Day 34 (I think)

The maddening stay at home time continues. Not much happens when you cannot go anywhere on your own.

For my birthday and our anniversary, we usually go to this fancy steakhouse. This year, I viewed it differently. It has two levels. Each level requires stairs. There is one small section on the second level that is set off from the rest of the place. We were seated there. Unfortunately, there is no restroom there and to access one, I would have to negotiate at least 15 stairs - up and down. Because of that, I only had one glass of wine and tried not to drink much water. I was pretty proud - three hours and I made it. For me, that's a record. Two glasses of wine would have been nice as it was awesome wine, but I really couldn't see myself negotiating those stairs.

Being bored out of my mind, I was going out to the garage to take the dogs out. Our garage is not attached, so I have to negotiate 5 stairs, three levels of a deck and a 75 foot sidewalk to get to it. It was rainy and I was careful to dry the crutches off when I got to the polished cement floor of the garage. Apparently, I didn't do it well enough because I was crutching in and the right crutch just went out on me. I fell, landing on my hip hard. I really don't know if I hit my foot or what. Today my wrist, back, hip and neck hurt, but I feel lucky to not have broken something else. The foot feels a bit different and the toes are a little more swollen than previously. I hope beyond hope I haven't messed up this foot.

This makes two times my crutches have slid quickly and unexpectedly out from under me. I did some research on that and basically have decided I need new crutch tips. Apparently they degrade fairly quickly and I have used them for two separate surgeries. I decided to order these very expensive, as in $75.00 including tax and shipping, supposedly non slip tips. If they prevent one more fall, they are totally worth it. The company did not have expedited shipping so it will be a week until they arrive. At this point, I am nervous to go out on the old crutch tips.

Handy hints - first, make sure any restaurants you go to don't have lots of stairs. Second, replace crutch tips regularly. Some people say every two months.

Day 26

The sun is out, the sky is blue and I sit here looking at it from the window. The dogs and I did get out and enjoy it for a while. I took them out seperately again. The bad dog went first, then the good one. In all, I probably went a mile on the knee scooter. That's the furthest so far. Both walks were interrupted by visiting with neighbors for a bit of time. It was nice to get out especially since the rest of the week is supposed to be rain. Ugh.

This whole getting out though brings me to the worst part of this foot surgery thing - the not gettting out most of the time. Not being able to drive, not being able to walk, it all takes a toll. There are days, like today, I just want to stay in bed. There is little reason to get up because I can't do much. I know depression is a battle for me when I can't stay active and busy. Having the outdoor knee scooter has helped a lot, but, really, I just want to pick up and go. Work, I don't miss. Freedom I do.

I mailed my request in for the Shuttle for transportation last week. Contemplating those 21 days before I hear back is not fun. I want it now and wish I had thought of this earlier - like 21 days before the surgery. At least then I'd have some freedom. So, if you are reading this and have an upcoming surgery of your right foot, set something up now so you can, once things start to heal, get out. As a kid, you have parents to meet those needs. As an adult, everyone is at work.

I ordered a knee walker a while ago, but it sat unused for quite some time. I had it partly put together, but then had some trouble with adjusting it and just kinda let it sit. My husband finally got it ready to try. I see how it could be good, but it is definitely harder to use than the many company videos I've seen. I messed around with it over the weekend but used my crutches at the same time. It is a learning curve! I think I will practice every day until I at least feel comfortable using it with a cane. That will give me a bit more freedom as well. I anticipate it will be most useful in the kitchen. The knee scooter works in there, but there is an awful lot of time wasted maneuvering around.

The foot feels good, but, of course, I am not bearing weight on it. Sometimes I feel the surgery spot. This is hard to explain. It is like I can feel,the break and the plate and screws holding things together. This makes me nervous because of the worry things won't heal and I will end up crippled. I mean, I have had 4 surgeries on this foot. How many chances does one get? Scary stuff.

Day 21

Aargh! It is so hard to have limited options as to what to do. If only I could drive! I get these wild moments when I think, "I'm just going to do it - get in the car and drive." Then I come to my senses. I just want to go to the gym and get in that pool, feel the weighlessness as I glide through the water, feel my arms strengthening and the blood rushing into my poor foot. As you can tell, I'm frustrated today.

