Foot/Ankle Surgery Recovery from Feb 20st

Posted by DetectiveEstes in Uncategorized      No comments

Feb
22

This is a blog documenting recovery from Post Tibia Tendon surgery in my left foot. The surgery was in mid-January, 2014. Following the surgery, a splint was placed on my left leg from knee to the ball of the foot. After about 1 1/2 weeks, I received a cast in the same location. The cast was heavy, and stiff. I was scheduled to have the cast removed on February 20th. The foot was to be checked, and x-rayed and another cast placed on me for a few more weeks. Prior to the appointment I had some leg cramps which were minor and seemed to go away by simply placing the cast on the floor and staying calm.

On the day of the appointment, the cast cast was removed, and xrays were taken and I saw the doctor, Dr. Hyams. Upon questions, I informed her of the leg cramps, and she massaged my calf which hurt. She informed me she was sending me to have an ultrasound for blood clot as the cramps and hurt from massage sometimes indicated that. A walking boot was placed on my foot and I went to a location directly across from the doctor’s office named CVCA.

The ultrasound technician determined I did have a small blood-clot in my calf so I had to see the doctor. I was sent to an office to wait. Soon, Dr. Sproulings came in and advised me about the blood clot, saying blood-thinner would be administered for the next couple months. Dr. Sproulings was comforting saying that they didn’t worry about blots below the knee as they hardly ever go anywhere. She said the clot I had was tiny. She advised the blood thinner medication was taken for the purpose of allowing the blood to pass the clot and not hang on to it which would make it larger. The thinner was also to prevent other clots from forming. Dr. Sproulings also said that my own body would get rid of the clot as soon as I got some exercise in that area. She said she didn’t think the leg lifts I was doing would help much in that regard as they didn’t actually exercise the calf, but instead the quads around the knee and the thigh. So I guess I’m stuck with this thing till I get out of a cast entirely, when I get started with therapy which actually will, exercise my calf.

When I was done with the ultrasound, I returned home with my new walking boot, which was confusing to me. I received another appointment to CVCA the following Wednesday for them to check and see if the clot grew smaller in the last week. The day after that, I received an appointment to see my surgeon. But that left me with some questions – that is, what am I supposed to be doing with a walking boot? It is confusing because the cast immobilized my foot and the instructions were that the cast is non weight bearing, don’t put weight on it. But now, just prior to getting another cast, I am placed in a walking boot, except with no instructions. Walking boots, other than the bottom, are flexible on the top and sides. My foot could swell more than in a cast. So what to do about walking?

The following day, I contacted Dr. Hyams about the boot. I was advised the boot is to be treated like a cast, non-weight bearing. The only problem with this instruction is that the boot is so much larger than the cast, the non-weight bearing is near impossible. Even just getting out of a chair, the boot is much larger than the cast and one just has to have the foot flat on the floor. Plus the boot is far heavier than the cast, which helps place it on the floor whether the wearer wants it there or not. When crutching, the boot is so long and heavy that it hangs down further and scrapes if the wearer attempts to keep the boot off the ground. Suffice to say, non-weight bearing if far more difficult with the boot than the cast!

So right now, I have another appointment for another ultrasound on Wednesday Feb 26 and another appointment with my surgeon to discuss the cast. The ultrasound is to determine if the clot is the same size or smaller, and not larger. I am hoping that may mean I can get out of this walking boot and back into a cast so my foot can continue to heal properly.

So how did all this come about? Why would I get a blood-clot, when only 1% of surgeries get one? Perhaps the answer is simple. I was to take aspirin for 10 days following the surgery. I did. The someone at the doctor’s office said I could stop, and I did. Bad move. I suppose there is no definite was to say that lack of aspirin was the reason for my clot, but, the reason for taking the aspirin a day was to keep the blood clots away. I stopped taking it and next thing, I had a clot.

This was just a short post acknowledging a small setback in recovery. I look forward to the next installment.