I’ve been meaning to post an update on my recovery after the operation for a while now, but never got round to it, so here’s my rather belated update.
After getting home, it didn’t take me long to get settled into the couch. I was told I had to spend a week on my back, that’s exactly what I did. My foot remained elevated for 90% of the time, except when I hobbled to the bathroom. I didn’t move outside of the lounge and bedroom in a week. It did help that every time I got up off the couch, the blood rushing to my foot cause me so much pain that it was difficult to think. So it was best just not to move.
Then last week Wednesday, I went back to the doctor, to have the heavy cast removed, and a lighter, fibreglass cast replaced it. Much better. The doctor was happy with my progress, and even commented that the swelling looked good. So now with the lighter cast, I could go back to work.
Then on Thursday, I headed into the back into the office. I wasn’t very capable on the crutches yet, but I was getting used to them. The pain for most of the day was unbearable, as my foot was only slightly elevated. I even had my feet on the desk at one stage! It did improve very quickly though, and by Friday, all was much better.
I have to say that I’m missing running terribly. Every time I needed to discuss something with myself, the road was there gladly waiting. Saying it’s my personal therapist would be going too far, but you know what I mean. All this means is that I can’t wait to get back on the road, you never realise how much you miss something, until it’s gone.
So I got out of hospital today, and completed my “goal” of walking out of there on crutches. Let me first say this, having your ankle operated on, is not that great of an experience. I was finally wheeled into the theatre at five yesterday evening, feeling rather jovial for some reason. The anaesthetist asked me for the fifth time which ankle to operate on, I joked and suggested he draw a big red arrow on my shin pointing to the ankle. Apparently it wasn’t necessary.
They did a quick explanation of what they planned to do. This part freaked me out: they were going to graft some of my hamstring tendon, onto my worn ankle ligament. That didn’t sound good to me, I didn’t want 2 sets of pain, in my ankle and my hamstring. And I like my hamstrings, I’m rather attached to them you see. Anyway, I was put to sleep, and woke up just over 2 hours later. My first instinct was to grab my hamstring, and then I looked up at the doctor, all groggy, and saw him smiling. He said that the op went very well, and didn’t use any of my hamstring tendon. He used a frozen tendon, and attached it to my lateral ankle ligament, and they should bond together, or something. In other words, I HAVE SOMEONE ELSE’S BODY PART IN MY ANKLE. All I can hope is that I’ve got some Kenyan dude’s tendon…
So I learnt how to use the crutches and was given some exercises to do. So I’m feeling fairly positive about the whole thing. The recovery plan is as follows:
- I’ll be in the current cast /bandages until Wednesday, 3 March. I can’t wait as thing is very heavy, and I have to keep my foot above my heart. This means on my back for a week.
- When the cast goes off, I’ll be going into a plastic “boot” which is lighter and will allow me to be mobile. I’ll be in that for 6 weeks, so that means no driving and crutches for 6 weeks.
- From the boot, I’ll go into an ankle brace, the Aircast A60, which I bought a few months back. I can then start cyclin, swimming, and physiotherapy. This will the crucial stage, and strengthening the ankle is very important.
- It will be about 4 weeks in the brace, then I can start running again!
Obviously things can change, and it will most likely take longer to recover. I’m very goal focused, and I believe this trait will help me through this stage, as it will keep me motivated.
I’m very groggy, but all went well.
Back in the hospital, should be going in to theatre at 5pm.
No, I’m not writing this from the hospital, I am at home. After a rather frustrating day in the hospital, I was sent home at 5pm. I was supposed to go into theatre at 1:30pm, but was warned that things might run a little late. At 3:30pm, I was feeling seriously starved, as I hadn’t eaten since 6am. At 5pm I got a call from the doctor, informing me that there were complications during the two previous operations, and they had run way over time. He said he just wasn’t comfortable operating as he was extremely tired. I can respect that kind of honesty, so I’ll be back tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll have to walk out of the hospital on crutches.
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