Some friends own a 60 foot boat they keep moored in the Bahamas. We have a trip planned there over Spring Break. We live on the West Coast, mind you, so this is no small jaunt. The trip there requires three transfers. I hope I can do it. If the doc says I can't, I won't go, but it will kill me. I should just be about beginning weight bearing that week. If I call ahead and get wheel chairs to transport me, I can do the transfers. I just hope I will be able to walk on the beach and get on and off the boat to snorkel.

Now back to the almost present. Yesterday, my scooters flipped on me two times. The first one was the indoor scooter. I had some heavy laundry in the basket and was sitting on the scooter seat rearranging a closet shelf. The scooter brake was on. When I stood up, somehow I must have pushed the scooter forward. The brake being on coupled with the weighted basket sent it flipping forward. Thankfully, I grabbed the closet shelf and did not go over with it. The next near disaster was on the outdoor scooter. It is not at all stable on a slant and I know that. I was trying to get off a small narrow sidewalk to go across the lawn. The scooter was turned to the max and it suddenly fell off the sidewalk and flipped onto its side. There was nothing to grab onto. I started to go with it but managed to right myself and balance on my left leg. I righted the scooter and marvelled about not falling on my foot either time. The third time tends to be the bad one, but, fortunately, no third time came. I felt a little cursed and was careful the rest of the day.

The pain I feel these days is a little in the knee where the graft came from and a pretty localized place on the 5th metatarsal. The latter one has sent me to the pain pills a few times already this week. It is strange how the foot can be stressed even with no weight on it. When I overdo it in the house or yard, the foot hurts. Part of that seems to be from stretching to reach so many things. Somehow it puts pressure on the foot.

I have not heard back from my doc about a letter so I can get a shuttle to take me to the gym. He is only in the office Tuesday and Wednesday because he teaches the rest of the week. I keep looking in my e-mail for a reply, but none. I just need to get out of this house and get some exercise!

Day 17

The healing of this is much easier than my earlier foot reconstruction, but it is still so frustrating that I can't do anything. I am exercising. I do floor exercises and some "standing" exercises with my knee on the knee scooter. An exercise band helps a lot there. The All Terrain Knee Scooter lets me get outside. The dogs regularly get a short jaunt down the private road and I've taken them, one at a time so they don't pull me over,  down the public street a few times. Unfortunately, we have no sidewalks and it has also been raining a lot, so that keeps me from wanting to go too far from home.

What I really want to do is swim. I got the ok from one of my docs; I just can't get there! The process of getting a public shuttle service for handicapped people in lengthy enough that I am not sure it is worth it, but I am trying anyway. I need a note from my doc and a 5 page application. After that, it takes up to 21 days to ok it. I figure if I can even swim for two extra weeks, that is worth it. Swimming relaxes my whole body. I know it gets the blood going into my feet because afterwards, my feet feel so good. It's just what the Jones fracture needs - blood flow. I actually wear an old cast - a small that I got when I first broke the foot many years ago. It floats well and is pretty easy to swim in. It also reminds me not to kick off from the wall because I could just see myself getting in the groove of laps and accidentally using the bad foot.

I've been wearing compression socks under the cast. One day I didn't want to put them on over the foot as they are tight and I have to be careful not to hurt my foot. I used a normal sock. The next morning, my foot was way more swollen! I'd say it was a 4. My socks are not the ugly thin ones the doc gives you. I found a brand called Sockwell on Amazon. They are semi stylish, made of part wool, warm and not "old man" looking. So if you are looking for a good compression sock, I recommend them. I guess the only issues with them would be that the dot design ones are way too tight - something to do with the weave. Also, the large would not fit big feet. I wear an 8 and I think that is pretty much the limit of the size. Any larger feet would make the socks tight on the toes.

Helpful hint - get outside as much as you can. Be active, do stretches and simple exercises if pain and strength permits.

Pain  - .5, swelling - 2

Day 13

My two week check was today. They took the bandages off and cut out the stitches. The foot was more swollen than I thought it would be. My smaller toes looked like raisins poking out of a bread roll. According to the doctors, everything looked good and in four weeks, they will do x-rays. Then I know if any healing is going on. That really is the big question.

