9 weeks post-op x-ray & Dr. visit

[Donna]

I saw my Dr. today and had my 9 week post-op visit and x-ray. The Dr.
said my fusion looks "solid" and I can now put 50 lbs. of weight on my
leg. He said to continue going to physical therapy, continue to wear
the boot and I will see you back in 1 month. The Dr. says maybe during
the course of the month if I do not have pain I can increase weight to
75 lbs.
I feel pretty good about the visit, but just a little bummed that I
will be essentially non-walking for another month making it about 13
weeks in a wheelchair or walker The Dr. says he does not want to rush
things. I agree, I would rather be safe than sorry. I've made it this
far..

Happy Holidays everyone!

Donna

[Tom Frey]

Donna,
When I had my fusion (12 weeks ago today), I thought that I would be
in a non weight bearing cast for 8 weeks- not so, since my doc likes
to play conservative also. As much as I hate this cast, I would rather
be safe than sorry. At nine weeks he told me that all looked great,
but If he took the cast off, the potential to get hurt was greater,
and the time to heal would take longer. So I stayed in a cast- it
finally comes off tomorrow and I hope to take my first step- it will
probably be assisted by my crutches, but it will be a step !

Hang in there,

Tom

[shado...@sbcglobal.net]

You're smart Donna!  It sounds like you're doing well too. Congrats!   Tammy --- On Mon, 12/22/08, Donna <hsea...@aol.com> wrote:

[Donna]

Hi Tom,
Good luck with your appointment. I hope you will be able to start your
road to walking tomorrow. You probably will need your crutches until
your leg gets strong. Even if my Dr. told me I could have started
walking yesterday there is no way I could have. At therapy today I
could only push down with 40 lbs, of pressure and my foot is - 5
degrees dorsiflexion. The therapist says I have to be + 15 degrees
dorsiflexion before I could safely take a step.Plus my ankle is so
stiff! We were able to loosen it some today.Let us know how it goes!
Donna

> > Donna- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Donna]

Thanks Tammy!

How is your weight bearing going ? Do you have to use a cane or
anything? How is the pain now?

Donna

On Dec 23, 9:32�am, "shadow1...@sbcglobal.net"

<shadow1...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> You're smart Donna!� It sounds like you're doing well too. Congrats!
> �
> Tammy
>

> --- On Mon, 12/22/08, Donna <hseaf...@aol.com> wrote:

[shado...@sbcglobal.net]

I was told to use a cane through mid January but am finding I already need it less and less. My ankle is doing very well and the pain is manageable. I walk around my home without the cane to rebuild my calf muscle. It's a weird feeling not unlike muscle pain after exercise. I'm very happy with my progress but am still leary of my stand up shower. Go figure. :D  I guess we all have our fears!  Thanks for asking Donna and keep us up to date with your progress.   Tammy

--- On Tue, 12/23/08, Donna <hsea...@aol.com> wrote:

[Rhea Swaze]

Hey Donna,
I understand you had a subtalar fusion, which is what I had. I know this is
different from and ankle fusion.
I was wondering how you are doing. I am getting frustrated myself. I thought
I would be totally healed by now. My fusion is healed , but I still cannot
walk without the walker. I start PT on Monday and I can't wait. I will be
using an underwater treadmill. My surgery was 9/12/08. My ankle relay
doesn't have pain unless I turn it wrong, but my legs are real weak and my
knees were hurting real bad when the boot came off last Monday. They are
getting better just weak!!! My daughter is getting married in 6 weeks. I
really do not want to walk down the isle on a walker or cane!!!

