March 1st

2 more days and I have my 5 week check up. I am hoping that I will be able to start walking on my foot with crutches at least. The last couple of days I have myself very frustrated at the length of recovery. I have had several knee surgeries and more than a few abdominal surgeries, none of which left feeling this helpless.
Of course I was a damn site younger when that occurred, but still I am aggravated. I am sick of people having to drive me to and fro, I am sick of the simplest thing being difficult and I am sick of my ankle not working!

Ok so it is one of those days. I am sure tomorrow will be better.

Day 26

The doctor said no weight bearing untill my next visit on March 4th. I found that with my walking boot strapped on tight I have enough support with my crutches to get around a little and certainly not fast.

Tonight I left my scooter home when we went to dinner. I found that without the scooter people were not coming up to me asking what happened to me. I guess with crutches being more common people don't feel the need to ask, which is fine by me.

I got up the stairs again and took a shower pretty much on my own, with the exception of my kitten. Itsabitsa is was always close by as he has been since my surgery. He seems to sense things are not quite right. With the stool routine worked out I did ok. I would never do it when no one was close by, just in case.

It is great to feel human again!

Day 25 Post Op

After working a full week,, 2 day shifts and 3 evenings, I can tell you I am tired. I feel my whole body strength coming back, but there is a long way to go.
I had today off and I enjoyed the fact not having to get ready to go to work. It was a sense of relief when the 1PM get ready time came and I could lounge.

Tonight I insisted 2 things of my husband. Dinner out of this house and a shower.

We went to a Chinese place we like, it is low key and usually empty. I liked the thought of empty because that is less people looking at me on my scooter. Still the waiter had to ask in broken English what happened. I tried to explain on a level he would get, I said" ankle surgery" and left it at that. It is amazing how many people feel they have the right to know. I have never asked some on crutches or in a wheel chair why they needed them.

So anyway we got home from dinner and I rested a bit before I made my way up the 20 stairs to the shower.

I was feeling pretty good that day and decided to try to bear weight against my doctors advice. I made it up the stairs with my boot strapped tight and pulling my way up the railing. (the hubby thinks I crawled.

Once in the bathroom my husband placed a folding stool in the shower on a towel to prevent slipping . (we purchased the stool at Walmart for ten bucks, so I did not care if it lasts through showers). The stool was just the right height for me to sit back on to it while holding on to my husbands arms. From there I pulled my legs in and turned forward. We have one of those shower heads on a hose so he handed it to me and I adjusted the water temperature to my liking and showered away I really worked on my leg. The skin where the cast was is really dry and peeling and driving me nuts. My knee is forming a callus where I ride on my scooter so I worked hard on that. Thankfully I had received some body scrub from Bath and Body Works for Christmas and that came in extremely handy for getting rid of dead skin.

I felt so good after the shower, not the tired I had with the previous shower, so I know I am getting stronger day by day.

For those strong in the stomach I decided to post a picture of the incision site, mind you this is 25 days post op and there is still quite a bit of swelling going on.


As a post note, I would like to add I had my first experience the other day at Walmart as a person in a power scooter and rude people. I was turning into an isle and this woman just shoved her way in front of me, cutting me off. I stayed where I was at and heard her husband say something to her about me turning and she retorted with the excuse I was sitting down so it was no big deal and besides she could move faster so she should just have gotten ahead of me. I am not one much to let folks like that get the best of me, but that was a great lesson on being more aware of people with special needs. When this is all said and done, I will be sure to give the right of way, I think I always have but now I will pay even more attention.

Day 2 back to work, day 17 post op.

I have had enough of sponge baths and washing my hair in the sink. I thought hey my parents have a walk in shower, I will take a shower there! I was so excited! The thing I forgot was no matter which door I used, there were 4 steps up into my parents house. I was determined to take a shower though and I managed to get up those steps in my own fashion by crawling up on my knees. Once there I got up on my crutches and made my way to sit down in the chair for a bit. My sister put a chair in the shower on a towel so it would not slide and I got in there. I told her not to worry, I was probably going to be in there long enough to use all the hot water!