I asked my surgeon where we go if this breaks again because this type of fracture tends to do that. My original fix - the screw - was bent and my anatomy puts a lot of stress on the 5th metatarsal. He mentioned a reconstruction. I said I had already done that and asked what we could do to prevent a break. He mentioned the orthotic - can't remember what it is called - that has a hole to bring the big toe down and offloads some of the pressure. I have to say, the whole idea of this being a recurring thing scares the hell out of me.

The doc mentioned that the break was extremely big. I figure from a guy who does this all the time, that is impressive (or scary.) He also told me there was this strange green stuff inside the bone. They thought it had been a reaction to the screw, but sent it in to be analyzed and it came back as scar tissue. He said he has never seen anything like it. That makes me wonder how often these guys see something they've never seen before. I guess thinking of it like that helps me avoid thinking about the weird green stuff in my bone🤔

Anyway, my instructions are as follows:

1. Wear the boot

2. I can get my foot wet

3. Continue to weight bear on the heel, not the foot

4. Return in four weeks

5. If the incision doesn't open up in the shower, I can swim!!!!!! I silently sang " hallelujah."
     -The only problem with this is getting there. Everyone I know is working, and they really do not have time to chauffer me to the gym, then pick me up three hours later. My gym is kinda far away and a taxi would cost about $30.00. That's not bad once a week, but on a regular basis, that adds up. I am going to ask the doctors if I can drive with the cast on and check out bus service. Life would be so much better if I could swim!!!! It is my meditation, my therapist, my time for me.

Unfortunately, when we went up to the doctor, I forgot the I Walk to have it fitted. I was so excited for that, then, in the rush to get out of the house early this morning, left it here. I guess I need to watch the videos and do it myself.

No helpful hints today.

Day 10

Got up early and, since there wasn't a coat of ice on the deck, took the dogs out for a few. Our house is an old farmhouse. There is no way to get outside without walking on decks, stairs... that are often icy in winter. The garage is detached and is at least 150 feet from the house, so it's not like I can just crutch on into it and go out from there. That keeps me a prisoner early in the morning. Luckily, we also live in the Pacific Nortwest. That means not a lot of snow and most ice melts by 10 or so. The last few days have been sunny and clear, and it's been nice to get out - especially since I know rain will come soon.

I am gaining energy day by day. If I could walk, I could, with a lot of sitting and resting, do a half day of work - that would not include exercising or doing anything else. It would also mean I'd be beat the next day and would sleep most of the time. I'm getting used to the whole hobble on the crutches or scoot on the knee scooter thing and have been doing a bit more around the house. It is exhausting because the muscles used are NOT the ones normally used, and everything takes more time to do because you have to use the assistive aids to keep repositioning yourself. The husband certainly helps. He cooks - luckily he likes it - and helps a lot with the dogs.

Helpful hint of the day - if you have them and you have the room, position chairs in strategic locations to help with doing some chores. For example, the litterbox is upstairs. I have a chair next to it so I don't have to get on my hands and knees to clean it. At that station, I have disposable gloves to avoid cleaning the box and then grabbing the crutches with dirty hands, plastic bags for the scoops and an old vacuum cleaner to clean up afterwards. There is a bench by the dryer for sitting while folding laundry. These are all places the knee scooter cannot go because of stairs, otherwise, I'd just sit on it.

My cast has been getting wet inside from sweat. I had no idea my feet sweated that much! I'm trying to air things out when I sit in my recliner to keep things from getting smelly. I would like to rewrap the whole foot because, one, it is getting smelly and, two, they rewrapped the leg portion in the ER and did it way too loose. I have had to keep tightening that but have not wanted to undo the whole thing and do it right because I don't have the materials here. I found the cotton cast padding they used online, but it can only be ordered in a case of 12. Gauze is too rough and would rub the skin raw in places like the heel. So, I'll wait until the 12th when we go for the two week check.

Pain .5 in the foot, 1 to 2 on the knee graft; swelling 2.

