foot done Feb 20th. I’ve had it done before on left foot years ago. I hear you on only having one pair of shoes to wear. For years I could only wear slip ons like Toms. I’m really hoping that changes after all of this! 

i had a knee scooter all three times and it was super for me. I can’t do crutches. For going to the bathroom it’s really hard the first few days. I have a very small bathroom, and I scoot in, pivot around and it takes some arm strength, which I don’t have a lot of! to lower yourself down. Someone mentioned one of those things you use to urniate standing up, and I laughed at the time... but I’m thinking they may have had a good idea!! 

For sure get a shower chair. Then I wash my face, hair, brush my teeth even the first few days right in the shower. I also have a foot bag that I got on Amazon to cover my foot and it doesn’t get wet. I could get mine wet after my post op visit and had the stitches out. 

Make sure you lock the brakes on your scooter when you are using it to kneel on, like when you brush teeth, hair, makeup. Trust me! at first a also sat in the shower chair after showering and just pivoted it sideways so I could see my mirror to blow dry hair. That takes a LOT out of me, so I dont do that often yet! even things like putting your deodorant, makeup, etc in a basket so you can just sit somewhere and do them will help.

i also used an ice machine this time, and that thing is a life saver!!! I also have always slept on my left side for digestion issues, but have found that I can’t this time. I’m thinking you may be ok adjusting pillows between your legs and I also use a wedge pillow to raise my foot. I just got used to the cast being on after awhile  ( first two surgeries on my left years ago) this time no cast, but I wear the shoe to bed. The first few days after my nerve block wore off were the worst for me, And I still struggle (like today) when I do too much. I went back to work yesterday and worked the whole day. Huge mistake. Hopefully you get some time off of work. 

I have been reading some of these posts the last week when I can’t sleep at night. It really does help to talk to others who know how we are feeling and trying to cope. 

I have see people with a scooter that has a seat on it and they put there bad leg resting on the seat and scoot around check it out.put a chair near your vanity kneel on it and wash your hair, I take it you don’t have a bath, as I used bath with bad leg hanging out.Hope this has helped and good luck I’m in Australia 

Outdoor steerable knee walkers