I worked hard at getting all the dead skin off the cast leg, it felt so good to have that hot water beating down on me.

I had to lie down a bit after the shower, it took all I had after a day at work to get in and out and it relaxed me so. Amazing how a shower can make you feel human again. Ahhh... the things we take for granted in life.

First day back to work

I did not sleep well the night before. Planning all the little things like what I would need to take with me, what time I needed to get up, what time we had to leave the house. The morning went pretty smooth, I got the animals all situated and we were out the door.
Pulling up to work I had some apprehension about wheeling in there on a scooter. I work at at a police department and those guys can be a tough crowd. I managed to get in the building without much notice. As the day went on I had to go give my work release to the boss and then the razzing started. I had folks asking me if they could take it for a ride, they said things like "do we have give you a driving test on that thing, or I'm going to give your scooter a parking ticket,or hey do we need stop lights for on coming trafic or why didn't you ring your bell, ect, ect,

I figured they would get used to and give it up if I did not react.

Going to the bathroom the first time was a little unnerving as I had a routine at home to hold on to things, but this was all new. I took my cell phone with me in case I ran into some problems. All went well, no falls, no getting stuck.

The real fun part was when it was time to go home. I had my elderly parents pick me up and they started calling at 10 till the hour, I said I would be out in a bit. They called again. I said I am finishing up my paper work I will be out.
When I got outside I found my Dad parked sideways across 2 handicap spots, IN FRONT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT! On the way home I gently said, "Dad, you can pull up straight into the spot, they are striped on one side so that would leave plenty off room if someone pulled next to you. He said he was not there that long and as long as he had to put that scooter in his trunk he would park any way he wanted and besides, you work there, so what it the problem?"

I was like ohhh lord help me, someone has taken over my parents and I don't know who they are anymore.

I was happy to get home and lay down, it was a long first day back to work and foot was swollen beyond comfortable.

Day 14 Post OP

Day 14 was a big one. I had my first follow up and I was to get my cast off. I had done some research on cast removal and found there was nothing to fear. What I did not mentally prepare for was the removal or the 20 staples running down the back of my ankle to the heel. Why? I just never went there. So they nurse starts to take them out and I turned my head away and held my breath during each removal. The nurse said "Are you breathing?" I was like yeah,, just get this over with! Then the doctor comes in to take a look see. He said it looked good and to wear the walking boot again. I said so I can walk with the crutches right? He said no! 3 more weeks of non-weight bearing. I as a bit disappointed. The good news, I could take a shower. He did have one ominous warning. He said in 3 weeks the "real" fun would start. I said physical therapy?
He shook his head yes and asked if I had enough pain medicine I said yes, but then started to wonder by the way he talked about the physical therapy if maybe I should be stock piling pain meds for when it starts.

So home it was, Shower time! What a mistake. I crawled up the stairs and got to the bathroom. I was determined to get in that shower. It became clear to me as I sat next to the tub there was no way for me to get in it. I was going to need help and a stool. I sat there and cried. I just wanted a simple shower, but there is nothing simple to a shower when you can't use one of your legs and you have no help.

I ended up washing my hair over the tub and scooting down the stairs, totally draining me of any remaining energy.

I called work and told them the doctor released me to come back the day after the next.
I was nervous about my return as all the plans I had made pre op about rides and times were shot out the window when we lost two employees while I was gone. I was now on evenings 3pm to 11pm.

The night before returning to work I had my husband get my uniform ready and I washed up and did my hair so the morning would go easier.

My first outing after surgery

On Day 10 I finally got to leave the house! I know most folks would relish ten days of doing nothing, but I could take no more. My son, my husband and I ventured out on a Saturday to have lunch. I did not care where as long as it was not at home. We ended up having Mexican food.
The big decision of the day was if I should take my scooter or my crutches. We decided on the Crutches. That was a bad choice. It has been non stop snowing here and my crutches slipped from under me going into the restaurant. I caught myself on the door and wall and managed to keep my foot up, but it was scary. I did not want to undo what ever the doctor had done!

