First Doctor’s Post-Surgery Visit
Steve had to take me for my first doctor’s post-surgery visit, by process of elimination.
Kasi’s husband ended up getting Covid over the weekend, so they had to cancel their trip to the Bahamas. The trip was for their 20th anniversary.
Kendra had been at their house for dinner the night before, so we were afraid for her to take me.
So that left Steve. Thank goodness for him.
What Happened At Doctor’s Visit:
They took the cast off and the stitches are now out from the ankle surgery. My right leg is now in a boot and I can get the incisions wet after 24 hours.
As for the incisions, there is about a 2-inch incision on either side of my ankle. And an arthroscopic incision in front about where my foot meets my ankle.
The surgeon chiseled out about 2 inches of bone that had fused together on its own at some point. Who knows why that happened.
There is supposed to be an open space up your leg from your ankle, I learned. Mine was closed due to the bones fusing together.
So he chiseled that out and also repaired the torn tendon.
They took an x-ray and said it looked good.
I don’t have much pain, as I’ve been sitting since I got home. I’ve tried to do more, but so far I can only stand up. I have attempted to stand up and take a step, but haven’t been able to do that yet.
Steve gave me a walking stick (he had two) to use. I will have to take it a little at a time. First, it will be one step, and then another.
Will Begin Physical Therapy:
The doctor’s office is looking for the closest physical therapy office near where I live.
I’ll begin physical therapy immediately to keep my ankle from stiffening up as well as strengthening it.
Kasi and her husband are now planning to travel next week. Kendra will help them out by having Andrew some of that time. Ross’s father will drive here to help out as well.
So I’ll have to schedule physical therapy around that.
It feels much better having the cast off my leg, as it was pretty tight. He said it had to be tight to keep me from tearing up the stitches, etc.
Lambrusco’s Deli:
There is a restaurant named Lambrusco’s Deli I just started ordering food from. They make their own casseroles from scratch and freeze them. So in essence, frozen dinners.
Over the weekend I ordered and had their Reuben Sandwich delivered to my apartment.
A woman and her mother opened the deli/restaurant in the mid-eighties. It has excellent ratings.
Steve had eaten there and said it was good. So Steve stopped there on the way home while I waited in the car. I gave him enough money to buy 2 casseroles, a Chef’s Salad, and 2 apricot pastries.
Kendra told me they have excellent casseroles. Each casserole is around $16 each. So to me, it sounds well worth it. Especially if you’re barely getting around on your own.
I’m so glad you are recovering and that the cast is off. It’s a huge feeling of freedom, isn’t. I remember when Rick had his ankle surgery (ankles are nasty, aren’t they?) that sense of liberation — even if he couldn’t really put weight or do much with it for some time. Sending all good wishes for a full recovery and a quick one!
Hi Brenda, I had an ankle replacement 5 years ago (a little more complicated than a knee replacement as it moves in a circle instead of back & forth like a knee). My surgeon recommended aquatic physiology therapy and it REALLY helped. Maybe you can find one who has the equipment in their office? It was not in a pool. My PT had a tank that looked like a deep soaker tub with glass sides (so the PT could see what I was doing). It had a treadmill on the bottom and I would walk in, then she would fill it with water to about waist high and then I would walk on the treadmill doing specific exercises to strengthen my ankle while she watched to see that I was doing it correctly. It was great being in the water and able to take some weight off my ankle in order to flex it properly without straining. It’s good now and I think this type of therapy was a key in my recovery. Good luck! I hope you find something that works for you.
Grrr…Autocorrect. It should be “aquatic physio therapy” …sorry!
A “step” in the right direction (pun intended)! So happy to hear that the x-ray looked good, and that the cast is off! Physical therapy will make a big difference in your recovery.
I’m taking it slow. Still can only take a step or two. No rush.
Good to hear you are getting the visits done. Can you get in-home physical therapy? I have had it twice with my medicare and that was great. Good look!
That would be great! I’ll look into it.
Hurray for getting the cast off!
Sure felt good.
Yay, you’ve gotten over one more hurdle, Brenda! Glad it went well and that the doctor is pleased. I know that physical therapy will be arduous, but I know you will be able to do it and become more mobile and pain-free than you have for some time. Then it will be time to really celebrate!
So glad you have a neighbor like Steve who’s willing to step in and help when needed. Clearly one of the good guys.
So sorry to hear that COVID has invaded your family. It’s going to be with us for a long time I think, despite all the vaccinations and pills, etc. I feel that it’s still important to be cautious so I still mask whenever I go out in public. Even though I’ve been vaccinated and also had COVID. I hope you take extra care, too, so you don’t get it.
The Covid community risk is back up to High in Tulsa County/OK
Very pleased things are progressing well for you Brenda…wishing you continued recovery. x
Thanks for the support!
I am shocked that the doctor didn’t order you a Rollator walker – the kind with wheels and a seat. It is much more stable and you can carry things around in it and sit down not only at home but when you go to appointments. Medicare pays for it. I have one I use sometimes.
I have one. But I won’t use it until I can walk a little.
Glad to hear you reached the major milestone of cast removal, Brenda, and that you’re prepared to be very careful. Hope all goes well with physical therapy.
I’m planning to be ultra-careful this time around.
Sure good Steve is so helpful to you!! Glad things are looking good!!
