As some of you may know I have been waiting since September for an operation to fuse the bones in my big toe (Too many years kicking footballs and the occasional little boy, as a Primary school teacher) The arthritis had reached the stage where one joint was indanger of collapsing and I have to admit it was pretty painful at times. Well yesterday they managed to fit me in (New Years Eve of all times!) I think the theatre was open for emergency ops and my surgeon had to be there so he booked me in. Well it was done at 9.30 am and I was home by 4.00 pm. Lucky really the chaps who arrived at the same time as I did were still sitting in the ward waiting when I left.
So, now I am not allowed to put my toes on the ground for 6 weeks while the bone sets. I have to walk on my heel, awkward but possible, just. They prescribed pain killers,but to be honest I would prefer not to take them they are addictive, In any case, the pain so far is no worse than what it was before so I shall just ignore it.
The one thing I was sweating on, (literally) was a cold. My wife picked up a real stinker about 2 weeks ago (over it now mostly) and I was praying that I would not show any symptoms. Yesterday ,not a sniffle, cough or a wheeze, Phew, wipes brow, Today? Man flu!
I have to say that the people at the hospital (Gobowen Orthopaedic Hospital) were wonderful, caring considerate and very professional. Hats off to them. (And yes I did say Thank you to them!).
So, now I am house bound for the nest 6 weeks and possibly longer depending on my healing properties. As the only driver and since we live 2 miles from a 'bus stop and 10 miles from a Supermarket we have stocked up on everything we can. It is going to be hard not going out in the garden or walking down the lane every day. but you takes what comes.
Happy New Year everyone.
Oh poor you,big hugs.
A good time to take stock,spend time on A4A ;D
hope you heal quickly, eric!! glad to hear the op went well, and that you are resisting the pain-killers.
'speak' soon in 'the shed'
rgds, Tony
Hope everything goes well with the healing Eric. Take acre.
Wahay!!!! I'm six weeks ahead of you!! Do you have one of those special "shoe" thingies? I had my foot in plaster for the first 3 weeks, and when that came off it was a lot more comfortable. I had no trouble with the pain killers, and was off them after a few days anyway.
I walked down to the pub on Christmas day, and yesterday to the allotment, it is awkward and uncomfortable wearing the shoe, as one foot is a couple of inches higher than the other, but the great thing is walking with no pain.
Got an xray and check-up on Tuesday, and hopefully I will be returning to something like a normal life, maybe even driving.
pm me if you have any questions or want to share gruesome details.
;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
Take it easy then Eric with your feet up and get rid of the flu.
glad it's over with, hope you heal really well,you'll be better just in time for sowing ;D
You probably haven't got any in & can't get it but echinacia is good for colds & flu, even man flu. Hope you get well soon. You can't do anything about it so try & enjoy it.
Oh Poor you, Eric but pleased the op. is behind you now and hopefully you will be pain free once the healing is done. I hope you feel better of the cold soon as well.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours.
Carol x
Glad that it's over and done with at long last. Eric. Now just do as you have been told and take it easy. :)
G x
Have you got one of these? http://www.algeos.com/acatalog/Darco_Orthowedge_Shoe.html (http://www.algeos.com/acatalog/Darco_Orthowedge_Shoe.html)
It is probably one of the most uncomfortable things to wear, one leg is a couple of inches longer than the other, but it keeps the foot straight and the load off the toe as it's repairing.
The registrar said I would be given crutches as well, but they sent me home with just this shoe - but it works very well !
Oh poor you! You'll be all better by sowing time so just rest up and try to enjoy your enforced time off! You'll have lots of time for posting lovely pics on here! ;D
All the best Eric, hope you are not in to much pain take care.
Regards Rosebud. ;D
Hope you make a quick recovery Eric. Curl up with the cats and write some more great stories. Happy new painfree year!!
Sounds grim being stuck at home. Glad you're over the worst of it after all that pre-surg pain and you should be in the pink for weeding come Spring.
Update for today. Had to take painkillers last night as the pain was intermittent rather than constant so harder to mind control. Trouble is the tablets are codeine and paracetamol. The paracetamol destroys your liver if you take too many and the codeine is both addictive and has nasty side effects. The strong ones I had for my back left me brushing spiders off me and even mild ones give me other problems, too delicate to mention out of the Watershed. Still there is no pain today so hopefully will not need to take any again.
They did give me a special shoe, rather like a stiff, thick soled tennis shoe, with Velcro fastenings. It is designed to keep the foot rigid. They did give me crutches and a 10 second lesson on how to walk with them so as not to bend my toe
'Tis a lovely sunny and crisp day here, just right for a walk, typical.
Worked out well all round then.
You don't get double sick pay for getting man flu and recovering from an operation simultaneously but well done for managing to do more than one thing at the same time. It is usually only women who can multitask like that.
I am reliably advised that it takes 14 days to get addicted to morphine if that is what you have been prescribed so if you want to take some for a few days you should be fine.
I noticed when I had my knee done it hurt more a day or so after the op.
Good on the surgeon and the team too.
Wishing you a speedy recovery Palustris :)
You won't be on the pain killers long enough to become addicted. The trick is to keep the foot elevated as lmuch as possible. You'll get used to the shoe, the velcro is a b*gg*r, though. Doesn't do to have to put the shoe on in a hurry.
Have you had a bath yet ??? ???
Tried with my foot elevated, but that makes my back ache and that is even more painful than the foot.
Not even going to think about a bath. I wonder if I can arrange for a bed bath? Knowing my luck I would get a nurse who looked like Norah Batty.
Actually the trouble with the shoe is having to take it off to dress and undress.
The other problems are two kittens who think that the crutches are there just for them to attack. That makes walking to the bathroom something of an obstacle course.
Try stepping on a cat with the shoe! They don't like it :o :o :o :o
I know how you feel about the back, I did two days on the sofa, then progressed to a chair with a stool for my feet which wasn't much better. I found I was going to bed just to get comfortable.
It's all for a good cause. Think of it - no more pain.
Hi Eric,yes it's me,back again! You have my every sympathy,i had to have an operation to get my arthritis sorted out in my foot after years of bunions totally misaligning the bones.Very painful.But it has worked for me,so let's hope you soon feel the benefit.