Foot operation -week 10

I would have liked to have shown you some lovely photos of my new foot by now but sadly not.
Way back in July, only 10 days after my operation, when I returned to the nurse to have my foot examined again, she decided to take off some of the steri strips that was effectively holding my wound together. Despite the letter from the hospital clearly stating that these should be left in place until they fell off and also my protestations, she felt there were 'far too many'.
Unfortunately this meant that any weight I put on my foot kept the wound in that area open. Although it felt ok, it had started to go red so I returned to the nurse and ended up having two courses of two different types of anti biotics as there seemed to be an infection in that area.
I'm pleased to report that the operation on my toe seems to have been a success in that I can move it. However after I had the anti biotics I had the check up with the consultant at the hospital.
Sadly it wasn't the consultant who did the op but one of his underlings and she said I ought to return a week later to see the consultant himself as the wound didn't seem to be healing properly.
I had kept the wound undressed and a scab had formed.



I didn't see the consultant who had done my operation but another surgeon who decided to cut off the scab as it was still weeping a bit and was possibly still infected underneath. I then had to keep it dressed for 2 weeks, changing the dressing after one week,
When I returned on Friday last, no scab had formed and so he decided to take out the white, creamy flesh which had taken its place.



I was shocked at how deep the hole was, nearly a centimetre, and I have now been told that I will have to keep it dressed for a further 2 weeks, and if it hasn't healed then I shall have to go into hospital to have the wound cleaned out and sewn up again!
To say I am worried, disappointed and annoyed doesn't cover it!
It's been 10 weeks now and I had really hoped to have been back fighting fit. I have been driving for a couple of weeks now although only locally really so I can reach my clients.
As a self employed person I feel the pressure to keep working as I can't claim any sickness leave or pay.
I am still sitting down and resting my foot as much as I can but with a house to keep clean, dog to walk, meals to cook and a garden to harvest and tidy its not easy!

On the plus side hubby will be home in a few days again and I have taken the big step of starting a website and Facebook page showcasing some of the items I have made myself, mostly knitted items.
I have received my first commission and have booked my first Christmas fair to sell some of my things! I have to make the most of having to sit down somehow so knitting is my salvation.
If you are on Facebook check out my page called ' Handmade by Sharla'

Foot operation - week 4

Glad to say that my foot is healing well. I'm still using my crutches if I go out because I've found that my foot does hurt when I'm on my feet for too long. It's still swollen too but not as bad as it was. It's very tempting to think I could do more, perhaps even try and drive but the wound itself is still very delicate so can't over work it just yet.






I've been out twice this week! My very kind neighbour took me for a ride out to the local town so I could get a few things from the shop. I suggested we had a bite to eat too so treated her to lunch.
My other outing was to my knit and natter group. I haven't been since before my op and although I haven't done a lot of knitting at home I was really ready to see my friends and catch up on each others news. I'm lucky enough to live near the railway station so I hobbled round there and got the train. It's only one stop on the train and then one of my knitting friends kindly picked me up and took me to the cafe where we meet.

I've realised and appreciated a little bit more just how isolated so many people must feel. Many of the people I visit to do their feet live alone and have no access to cars and don't live near a train station. Having to rely on other people to help you out can be hard and although I have had plenty to occupy myself I have found it hard to motivate myself to do anything.
For the last couple of weeks I've invited a few of my patients to visit me at home to have their feet done. I don't normally treat people in my own home but these were people who didn't really want to wait too long to have their feet done and could easily travel to my house.
It was lovely to see them and have a bit of company. I could understand how many of them feel when I go to visit them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not someone who craves company, in fact I'm quite happy being a hermit. However not being able to go out when I want makes it a little frustrating.
I have spent a little of my time at home knitting, trying to avoid daytime television and being thankful for technology in the form of an iPad.
Being able to order my food shopping online as well as playing various games on it has helped my days pass by easily.
Yesterday I had a burst of energy and made some lemon curd. It tasted very nice on my toast this morning.


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Foot Operation - week 3

Being able to sit still just isn't something I can easily do. I'm so used to doing this, doing that, just running upstairs for something, driving there. The last few weeks have been a real challenge.
I returned to the nurse a couple more times to have my foot checked and happily everything seems to be looking good.
On Wednesday, two weeks after my op, I went along for the last time. This was a day I'd been really looking forward to because I could finally wash my foot! The instructions I'd been given were to only soak it for less than 5 minutes.
Until now I have been using something called 'Limbo'. One of my patients kindly lent it to me to use and it has been an absolute godsend. Basically it means I've been able to have a shower without getting my foot wet or having to wrap a plastic bag around it.



Anyway I was very excited that once I got home I could take off the dressing and I washed it in a bowl of warm salty water. Every morning since I have sat outside and done this, just dipping my foot in, keeping the actual cut out of the water but using pieces of cotton wool, dipped in the water, to gently clean some areas of my foot. I have then, sat with my feet up in the warm for at least an hour before applying a new, smaller dressing.






The foot is still quite swollen and a bit bruised but overall it's looking good. I have also started to not use the crutches so much around the house. It's mainly because its easier if I have to carry something.
My hubby has been an absolute star, doing all the cooking, cleaning etc which to be fair he does a lot of usually anyway but he has also driven me around places and had to listen to me saying, 'could you just.......?' more than once a day!
However after 2 weeks he has to return to sea so the last 4 days I have been looking after myself. Another reason why I need to be able to carry things.
I'm using the stairs ok now too. Shuffling up and down on my bottom was effective but not very elegant. I am careful though that I don't stand up or walk for too long as I am still not putting a lot of weight onto my big toe so a lot of weight transfers onto the outside of my foot and that can ache at times.
If I have been stood up or walking for too long my toe and side of my foot starts to hurt and I think, 'right, time to sit down and put my feet up'.
Hubby also made sure I wasn't too bored by bringing down a nice big basket of ironing.



