I have Hallus Limitus. I will be having bone spurs removed on the big toe joint, it then will be pushed down and over with a pin. I will be on crutches and/or knee roller for 2 weeks. They want me off of it. Then a boot for 4 weeks.
What I’m dreading is just getting around those first few weeks. How to wash, how to even do everything in front of a mirror getting ready… brush teeth, etc. I don’t think I’ll be able to live upstairs for st least a week. I would have to crawl. So, I guess I’ll have everything downstairs. I’m just baffled at the thought of this. Plus, just having to sit around…yuck. I love Netflix and reading, but 24/7 of it? Plus…it’s my darn driving foot, too.
If anyone has any suggestions on how to get through this, I’d really appreciate it.
I’m mourning not being able to wear my cool boots and booties …hopefully for just awhile. I guess I need to find a cool looking pair of walking sneakers for when I’m out of the boot. Yuck again.
Buy some weights so you can still do upper body exercises and feel like you are being active.
Buy the supplies for a hobby or activity NOW so you have all you need to get started without having to bother someone to get you the supplies - what kind of hobbies/crafts/ might you like? I think I remember you already organized your photos.
Make a book list but mix it up. A couple novels, a couple non-fiction titles, a couple beautiful home decorating books or cookbooks with photos.
Create a routine so you don’t wake up with an empty day ahead. 7-8, exercise and shower. 8-9 coffee and breakfast. 9-10 morning tv show. 10-11 hobby activity. 11-12 reading. That kind of thing. Even schedule computer breaks so you don’t spend MINDLESS hours scrolling…!
I had bunion surgery - twice within 3 weeks - a number of years ago. The one thing they don’t tell you is how much pain foot surgery causes. Take the meds BEFORE the pain starts. I spent most of the first two weeks after the first surgery sleeping. We borrowed a wheelchair from MIL for when I went out of the house and, at the beginning, we used it in the house, too. Then I switched to crutches.
I didn’t have any kind of schedule like @abasket suggests, but that’s because I work full time and cherished just having veg out time to sleep and watch mindless tv.
Also, if they prescribe PT, do it. I refused to do PT because I have an aversion to anyone touching my feet. As a result, I don’t have full feeling in the foot and have some loss in range of motion. If I had it to do over again, I’d get an anti-anxiety med to deal with my phobia and do the therapy.
Get a plastic cast cover for showering from CVS or Amazon. I used one with a stool and took nice showers with no leaking. I used the knee walker to stand in front of the bathroom mirror to brush teeth etc. This works when you are in a boot also. Absolutely buy or borrow a knee walker. They are wonderful. I got one on Amazon for about $100 and am still lending it out to friends. Also, I used part of my down time to sort through paperwork and make a binder summarizing our finances. I felt I used my time well in addition to a lot of mindless TV!
Thanks @abasket and @techmom99 . I do like the schedule, especially when I get in the boot. I will continue to do arm exercises with my weights and will look forward to doing some leg work when I can. The doc said I’ll be able to at least ride the stationary bike at some point with other things. I hate that I will lose muscle mass and what I’ve gained through this year. I also have to cut my caloric intake, although I need to after the holidays anyway.
I wish I had a hobby, I don’t. That’s funny you remember the pictures. One thing I might do is make bows. My aunt used to make her own Xmas bows with two color ribbons and they were gorgeous. She would make an Xmas tree out of them on a package. I’ve kept mine through the years, but they are almost gone or tattered after decades.
@techmom99 …how did you wash your hair during that first two weeks, or just get ready in the mornings while having to use a wheelchair? Thanks for the suggestion to go to physical therapy…I will definitely do that. And I appreciate the warning about meds and the pain.
Did you sleep in your bed during the day, or on the couch. Do you have an upstairs? I’m sure I will figure things out, but I’m a planner. I wish we had a lazy boy in our FR…lol!
I used plastic trash can liners as “skirts” to shower after having abdominal stitches. I suspect they would work for a cast, too. A hand-held shower head is very nice for those situations where you don’t want to get some part of your body wet.
If you like to make bows and you know some little girls or teenagers (cheer and dance), you might want to look into crafting hair bows. From what I’ve observed lately, they are very popular now (and can be pretty elaborate) - they look like they’d be fun to make. My sister, who has no kids, started making bows and would post pics of them on her FB page and I noticed she got tons of comments from people asking her to make them one (or several ).
If you will need to use a wheelchair, tell your surgeon. Using a wheelchair after surgery increases your chances of dangerous blood clots. The doctor may want to prescribe medication to decrease this risk.
Some years ago, I broke my leg and then, a few days later, sprained my wrist during physical therapy. I had to use a wheelchair for several weeks because the bad wrist could not support enough of my weight to make it possible for me to use a walker or crutches. My doctor continued my anti-clotting medication for several weeks longer than usual.
Take this seriously, and ask about if blood thinners or aspirin is appropriate before or after the surgery. We suspect after a knee surgery my husband had several years ago that they prescribed no blood thinners or aspirin for, that my husband developed a chronic and recurring deep vein thrombosis. This led to a blood clot that caused him to have a stroke, though he was extremely fit and healthy.
i couldnt walk at all for 6 weeks this year due to ankle surgery. The scooter was a huge help. I rented it. I wish i had used my time more wisely like that schedule above, but it was a shock; i was in pain, and slightly down.
to take showers (in the evenings) i had a fold up chair in my shower that i put my knee on and always had the scooter next to the shower when hopping out. I liked double bagging my soft cast with plastic bags rather than the plastic water guard thing we bought.
