There is now about a 1 1/4" gap between the foot and the ground. Slowly the amount of space is increasing and we are close to being about where we were prior to the February surgery.
My incision is still giving me difficulty. It has been very red, hot, swollen, and very painful the entire week. The scab that was on the incision has totally come off and the wound has continued to drain significantly all week. I have been up at night with this.
I am trying to work through feelings of discouragement, anger, frustration and the reality that all we have done in the past nine weeks has likely not been successful. I am ready to return to my house, but am no where close to being able to do this. My quality of life is not normal and there are countless things that I can no longer do. I have had very rough student visit days this week at work that has been exhausting. It is getting harder and harder for me to focus on work items and not feeling well.
I am getting questions together for the Chicago visit on April 9th and am trying to manage my expectations for this appointment. This doctor is on vacation this week, but I sent her an e-mail today telling her when I was coming and that I wanted to discuss the possibility of having a prosthetic foot. I continue to have issues with my artificial hip on the opposite side and before this gets worse, we HAVE to make some substantial progress in a positive way on the foot situation. I am thinking that physical therapy is likely not worth trying, simply because I have done this in the past and it has not been effective. I have two physical therapists that I plan to meet with before going to Chicago.
I am trying to think positively and continue to pray for a miracle!
Jenny
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Friday, March 23, 2007
Chicago Follow-up Visit Scheduled
I have not heard back from either surgeon this week, after I sent an e-mail note and digital pictures. I was a able to schedule a follow-up appointment with the Chicago surgeon for the morning of Monday, April 9th and am looking forward to getting her opinion. I will then follow-up with my St. Louis surgeon on April 11th. The foot continues to supinate or tip to the right. There is a strong 1" between the foot and the ground. I am still using the crutches to walk for most of the time. All of my weight is on the heel area only, so walking continues to be a huge challenge.
The scab that was on my incision came off today too early, so we are starting all over! The inside of my sock was warm and it caused the scab to get soggy (more information that you want to know) and fall apart.
I am anxious to see the Chicago doctor in several weeks and get her opinion. Hopefully she will respond via e-mail in the interim. I am frustrated with how soon the foot deformity has surfaced again . . . this is exactly what we were hoping to avoid.
je
The scab that was on my incision came off today too early, so we are starting all over! The inside of my sock was warm and it caused the scab to get soggy (more information that you want to know) and fall apart.
I am anxious to see the Chicago doctor in several weeks and get her opinion. Hopefully she will respond via e-mail in the interim. I am frustrated with how soon the foot deformity has surfaced again . . . this is exactly what we were hoping to avoid.
je
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Praise .... incision is starting to close.
As of today, it looks as though the incision area may be starting to close. I have kept the incision area totally dry and slowly it is looking better. Still lots of redness, swelling, discoloration, etc., but there was no drainage today, which is a good sign. Thanks for your prayers on this!
I received a brief note from my Chicago surgeon on Monday. She is a bit distressed (her words) about the situation. It is early for the foot to be supinating already. I wrote back and told her that I was distressed, too. She is going to speak with my doctor in St. Louis (hopefully soon) and see if the position of the bones looks like it has been maintained on the x-ray. I was told and suspect, that the x-ray will read "normal" and will look okay - this has always been the case in the past. My deformity presents itself as you see it visually.
I have taken a few steps in the boot, but am not walking much. Basically from the car into work and then back home again. I am using the crutches all evening after I leave the office. Depending on how the phone chat between my two doctors goes, I may make a trip to Chicago (sooner than later) to let that surgeon see the foot in person.
Keep praying for the following:
- Chicago & St. Louis surgeon talk and confer yet this week.
- If I need to go to Chicago, an appointment would be available soon.
- That the gap of space under the foot will not increase in the days ahead.
- Stamina and energy for work .... it is not as obvious that something is
wrong with the foot without the cast.
- Insurance - that future medical bills won't be an issue.
Wishing you a joyous week!
je
I received a brief note from my Chicago surgeon on Monday. She is a bit distressed (her words) about the situation. It is early for the foot to be supinating already. I wrote back and told her that I was distressed, too. She is going to speak with my doctor in St. Louis (hopefully soon) and see if the position of the bones looks like it has been maintained on the x-ray. I was told and suspect, that the x-ray will read "normal" and will look okay - this has always been the case in the past. My deformity presents itself as you see it visually.
