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| | From:  PeanutHere2 (Original Message) | Sent: 10/8/2008 8:25 AM |
Well my friends, I had surgery on my foot, and this week the pins came out! It's been a long time not only waiting for this to happen but a long time recovering as well. Ok, so 6 weeks, but hey I haven't taken a darn shower in that long so you all must know how I feel that! ROFL I did take my 4 hour shower the other day, boy did that feel good. Anyhow, I got my toes all straighten out now. Looks good. They worked on my big toe as well, had a bunion on it and an extra bone I didn't need, so he took that out. The only thing, I can't move my big toe and I really hope it falls down a bit cause it is sticking up and that will make it hard to wear shoes! I don't know about the other toes, I can't move them yet but hopefully will. I couldn't move them before so not moving them now doesn't surprise me, I am going with the flow here. All I wanted was my toes to be straight, he did it, I am happy. Beggers can't be choosers! Sorry I haven't written much, but know I do read the messages sometimes when the ole brain wants to work...lol Believe me, I am taking a chance writing here but wanted to tell you I am doing fine and things are slowly working for me. I have made so many writing mistakes already here...lol not sure I want to correct them anymore! I still have a relationship with my new found brother... and he has sent me pics of my dad, my other brother, and his family as well. and yes I copied them and now need to get frames for them! I found out a lot of info through Scott, some interesting, some got me pretty dam mad but that is life and it doesn't matter what my mood is, Life just keeps on going on. But I am pleased a punch to know and have a releationship with someone that is just as special as me. Should have said just as specail as the next person...oh well...LOL And someone who has his foot in Gods door to boot! I am not methodist but he doesn't seem picky about that....lol (he is a minister by the way) So, that has been my life so far. Went to my reg. dr to see if he would change some meds for me, I am in that doughnut hole thingy and have to pay full price for my meds until january. There are two that he can't change, and they are the most expensive ones,over 200. each! And I don't qualify for help either yet I have no money? Such is life.... Hope you all have a low/no pain day today and the rest of the week!!! Hugs Angel |
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| | | From: CyndyK2 | Sent: 10/8/2008 4:34 PM |
Ooh, that first shower after a surgery is such bliss, isn't it? : ) You get to feeling like you'll never feel clean again, and then you're finally allowed to take a shower and it's such a wonderful feeling of clean all over! The worst for me was when I was in the hospital for almost a month and wasn't allowed to take a shower until just before I went home. I think I stayed in there for an hour. I felt like I lost a couple pounds of crud. LOL Glad you got the pins out; just being able to look at pin-free toes has to be a psychological boost. Wear soft, loose shoes for a while; toes are fairly flexible and the shoe will keep 'em in line. Good to know you like your new brother, too; could be worse -- could be Jimmy Swaggart! HAHAHA!
Cyndy
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| | | From: Jen, PT | Sent: 10/8/2008 5:21 PM |
Glad you got those pins taken out! I have seen more than my fair share of people after their bunionectomies when I did my outpatient physical therapy rotation....I hate feet, but my supervisor hated them more so she always gave them to me, for good practice! LOL The general routine for them is a 30 minute treatment, beginning with a 5-6 minute ultrasound at 0.8 w/cm squared, at 3MHz. Then, I will go through about 15 minutes worth of metatarsal and great toe mobilizations (gotta loosen up that toe!). These can be taught for the patient to do by themselves at home. By the way, you need a minimum of 60 degrees great toe extension (up towards the ceiling) to be able to walk normally. I'm not sure why, but every single person always worries about it sticking up....so, unless you pick up marbles with your toes for a living, I really wouldn't worry about it not curling down  . The flexion will come over time...we don't even measure that in the clinic, because it is simply not important for everyday mobility. OK, then we go into some patient education blah blah blah, then have them do some of their own stretches for their toes; and then they sit with ice on their elevated foot while I move on to the next patient. The main problem with the toes not moving is that it sneaks its way through the whole body, and then the ankle, the knees, the hips, and then finally the back start moving in ways that they weren't meant for....just to compensate for stuck toes! I know money is tight, but going to a PT for just one visit so they can teach you how to mobilize your toes and foot might be worth the investment. I'll leave that decision up to you! Good luck! |
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Jen, for me it wouldn't do me much good, I haven't been able to move my toes or ankle since 2004. I broke my ankle and it healed that way and I also have dropped foot (whatever that means) So I am not overly concerned about not moving my toes. The dr already told me I may not and that was before the surgery. I was just kinda hoping I would, but no big deal. And Cindi, LOL you are right it could have been that idiot or better yet a serial killer!! ROFL Hugs Angel |
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| | | From: Jen, PT | Sent: 10/8/2008 9:21 PM |
Drop foot is when you have weakness or paralysis of a muscle called anterior tibialis. The muscles is in the front of your lower leg, and its job is to dorsiflex the ankle (bringing the ankle and toes towards your head). It means that when you walk you can't always clear your toes from the ground, and your toes might catch and cause you to trip and fall. There is a brace out there called an ankle foot orthosis, or AFO, which is made of plastic, cups the bottom of the foot and then comes up the back of the calf with a strap just below the knee. They have many variations on this, including something as discrete as attaching to the shoelaces and wrapping around the ankle. Sure its one more thing to buy and wear, but its a whole lot better than falling! I've got to go to the dentist now (yuck!), but I'll try to find you some pictures of it when I come back :) |
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Thanks Jen.... I saw the first one, the price is not bad! I wasn't able to see the second one, said I wasn't allowed to? But I am thinking it like the one I had made for me about 4 months ago, It goes all the way up to my knee, made of plastic. They have tried to fix it many times but I don't wear it now, it is very uncomfortable for me. But now that my foot is fixed I may go back to it and see if it works. It also rubs against my heal which is not good for me as I have something wrong with it, it burns awful, even when I am laying down on the bed. The only way for me to lay is for me to have my leg hanging over but that isn't good either...lol One wouldn't think a foot or heel could be so much trouble!! I may check into that first link you sent me though, see if that will help me. Thanks so much for sending! It's a shame that when I broke my hip they didn't ask or take xrays to see if I broke anything else. I broke my ankle as well and it just healed that way, now I have arthritist big time in there but the dr is afraid to fuse it, and I was hoping he would change his mind doing my toes, I healed very well. Guess not! He is afraid of infection and worried I may lose my leg...sighs... Angel |
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| | | From: Jen, PT | Sent: 10/9/2008 4:54 PM |
| http://www.jansenmedical.net/a.f.o.-drop-foot-brace-with-velcro-strap.html Sorry that link didn't open for you, try this one above. It sounds exactly like the one you had made 4 months ago. Are you still in contact with the orthotist? Maybe you could give them a call and see if they can make some adjustments to make it more comfortable! Trying to do it yourself may make it worse if you aren't quite sure what you are doing. Orthotists are really the ones that should be adjusting these products. |
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