Re: recovery period after foot surgery

[Guest guest]

Rob,

I had major foot surgery 6 months ago--fused my ankle, flattened my arch, and

straightened my big toe.. I was non- weight bearing for about 8 weeks, minimal

weight bearing for a few more weeks. That meant some weeks on the couch with my

foot elevated, some time in a wheel chair, followed by several weeks with a

walker. I used crutches very little because they are a lot harder to manage

than one might predict.

ly, the time flew by, I had very little pain, which is an absolute miracle.

I took major pain meds for a few days, but quickly eliminated all but a half of

a pill at bedtime (percoset) so I could sleep. The cast in bed was the biggest

nuisance.

Some nights I slept poorly, mostly because I would snooze during the day. I

read several books and learned that there is very little on TV during the day

worth watching. I couldn't sit at the computer because my foot would swell if I

kept it down too long, so I was not able to write as I had planned.

I was off work--I am an administrator in a mental health

center--for 2 months. My employer was very accommodating when I returned and

would permit me to go home early if I encountered too much discomfort. But,

mostly I was able to resume all my activities--the benefit of a desk job.

For the last month I have been swimming and gradually losing the

weight I gained lying around. I will repeat this process in a few

months--probably have surgery on the other foot in January. I have the absolute

blessings of a truly gifted surgeon, good health insurance, a wonderful wife,

and many good friends. My friends would come take me for rides to prevent going

nuts. My wife recruited several friends from her friendship network to cook

meals for us because with her working long days, cooking was just too much.

Eventually, I was cooking from the wheelchair which was actually much easier

than from the walker. But I am a good cook so managed to prepare several good

dinners for my wife. I have said a lot

here and you can see why it went so well. I can't think of any experience that

has so completely demonstrated the gifts that I have been given. And the real

miracle, I am walking better every day and have almost no pain. I truly hope

you have a very successful surgery and rapid recovery.

Tom

[Guest guest]

The cooking here was also a problem, when remodeling our kitchen four

years ago (-->>>sell the house and build or buy one with the kitchen

you want.) I truly bit the bullet and got a four oven AGA cooker. This

was the only stove/oven to fit my criteria of no open flames and

nothing heated to red incadescence. There were some high tech options

for cooking but not practical. This stove weighs about 1200 pounds and

is cast iron. It is something the family cooks safely on and with no

dials you can lean against it or as I sometimes do grab the rail and

use it to pull myself off of the floor. On the floor to fix a sink or

dishwasher leak. For a visual refernce watch a re-run of Two Fat

Lady's and Clarissa -- down to one now.

I thought I would be almost full time wheel chair at my current age

but am not. Other off the shelf option was a drawer style dishwasher

and a drawer style refrigerator. The sink I can always retro fit if

needed. After some truly overtime effort my CMT progression hopefully

seems to be taking a prolonged time out.

Merrell