Monthly Progress Report for Stacey LB

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This record is for Stacey LB treated by a Podiatrist. The surgery was on 10-18-2005.
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First Entry: Date: 10/06/2005 . . . Pain Level: . . . Activity Level: . . . Satisfaction with surgery:

Date: 10/06/2005 . . . Pain Level: . . . Activity Level: . . . Satisfaction with surgery:
Hey there, I've been lurking awhile and reading about everyone elses experiences good and bad with PF. I have bipolar PF with a bonus of heel spurs but it is mainly the right foot that is symptomatic. I have suffered from this now for about 15 months- some days and some weeks are better than others. Over the last year, I have used anti-inflammatorys, tape and rest, 4 cortisone shots including 1 thru the bottom of my heel (a pain so intense that I wouldn't even wish it on my ex or his mother), Orthodics, expensive shoes, night splints, walking boots and PT, 5 weeks in a cast all to no avail. My job is one that would normally keep me on my feet 10 hrs a day but my manager has been very helpful in meeting my doctors orders of standing no more than 15 mins per hour. In fact, he has me do so much computer admin work that I hardly need to get up at all. The rest of my life has been placed on hold- I rarely leave the house on my days off and find excuses not to run the errands after work. I think I did all of my Christmas shopping online last year- there is no way I could even think of going to the mall! Three weeks ago I fell down the stairs, I thought I'd snapped my right ankle. I ended up in the ER and the Dr. the looked over the xrays said it wasn't broken but asked if I had issues with the heel spur. He stated that it was probably the reason I fell, saying that the foot is probably weaker and I probably favor it. No kidding.... Anyway I've finally surrendered- I am now scheduled for a Plantar Fascia Release and Heel Spur Removal on Oct. 18th. She says it will be an open procedure, full release- in fact she takes about an inch section out to keep it from reattaching and the spur removed as well. I do trust my Podiatrist, both she and the other pod in the office instruct at local colleges and universities and he has been the Pres. of the American Podiatric Society so why wouldn't I? The hard part is she doesn't really paint a very rosy picture of the recovery, she says that although she would say that all of her surgeries have been successful- that if you talked to the patients they would probably tell you they were not happy with it for well over a year. She says the other parts of your foot start to hurt in response and it can be some time before you feel completely better. I've read a lot on sites like this and see many complaints that reflect this. Anyway, as I go through the procedure and recovery I will try to continue to post (might need to have my computer moved upstairs) so I can share my experience with you. Let's hope we all find success and a pain free life again!

Date: 10/22/2005 . . . Pain Level: 3 . . . Activity Level: 1 . . . Satisfaction with surgery:
Hello all- this is my first day beyond the bed or couch... Surgery for Plantar Fascia release and heel spur removal was on the 18th and I've been pretty much out of it so far. The sugery was scheduled for 7:30 and took about an hour and 20 minutes. I was in the recovery room for about another hour and then sent to my own room where hubby could join me for the last hour. I could already feel the pain- mostly a dull ache as I was waking up and before their pain meds kicked in. Doctor said that my fascia was the thickest she'd ever seen- almost rope like. There is no doubt in her mind that this was the only chance for relief. I rode home in the back seat to keep my foot elevated, it doesn't take long for the throbbing to start if the foot is down. Straight to bed when I got home, not much appetite and not too much pain if I stayed on top of the meds and kept the foot up. She gave me both Vicodin and Percoset depending on my pain level and an anti-imflammitory too. I did have the foresight to fill these the day before surgery. Everything I take causes drowsiness- sometimes just waking up in time to take the next pill. I did itch the first day but then restarted my Allegra/Nasonex. I have no problems going potty either.
I have a plaster cast on which is open down the front and secured with an ace bandage to allow for swelling. I use an ice pack (at the back of the knee) every 1-3 hours for about 20 minutes and I am to try wiggling my toes to keep from forming blood clots. So far I guess it hasn't been as bad as I thought except the boredom level. Hubby stayed home from work the following day and waited on me and he continues to do so when he gets home. While he was at work the last 2 days I barely moved from the bed until yesterday afternoon. It's almost too much of a hassle on your own, the crutches, the pillows, meds, a beverage, cell phone, etc,.... most you can stuff in the pillow case
I have a follow up appointment on Tuesday but it's not to take out the stiches and I don't think the cast comes off yet... She is adimate that I am not to bear any weight on it for the first three weeks.