I have taken a few steps in the boot, but am not walking much. Basically from the car into work and then back home again. I am using the crutches all evening after I leave the office. Depending on how the phone chat between my two doctors goes, I may make a trip to Chicago (sooner than later) to let that surgeon see the foot in person.
Keep praying for the following:
- Chicago & St. Louis surgeon talk and confer yet this week.
- If I need to go to Chicago, an appointment would be available soon.
- That the gap of space under the foot will not increase in the days ahead.
- Stamina and energy for work .... it is not as obvious that something is
wrong with the foot without the cast.
- Insurance - that future medical bills won't be an issue.
Wishing you a joyous week!
je
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Mixed feelings ...
It has been great to wash, shave, and pile on the lotion this weekend on my foot/leg area. I can now get the foot wet, but not immersed in water. The foot was kinda in "shock" on Friday and Saturday, so I did not put weight on it. The tenuous incision has needed to be elevated to prevent swelling and pain.
I walked around the house twice this afternoon with the boot shoe and cane. I had already taken pain medicine in anticipation that discomfort was ahead. I walk on the heel and outside area of the foot only, which is not normal. 50% of your body weight is supposed to be over the toe area, but none of my weight is there. Thankfully, I have the scooter at work for another two weeks.
I have had very mixed emotions about this all weekend. It is hard to continue to be patient. My mind wants to be ten steps ahead and know if the position we have now is a "good" as it will ever be. As of today, the big toe is about 1" off the ground and about 3/4" in the center area of the foot. I went to the mall yesterday afternoon for a little outing. I looked at shoes at Nordstroms and Macys, but this was more frustrating than anything. Shoes are not my concern at the moment, but I didn't see anything that would be remotely functional for the future. I didn't even see shoes that would work, but were ugly!
I do not have students in the Village for the first four days this week, so that will give me additional time to work at my desk and try to rest the foot a bit. I am sure that the strength of the foot will improve in the next week and in weeks to come. Keep praying that the foot will come down to the correct position!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Six Week Update ....
Happy Friday!
I got the cast off this morning … yeah, yeah! As you can imagine, the foot is extremely swollen and puffy. It is going to take quite some time for it to come down. The x-rays showed that all the bones have healed. I now have a new “boot” type shoe and can begin to put weight on the foot. The incision is still a concern. There is not an infection in the incision, but it continues to drain liquid and we have to watch it closely. It looks very rough from the outside, and there is a substantial amount of healing that needs to take place yet.
As for the positioning of the foot, it is still unknown. My doctor continues to be
“cautiously optimistic” (his words), but this is as positive as it gets at the moment. As of today, the foot looks flatter but it does not lay flat to the ground. The big toe does not make contact with the ground and there is a gap of space, where the foot sits to the right side. The entire foot is very rigid and does not bend or move, as of now. There is also a weird position with my knee/ankle on that side – difficult to explain, but it is not “correct” as it is now. All of this could improve with time or become increasingly worse.
My experience in the past has been that “what you see” after surgery, is what you continues for the future. Just being realistic ….
In the past, the foot quickly began tipping to the right within days after the cast was removed. It came out of the cast somewhat tipped, so hopefully this will not worsen. It is to early to tell whether or not, I can sustain the current position. I am confident that walking is going to be very difficult and painful with the way it is now. The toe deformity definitely needs to be corrected – probably sooner than later. Physical therapy will begin in 4 weeks, if it looks like the surgery was successful.
My third appeal for the bone stimulator was denied by JA, at the trustee meeting yesterday. A second doctor reviewed my case and agreed with the first doctor that it was not medically necessary for my condition. I will never understand why they are not willing to be more proactive, but such is life. I have sent an e-mail to the Chicago surgeon along with x-ray and digital camera pictures from this morning. I don’t think we will do anything else in pursuing the bone device.
Keep praying and trusting that things will improve and look better than today ….
Jenny
I got the cast off this morning … yeah, yeah! As you can imagine, the foot is extremely swollen and puffy. It is going to take quite some time for it to come down. The x-rays showed that all the bones have healed. I now have a new “boot” type shoe and can begin to put weight on the foot. The incision is still a concern. There is not an infection in the incision, but it continues to drain liquid and we have to watch it closely. It looks very rough from the outside, and there is a substantial amount of healing that needs to take place yet.
