Update! 20 months post surgery.

Sorry for the ridiculous lag time on my blog. I suppose it's a good sign. Life has moved on and I've become very busy. But I feel a certain responsibility to put an update out here.

The surgery, for the most part, has been very successful. If you have read through my blog, then you will know that I actually had 3 procedures done during my surgery. 1) the arthrodesis (fusion), 2) an osteotomy to create an arch and 3) a lateral column lengthening to straighten my foot out.

The fusion went perfectly. The pain, the discomfort and weird sensations have all disappeared. The fusion and osteotomy combined have given my foot a very "normal" appearance. When I walk barefoot through a puddle, I make a foot print with an arch now. Very cool.

The limited mobility in the joint has been completely tolerable. Occasionally (very infrequently) I'll slightly lose my balance on that foot and have to steady myself, but it's not a problem at all. Very normal.

The third procedure (lateral column lengthening) has unfortunately been problematic. It seems the correction has placed too much stress on the joint just ahead of the calcaneous and it has become inflamed. I return to the surgeon every few months for a cortisone injection to reduce the inflammation. Since the joint is so tight and the inflammation is so great, the shot really really really sucks. I mean it hurts...brings a tear to my eye. But honestly, after the shot, things are fine for several months. Most likely, however, this will ultimately result in a second surgery and a full triple fusion. Which, I am not looking forward to in the least. I'll do shots as long as I can.

I also had a very mysterious pain in my heal that has faded over time, but became difficult to tolerate for a period. Initially the surgeon thought I had developed fasciitis, and then thought there was a scar tissue problem. I eventually had a friend, who is a physical therapist, suggest that I had a knot in my calf muscle that was pushing on a nerve that created a pain in my heal. I started massaging my calf each evening before bed and the pain has decreased significantly.

The pain in the lateral joint has kept me from really taking the foot for a true "test drive." Nobody really wants to hurt themselves. But I have played baseball a bit with my boys and can run the bases just fine. (I don't run flat out, but jogging is okay.) I walk my dogs and go to amusement parks and am able to live my life. When I have a fresh cortisone injection I can get out and cut grass, move heavy stuff around the house and do all the things I would normally do. When the pain returns, I take it easy until I can get into the doctor.

All in all, things are better. It's not what I had hoped for, but for those living with a coalition, you know that any improvement is a big deal.

Thanks for all the emails and posts.

Must have for foot surgery

I return to my doctor every three months now for cortisone shots in my foot. The lateral column lengthening has created some severe pain in my calcaneocuboid joint. The joint is tight and spurs are starting to form around it. I need to get some images out here about it.

It's on the outside of my left foot, below and a little forward or my ankle. And it's close to the skin. Every two and a half months it starts hurting (after my cortisone shot wears off). I try to wait a full three month in between shots. Partially because it costs me some money, and partially because I don't want to go. It hurts...a lot.

I also get a shot around my talarnavicular joint because the beaking has become so pronounced that it is affecting the soft tissue around it.

But I can only tolerate the shots for so long, so I am probably looking at another surgery again. I had it scheduled for this year, but decided I could put it off for another year. I need to start thinking about it again. And blogging about it again.

Must have for foot surgery, Knee Walkers!

As I visit the surgeon for the shots I have started to see people coming in on what are called "knee walkers" I've added a picture at the bottom of this post. Basically you kneel your "bad" leg on the pad and scoot along with your good leg. It's really like a scooter.

I've GOT to have one of these the next time I have surgery. This beats walkers and crutches. It's more stable. It's more convenient. And it's more comfortable.

When you're using walkers or crutches, you lift your bad foot off the ground to protect it. Trust me, if you lose your balance, you WILL put your bad foot down instinctively. And it does not feel good. But a knee walker will prevent that.

Crutches make your armpits hurt if you don't use them correctly. And even if you do use them right, your hands and arm muscles will get tired and sore. Again, not an issue with the knee walker.

I have talked to people about them and they love them. The only complaint is that their back sometimes get tired from being in that position for too long.

Anyway, if you haven't seen or heard of these, you have now. You should definitely look into it. Your insurance or health plan may even cover part or all of the cost, depending on your insurance.