Foot Surgery - Patient Diary 1

PATIENT:
SURGERY:
SURGEON:
HOSPITAL:
DATE of SURGERY: 

Female, Age 59
Bilateral Scarf/Akin Osteotomy
Mr Mark Blackney
Mercy Private Hospital
28th July 2009

 

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

6.30am - light breakfast, no food or water after

(don't want to suffer any pain, hopefully it's not too bad)

12.30pm - Driven to hospital by 25 year old daughter

Questions:

  • How long will I need to be off my feet each day?
  • When can I return to gym?
  • Can I walk up stairs?
  • When can I drive car?
  • Toilet after operation?

Wednesday, 29 July 2009

7.30am - feet still totally numb

8.30am - read, eat, TV. Try using chair for toilet/shower

10.00am - much better

11.30am - Mr Blackney checks feet. Have no questions as I am still out of it.

2.00pm - pins and needles in feet (like at dentist after anaesthetic begins to wear off)

4.30pm - redress feet, looks quite good

7.00pm - need pain relief, morphine injection to help sleep

Thursday, 30 July 2009

Ok now, slept all night.

7.00am - breakfast, shower. Dressings changed, no problems.

8.00am - get dressed. Practise walking with OT. OK to go home now.

9.30am - picked up by neighbours.

11.00am - Feeling woosie, have low blood pressure and drugs making me feel light headed.

12.30pm - Arrived home, hobbled to bed.

1.30pm -  not hungry.

4.00pm - Up and down 8 feet to toilet and back, all I can manage - can't wait to re-evaluate feet to relieve pain (throbbing).

6.00pm - Take one Endone, eat light dinner (salmon & salad, cup of tea).

Notes - Maintain 2 x 6 hourly Panadol.

Friday, 31 July 2009

Wake early, take 2 Panadol.

8.00am - Shoes on, waddle with crutches to toilet.  Glad to return feet to elevated position.

10.00am - Lay around, watch TV, read books, Sodoku, Crosswords etc.

11.00am - Shower, tidy self up. Not too difficult.

11.30am - Friends drop in.

5.00pm - Kate arrives for dinner (Sally organises it). She takes dogs to beach house to give them exercise.

6.00pm - Visit from Heather for 30 minutes. Feet elevated.

7.30pm - OT exercises.

Notes - No Endone today. Panadol 2 x 6 hourly, do notice when I need it.

Saturday, 1 August 2009

8.00am - hobble to kitchen this morning, less pain.

9.30am - bag feet, have shower, wash hair - great feeling. Chair in shower and hand held shower head very handy.

12.00pm - tidy up bedroom, unpack bag.

1.00pm - no lunch today, not hungry as not using much energy.

3.00pm - rest in bed. Watch TV documentaries and read. Feet elevated.

5.00pm - Sally organises my dinner then goes to 21st. Ok alone.

5.30pm - Neighbours visit, share red wine. Back to normality, sit up chatting until 10.30pm. Feet elevated.

Notes - OT exercises when I remember, feeling greatly improved today. Panadol 2 x 6 hourly, but not needing it so much. No Endone.

Sunday, 2 August 2009

7.30am - wake, toilet, waddle to kitchen, managing to walk more confidently  just using crutches for extra support every now and then.

10.00am - make tea and toast and eat at kitchen bench.

10.30am - sit in family room, read, crosswords etc. Feet elevated until 11am when daughter arrives.

11.00am - shower, change pj's. All ok so far today, less pain with each trek.

1.00pm - visitors all arvo, lots of tea and chats. Feet elevated.

5.00pm - prepare vegies for dinner standing.

Notes - OT exercises, every time I think about it. Panadol 2 x 6 hourly. No Endone today.

Monday, 3 August 2009

Notes - no crutches in house. No Panadol today. Removed chair from shower, had shower standing. Exercises whenever I remember, sit ups too.

