I have been slow at moving on the blog - partly because I have been determined to find some of my lost blog pieces. And today I have been successful. Here, from August 8 2008, is the deconstruction of my ankle reconstruction - Part one. It was meant to be part one because I was going to update my progress - not because I meant to lose it. Anyway, here is Part One + the happy ending....
Right Split Pernoeus Brevis Reconstruction-Part One - July 2008
I’ve just had an ankle reocnstruction - or to use the technical term a right split pernoues brevis reconstruction. Sounds impressive hey! Credit goes to my surgeon who - as I can tell to date - has done an excellent job.
This reconstruction has been a long time coming. I never would have forseen that twisting my ankle whilst walking on a soccer field would, over the course of 10 years, lead to such a deterioation in my ligaments to the extent that they were virtually gone. In the back of my mind I knew this may be the inevitable outcome and I am now looking forward to a nice strong foot to last me another 34 years (at least).
In the lead up to my surgery I undertook various google searches in an effort to really understand what I was in for - the real story that is - the stuff that the doctors and physios can’t really tell you because I almost guarantee that they have not had the operations they practice on others. Needless to say - I could not find much. So, for anyone who wants to know what it is really like - here is the story as it stands at two weeks post surgery.
Day of Operation - I arrive at 11.30 am after a lovely morning tea with my dear husband who kindly lets me smell his coffee and doughnuts as I continue my fast from 7am. I am first on the table for today for which I am pleased. After the anaethisist runs though how he will put me to sleep and wake me up again I am prepped for surgety. Depsite my earlier shower, I am asked to shower again in a lovely betadine anticeptic solution playing particular attention to my feet!! So I lather up in what looks like fake tan gone wrong and rinse off before they tag me and paint my right ankle yellow. I am then taken off to the theatre where I wait for the surgeon to arrive. He writes on my feet (a clear “no” written on the left ankle and a picture drawn on the right) and off to sleep I go.
Post Op - I awake with a twitch in my arm and a dead leg. I have a nerve block in my leg. A double one just in case. I am in a daze as I am wheeled back to the ward where Dr J waits for me. All has gone well. My dead leg is raised on a pillow and in a backslab cast to my knee - all bound and swollen. After a light dinner and good drugs, the physio comes to visit and arranges crutches for my trip home - all going well tomorrow. I have a little practice and am surprised how hard they are to use when: 1) you have a really sore leg, 2) you have a nerve block in your grown which really hurts when you lift your left 3) you have just had a general anasthetic and 4) you are weak with hunger and tired with drugs. Anyway, I use a walking frame to get to and from the loo. Nerve block asside - when the leg goes down - it really really hurts…
Day 1 . A very uncomfortable night with lots of medication. I know when they are going to give me the good stuff as the nurse brings a friend in to check my labels. I am meant to head home but the anaethesist has done such a great job of the nerve block that I still cant feel my foot - and apparently when it wears off I really will and will need stronger medication. So after some discussion with the nurse (and not too much coercing required) I settle in for another day. I feel so crook I am happy to stay put for now.
Day 2 - I awake ready to head home and I ring my bell for more druge. I can definately feel my foot and I wait and wait and wait for a nurse but they seem to think I am not there!! So by the time they get there I need a morphine shot which means another 4 hours in hostpital. I will leave in the afternoon.
The trip home is awful. I feel so crook and prop myself in the back seat, open the window and stare afar - trying not to vomit At home I head straight to bed. Then after a nap I decide to head downstairs. A bad move. As soon as I get ther I almost cry wondering how on earth I can get back up. I feel just crap. Certainly not something I am used to. The foot really hurts still.
Days 3-7. Things are looking up. I spend another day in bed and then a few days on the couch. The instruction says stricly elevate leg for 7-10 days post op. I do this with only movement to get to the loo really. And to be honest - I didn’t really want to move any further because it really hurts to put my leg down any further than my heart level.
Day 7 - I am back to the surgeon. The cast comes off with the additional packaging and I am quite amazed really. My ankle is looking pretty normal and not too swollem and my scar is about 3 inches long - probably three times what I anticipated but looking impressive. The surgeon seems happy and they pop me in a CAM walker boot. The best description for this is a ski boot (and just as uncomfortable). I head home with physio instructions for the next 5 weeks until I see him again. I need to get off the crutches ASAP apparently. Are you kidding - that would hurt.
Days 6-8. The boot is incredibly uncomfortable to sleep in (which I must do for another 5 weeks) and the foot is still painful to put down.
Day 9 - Hey, I can walk. I just bit my lip and stepped down and it wasn’t too bad. Mind over matter. I can keep the leg down for longer which is encouraging and do my ankle exercises a few times a day. Feeling like I am on the mend.
Day 14 - Now hobbling quite well although starting to feel my hip and knee moving out of place as I put my ankle back to normal. Will have to address this somehow with an equally balanced shoe.
Day 15 - If my measurements are correct - My right leg is now 4cm’s smaller than before the operation - gee it is going to be scrawny when I finish. The boot is in fact getting looser as my muscles fade away.
Day 16 - Have balanced the legs with a bigger shoe but am now getting incredibly frustrated having to wear this big boot which slows me down considerably and stops me being my normal active - can’t sit still - self. Not a bad thing I suppose but still - mentally am having to prepare for another 6 or so weeks in the boot. So, I start to check off the weeks to when I can take the boot off. This makes me feel a little better as I can cross off at least week one and two.
So that is where I am today. Its all good. I can’t drive and still can’t lift or chase after my 2 year old - but I’ll be running in a few months and to be honest - I am almost in less pain now that before I had this thing done - depite the awkwardness of the rehabilitation required. I am feeling really positive.
I was allowed to actually take the CAM walker off at 6 weeks and was so excited. I spent another 6 weeks in an ASO brace which was still a challenge with any shoes other than my runners but certainly must more comfortable.
Will keep you posted.
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 8:55 am.
OK, so skip forward 7 months and here I am today. I can't say it has been all fun and games. The rehab has been long and boring and frustrating. Whilst the ankle itself has not really caused me any pain at all post reconstruction the process of getting my leg muscles and foot back to how they should be has been difficult and continues. Most days are good with the main problem being a stiff ankle joint that is alot less mobile that it once was (particularly when there were no ligaments holding it together). This is usually remedied with a good massage of my legs and feet, a swim to loosen the joint.
All good though. And, I am sure in the not to distant future I will look back and consider this the best thing I ever did.
