Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day weekend! We were super busy at work this week, as it is only three weeks until kids begin arriving. Friday was the first day that I was on my foot all day, and I was really feeling it (as in pain) by mid-afternoon. I had planned to do a few things after work, but none of that happened …. ended up picking up a salad and came home and watched a DVD.

This morning I had my fifth session with the personal trainer. I discovered that I cannot turn my foot out or in; probably has been that way for a long time, but I just realized it. Still doing the bike/walking/or elliptical machine for 4-5 miles each day …. trying to mix it up so I don’t get bored.

Tonight I was doing some foot research on the Internet and I googled “Top US foot surgeons.” The second entry that was listed was my Chicago ortho surgeon! The first doctor that was listed is also in her office and I’ve seen him, too.

Still hoping & praying for some options to be presented on Friday. I e-mailed questions to Chicago last week and asked them to “think ahead,” prior to my arrival. The appointment time goes so quickly and it is over before you know it.

I had VERY much hoped that all this foot stuff would be behind us before a new year started with kiddos at work, but no luck. Today I was transferring tons of foot pictures from my computer to a CD and was shocked at how awful my incision looked in the spring. I can’t believe that I changed the dressing 4-5 times a day for six months. Still thankful that the incision is closed, but we have a substantial problem with no movement yet. I really think that if we operate again and get it moving, I have to keep it moving continually ….. the eight weeks of no movement was the clincher last time. Someone needs to invent something that a patient could wear & it would keep the toes wiggling while they were healing.

Friday, September 5th - 11:00am - Appt. w/Chicago ortho surgeon - think of us!

Hope you are relaxing & enjoying sunny weather this weekend . . . .
je

Struggling .....

Keep praying for the foot situation to get better. I've really been struggling the past few weeks and it is not getting any easier. We are at the 4 year and 3 month mark and there really isn't an end in sight. I am fairly certain that there are four choices as for the "next step":

1. Do nothing; live with the current situation the way it is.
2. Re-do the April surgery and remove more bone to try & get more forefoot
movement Involves opening up the same area that we just closed w/the transfer surgery )... Not sure if this area can be opened until Oct-Nov., which is a long way off.

3. Revisit the possibility of amputation
4. Keep getting various medical opinions; time consuming & what we have now for opinions may be the best.

I'd say that I'm still not doing 75-80% of what I normally would do, as for daily life activities. Most of the staff at my office don't even ask about it anymore because it has been this way since I started and I still can't wear a shoe. People want to be supportive, but it is hard to know what to say when something drags on as long as this situation has. Lately I've been in public and various individuals have commented on the situation ... it doesn't bother me a lot, but it reminds me that most people have no idea what is really happening.

The whole point of doing the toe surgery before the transfer surgery was to ensure that we didn't end up in the position where we are today (e.g. closed incision with no forefoot motion). The forefoot area is still 1"+ off the ground and it continues to be exhausting to walk on the heel area alone.

Please seriously pray that I don't hear wait and keep exercising next week. I've done this diligently for three months & it has not produced any positive results.

I'm anxious for the Chicago appt. to happen next Friday, but am then going to be faced with some decision. I'm so ready to just live life normally .... to put on a pair of shoes and run to the grocery store without it being a big ordeal. Praying for peace, patience, acceptance, attitude, good appt. next week and wisdom in the days ahead.

je

Hmmmm .... another week & no progress

I had physical therapy on Monday and Wednesday of this week. On Wednesday we took measurements to see if we had made any progress since we started eight weeks ago, NONE!! Our numbers were exactly the same as where we started. I was a bit stunned, as I thought maybe they’d have improved a little bit – no luck. Given that I’ve been either walking or biking 4-5 miles every night, this makes me think that it may not have the potential of improving. The range of motion (ROM for you Laura) is just not there & this is what is needed to get into a shoe/walk normal.

I feel like I’ve given the physical therapy a fair try & now it is time to candidly discuss what to do next. I see the Chicago dr. on Friday, Sept. 5th. Meanwhile, I’m just trying to do as much as I can and am trying not to worry about what is ahead.

I have about 4 more weeks without students and then class groups begin to come for the new year. I’m only 1,500 kids away from meeting my goal of 9,000 for the year … will be glad when I have those last 15 classes signed up.

“I will restore health unto three, and I will heal three.”
Jeremiah 30: 17

Happy weekend!
je

August 2008 Foot Pictures

2008 .... End of summer foot pictures .... you wouldn't know that it isn't working by looking at it!

Nothing really new ....

I apologize for no updates recently. I’ve had Internet connection issues at home this week and have spent the better part of the week trying to resolve the issue.

We are on week 3-4 of no progress. Tomorrow will be my 3rd session with the trainer and I still like it! I think this week ahead will be the last week of physical therapy, but no one knows it yet. My frustration level continues to increase as the patience decreases …. It is hard for me to justify continuing to spend time and money working on this w/out seeing noticeable improvement.

