This record is for CindyF treated by a Orthopedic Surgeon. The surgery was on 07-26-2001.
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First Entry: Date: 08/04/2001 . . . Pain Level: 7 . . . Activity Level: 1 . . . Satisfaction with surgery: 7
I just found this site...so I will copy my post from another site...so you will know my progress since surgery...
July 29, 2001..
I had my surgery 3 days ago.
It went pretty well...but my Doctor had me stay over night.....but by the next morning...I was ready to get out of that place...
I came home with a very heavy casted splint....My Ortho stated I had a severe amout of scar tissue he removed from all areas of the foot...
My official Dx. on the operating sheet was.."Planter Fascitis and Anterior Tarsel Tunnel syndrome..
He said I have about a 4 inch incision on the inside ankle of left ankle...and a 4 inch incision just on the top of my left foot...down the center from my ankle toward my toes...
I am to keep it elevated all the time...
I notice if I let it down to go to the bathroom..it hurts some from the pressure...so I try my best to hurry...
I'm down to taking a painpill every 8 hours now....and yes...around the clock...
The swelling hasn't been too bad because I'm following orders and keeping it elevated...
I have to admit....I was really scared before the surgery....thinking I was going to be in all the severe pain....
But I noticed if you keep it up....and take some kind of routine pain pills...yhe pain isn;t really all that bad...
I'm fortunate to have my wonderful husband who helps me around the house....
Oh...I also have both a wheelchair (with left leg lift...which I have put a pillow on to help heep my foot comfy)and crutches....but with me being a large person....I find the wheelchair much easier to use in the house...
So...the best thing I can say at this point...is "so far so good"..
Will keep you informed of my progress...
Thanks guys...
Cindy
July 30, 2001..
Well..it's been 4 & 1/2 days now...and my main complaint is trying to sleep with this heavy cast on...*L*
I was having trouble keeping my casted foot on top of the pillows at night...then I remembered what my Ortho suggested.
Just a tip....place the pillows under the mattress and it will elevate the matress enough....and you won't have to worry about your foot constantly falling off a pillow....then I place another pillow between my feet...and I could turn or roll without any problems from the heavy cast.
The pain has been minimal...I have found that Motrin 800mg. does wonders...and I'm not drowsy from it.
I hope my recovery so far will show others that this surgery isn't such a painful thing as I have seen posted on here.
I know I still have the hardest part ahead of me....the removal of the cast and trying to walk.....but I am taking this recovery one day at a time...with the knowledge that one day I will be much better....*S*
Cindy
Aug. 2, 2001..
Well..today is Thursday....One week ago I went under the knife....
I thought I was doing so great....with minimal pain..
I could take only the Motrin 800mg about every 8 hours...and feel fine...
Now...I have so much pain in my heel and inner ankle area...I am taking the Pain pills prescribed...and at least every 4-6 hours.
I still have this heavy casted splint on....and it feels like the cast is rubbing the sutures and making my ankle raw.
I have constant burning in the entire heel area.
I called my Ortho this morning.....and guess what...he's out of town until Monday....now isn't that great news...
Oh...they told me I could go to the ER to have it checked...but why pay for an emergency room visit....just for them to tell me it's a normal thing...
Is this normal....for the burning feeling I feel??
It feels like my nerves in my heel have decided to wake up all of a sudden...with the burning and tingling...
I have really thought about unwrapping the cast and see what's going on...but I have noticed the foot is in a certain position...will it hurt anything if I take a peek??
I just want to see if the suture line is red and puffy or draining...
I have an appt with the Ortho set for Tuesday....but that is 5 days away...*sigh*
Please give advice...because at this point...I can't stand the cast even on my foot...let alone trying to get around on it with the crutches...
Ok...Thanks for listening to a grumpy post op patient who feels like SCREAMING!!
Cindy
Aug. 3, 2001...
OK..I did what I wasn't supposed to do...I unwrapped the cast splint...and found that the stitches were caught up in the dressing...causing it to hurt when I moved my foot..or the weight of the cast rubbed it...
After I got to the suture area....I noticed there was dried blood on the dressing...and as my husband was pulling it off...I noticed that stiteches were caught up on the dressing....well..He got it off...
And after the pain stopped from this...I place new sterile guaze over the area...an absorbant pad and kerlex I found in my first aid kit...and rewrapped the cast...just the same way it was....and the pain has been releived...
The awakening of the nerves is still there...but the really bad pain of the stitches pulling is gone...so I slept very well last night...
I have to admit....the suture line was really ugly...
I have 2 suture lines...the one on the inner aspect of the ankle...is approx. 4 inches long...kind of in an "L" shape...
The second is directly at the center between both ankles....on the top of the foot...and the base of the leg.....
It is approx 2-1/2 inches long....and actually looks good...no real pain from that area at all...
I guess I should have gone to the ER...but hey...I fixed the problem in a few minutes...at no charge...
My husband said the Dr. will know I removed it.....I told him yes he will...because I will tell him...*L*
I maintained the sterility of the area....I am a nurse after all..*L*
Cindy