Ankle Surgery Update Day 29 Post-Op

Yesterday was 4 weeks to the day of my Posterior Tibial Tendon Debridement and reinforcement surgery. I'm not scheduled to meet with the doctor who performed the operation for another two weeks. I've been very happy with my progress so far although I'm ready to be done with my walking cast (black boot) permanently!

As you can see in the photo, my wound is completely sealed and scab-free. 

According to the foot surgery atlas I should be able to start walking without crutches, in just the walking cast, at four weeks. I have to confess that I've been walking in the boot only for about two weeks now, much to the chagrin of my wife. It just felt like the combination of the boot and the crutches was too much.

Yesterday I took the boot off completely and gingerly walked across the bedroom. Though my steps were careful and measured, I was happy to get some sense of what it will be like to walk pain free again. I made sure I didn't put too much weight on the left ankle nor flex it much beyond 90 degrees. It feels pretty good, though the skin and the tendon still feel tight. I think I might be able to begin physical therapy in a couple of weeks. I sincerely hope to be cleared to walk in normal shoes or boots by then as well! 

Still a good bit of swelling in comparison to the right ankle, but I don't have the tender spots above and behind the malleolus that I had prior to the surgery.

Ankle Surgery Update: Day 19 Post-Op

It's hard to believe Tuesday will be 3 weeks, or 21 days exactly, from my ankle surgery. All in all, I seem to be recuperating more rapidly than I thought I would, which I'm thrilled about!

My incision looks a lot better; most of the scabbed over areas are gone along with a top layer of epididymis. It peeled like sunburned or blistered skin...not sure why.

I returned the knee roller to OrthoCarolina on Thursday of last week, instead using the walking cast with or without crutches, much to my wife's consternation. The PA at OrthoCarolina, Mike, told us that he didn't want me to put more than 50% of my normal weight on the leg for about 3 weeks - that was about 12 days ago.

So, to recap, I'm able to walk fairly normally with just a walking cast - but my left leg gets tired after an hour or two of being upright. Elevating it with the cast off for a few minutes helps a lot - I guess the pressure of the cast still interferes with the blood flow and causes soreness.

Confidentially, today I tried some careful walking...a few feet in the bedroom...without the cast. I don't think I'm ready to attempt any normal walking yet...maybe by next weekend. Caroline and I are going to Charleston with friends so I'm sure there'll be a lot of walking there!

Also, this past week I found a site that explains my procedure in great detail. http://www.footsurgeryatlas.com/lib/foot/hindfoot/tendon-hindfoot/tibialis-posterior-tendon-debridement/operation/1
My doctor explained that I needed both a debridement and FDL tendon transfer.  The surgical pictures are from a right leg whereas mine was on my left leg. Still very helpful to my understanding of just what was done and what I can expect on recovery.

Posterior Tibial Tendon Surgery, 10 days post-op, removal of the surgical dressings

My ankle surgery was on a Tuesday (October 18th) and the dressings were removed on the following Friday. Here are the (gruesome) photos for your enjoyment :)

Stapled me shut with about 25 of them!

Lots of bruising and swelling!

Looks pretty awful from this angle! My arch is all swollen and I have pooled blood near my heel. 

Ankle Surgery Post Op: Day 2

The surgery was Tuesday morning and it is now Thursday morning so it's technically Day 2, but it feels like Day 3. Probably because Day 1 was so long and troublesome. I now know that I can't tolerate Percocet very well at all!

I slept from midnight until 4 am, when I woke to use the bathroom, get a drink, and take two more Tramadol. I read about the 3rd, and final, Presidential debate, then dozed off again at 4:30 until 6:30 am.

My leg aches inside, near the incision, which I haven't actually seen yet. Now that the nerve block has completely worn off, I have to be more careful of movement, to avoid sharp pains - I don't want to risk pulling my sutures at all.

10:30 took my first shower. That was an adventure...a little taste of what life as an 80 year will be like, should I be so lucky.

Ankle Surgery: Post Op Day 1

6:55 am. It feels like electricity in my toes when my wife touches them. This different from yesterday when I couldn't really feel anything.

7:30 vomited into bucket at bedside.

8:55 am. I just realized I'm able to move my toes again.

12pm Ate a few spoonfuls of homemade chicken noodle soup.

2pm Took Tums for stomach gas.

4pm Ate a piece of toast and took 1 Percocet.

7:00 pm vomited again immediately after .

8:00 pm Elizabeth called the doctor's office and told them of my intolerance for Percocet. The doctor said it was quite common and recommended a switch to Tramadol. She picked up the prescription and I popped two tablets around 9 pm. I waited a few hours for the nausea and reflux to set in again but was pleased when it didn't.

We watched a good movie, The Imitation Game, just she and I for the first time in months. Then retired at about 11:30. I tried to read for a few minutes then dozed off.