PT helped once i could use a boot and start walking with crutches and driving. I did get into an accident 3 days after being able to drive again; my driving foot reaction wasnt fast enough for a quick stop.
i wrote letters! invited people over for lunch and had delivery; i spent lots of time watching tv. I had a professional cleaner come to my house; i had several house projects worked on as i was home to monitor. I wish i had worked on photos or such; but . . . it’s over now. Thinking of you and good luck.
I broke both feet several years ago. Two bones in left foot and one in right foot. I told the orthopod I was not signing up for a wheelchair, and he let me use my right foot for weight bearing, but boot and no weight bearing on left. I had a scooter upstairs to use to go to the bathroom at night and it helped me getting in and out of the shower. Our shower has a bench which was invaluable. My husband brought a recliner up to the bedroom which I used for a few days but then I couldn’t stand being immobile.
I used crutches everywhere except upstairs and at work (and scooter at parent teacher conferences Improved my balance and kept my upper extremities strong. The scooter was fantastic but I didn’t find it easily transportable so it just stayed upstairs. I was only off work for two weeks so when I returned I took a second scooter to work and left it there. Worked all day with the scooter then crutched home. I used the electric scooters at the grocery store that were provided.
If you have friends who offer to help, let them help! Schedule ‘dates’ when friends can come over to just sit and chat. You are going to be lonely during the day once you start feeling a bit better. I’m sure you have friends who’d be happy to come over and help you wash your hair, too!
We have a den that was used as spare bedroom at the time and H’s cousin had recently moved out so it still had a bed. I slept there. We have a half bath on the first floor that I used. The first couple of days, H washed my hair in the kitchen sink for me while I sat on a music stool. I gave myself a sponge bath in the half bath. After the first couple f days, he would help me upstairs to the shower. I wrapped my cast in a gallon zip lock and taped it closed and then taped another bag over it. I then sat in a metal folding chair with my bad leg hanging out of the tub, with my foot on another chair, and H helped me shower. I was never prescribed a knee scooter. I was able to drive after about a week, because it was my left foot, and because I only needed pain meds at night at that point. I had a cast with a walking bottom on it after the first week so I was able to walk more but I still needed help getting up the stairs.
How about some online games like Boggle or Words With Friends or Scrabble??? Maybe put a post on FB that you will be hung up for awhile after foot surgery and you’re looking for some game friends and maybe you’ll find some people who play.
Great advice here. I am a three time foot surgery survivor. 8 weeks non weight bearing each time. I had a knee scooter downstairs, and had to crawl up the stairs to bed each night. I learned to have a footstool near the couch upstairs so that i could hoist myself up a bit, to make getting onto the couch easier. From there, i used crutches to stand and get around.
Most important…you will likely have an anesthetic block to your lower leg. Don’t be fooled…it will wear off and all hell will break loose if you have not stayed on top of your pain management. You do not want to chase the pain. Take the meds early and often for the first week(s). Also, find some good firm pillows to use for elevating your foot. On the couch, on your bed, wherever you sit. It will help with the swelling. If possible, rent (i bought) a knee scooter with a basket. It helped me carry phone, and ferry things around the house. Lastly, cook ahead. Freeze meals in small containers. Balancing on the scooter while carrying heavy containers is not advisable. I dropped a 9x13 Pyrex…
Good luck! I am so happy I had my feet fixed. The arthritis in my mid joint was debilitating. Now i home and walk for hours—no pain!
Wow, thank you all. @shellz, thanks for the suggestions. I do have a prescription for the roller, but I like the idea of the basket. I also was wondering how I would get off the floor when I can crawl up the stairs. I am so dreading this.
I sat backwards to go up stairs (pushing up with good foot and arms) and forward to go down. Had crutches or walker (major foot surgeries) at top and bottom of stairs. At the top of the stairs, a small low footstool with a chair behind it allowed me to use them like an extension of the stairs to get into a practical position for standing. Baskets are important. DH filled water bottles daily and put them near my various nests. It was much easier than carrying them initially.
I also organized my clothes for easy accessibility/visibility prior to the surgery. I swear by ice packs for pain management and reducing swelling, though that’s a medical decision. After the initial high pain days, I made a point to get dressed daily. It was going to be a long haul and it mattered to me to be put together. Second surgery was extra delicate. Dr said no showers for 6 weeks. No rinse disposable wash clothes were my initial salvation. It can be manageable; good to ask questions and prepare ahead. All the best.
I like that idea you both gave me of foot stools. I don’t have a couch upstairs. But I will put a chair. I’m going today to get some crutches. I’ll get the knee roller next week. I’m going to practice trying to sit on the toilet without putting any weight on my foot. Get up and down. I think it’s goung to be difficult. I also am worried about being able to make it on time. Maybe TMI, but sometimes when I’m right by the toilet, I really have to go and it’s a race to make it. I’ve thought of using disposable underwear the first 2 weeks.
I also like the idea of DH filling a water bottle for me before he leaves. I keep telling myself it’s very temporary and some people have to live with it everyday. Put it in perspective.
