Things I've Bought For Recovery

I'm a little frustrated today, it hit a little how long this is going to take to heal (over a month in, and after six months on crutches already. I don't know. This is just how I think). I was trying to do my exercises this morning- moving my foot up and down, and moving it in little circles- and I couldn't get it to do either of them, it just sort of hung there from my leg, occasionally twitching hopefully. Plus apparently the cut went further than I was aware because I found a faint line of scarring along the side of my foot that completely explains why the skin there is tender. Anyway.

I was reading through some other blogs and several list things they've bought or done to make things easier during recovery from various versions of peroneal tendon surgery, so I'm going to share with you a list of things I have purchased for this.

My walking boot. This wasn't so much a purchase as a prescription, but I've developed a deep emotional attachment to its stability and padding, and most importantly the little air puff ball that can incread the amount of padding (and is fun to play with). My ankle swelling has decreased somewhat while back in the boot and is very comfortable, and when the doctor tells me I can start walking this is the boot I will be doing it in for a few weeks.

Dual showerhead thing, where one is removable and you can switch the water flow to one or the other. I used the removable showerhead when I was in the cast so I could really control the water flow. Now that I'm out of the cast and physically completely in the shower again I don't have to worry about it and can use the normal showerhead. I plan on taking this with me when I move out of my apartment.

The incredible shower stool. I got this before my surgery when I didn't feel like putting weight on my sad, crippled foot on a slick smooth tub floor, and I've continued to use it during being in a cast and especially now that my foot is unprotected in the shower.

10-cent trashbag and $2 duct tape (and the shower curtain) was all that was between wonderful shower water and my non-waterproof cast for the last month. I did purchase one of those rubber cast booties, however I have chunky legs and even my atrophied calf was still too wide- it ripped the second time I used it, proving that sometimes the simple solutions are the best. Even if ripping duct tape off skin hurts, this concoction never once leaked.

And as far as entertainment, I already had Netflix, and I bought a big puzzle that I haven't had the table space to do yet. However the most important thing to have wasn't a thing at all- having someone around to help, especially when it comes to things like getting laundry done and groceries. In my case, it was having first my mom, and then my dad staying with me to do most of the work until I could do it again.

A week and a half later

My next appointment isn't for a week, but I felt like I should update anyway.

So far so good, as far as healing is concerned. I have very little to no pain on a daily basis, and finally am sleeping almost nonstop every night (instead of waking up and propping my cast back up on the pillow I have for that). I have this troublesome suture on the foot end of the ankle surgery cut- when they were wrapping up my surgery it kept bleeding, and I currently have this burning stinging feeling there where it's rubbing on the gauze. It doesn't hurt much but it is very annoying. Other than that I don't have almost any pain.

I've done lots of little one- stop trips with my mom, since that's about all my arms are up for, such as going out to eat or seeing a movie (Toy Story 3, because you're never too old for that). Mostly I sit on the couch watching tv and reading books all day.

I have made some observations about things that have made this easier:

1. Shower seat- I have one of those tubs with the showerhead in them, and what I do is sit on the seat and have my casted leg sticking out of the tub under the shower curtain (wrapped in a trash bag and duct tape). It looks silly but works.

2. Mom or other person you wouldn't mind seeing you without your clothing or dignity- especially the first week or so after surgery when you have to figure out how to do things like use the toilet on one leg, bathe, or change clothes. They're also good for less awkward things like making food or getting the mail so you don't have to get up and do it.

3. Shower head with detachable nozzle- I love them anyway because of the detachable nozzle on the rope, especially with how I can't move in the shower.

4. Bike gloves- For when you're out and crutching. Better grip, fingerless so you can touch things, and most importantly for preventing huge palm blisters. Plus they look cool.