We had a nice lunch and decided we would stop at Walmart and then a movie.

My son went to get me one of those electric scooters when we got to Walmart, however being a Saturday they only old clunky wheel chairs left. Gavin brought it out to the car, he is just a sweet 15 year old boy and he pushed his old Mom in the store. Once inside it took some adjustment as I felt all eyes were on me. I soon got over that and headed to the Valentine isle. I picked up a few cards and a birthday card. My son then wheeled me over to the pet section for food for the kitties. Good thing the wheelchair had a basket on the front. My cats can only have canned food as my oldest cat is diabetic and 24 of those cans are quite heavy. We then headed over to the craft isle so I could pick something up to help pass the time. A teach yourself to crochet kit caught my eye as it had a baby blanket on it, and well with a new granbaby what is a Grand mom to do?

It was then time to go to the movies. We stopped at the house to get the scooter as the AMC theater is quite large. I got some looks from folks as these scooters are not well known yet. From the front they look a lot like the scooters the kids ride around and I sure the double takes from the public were folks wondering what is the 40 year old woman doing on a scooter. But you know what, I put it out of my mind and get on with things. We enjoyed a good movie and headed home. I really did not want to go home, I was enjoying my day out of the house. So I talked my husband into stopping a Jewel. They had a power scooter! My son brought it out to the car and off I went. I really did not need anything at Jewel, but hey the scooter was fun and I was out of the house! I managed to cover the entire store and then some. I give the guys credit, they hate to shop but they were good to me and put up with my scoot about! I ended up with some Kellogs Special K protein drinks and bars and some apple juice. We then headed home and to bed.

2nd Day Post OP

Well by 10:00 A.M. the nerve block wore off. However I was not in the pain I expected.

I started the pain pills every 8 hours as directed but I felt it was over kill. I was feeling a little more human by now and sick of the crutches. I arranged for my daughter to get me a scooter to use. The doctor wrote the RX for it and the insurance covers the rental.

All and all an ok way to get around, got some crap by folks about getting a bell ect.... but I stood my ground by repeating it beats the hell out of crutches.

I used my new handy dandy cart to pull up to the kitchen sink and with the help of my kid, I washed my hair. Talk about feeling human again! That however was a job in and of its self.
I was beat by the time I was done and had to sit down. After a short rest I had my daughter bring my blow dryer out and I dried my hair. She made me lunch and I then dozed off in the lazy boy for my afternoon nap.

This is how the next few days played out. Eat,sleep, wash up, sleep, take meds, sleep.

The Day After Surgery (Jan 29th)

As pain goes I can not complain. The nerve block is in full effect at 24 hours post op. I kept looking for some sign of pain as I was told that I needed to start the pain meds before the pain got a good hold on me. I could not see taking pain medicine if I did not need it.
I actually had more pain from using the crutches than anything else. My back hurt between my should blades and my hands were sore.

Life the day after surgery revolved around dozing off and making trips to the bathroom, which were quite fun. I was weak and uncoordinated , my daughter was here to help me and was of great assistance with my clothing. Now that is a little hard to take, the daughter helping the Mom in the bathroom.

Some time around 30 hours post op I felt some twinge of not real pain on the inside of my ankle and so I took a pain pill just in case it was wearing off.

I slept real well this night due to the extra strength vicodin, but I don't think I "needed" it.

I slept in shifts around having to take meds, every 8 hours I had to take an antibiotic, and given the area of surgery not have great blood supply and being in a cast where things can fester I set my phone alarm to wake me up to take the meds, when I took the antibiotic I also took the anti inflammatory medicine prescribed.

Surgery Day Has Arrived

After making proper work arrangements, doing some grocery shopping for easy to make food, getting extra pet supplies, I thought I was ready. I had sent off for a temporary handicap parking placard about a month ago, I called to see where it was at. The lady said "Oh it just went out today". I thought yeah, cause I called. I was not too worried about it getting here right off as I knew I would be home for a while and my husband could drop me off and pick me up right a the door since I would not be driving for a while.