As for the positioning of the foot, it is still unknown. My doctor continues to be
“cautiously optimistic” (his words), but this is as positive as it gets at the moment. As of today, the foot looks flatter but it does not lay flat to the ground. The big toe does not make contact with the ground and there is a gap of space, where the foot sits to the right side. The entire foot is very rigid and does not bend or move, as of now. There is also a weird position with my knee/ankle on that side – difficult to explain, but it is not “correct” as it is now. All of this could improve with time or become increasingly worse.
My experience in the past has been that “what you see” after surgery, is what you continues for the future. Just being realistic ….
In the past, the foot quickly began tipping to the right within days after the cast was removed. It came out of the cast somewhat tipped, so hopefully this will not worsen. It is to early to tell whether or not, I can sustain the current position. I am confident that walking is going to be very difficult and painful with the way it is now. The toe deformity definitely needs to be corrected – probably sooner than later. Physical therapy will begin in 4 weeks, if it looks like the surgery was successful.
My third appeal for the bone stimulator was denied by JA, at the trustee meeting yesterday. A second doctor reviewed my case and agreed with the first doctor that it was not medically necessary for my condition. I will never understand why they are not willing to be more proactive, but such is life. I have sent an e-mail to the Chicago surgeon along with x-ray and digital camera pictures from this morning. I don’t think we will do anything else in pursuing the bone device.
Keep praying and trusting that things will improve and look better than today ….
Jenny
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Almost "Cast Off" Day .... YIPEE!!!
We are down to one final day in the cast .... FINALLY! Six weeks ago on Friday was when I had the surgery done in Chicago. I am so excited about getting the cast off that I have not thought about anything beyond that. I did find out today that I will get a new "walking boot" on Friday at my doctor's appt. My old boot has been thoroughly used and the Velcro on the inside was wearing off. I will likely use the "walking boot" for the next 3-4 weeks.
Tomorrow is the day that the JA medical trustees board will make a decision on the bone stimulator (i.e. whether or not insurance will cover it). I am not getting my hopes up, and will be pleasantly surprised if this comes through.
My left hip is artificial and has been giving me difficulty and painful the entire week. Normally, the pain may come and go and usually is not constant. I think the hip is just "done" with carrying all the weight for so long. I know that the liner inside the hip socket does need to be replaced, but I hoped to not have this done before mid-summer - at the earliest. In June, I will be at the "ten year" mark with the hip and it is time to have part of it replaced. I need a break from the orthopedic scene for awhile, so hopefully this will improve a bit - assuming the foot situation will also improve.
No word yet on when I need to return to Chicago for a follow-up appointment. I will e-mail and send digital pictures to the Chicago surgeon on Saturday. She is still rooting for me, too!
So long for the fashionable pink cast .... a pedicure (at home ... don't panic) is definitely waiting!
Will update you more on Friday ..... keep thinking and praying for a straight and FLAT foot.
Tomorrow is the day that the JA medical trustees board will make a decision on the bone stimulator (i.e. whether or not insurance will cover it). I am not getting my hopes up, and will be pleasantly surprised if this comes through.
My left hip is artificial and has been giving me difficulty and painful the entire week. Normally, the pain may come and go and usually is not constant. I think the hip is just "done" with carrying all the weight for so long. I know that the liner inside the hip socket does need to be replaced, but I hoped to not have this done before mid-summer - at the earliest. In June, I will be at the "ten year" mark with the hip and it is time to have part of it replaced. I need a break from the orthopedic scene for awhile, so hopefully this will improve a bit - assuming the foot situation will also improve.
No word yet on when I need to return to Chicago for a follow-up appointment. I will e-mail and send digital pictures to the Chicago surgeon on Saturday. She is still rooting for me, too!
So long for the fashionable pink cast .... a pedicure (at home ... don't panic) is definitely waiting!
Will update you more on Friday ..... keep thinking and praying for a straight and FLAT foot.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Bone Stimulator Update ...
Quick update ….
As for the bone stimulator and insurance fiasco, the saga continues. My appeal has now been denied twice and the third level of the appeal process will occur next Thursday, March 15th. A benefits board through my employer will review my case and will make a final ruling. Supposedly, they will look at the opinion of my current Chicago surgeon and the physician that the insurance company has hired and will decide whether the initial two appeals were correct or if there is merit as to the bone stimulator being a medical necessity. I would guess that it would be unusual for them to overturn two appeals, but you never know!
