Returning to Normalcy - NO MORE BOOT!

I started walking without my boot last week - a little over 2 months post-op.

It was scary at first and painful. I guess most of my discomfort was from not knowing what the new feelings were and whether or not it was normal.

But after about a week being out of my boot, I can finally say... I think my foot just might heal and be pain-free!

I'm not there yet, but I'm finally hopeful and can say with confidence that my foot is feeling more like a normal foot every day.

Thank you, Lord!

Right now, I don't have pain when I walk, but my foot does get tired after a while and feels achy. Also, there is still a lot of numbness and I am unable to fully curl my toes.

My current limitations: no running or even speed walking, no yoga. My exercise must either be riding a bike or swimming, which isn't the end of the world.

I can't wear "normal" shoes... I have to make sure they have great support. No flip flops and no heels for an eternity.

My next checkup is in a little over a month which will put me at almost four months post-op.

Until then, I'm going to enjoy my progress, take it easy, and keep thinking positive thoughts! Things are looking up!

2 Months Post-Op - From Desperation to Belief

After about two weeks of fighting my incisional infection with Keflex and two antibiotic shots, the infection went away! My skin is still really tender in that spot and seems purple. I think it is just new skin trying to grow. 

I have had many ups and downs lately. My foot still feels very strange and unfamiliar, and some days it hurts worse than it did before surgery. My doctor said the pain is normal and should subside in a few months. 

There have been pretty bad days where I feel upset, hopeless, and confused - wishing I had never gone through with the surgery. But there are other days, like today, when I feel hopeful that healing is happening, albeit very slowly, and I just have to take it one "step" at a time. Pun intended. 

Activity updates: At my last appointment (just before 2 months post-op), I was told to slowly transition out of my boot while wearing supportive shoes, but no "mall-walking." So I guess that means no speed walking, which is pretty much my M.O. I am taking it slow, and today is my very first day to wear tennis shoes! ON BOTH FEET! 

The pain of slipping into a tennis shoe this morning was very intense. It hurt to bend my foot to get it in. But once I got the shoe laced up, it felt better and I think I can handle walking around like this, at least for part of the day today. I will get back in my boot when (or if?) the pain sets back in. 

For now, my exercise must either be riding a bike or swimming. I actually swam for the first time since my surgery last week and I think it helped a lot! It felt amazing to do some sort of physical activity and it also seemed to give my foot a little more mobility.

 After 2-3 more months I can begin speed walking and possibly jogging, depending on how my follow-up appointment goes. No yoga for a while - too much pressure on my toe. This is a major bummer! I LOVE YOGA.

Lately the pain has felt like a dull throbbing achey-ness. Around the surgical site, there is still a little bit of a burning sensation where the new skin is growing. I also have pain that wraps around the inside of my foot.

There is still numbness on the top of my foot down through my big toe. My doctor said they probably wrapped one of my boots too tightly at the beginning of this whole ordeal and it did a little bit of nerve damage. Hopefully this will go away (it seems to get a teeny bit better every day, but I HATE this feeling. When I put my finger on my big toe, I can't feel it and it freaks me out).

Here are pictures of my foot today - 2 months after surgery. 

As odd as it sounds, I kind of hope the scar stays there. This has been such an ordeal (and will be such an accomplishment in the long run) that I want to remember it and how it has changed me.

It is still pretty swollen compared to the other foot (and off-colored...kind of purple-ish red).

I can curl my toes a lot more, but as you can see, there is still a long way to go!

Top view of my feet:

In summary, this has been a heck of a ride so far. The doctor's reports are good and seem favorable for a total recovery. I am setting my sights on that and choosing to stay as positive as I can be every day. 

Thanks for reading. If you are on this journey with me, take care of yourself and try to stay positive! We can do this!

10 Days Post Infection and...More Antibiotics

Well, I was so excited to be off of antibiotics, but after my checkup they put me back on more. They said there is still some infection there and that it takes a long time for the foot to heal because of the poor circulation. So, they prescribed more meds and gave me another (painful!) shot in my booty.

I think it is getting better slowly, but I really want to see my actual doctor. I'm going to try to get them to let me move my appointment up just to make sure everything is healing correctly. 

At the last appointment, they told me I would be in my black walking boot for at least two more weeks (this will put me at 8 1/2 weeks post-op) and then we would talk about moving into an orthotic type of shoe that I will wear on both feet. They are beautiful, let me tell you.

Can't WAIT to wear those puppies (insert sarcasm HERE).

Hopefully I will have an update SOON because I am calling tomorrow to see if I can push up my next appointment.