Life Goes On

Even though I haven't been able to get out and look at the plants that are blooming, Ken took a picture of this clematis, so I could enjoy it.

3 Weeks After Surgery

Today is 3 weeks after I had surgery on my heel.  I don't go back to the doctor for another week and a half, so I don't really know how well I'm doing, other than how I feel and what I'm able to do.  I'm feeling good about the progress I'm making.  Even though I still have to use the "kneel scooter" most of the time to get around, I can stand on my foot and even take 10-12 steps while leaning on my scooter for support!  This week, I got out of the house a couple of times also.  I was able to go to church on Sunday, went for a short walk/scoot on the centennial trail near our house Monday and Thursday, I got to go to a luncheon with last year's mentor moms.  I still can't drive, the doctor said I would probably kill someone if I tried to drive with the boot on, so one of the mentor moms picked me up, but at least I got to go.  I also, still have to scoot up and down the stairs on my bottom, but everything is getting easier and I'm able to do more every day, and that's the goal!

A New "Boot" to Wear

 I saw the surgeon yesterday and they removed the cast and the stitches in my heel.  I found out that the main issue wasn't the Haglund's deformity, but it was the bone spur that was causing the biggest problem.  He said the one he removed was about the size of a quarter.

 I seem to be doing well, because he said that I could start trying to put some weight on my leg.  So far, I've just stood on it for a couple of seconds, because it's so painful still.  I have to wear this "boot" all the time except when bathing. I did get the OK to wash my right foot again, which is nice.  Yesterday was my first time to leave the house in 2 weeks and it went really well.  I feel more confident to get out and about now, but since I can't drive for several more weeks, I have to depend on Ken to take me places.  I can't understand why the Dr.s change their story so much!  He originally told me no weight could be put on it for 3 weeks, now 2 weeks after surgery, he said I could start putting weight on it.  Before surgery, I asked him if we went on vacation 6 weeks after surgery and it involved a lot of walking would I be ready to do that.  He said, "Yeah, no problem!"  So we went ahead and made plans to go to California with Kari's family.  Yesterday I mentioned it again, including that we would be going to Disneyland, and he seemed to be appalled by the idea of me doing that so soon.  If he had given me that reaction the first time, we might of thought a little harder about whether to go or not.  Luckily Disneyland has wheel chairs to rent if you get a note from your doctor, so I'll be making my way around Disneyland in a wheel chair this time.  It's pretty frustrating when they tell you one thing, then change their story later!

Wheel marks on the carpet from the knee scooter.

Knee Scooter

This scooter is working really well to get me around the house.  It's a little difficult to push on the carpet, but it's not bad at all and at least I can go from one room to another.  Today is Day 2 out of 21 of being unable to put weight on my right foot. The numbness from the "leg block" wore off, so I've needed to take more pain medicine.  Consequently, I've felt pretty sleepy a lot of the day.  If I take 2 pills, I have no pain, but feel sleepy, if I just take 1 pill, I have some pain, but don't feel as sleepy, neither solution is a good one so I'm going to try something different.  I'm going to try taking 1 1/2 pills when it's time to take them again and see how I do with that.  I had a few visitors today including Todd, Betsy and Seth, who dropped by for a visit on their way home from an overnight camping trip.  A family from our church also came by and brought us some soup and homemade bread for our dinner, that we're looking forward to eating tonight.  We talked for awhile with them, but it wasn't to long until I started getting sleepy again, so they didn't stay very long.  I also scooted on my bottom up and down the stairs once, so I could wash my hair in the kitchen sink.  It's pretty easy to go up and down the stairs, the only issue is getting to my feet once I get to the top of the stairs and getting my scooter up there, so I can move around again.  Our solution, so far, is for Ken to carry it up the stairs, but he won't be here to do that during the day next week and I think the scooter will be to heavy for Mom to carry up and down the stairs.  I may have to just stay downstairs during the day, which is why we asked Mom to come help next week.

Heel Surgery

I had surgery on my heel Friday, June 1.  They took off a bone spur and rounded my heel bone, a problem called Haglund's deformity.  The procedure called having an Ostectomy, that I just wanted to write down because I think it's a fun word.

I have to stay off my leg for 3 weeks, so I have a little green cart to rest my leg on when I move around the house.  (Picture to come in a later blog.) I had a "leg block" before surgery that is supposed to help with the pain the first day or so.  It, plus the percoset, has kept me pain free for this first 24 hour period, which has been awesome!  So, other than feeling drowsy most of the time, I'm doing well.  By the way FYI, the computer dictionary doesn't recognize the word percoset and wanted to substitute percolate, which I thought was funny also!