The insurance company wants to go 90 days and see if the natural healing process fails. They believe that since I used a bone stimulator in the past and then additional surgery was needed, the bone stimulator must not have been effective. Wrong! The insurance company is not into being pro-active, as I would like.
The JA “benefits board” is a non-medical board, which is going to rule on the necessity of the bone stimulator in a challenging medical case that has baffled most surgeons. Who dreamed up this process? Not sure, but I question whether or not it is the best process. If they decide to rule in my favor, the device is something I can still use and will aid in the healing process, even after the cast comes off. It is something that I would then own forever and we’d never go through this lengthy process again.
I am headed to central Illinois this weekend to visit with family. We will return home early Sunday evening. My final cast appointment is at 8am on Friday, March 16th. Thankfully, the itching in the cast has been manageable this week. After the cast comes off, it will then probably be a few weeks before we begin physical therapy.
Hope you have a relaxing weekend!
je
As for the bone stimulator and insurance fiasco, the saga continues. My appeal has now been denied twice and the third level of the appeal process will occur next Thursday, March 15th. A benefits board through my employer will review my case and will make a final ruling. Supposedly, they will look at the opinion of my current Chicago surgeon and the physician that the insurance company has hired and will decide whether the initial two appeals were correct or if there is merit as to the bone stimulator being a medical necessity. I would guess that it would be unusual for them to overturn two appeals, but you never know!
The insurance company wants to go 90 days and see if the natural healing process fails. They believe that since I used a bone stimulator in the past and then additional surgery was needed, the bone stimulator must not have been effective. Wrong! The insurance company is not into being pro-active, as I would like.
The JA “benefits board” is a non-medical board, which is going to rule on the necessity of the bone stimulator in a challenging medical case that has baffled most surgeons. Who dreamed up this process? Not sure, but I question whether or not it is the best process. If they decide to rule in my favor, the device is something I can still use and will aid in the healing process, even after the cast comes off. It is something that I would then own forever and we’d never go through this lengthy process again.
I am headed to central Illinois this weekend to visit with family. We will return home early Sunday evening. My final cast appointment is at 8am on Friday, March 16th. Thankfully, the itching in the cast has been manageable this week. After the cast comes off, it will then probably be a few weeks before we begin physical therapy.
Hope you have a relaxing weekend!
je
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
New "Cast Off Date" - now March 16th!
As for my foot doctor appt. yesterday ..... the verdict is definitely still out on whether or not the last surgery was successful. I give it a 50/50 chance and it could swing either way in a heartbeat. I thought for the first time ever that it looked like a very deformed foot. When I compared the two feet on the floor (without any weight on it), it appears that there is still some pulling up & to the side. It doesn't just lay flat on the ground - nice and easy. If I do get it to lay flat, I am not sure I can physically sustain the position. We'll have to see what happens. A lot of physical therapy is going to be needed, if it looks like we are headed in the right direction.
I was surprised by the rigidness of it ... I knew it would be this way (i.e no movement), but it has a long way to go if we are ever to get it into a shoe or walk properly. No movement literally means no movement at all. One incision (about 4-5 inches) is still a big mess and is totally open after 5 weeks - my gut feeling is that skin grafting will be needed. The surgeon says there is no infection, but based on yellow liquid coming out, it looks very questionable. Thankfully, I am on antibiotics. No progress has been made on getting the bone stimulator approved.
I have to stay in the cast until March 16th now - ugh!! The plan is to try and move to a walking boot on March 16th and see what happens. Needless to say, it wasn't one of my better visits as the idea of this not working is still a viable possibility. Keep praying for realistic expectations, a positive attitude, and patience . . . thanks!
I was surprised by the rigidness of it ... I knew it would be this way (i.e no movement), but it has a long way to go if we are ever to get it into a shoe or walk properly. No movement literally means no movement at all. One incision (about 4-5 inches) is still a big mess and is totally open after 5 weeks - my gut feeling is that skin grafting will be needed. The surgeon says there is no infection, but based on yellow liquid coming out, it looks very questionable. Thankfully, I am on antibiotics. No progress has been made on getting the bone stimulator approved.