The past month has been really stressful dealing w/the fact that I cannot wear matching shoes or any shoe for that matter. I was in the shoe department in three stores earlier this week and left all of them feeling bad. It would be one thing if I thought we were close, but we are so far away from the possibility. I’m not convinced it will ever be a reality. I’m having more and more appointments through work where I need to be “dressy” and this makes the shoe situation harder.

There continues to be pain toward the back of the foot, which is from walking on the heel area only. I have a follow-up appt. w/the Chicago surgeon the first week in September, although I’m really not sure if there is anything that can be done. In the meantime, we’re just trying to do the best with what we have to work with.

je

Olympics tonight

It's Friday .... yeah! I've spent more time this week packing exercise clothes, changing clothes, drinking water and working out. After work today I biked 3.5 miles and then did twenty minutes with weight equipment. I meet with my personal trainer tomorrow afternoon. I really like working with him ... he is motivating and it is good to have someone tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing as we try to get back to moving. He pushes harder than I probably would push myself, so that is good.

Yesterday the spot at the top of my incision looked really rough. It was opening more and bleeding on/off throughout the day. Today it looked a little better, but tomorrow could be the opposite - it goes back and forth. The TX surgeon said just to keep it covered and see if it heals on its own.

I tried to put on several pairs of shoes last night (at home), but no luck. It proved to be frustrating after about 8 pairs that I couldn't wear, so I stopped.

I picked up Chinese food for dinner tonight after leaving the gym and came home and watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Go team USA!

Exercise

The theme for this week seems to be exercise, exercise and more exercise! I've been to the gym the past four nights and have biked three miles each session. Today after work I spent an hour exercising with a personal trainer at the gym. He was really knowledgeable about the foot and the artery that we transferred from my arm. The goal with him is to get the foot to work better, but in conjunction with the entire body. I'm sure I was his only client today that told him that I essentially hadn't exercised hard in the past four years! I learned about "Smart Water" today -it is like the Gatorade of water (has electrolytes in it). If I don't sleep well tonight ... something is wrong!

We took measurements (used to measure progress) on Monday at pt, but it was rather discouraging. In four weeks of pt, I'd only improved one degree with one measurement and four degrees with another. This is NOTHING! The areas that I improved in aren't even the areas where I need the most help. We spent a lot of time on manual massage - easily 45-50 minutes & then I continued through a series of exercises.

If we decide at some point that we are not making the needed progress, it won't be because we didn't try. Better get lunch made for tomorrow and calling it a day.

je

Hanging in there ....

Greetings! I apologize for the delay in writing. There hasn't been much of significance or change, so I was waiting for more to share with you. Still exercising and exercising with no real change. I had pt twice this week and three times next week (M/W/F). On the "in between" days, I've been working out at the gym on my own and will start some sessions with a personal trainer on Tuesday. If this doesn't improve in several weeks we'll have spent a lot of money, but will honestly be able to say that we have tried it all. I've researched protein, vitamins, etc. and am eating more fruit/veggies than ever. Still not eating wheat products or anything with gluten which continues to be challenging, but no hives still. It takes a lot of planning and energy to eat healthy. I'm eating a lot of fruit smoothies with yogurt, fruit and flax.

There is still a small area at the top of the foot incision (from May) that is not healed & has gotten worse in the past week. The area is just not healed & looks continually irritated. I can't believe how thin the skin on my foot is .... tonight I was itching a spot & the next thing I knew the skin was bleeding - it doesn't take much to have a spot break open.

I am very slowly weaning off the sleeping medication. I'm taking melatonin and Valerian root (both herbal) and 2 mg. of the sleep medication .... in another week, I'll hopefully be totally off the Rx medicine. Getting my natural sleep cycle to return has been harder than I imagined or hoped.

No kids now at work until mid-September, so there will be a long break. We have a TON to do in the next few weeks to get ready for the new school year. My goal is supposed to be 9,000 kids .... I have 5,500 registered so far.

I was able to have dinner with two friends on Thursday night, so that was fun. It was probably the first social thing that I've done in 3-4 months. Hanging in there emotionally and trying to not get stressed about the situation. My hope for the situation resolving on its own decreases each week we go without movement, but at the moment we are doing all that can be done. Not having toe flexibility and then having the toes not make contact w/the ground are bigger issues with walking and driving than I originally thought .... it is like a double whammy. For all the time and energy we've spent on this, I think it is the most frustrating that I still cannot wear a shoe .... which was my big goal. Sometimes it is good to not know what is ahead or we'd never make it. I am thankful that the incision is now closed (for the most part).

Things to keep praying about:
- Strong toe movement/flexibility would return ... you'll know when it does!
- Forefoot would lay flat & make contact with the ground.
- Walking w/a somewhat normal gait would happen.
- I'd be able to get into a shoe (need to be able to push/bend w/the forefoot)
- Natural sleep pattern would return w/no Rx medicine needed.
- Attitude and stamina - both would remain strong and positive.
- Incision skin area; to heal permanently & skin irritation would go away
- Wisdom to know what to do, if no movement returns.

Thanks for checking in ... still trying to do our best.
je