Day 9

Things are looking up. My 1st outing on day 7 exhausted me and made my legs ache. My mom and I went grocery shopping and to lunch. I was wiped out that evening and pretty much spent the next day trying to recover. Then, today, mom and I went to Costco. My back didn't appreciate being out and ached as I wheeled the knee scooter thru the aisles. The knee graft spot wasn't real happy with me either. I came home and slept for 1 1/2 hours, but am fine now. The knees, legs, back don't hurt much. So, I handled the second outing much better than the first and that is good.

It has helped a lot to get out. For two of my three past surgeries, I pretty much was housebound. This time, I refuse to be a prisoner. Going places with my mom has been great. I also bought the All Terrain knee scooter for outside use and am able to get out a bit with the dogs.

Not that it's easy to get up and get motivated. It is so hard to not be able to walk. I am tending to stay up late with my husband and linger in bed (couch) in the morning. Usually a morning person, I have actually slept as late as 10.  Depression and lethargy are easy to fall into and that is a battle I fight every day. So I usually force myself to get up and once up and moving, things are good.

Continuing the list of helpful things. The rental knee scooter I use inside did not have a basket, so I bought one at Walmart. The only one they had was a quick release one. That feature is so handy! It really is quick release. I can take it off to work at the sink and not have to lean way over it. There are many times during the day I just take it off to do some fast chore, then plop it right back on. Just a little helpful thing in a time when so much is a pain in the butt.

Pain .5, swelling 2

Day 7

I had my first outing today. My mom took me grocery shopping and then we went to lunch. I thought it would be more exhausting, but I was fine when we were out. Now I just want to take a nap. I managed to handle loading the knee walker into the car without using my foot. That was interesting, but went well.

I also took the dogs out for about 20 minutes. We went down our private road, about 1/10 of a mile. The All Terrain knee walker worked well for that. I like the private road because there is no need for a leash. We have big dogs and using a leash could be dangerous. I might, later, take them one at a time out on the road, but there are no sidewalks and the idea scares me a bit because people are so distracted while driving. Even when I walk them with my own two feet, I assume no one can see me. At least then, I can step off the road. There are many places where I would not be able to "step" off while using a knee walker.

The pain meds are now down to one every 8 hours. I say that, but I need to remember I always take a prescription NSAID for back and arthritis pain, so the foot pain would probably be worse without the NSAID.

Off to nap.

Pain about .5, swelling 2

Day 6

Argh! I just wrote an update, the phone rang, my mouse moved, I lost the update even though it was saved!

To summarize, pain continued after day one. I went up to the max oxycodone dose - three. That helped, but I was still having major muscle pain in the leg - on the inside of my thigh to the groin and in the calf. The calf pain came when I put the leg down and felt like a surging, burning, cramping, rushing of blood through the calf. Having never experienced this before, I called the nurse and she promptly sent me the 30 miles back to the ER. After a four hour visit which included getting stuck in the bathroom in a wheelchair, I had a clean bill of health and went home.

I slowly took down the oxy dose and am trying one tablet every 6 hours today. So far, so good, but I am still very inactive.

Some things that have helped me include:
1. Two knee walkers
- the one in the house is the insurance rental. It has the hard wheels that make it not good for outdoors.
-my outdoor one has big inflatable wheels (I think it is called All Terrain) and it is great for running errands, taking the dogs out down the private road we live on... Not that I have done any of those since surgery, but I did use this extensively before surgery to get around and to work. My goal today is to get the dogs out once, the big obstacles at his point are the stairs I need to get down to get outside and the fact that it is pouring rain.
2. I set up my "bedroom" downstairs by the bathroom. It is a pain sleeping on the couch, but it would be more of a pain to have to get down our narrow, steep stairs whenever I have to go potty.
3. I made a ton of frozen soup beforehand so I would have healthy options to eat.
4. Daily exercise - most done on the floor. It's stuff I have been doing for years, but any that hurt the surgery spot have been taken out.
5. PT - they really did not give me any. I am doing leg lifts from my chair whenever I think of them.

I also ordered an I Walk 2 - it is like a peg leg that you attach to your leg and walk. Ratings on Amazon were mostly good. I also saw a man using one in Costco and he said it helped him a lot. He was in a lot better shape than me, but was also older so, we'll see.

Tomorrow my mom is taking me grocery shopping. Hope it goes well. I'll bring the All Terrain knee scooter!

Pain today 2, swelling 2