Date: 10/27/2005 . . . Pain Level: 3 . . . Activity Level: 1 . . . Satisfaction with surgery:
I had my 1st post op appointment on Tuesday the 25th. She took the cast off and we had new x-rays, there's a nicely rounded area where there used to be that spiked heel spur. She says the incision is looking good- I didn't really think so but as long as she does! It's about 3 1/2 inches with maybe 7 stitches in it. I went home in an ace wrap and a new boot with air pump (aka my Air Jordon Boot) but I am still not to put weight on it yet. The few times I've fumbled on the crutches really make me wonder how anyone could be sent home without crutches and a cast. I just about fell in the doctors X-ray room and was almost in tears after the foot came down to save me- thought I'd torn open the incision site it hurt so bad. Just a huge bruise on my arm where I hit the corner of their counter! I go back next Tuesday and I think she'll remove the stitches at that time. The pain is easing up overall- still go thru some bad times- my hands and arms hurt from the crutches, my lower back and hip from supporting me one legged and then there is the foot. I get a bone ache type pain from where the spur was removed and then a sort of muscle cramping in my foot and stabby sharp pain at the incision site also an overall throbbing especially if my foot is down too long.
The next few weeks are going to drag on forever...

Date: 11/09/2005 . . . Pain Level: 1 . . . Activity Level: 2 . . . Satisfaction with surgery:
As of yesterday, I am 3 weeks post op! Sorry I missed posting last week-
Last week the stiches were removed and was kept in the boot and on crutches for the week. My pain level was almost none- I haven't used any pain meds in about a week. Still not very active due to the crutches killing my arms, hands, shoulders, back....

This week I had another follow up with my Dr. She thinks the foot is looking great even if the front 1/2" of the incision is taking a little longer to heal. I thought I was going to get off of the crutches this week and I guess I am only a little slower than I had first thought. I can start to put about 25% of my weight on the foot as I walk with the crutches. In a few more days 50% and so on- I should be off them in about a week if I don't over do it. I think this is going to work fine as I have already cheated a bit using the toes to steady me at times. Then after the crutches are gone, I start to work out of the boot- wearing it one less hour a day. I can use the night splint in bed at night and she wants me to continue with that for now. She is still figuring 10-12 weeks off of work, I was figuring 6-8 weeks which would have meant I'd be almost half way there. Oh well....

I don't go back to the Dr. now for two weeks- hopefully I'll be able to drive myself by then!

Date: 11/14/2005 . . . Pain Level: 2 . . . Activity Level: 3 . . . Satisfaction with surgery:
Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since the surgery- I am still in the boot or the night splint. I was to be on the crutches until tomorrow slowly adding more and more weight to my foot as I used them. I started going without them yesterday though- two days early. I was the most active I have been since the surgery- we went to breakfast, the movie and grocery shopping (I used the electric cart). There is a little tenderness in the heel as I walk but it is different from the PF pain of pre-surgery. I thought I'd be in more pain last night than I was so I guess I didn't over-do-it as bad as I thought I had. Tomorrow I wear the boot 23 hours, 22 hours weds, 21 thurs, etc until I am out of it.
The incision area is looking great, the dead skin is soaking off and there is hardly any scar. It's still taking the front 1/2" a little longer to heal but it's catching up. I've been asked if the foot looks any different after the fascia is cut- lower arch etc. and I would have to say no, it looks the same to me!

Date: 03/16/2006 . . . Pain Level: 6 . . . Activity Level: 3 . . . Satisfaction with surgery: 4
5 MONTHS POST PLANTAR FASCIOTOMY AND BONE SPUR REDUCTION., TRYING TO GET BACK TO WORK AS A RN. UNABLE TO WALK 1 MILE TO WORK STATION ONE WAY AS WELL AS FO MANDATORY OVERTIMES X2 WEEK. THIS IS AN APPROVED WCOMP CASE. UNABLE TO MEET RN JOB EXPECTATIONS STANDING 20 MIN HURTS, WALKING 1/2 MILE REQUIRES STOPPING AND RESTING FOOT. PUSHING HARD NOW LEFT FOOT ACHING. ANY ONE HAD A SLOW RECOVERY WITH ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS OF RAYNAUDS? HELP IN CA NOT RECOVERING FAST ENOUGH
RN CHASNRNBOS