I have to stay in the cast until March 16th now - ugh!! The plan is to try and move to a walking boot on March 16th and see what happens. Needless to say, it wasn't one of my better visits as the idea of this not working is still a viable possibility. Keep praying for realistic expectations, a positive attitude, and patience . . . thanks!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
One week left .... yippee!
Happy Saturday!
It was a busy day at work on Friday as we had 130 students in the Village and teacher training. I had two evening meetings at work this week, so I was tired and ready for Friday to arrive.
My “new hires” that started last week are working out great and have really stepped up to the plate this week. We have students in the Village next week all five days, so everyone is “resting up” this weekend. The next three months are the busiest months of the year at the Village.
I spent a significant amount of time on the phone on Friday with my insurance company arguing over the approval of the bone stimulator device. My 2nd appeal was denied. The insurance company physician says the device is not necessary and my Chicago surgeon says that it is necessary . . . of course the insurance company goes with the opinion of their hired physician.
The benefits department of the national Junior Achievement office in Colorado is reviewing the case next week and will make a final decision. The president of my JA office is also in the process of making a few phone calls on my behalf. We’ll see if it helps . . . if this fails, there is nothing else to try and we will hope the bones heal properly naturally. It is sad that insurance seems to dictate medical care – glad this isn’t an oxygen machine or a heart device!
My Chicago surgeon did write back and she is still rooting for a successful outcome! She prescribed an antibiotic to try and prevent an impending infection and told me to keep using on the muscle relaxant medicine. She is pushing on my insurance company also.
I am down to about a week left in the cast …. Yippee! Yippee! I am anticipating that if the foot is going to lay flat when I put weight on it, that I should be able to see this immediately when the final cast comes off. In the past, it has always tipped up pretty much right away so if we can get to be flat from the start, hopefully it will stay that way. In theory, the bones that were fused together during the last surgery should not allow any movement to happen – i.e. it should not be possible for the foot to tip to the side. I know the droopy toes will require another surgery, but this is supposed to be small and does not involve a cast. I am guessing that the toe surgery is something that could be done in St. Louis (maybe late spring).
My appointment to have the cast changed and incision checked is on Monday afternoon. I am looking forward to seeing how it looks again although until I put weight on it, the appearance of it really doesn’t matter.
Wishing you a joyous weekend!
je
It was a busy day at work on Friday as we had 130 students in the Village and teacher training. I had two evening meetings at work this week, so I was tired and ready for Friday to arrive.
My “new hires” that started last week are working out great and have really stepped up to the plate this week. We have students in the Village next week all five days, so everyone is “resting up” this weekend. The next three months are the busiest months of the year at the Village.
I spent a significant amount of time on the phone on Friday with my insurance company arguing over the approval of the bone stimulator device. My 2nd appeal was denied. The insurance company physician says the device is not necessary and my Chicago surgeon says that it is necessary . . . of course the insurance company goes with the opinion of their hired physician.
The benefits department of the national Junior Achievement office in Colorado is reviewing the case next week and will make a final decision. The president of my JA office is also in the process of making a few phone calls on my behalf. We’ll see if it helps . . . if this fails, there is nothing else to try and we will hope the bones heal properly naturally. It is sad that insurance seems to dictate medical care – glad this isn’t an oxygen machine or a heart device!
My Chicago surgeon did write back and she is still rooting for a successful outcome! She prescribed an antibiotic to try and prevent an impending infection and told me to keep using on the muscle relaxant medicine. She is pushing on my insurance company also.
I am down to about a week left in the cast …. Yippee! Yippee! I am anticipating that if the foot is going to lay flat when I put weight on it, that I should be able to see this immediately when the final cast comes off. In the past, it has always tipped up pretty much right away so if we can get to be flat from the start, hopefully it will stay that way. In theory, the bones that were fused together during the last surgery should not allow any movement to happen – i.e. it should not be possible for the foot to tip to the side. I know the droopy toes will require another surgery, but this is supposed to be small and does not involve a cast. I am guessing that the toe surgery is something that could be done in St. Louis (maybe late spring).
My appointment to have the cast changed and incision checked is on Monday afternoon. I am looking forward to seeing how it looks again although until I put weight on it, the appearance of it really doesn’t matter.
Wishing you a joyous weekend!
je
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