Thanks,
Rhea

[Donna]

Hi Rhea,
As of today, I am 10 weeks & 4 days post-op. Even though I am still
not allowed to walk I am allowed to put 50 lbs of pressure down on my
foot/leg on a walker. I have been going to physical therapy for 2
weeks. The physical therapist has been able to get my foot from
negative 5 degrees of dorsiflexion to positive 3 degrees of
dorsiflexion. The therapist says I will have to be at 10 degrees of
dorsiflexion to take a step safely. At therapy they have me working
with a Theraband, step on a wood wedge to stretch the ligaments, use a
wobble board, and a few other exercises. My PT does hands-on work on
my foot and ankle for about 40 minutes. ( It really takes the
stiffness away! After that I use a "shuttle" exercise machine and then
they ice my foot. Since I have been going to PT and with all the hands-
on works the swelling has decreased alot in my foot and it swells alot
less after sitting at a desk all day. I try to take my Aircast boot
off as much as possible when I am at home or sitting at my desk so it
does not stiffen up again.
Next week if I do not have any pain I can increase the weight on the
foot/leg to 75lbs. I am hoping by my next Dr. appointment on 1/21/09
when I will be at 13 weeks my Dr.will say I can go full-weight bearing
with my crutches or walker for stabilty. I know my foot is definately
not ready yet. Mine is very weak like yours. No muscles left in my
calf! Plus my opposite knee is starting to really hurt. I am concerned
that the pain will really come when I try to go full-weight bearing.I
am having some problems now with pain from the screws in my heel. When
I put my bare foot on the ground I can feel the screws. I think I may
be one of those folks who is going to have to have them out at some
point.
I hope you get some relief soon and go to that wedding caneless!!

Donna

[Tom Freyslaben]

Ladies,

I just started walking a few days ago and found 2 things that really help- a compression sock and an ice bag. I put the sock on first thing in the morning, and ice down at night. I make my own ice baggie with 1 part rubbing alcohol and 3 parts water- works fine. Walking hurts, and I love the ice.

Tom

[Rhea Swaze]

Tom,

Can you walk solo? By that I mean without any help?

 

I see you are still up at 4 :30. Sleeping still messed up?

 

Thanks for the advice about the sock and ice. I'm not worried so much about swelling because it has gone down quite a bit as I am not being able to walk by myself! I had no idea I would be facing this.Rhea

[Rhea Swaze]

Thanks Donna,

I start physical therapy Monday. Hopefully I will get good results. I am
looking forward to it!
Rhea

[Tom Freyslaben]

Rhea,

I walk solo with the Aircast on. Around the house is easy, and short trips outside are fine too. I sometimes carry my cane, but don't rely on it much, just use it so people can see me coming. I wake up and feel good, and each day I seem to walk more, but by afternoon I am in my chair with an ice bag and a pain pill. I dont walk far, but can get to my truck and will drive to the gym or the store. I can get up and down stairs one at a time without much effort or pain. When standing in the shower barefoot, I dont put much weight on the foot- I have taken a few steps without the Aircast while in my slippers, but it does not feel great, and my wife hollers at me !  The doc said no walking without the Aircast. I got some Lunestra (sleeping pills) from the doc last week, so my sleeping patterns are much better, been getting to bed usually by midnight or so. Why arent you walking ?  Does it hurt ?  Are you in a Aircast ? Using crutches ?  I dont check this email box that often, but you can always get me at :

tomfr...@yahoo.com

Donna writes me, and Tammy too.

Take care,

Tom

[shado...@sbcglobal.net]

Tom:   The compression sock was my best friend for months. The ice helped too so kept it up. My swelling is almost gone but I think walking has helped that along. When I first returned to work after taking the boot off I used an ace bandage for support. It was strange having nothing around my ankle all of a sudden but I found that the ace bandage actually caused discomfort so I removed it. I thought I was just having some non-boot pain at first but quickly realized the ace bandage was the culprit. :D  Don't make that mistake!   Tammy --- On Sat, 1/3/09, Tom Freyslaben <tfrey...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Tom Freyslaben <tfrey...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: 9 weeks post-op x-ray & Dr. visit

[John Valentine]

Thanks, Tom, and congratulations on your progress.  It's great to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I get my first post op checkup this Wednesday and fervently hope my doc will say "looking great" and tell me I'm ahead of schedule!  What kind of work can you do at the gym?   john

--- On Sun, 1/4/09, Tom Freyslaben <tfrey...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Tom Freyslaben <tfrey...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: 9 weeks post-op x-ray & Dr. visit To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com