Tuesday, 4 August 2009

Breakfast - tea and cereal. I managed to get it myself.

Bag feet for shower.

Elevate feet whenever possible.

Have pins and needles, itchy ? healing.

Short trip in car for coffee with feet up. Hobble about the supermarket for 15 minutes. Arrive home with feet up for about 1 hour.

Dinner - go out for Indian, put feet up in back seat of car for 15 minute drive.

Notes - no crutches in house. No Panadol today.

Wednesday, 5 August 2009

8.00am - breakfast, boots on.

Neighbours visit - tea sandwiches. Feet up.

Rest with feet up in bed - pay bills online, sort mail, prepare taxation papers.

Exercises and tummy sit ups too.

Sort through photos for Sally's 21st. Feet elevated.

Bag feet for shower.

Prepare soup for dinner, sit on kitchen bench and elevate feet.

Rest with feet up, read and watch news.

Notes - No Panadol today. Getting easier each day.

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Using heels and outside of feet to walk. Shower bags OK. Manage to walk around with no crutches most of the time inside on even ground.

Potter around, make lunch and soup for dinner.

Pretty easy now, except getting very bored, missing exercise now.

Can't drive, very dependent on others.

Rest of day ok.

Notes - No drugs today. Walking easier each day.

Friday, 7 August 2009

8.00am - get up, have shower and dress.

9.00am - potter around, sit by fire, read TV, play games, Sodoku etc.

10.30am - visit from Heather.

12.00pm - Lunch - sandwich.

1.00pm - walking much easier now (Am I doing too much?)

3.00pm - drop into work - visit students and catch up with relieving teacher.

4.30pm - feet a little painful when home, elevate to relieve. No drugs necessary.

6.00pm - didn't feel like "Christmas In August" function at school.

8.00pm - watched DVD's, relaxed by fire. No pain but fuzzy feeling in feet sometimes.

Notes - no drugs.

Saturday, 8 August 2009

8.00am - get up, have shower, get dressed. No problems.

9.30am - sit around, bored, read etc.

1.00pm - washing, hang clothes on inside airer.

2.30pm - clean toilet, shower, bathroom. Tidy house - very slowly.

4.00pm - Kate and friend take me to Monsalvat for coffee and cake. Escape - wonderful to sit in sun (use crutches on uneven ground).

6.30pm - out for dinner with friends. Great, get picked up and driven. A little wine, great food and great company. Feet elevated when necessary. Get home about 10.30pm.

Notes - no drugs.

Sunday, 9 August 2009

9.00am - cut out dress for Kate, when we sew we will complete this.

11.00am - tidy house slowly, fold washing and do ironing.

1.00pm - Kate hires me wheelchair so that I can go to shops for birthday presents, food etc.

4.45pm - arrive home. No problems but elevate feet for a while.

6.00pm - neighbours invite us for dinner. Great no cooking, pampered.

Notes - no pain, feet elevated.

Monday, 10 August 2009

Pick up X-rays left at Mercy Private Hospital.

2.30pm - visit Mr Blackney's rooms.

Questions:

  • have stitches removed? (All ok, no problems. No pain but looks yucky).
  • questions to ask - when is driving possible? stairs?, sewing?, physio?,  when in shoes?, gym?, walking distances.
  • bruising and swelling. Whose feet are these?
  • medical certificate until 18th September.

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Walking much better, less strain on wound now that stitches are out.

Trying to weight bare on whole foot.

Screw up toes - very stiff not much movement.

Shower - foot free. Take it easy, prepare for slippery surface - towel on base.

Out to dinner. Take stick for uneven ground and stairs. Feet elevated during dinner. Restaurant very obliging.

Thursday, 13 August 2009

All happening each day easier. Remove pillow from base of bed. Bed clothes not causing an issue now.

Shower without shoes/bags again. YAY!

Great improvement.

Friday, 14 August 2009

Find Graeme's "Crocs". Large but perfect for feet - no pain and very light.

