Update on my crazy 3 month wait for broken foot repair...

[CallMeExhausted]

for all of those who contributed - my consultant's nurse called today, he got an extra day in the theatre, so I will be having the repair op next Wednesday.

Thank goodness - now to get everything I need done for Christmas taken care of... I won't be allowed to beat weight for at least 7 weeks after the operation. Should make Christmas fun!

Thanks for being a sounding board.

[youareallbonkers]

How are they going to enforce the not bearing weight? They sending someone to live with you?

[Icimoi]

Errrm, perhaps CallMe will be able to do it voluntarily without having it enforced, youare? On the basis that if she doesn't she could undo all the benefits of the operation?

Glad to hear it, CallMe, hope this sorts it out once and for all.

[youareallbonkers]

Exactly, then it's stupid to say not allowed isn't it?

[crumblebumblebee]

youare Don't be pedantic, it was obvious what the OP meant.

Best of luck! :)

[youareallbonkers]

One of my pet hates, people claiming that they aren't allowed to.so things that clearly no one can enforce

[youareallbonkers]

And people who say hospitals won't let them leave, they aren't prisons

[Hulababy]

youareallbonkers

Well clearly, the OP could weight bear if she really wanted to. But it is obviously highly advised and recommended that the OP does not weight bear else the OP will be a waste of time and not achieved the desired outcome.

I would have thought that was quite clear.

[whois]

Total pointless thread derail. Obvious what op meant.

Glad it's sorted OP!

[Sirzy]

I think youareallbonkers is bonkers!

good luck for the op, glad it's getting done sooner than expected

[mineofuselessinformation]

Oh shut up bonkers.
OP, remember you can make use of shopmobility if you need to, and supermarkets also have wheelchairs available. Just remember to phone ahead, and yes have someone around to help you.
I hope it all goes well.

[ThePinkOcelot]

Bonkers, what are you on?

Hope it all goes well op.

[mineofuselessinformation]

Anyone for glue???

[StillSquirrelling]

Hope it all goes well, OP.

I had a call to have my foot op in December and I politely declined to have it done until January - due to the whole two weeks of bed rest and two months of no driving (we live very rurally so this is going to be a nightmare).

I was going to have two different sorts of procedures done to my foot (and eventually the other one too) but following my MRI results, it appears that I also have oedemas and TWO broken toes! Am feel well 'ard (or just a bit foolish) that I hadn't even noticed

[enterthedragon]

Best wishes, last year I had surgery on a Lisfranc injury (midfoot fusion), non weightbearing for 7 weeks in a cast, then 6 weeks in an air walker boot, those first 7 weeks drove me stir crazy stuck indoors with my foot elevated above hip height.

If you can get hold of a wheelchair it will make things much easier, everything takes ages to do when you're on crutches.

The upside of it was having DH, DD and DS at my beck and call (except when they were at work, college or school) And having the TV remote control for hours on end was a bit of a novelty.

What part of your foot have you broken?

[CallMeExhausted]

bonkers Would it make you happier if I said I would be ill advised to bear weight upon the affected appendage as it will break the hardware that is being installed to reassemble the already broken bone in my foot that is not mending on its own?

Thank you to all of the rest of you for your well wishes - I know the physical restrictions will call for creativity, but it is all for a good reason.

enter I have a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal that extends the length of the bone - I did it back in mid-September.

And bonkers ... Go piss up a tree.

[AcrossthePond55]

Glad your getting it done sooner. I was non-weight bearing for around 12 weeks due to the severity of the break (tri-malleolar fracture). My ankle now has plates, pins, & screws. I used a zimmer frame to get around the house hopping on one foot, & a wheelchair for in town. Many stores here have electric carts to use which was a big help for shopping.

It was rough not being able to go and do whatever I wanted. I got a bit stir crazy after a while. Thank God for DH, he was a real champ.

[CallMeExhausted]

I suspect I will be longer non-weight bearing, as there has been no attempt by my body to even start to heal the fracture without intervention other than casting so far. I hope I am wrong.

[CallMeExhausted]

Across it hadn't occurred to me to use a zimmer frame at home - thank you! A friend suggested I use a rolling desk chair in the house, which might be handy, too.

