I had a moment today when I put my roller-blades on for the first time in many years. This used to be my favourite thing to do but had to give it up because it became so uncomfortable. Today, I truly feel a triumph in my journey and riding these wheels never felt so good.
My family doctor had trouble referring me to an orthopedic surgeon for guidance so we decided that it was best that I seek out a Chiropodist for advice which is covered under my benefit plan.
Here are my concerns:
1) My big toe is stiff and has lost some range of motion consequently,
2) My third toe is taking on extra force creating shooting pains when I walk, mostly without shoes on.
3) My plantar fasciitis is re-manifesting - it took me two years to get over this the first time!
I was advised to:
1) Continue my toe crunch exercises - I've been lax on these.
2) Get more stable shoes because I over-pronate (flat foot) - my shoe should not twist like this.
A twistable shoe is a big no no for over-pronators!
3) Get orthotics to even out weight distribution and prevent over-pronating.
So this is my plan and I feel once my third toe pain is gone, I will be 100% happy with my outcome.
During my visit with my family MD, he gave me a copy of my OR report. GOLD! Here is a great website that will break down the medical terms:houstonmethodist.org
One of the draw backs of being your surgeon’s last patient
before he retires is being left with unanswered questions. The expected healing
time for Lapidus surgery is 6 months and I’m there. Of course, as a health care
professional, I acknowledge every patient heals differently. But that’s hard to
accept when YOU are that patient with a potential prolonged healing or even,
complication.
My concern:
I avoid walking on the inside of my foot and do not use my
big toe (Biggie) to push off. Biggie has
a limited range of motion, so putting my body weight on her to propel is
uncomfortable. To compensate, I use the outside of my foot and my third toe (Small)
to take on Biggie’s load instead. This is particularly painful when I walk around the house in socks or bare feet. I prefer to wear
something with a sole like slippers or even running shoes for more support.
My question:
Will this resolve itself with time and patience? I can’t imagine
surgery as a solution, but is there something I can do to improve my range of
motion? Or, is this just the way it’s going to be? I need to know….
I saw my family MD today and we discussed my concern and
question. He told me he would refer me to an orthopedic surgeon in Ottawa who was in his graduating class in 1977. I promptly belted
out: “My boyfriend was born in 1977,” not to make him feel old but because nearly
every appointment I have with him, he enjoys recalling the opening of his
practice, the month and year I was born, August 1981.
Despite this set back, my feet look great (I love my scars)
and I went for my first pedicure a couple weeks ago.
My shoe shopping
experience was not fun. It felt like a FAIL! Shout out to my friend Nancy for witnessing it! I went to multiple shoe stores and could not find comfortable fitting shoes. My old frustations returned, everything felt super tight or loose on one foot or the other. Clearly, my feet are about 1/2 size difference due to the natural healing or some long standing edema. It is apparent that I can’t
wear cheap shoes and I don’t think I will ever be able to wear anything other running
shoes and flats with good support. High heals are out of the question. I did find one cute pair of flats at Aldo which I would have never been able to wear before my surgeries. They are leather so they will stretch but I cannot wear them for more than a couple hours because the sole isn't strong enough.
"How
is your foot?" a patient asked me as I brought him into my exam room.
"What do you mean?" I asked. "Last time I saw you, you didn't
have shoes on," he said. "I guess… better!" I replied surprised
as my memory returned of me apologizing for the lack of footwear. My foot felt
pretty good today and I forgot it was sore enough to remove my shoes only three
weeks before. Progress is slow, so much so, that without reminders, they are
hard to recall.
My second experience has
been a longer recovery. The first metatarsophalangeal, or MTP joint is stiff;
therefore, my toe still does not bend. My brain tells me I can bend it but when
I look down, nothing is happening. It’s painful to propel off my big and second
toe thus movements that involve toe bending of any kind are uncomfortable such
as brisk walking, standing on my tippy toes and lunging. Two weeks ago, I was reluctant
to begin higher impact plyometric workouts again but I forced myself to try
knowing that I could have difficulty. From my understanding, strengthening my
calf and ankle could significantly improve my discomfort. I remain hopeful as I
continue foot and ankle exercises outlined by my physiotherapist. My ankle is sore
but hasn’t been a focus for me until now.
Tim and I vacationed in Costa
Rica at the beginning of February (3 months post-op) and I was concerned that I
wouldn't be able to participate in some of the activities offered. Admittedly,
walking more than 2km was challenging because I compensate by taking pressure
off my right foot resulting in discomfort in my hips, legs and left foot. I
have recently hit a milestone running 5km on the treadmill which put a smile on
my face.
Up to this point in
my recovery, even with the set-back, I believe I made the correct decision to
cut my relationship with my old friend Paul Bunion. I estimate I’m 70%
healed. The grand finale to my
journey is to make my first shoe purchase. I’m anxious to shop at a mainstream
shoe store because I harbour old reservations that their shoes won’t fit. I
guess I’ll find out soon enough!
Now that I look at this picture, I see my feet look pretty even. Perhaps the edema has subsided enough to purchase my first pair of shoes?