Tidy house - sweep, vac, dust, washing, make bed, prepare dinner.  Rested inbetween when feet "throb" and elevated.

Saturday, 15 August 2009

Shopping - in between coffee breaks.

Watch video, read etc when feet ache or have pins and needles.

Still not much movement in big toe but keep trying.

Leg muscles, calves feeling odd - missing adequate exercise  - stomach crunches, leg raises, point / flex feet.

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Wash feet, gently rub away scabs. Feet begin to peel.

Wheelchair to get to/from zoo for Alex's birthday.

Raining - very hard in wheelchair.

Elevate feet whenever possible.

Monday, 17 August 2009

More skin peels away from scar today. Soap, massage and wipe.

Much better wearing "crocs". Must get smaller ones to fit when swelling subsides.

Feet look neat, scarring less red and bruises almost gone now.

Walking much better today.

Thursday, 20 August 2009

Soak feet - lavender oil. Pamper beautiful new feet.

Wow!! thinking about new shoes. Shoe shopping spree.

Painted toenails for the first time in my life, and sandals where feet can be seen. Hooray!!

And of course, no pain too. This will be great! Not long to go now.

- How long do I need to wear the spacer on big toe and 2nd toe?

Tuesday, 25 August 2009

Soak feet again. only the odd twinge in feet, especially at night.

Tightness in instep / arch.

Sweeping garden.

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

Lots of sitting. Feet tired at end of day.

Thursday, 27 August 2009

Sitting as much as possible. Have shopping delivered.

Friday, 28 August 2009

Sally's 21st birthday party at home with 50 guests. Get friends to present and serve food.

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Clean up aftermath of party. Feet up most of the remainder of day. Aching and tired feet. Must rest a lot next couple of days.

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Rest at beach house at Phillip Island. Slow walk along beach with dogs - not too far.

Thursday, 3 September 2009

Walk on beach.

Friday, 4 September 2009

Walk on beach.

Saturday, 5 September 2009

Home, clean up garden - sweep, rake. Vac house, clean toilets, etc. (Yuk, back to housework). No one sorry enough for me to do it from today.

Monday, 7 September 2009

Fill/patch guest bedroom walls. Stand on box for high bits (can't stand on toes yet).

Thursday, 10 september 2009

Only odd twinge in feet now. Tight arches still. Can't wear shoes - still in crocs.

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Back to gym - low impact/weights only.

Shoes - gym shoes on today. Unlace and push foot in slowly. Great once on.

Can get feet into soft stretchers now. Wow! Almost there.

Wednesday, 16 September 2009

Gym - low impact only.

Feet tired -  rest feet up.

Wearing shoes for longer periods. Broad/soft sketchers.

Friday, 18 September 2009

Gym

Monday, 21 September 2009

Gym

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Gym

Friday, 25 September 2009

Gym.

Longer walk on beach and around block with dogs in gym shoes.

Rest feet at night.

Sunday, 27 September 2009

Soaked feet peeled off last of old callus. Neat feet.

Still concerned about angle of big toe on left foot without wedges.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

X-ray of feet.

2nd toe on left foot much longer than big toe.

  • have big toes been shortened?

Wednesday, 30 September 2009

Breakfast out.

Shopped 1-2 hours.

Feet aching and need to bat in cool water. Pad beneath toes burning. Big toes ached.

Feet elevated for rest of day.

Thursday, 1 October 2009

12.30pm - appointment with Mr Blackney. (need X-rays before appt).

 Questions:  

  • ask about certificate from 27th July until 18th September inclusive.
  • orthotics? where, when, who?
  • big toe - anything I can do to straighten it?
  • how long do I wear wedges between toes?

Monday, 5 October 2009

Back to work - hope feet hold up.

  • yard duty, sport supervision. correction.

Be prepared to be on my feet all day.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 16 February 2010 )