Right now, I am just working on fitting in the extra Christmas tasks around regular daily responsibilities so I can head to hospital Wednesday morning without worrying about leaving tasks undone.

[AcrossthePond55]

I wish you the best of luck! The surgery itself was a breeze (since I was 'out' for it). I didn't have a lot of post-op pain and got into physical therapy as soon as I could. I really recommend PT, it was amazing how quickly the muscles in my leg atrophied & stiffened from lack of use.

For the first few weeks post-op I was in a wheelchair due to the severity of the break and the amount of metal. They didn't want to chance my accidentally putting weight on it using the zimmer from stumbling or whatever. The worst part of that was my poor DS2 (then 23) having to help me up and down off the loo once when DH was gone! Poor kid, I thought he'd die of embarrassment!

[CallMeExhausted]

Thank you for the wishes, Across .

I will admit that I am getting anxious now. DH can't take time off work (we live on a very tight budget, and missing time from work could throw us too far behind) so I will essentially have to care for myself once I get home. It will not take me long to determine what is actually "necessary" and what can be off-loaded...

Time to lower my standards, I guess

[AcrossthePond55]

Ha! Yes, necessary will take on a whole new meaning!

If you can, get a small ice chest (camping style) with ice and put it within reach of wherever you will be sitting/lying. Put some milk, juice, water, snacks, whatever you fancy in it to save you getting up. Also perhaps DH can make you a sandwich or cold-plate for lunch before he leaves for work and put in there, too. You may be surprised at what you can't do and you won't want to push it if you're home alone. It'll be easier if you can get a wheelchair or use a wheeled office chair. If you have a light-weight cloth bag, like a shopper bag, keep in near you. It'll be invaluable in carrying things around. My DH fastened one on the zimmer I used so my hands were free. If you have a hobby (I enjoy needlework) or like to read, have your things nearby.

One of the harder things to do (at least for me) was to try to balance on one foot and (TMI, sorry) get my pants down & up to go to the loo. I wore a nightie or lounging-type dress with no pants to make it easier. And try to arrange so you are as close to the loo as possible.

Remember to always have your phone with you. Never go anywhere in the house without it.

I don't remember if you have children at home. If so, let them do some of the fetch and carry for you. Even little ones can help. Let friends help out, too. Don't be afraid to ask for help.

I hope I haven't scared you! It's really not that bad, more just frustrating.

[CallMeExhausted]

You haven't scared me - having the more practical aspects of this mentioned is more helpful than you know. My husband seems to think I will be able to cook as long as I have a stool to perch on on the kitchen. He is sadly mistaken.

I am "known" for pushing it - I have had 6 spinal surgeries... I worked in the tunnel the day of the subway crash in Toronto, I had been discharged from the hospital the day before and stil had surgical staples in my back... After another of the ops, I was alone at home wth the children (1 1/2 and 9 at the time) while DH went off on a trip for 5 days - he could not cancel it.

This time, though - the logistics will be different as getting around will be tougher. Both of my DCs have special care needs. I am going to withdraw some money from my savings to cover the most challenging hours of the weekdays for me (the 1/2 to 1 hour before and after school) and pay my DD's RN that accompanies her to school so she can help with medication and setting up gastrostomy feeds, and getting her dressed in her outdoor clothes. We shall see what other support I need as it plays out.

What makes it particularly tough is that DH works evenings, so once he leaves for work at 2, I am on my own with the DCs until he gets home after 11.

We will definitely work it out, but right now I will admit that I am a bit uneasy. If nothing else, I will have to loosen my standards for housework

[musicalendorphins2]

Don't worry about housework, or even cooking. You may not have your usual traditional dinner this year, but getting your foot mended is more important than cooking.
Your subway tunnel comment caught my attention, as my husband works for the TTC, and was working there that night. It was a horrible, horrible accident.

[OwlCapone]

If you do get hold of a Zimmerframe, attach a shopping bag to the front. Good for carrying a book or magazine or other light stuff.

Hope it goes well!

[OwlCapone]

Lol - I see exactly that suggestion was made with the Zimmer frame one earlier. I remember lending my grandmother my pram net bag when she had a hip replacement and used a frame for a while.