He couldn’t be more helpful.
So glad to hear that your appointment went well today, and the cast has been removed! I was fearful it might be delayed due to the many falls you had. Also glad to read below that you are “determined this time around to not push it.” 🙂
Please be ultra careful with that blooming knee scooter.
Best wishes as you continue your recovery, and as you begin physical therapy!
I’m careful. Those knee scooters are pretty dangerous if you’re not careful!
Thank God u didn’t catch covid Brenda! I had it and I almost didn’t make it and I’ve always been healthy!
My daughter was sick with it too, who gave it to me and got it from where she works!
I hope your sil recovers from it soon! I will keep him and your family in my prayers.
So glad u got your cast off and have Steve to count on!
Oh, me too. That would have been all I needed at this point.
Glad things are slowly progressing…one day at a time..no more cast🥰💕
One day at a time. One step at a time. No rush.
Thanks for the update – so pleased that the cast is off. And how good of Steve to help you – a good friend there.
I was wondering if you could arrange any rides to therapy and doctor appointments through medicare. Around here, we also have transit vans for seniors through our county’s office of aging and adult services. I used to be a caseworker and lots of our clients were able to use these services – not income based, but as a senior service. Just a thought.
How pretty Ivy kitty looks! Her fur is just beautiful.
Take care, and sorry your family is dealing with Covid. There’s a lot of it around – one of my friends got it and he’s had all the shots too.
I will look into the rides. Steve was afraid I wouldn’t make it over all the hard surfaces here. But I did. Sidewalks raised by tree roots, etc.
So I am confused. Did you walk on it after they put the boot on in the office?how did you get from the dr office to the apartment? How did you get inside your apartment when you got home? And instead of trying to rely on friends and family, why don’t you call and sign up for senior pick up and drop off ? And yes, a walker with wheels, brakes, and a seat is much better than a walking stick. The seat flips up so you can store things and sit on it if needed. Speaking from experience when I started walking around the house after my broken knee. They have those you could rent or just buy one.
The doctor told me to go home and practice standing and then walking on it. I would need help if I used a senior pickup because it’s a good little walk from my apartment to the parking lot. And it’s not even or smooth. The only thing that is really smooth is my walkway.
Good question! I would also like to know the answer to that.
How did you get from the car to the apartment?
Awesome news, Brenda! Getting the cast removed has to be a huge relief. Unless you need to move around plan on staying put until your physical therapy starts.
Thank goodness for Steve – he’s become a wonderful friend.
Take care of yourself, Brenda!
I want to make sure I’m okay and not overdoing it until I get to PT and see what they have to say.
So glad to hear how wonderfully you’re progressing! And, here’s to great friends!
Great friends are the best.
Wouldn’t a walker with wheels and a seat be safer to use than a “walking stick” or a cane? If you walked behind it you wouldn’t have to worry so much about falling, and if you sat on it you could use your good leg to push yourself around your apartment.
You may be right. I can do that.
Something else you might want to consider is a handicap placket for a car. After I got sick in early February and remained weak for months after, not one doctor said anything about me having one. Yet here I am walking with a cane and very unsteady on my feet. I just got a form today that was signed by my doctor and I’m mailing it in to receive one.
I’ve had a handicap sticker on my car for years because I haven’t been able to walk far for the last 10 years. We took my car today.
Glad to hear you got the cast off. Steve is such a good friend, I’m glad he is always there for you! Enjoy the casserole!
He is a phenomenal friend. Just hope I can do the same for him whenever he needs me.
Literally one step at a time – slowly – back on the road to a hopefully pain-free future. SO glad you were able to get the cast removed and everything sounds like it has healed very well. There is a road that you will have to travel to get to the “end” – a pain free ankle that you can rely on to support you. You can do it, I think some of us are just worried that you will overdo and go too fast! What a wonderful thing that you moved to where you are now, surrounded by people who have become friends who can help out when you need it. Fingers crossed the path to recovery is smooth with no road blocks.
In the past, that would have been a worry. But I’m determined this time around to not push it. I’ve only been up a couple of times and I’ve used the knee scooter. I tried to stand and take a step, but I just can’t yet. Not pushing it.
Now you are adjusting well. I forgot about having a surgery and not knowing what is going on that you cannot see under the cast. You did extremely well with that.
Take care and enjoy your meals.
Sorry to hear about your family having Covid. Have you been exposed? It is easier to ask than reread.
I don’t see how I would have been exposed. Kendra was here Saturday with her 18 year old son. But she had not been around Kasi and her family yet.
Ty. It is hard for me to keep them all apart. So glad you have not been
exposed.
glad to hear everything went well Brenda. I have just got back onto your blog. I won’t go thru everything but I think I will get Cosy Little House every day now.
Lovely picture of Ivy.
Take it easy, one step at a time.
Thanks, Wendy! Ivy loves to pose.
So glad to hear that your post-op visit went well and you got the cast off. You might do well with a cane. Walking sticks aren’t as sturdy. A cane sure helped me after my knee surgery. Thank goodness for your nice neighbors!!
I have a cane, I think, in my closet. I’ll look next time I get up.
Awesome news Brenda! Physical therapy will help a lot, take it easy!
I am taking it easy. I don’t want to fall on my face when my feet aren’t ready to move yet.