I won't be able to drive for at least another couple of weeks or so I should imagine, which is annoying and frustrating but people have been very kind offering lifts to me, back and forth to the doctor mainly.
My own foot patients have all had their feet done before my op and a few that are due to be done in the next three weeks have agreed to come to my house and have their feet done instead of me visiting them at home. It will only be about 5 per week but it will be good to be busy.
I have also saved lots of mundane jobs, such as my tax form, to do whilst I'm housebound. So I'm sure I won't get too bored.

Foot operation - week 2

So one week after having my operation I have to visit the practice nurse at the doctors surgery. It's so they can have a look at it and redress it. I have been looking forward to seeing what my foot looks like and as the weather has been so hot it'll be nice to get a bit of fresh air to it too.

The nurse started by taking off the original dressing.



I was quite nervous about this because I remember when I had broken my finger a few years ago and had to visit the nurse for redressing. I always ended up in tears, it was so painful.
Luckily the dressing had not stuck so they came off easily.



The bruising round the ankle is from where the consultant put in one of the local anaesthetic injections! The yellow is the iodine!



Traces of the black pen used to remind the consultant which foot he was supposed to be operating on!
I wasn't surprised to see how bruised and swollen my toes were though. I was surprised at how long the cut in my toe was.



My toe had obviously been bleeding judging by the amount of dried blood which had gathered around my big toe. The nurse seemed quite pleased with it apart from a small area near the very top steri strip which looks a bit red and raw. So she has redressed the foot but I have had to make another appointment to go back on Friday to make sure it has not become infected.
Until then I have to rest it as much as possible which is easier said than done!

Foot operation - week 1

As a foot health practitioner you would think that I would have perfect feet.....wrong. I've always had odd shaped feet, inherited from my mother and grandmother. Neither of my big toes are straight.

Before - my strange shaped feet!

They've never caused me much hassle thankfully and I've always worn sensible shoes. I don't wear heels very often, just on special occasions.

Over the past year I have noticed that the toe on my left foot had moved so that it rested underneath the next toe slightly. The joint was also a bit uncomfortable at times too. 

Last summer I  wrote a post about my feet and what had  happened when I'd slipped down the stairs and landed heavily on my left foot.
This had resulted in a small piece of bone, being chipped from the joint and floating around so that when I walked my toe would randomly lock in position, leaving me cursing about the pain and hobbling until I could click the joint again into a comfortable position.
I was eventually referred to see a consultant and after more X-rays ( revealing the loose bone) it was agreed that I would have an operation on it to straighten the toe and remove the offending piece of bone.
Last Wednesday I drove to one of our local hospitals with hubby to have it done as a day surgery case under local anaesthetic.
The consultant came along and gave me the anaesthetic which hurt for a start! Slowly though my foot started to go numb, a bit like when you have a job done at the dentist.
Eventually the nurses came to wheel me into theatre and get me ready for my operation.
I watched as they applied an ankle tourniquet and then covered my foot in iodine.

The ankle tourniquet

After that they reclined me slightly and put up a small screen so that i couldn't see what was going on. The consultant came in and had another chat with me and then got on with the surgery whilst I wisely put my earplugs in, selected some cheerful music on my ipad and turned up the volume.
From time to time I could feel my leg moving and my foot being tugged but having no idea what was happening i just closed my eyes again and listened to my music.
After about 25 minutes I sensed that things were reaching a conclusion so turned off my technology and came back to the real world.
Right enough, after just 30 minutes I  was being wheeled back to the little room, where I was offered a drink. I had a cup of coffee, had a surgical stocking applied to my left leg and then was given a few boxes of painkillers to take home with me.
Next was a few sheets of paperwork, explaining what had been done, what exercises I should do, plus dressing for the doctors nurse next week. I could then get dressed again, before being given a quick lesson in how to use crutches. My hubby appeared and I was wheeled off to x-ray before being deposited safely in the car to go home.
My first night and the next day were not nice. The local anaesthetic wore off at about 0230 in the morning. I was in a lot of pain and although I took some painkillers, my foot was still hurting. I got up to go to the toilet and found I couldnt even put my foot to the floor without pain shooting right through me. I was trying to be as quiet as I could as I didnt want to wake hubby. He had a long day ahead of him, as he had to go to a meeting down on the south coast and i knew he had to get up at 0530 so didnt want to wake him beforehand. I was up again at 0445 and in the toilet again trying to cry quietly! Have you ever tried this? Its almost impossible!
Anyway I managed to sleep a bit more once he had left and then he called my mum and she came over to stay with me for the day. That was really nice and although I felt awful and in a lot of pain it was nice to have the company.
6 days on and today I went out for a little walk today which afterwards seems to perhpas have been a little too long! My foot has ached for the rest of the day. I have reduced the amount of tablets Im on however and tomorrow I go to the nurse to get my dressing  changed.
I hope to be able to see for the first time what my new look foot is like and take a photo! In the meantime I'm learning to sit down more and put my feet up and rest. Its not easy!!