Surgery day was a Monday and the time was set for 1:00 P.M. I had it done at a surgicenter. The doctor said the benifits were that I would be able to get a nerve block to control the pain. The insurance benifits were that it would be covered at 100% versus 80.

I was supprised to find out I on ly needed to be there an hour early as there was no pre op testing before this day. They did it all there.

I was called in and taken to a holding room where I was to disrobe. To my pleasant surpise I was allowed to keep my undergarments on. The nurse then started an IV and put my cute hat over my hair.

The anestiologist came in and explained about the nerve block and how it is done. From there they wheeled me into to recovery as that is where they administer the block. The block consisted of a needle with an electrical current attached so the anesthiologist could make sure he was in the right place. The electrical current made my leg and foot have involuntary movements. I was getting pretty nervous at that point and they gave me something by IV to relax. It must have worked, as the next thing I remember is being in the surgical room, how I got there I do not know. They put a mask over my face and said breath deep. That is all I remember until I woke up.
I have had a number of surgies and always in recovery, before opening my eyes the very first thing the brain says is pain. This time was different. I remember the nurses saying to wake up and that all went well. For a minute or so I could not remember where I was at. Then I thought, hey they were suppose to do surgery, yet I don't feel a thing. I reached down to see what the heck and there was a cast on my leg. Then I remembered I had the nerve block. I thought hey this is cool and dozed back off to sleep. I woke up again and became concerned about time? I did not want to keep them there too long. I kept trying to sit up and look for a clock, but with no glasses that was futile. One of the nurses asked what was wrong and I told her I did not want to keep them, what was the time. It was only 3:30. Then I noticed my lip was sore and had a huge lump on it. I said to the nurse "I must have bitten my lip". She got me some ice for it, which was a welcome releif as my mouth was very dry.
When they deemed awake enough I was moved to a recovery room, I am not sure how I got from the bed to a wheel chair still, but I remember trying to get from the wheel chair to the lounger in the recovery. I sat there trying to stay awake. The nurse kept brining me popiscle sticks for my lip, yet no one ever said what happened to my lip.

Before I could leave and go home I had to be shown how to do crutches and a walker.
Then I was off to rest at home. We got about a block from home when my stomach decided riding side ways in the back seat along with anetsthia was not a good thing. I did not make it in the house before my stomach protested.

Getting in the house was an adventure. I was still out of it, weak and there was no way I could manuver getting up the two steps in the house. We ended up bringing out the rolling dinning room chair out and rolling to the door where I scooted up into a second chair into the house.

Once inside I made my way to the bed we had set up downstairs and laid down for the night.

The begining of the pain

For a couple of years I had pain on and off in my heel that was attributed to Planter's Fasciats.



I was given a steroid injection once, for plantar faciaitis that seemed to help.



The pain returned with a vengeance last September the day after I had done a day long photo shoot out doors wearing a new pair of shoes. The morning after that I went to step on my foot getting out of bed and I about fell to the ground. I thought ok, the plantar fasciatis was back with a vengence. I hobbled around for the next 2 weeks with no relief. I had an appointment at my Orthopedic doctor for my knee coming up so I waited to ask him about it.

The doctor prescribed a heel cup for inside the shoe and anti inflammatorys with a return visit in 6 weeks. At 6 weeks the pain was worse and the doctor prescribed a walking boot. I was to wear this thing for 4 weeks and check back. I wore the lovely Grey, hot boot for the 4 weeks to no avail. The pain was just as bad, if not worse. So now it is December and the doctor sends me for a MRI of the ankle. I returned to his office for the great news. The Achilles Tendon is degenerated and the bursa are inflamed. The answer: Surgery. Not what I wanted to hear.



I asked how soon I needed this and was told that would depend on me, how much pain I was in ect. Well with Christmas coming and the impending birth of my first Grandbaby I of course found plenty of reasons not to get it done. By mid January I was limping quite badly and unable to make it through a store without extreme pain. I said enough, it is not getting better. I called to schedule the appointment. The big day was January 26th,2008