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tallalassie
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 01:51 pm |
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| After the surgery, your foot is all bandaged, what clothes were you able to wear
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mid77
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| Joined: | Fri May 25th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 12:56 am |
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I had brachy surgery done on my left foot a few days ago (Friday Aug.3rd) and things are going well so far. My foot is very sore and I have not been sleeping too well so I'm pretty
exhausted but everything went as planned and now I just have to be patient and keep my foot up while I recover.
Right now my leg is bandaged up to my knee and I wear shorts so those are easy to get on and off. I saw Dr.Lee for my first follow up this morning and he was very happy with the results. I have not looked myself yet. I'm staying in a condo locally with my husband until next Tuesday and for anyone who is thinking of coming out here to get this done I would recommend this place - convenient location and we are right on the first floor and have so much more room than just a single hotel room.
I first came across this website at the end of May and here I am done with the surgery already - I found the process to be pretty easy - you just have to stay on top of all the paperwork and medical stuff you need ahead of time.
If anyone has any questions feel free to post on here and I will be posting my progress as well.
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tallalassie
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 12:18 pm |
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Good luck with your recovery. I am scheduled for August 28th. I am unable to travel to Arizona so I am having the surgery done in Tallahassee.
How long are they recommending that you keep your foot elevated?
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ninabobina
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 05:39 pm |
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| i live in tallahassee, what doctor/place are you going to have it done??
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tallalassie
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 05:58 pm |
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TALLAHASSEE PODIATRY ASSOCIATES,
DR. MERRITT. HE HAS DONE THE SURGERY BEFORE. IN FACT, THERE WAS A LADY IN THE EXAMINING ROOM NEXT TO MINE WHO CONSENTED TO DR. MERRITT TO LET ME IN THE ROOM TO SEE HER TOES. THEY LOOKED GREAT, COULD NOT EVEN TELL (OTHER THAN THE SCAR).
I HAVE STARTED TAKING CALCIUM EVERY DAY.
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mid77
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| Joined: | Fri May 25th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 08:11 pm |
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It is recommended that you keep your foot elevated until the swelling goes down - usually that is the first 2 - 4 weeks. Right now I'm only in my 4th day after surgery so I keep it elevated all the time except for bathroom trips.
Are you getting the one stage lenthening done in FL and has this doctor done many of them before?
Ninabobina,
How is your recovery going? Your last picture you posted your toes looked great so you must be near being all done or at least in your walking boot right?
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tallalassie
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 5 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 09:13 pm |
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The doctor I am using in Tallahassee does not do the one step surgery. I would love to have it done in Arizona but I run my own business and cannot be gone for that long. I have a flexible job in that I can sit at the desk with my feet up and leave pretty much when I want to...I"m the boss right!
He has done this surgery several times and I have met one of his patients who was pleased with the work.
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vnn12
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 39 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 01:36 am |
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midd77,
your foot is going to be swollen for at least 1.5 to 2 months. Are you using a bone simulator to help with your healing? Be sure to drink milk and take calcium everyday. I got my surgery done on may 18, I started weight-bearing july 16. It's really painful to walk for the first 2 weeks. your foot is going to start swollening up again and you will have to continue to elevate it again. Make sure to massage your toe and try to bend it back and forth as much as possible when you're out of your cast. My fourth toe has loosen up alot and it's starting line up with the rest of my other toes. Good luck with your recovery and congratulations on your surgery.
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vnn12
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 39 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 01:36 am |
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Nina,
Are you weight bearing yet?
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mid77
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| Joined: | Fri May 25th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 08:39 pm |
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vnn12
I don't have a bone stimulator yet but I plan to get one once I return home if my insurance covers it which I hope it would. I'm just wondering when the really tight feeling in your foot will go away. Right now I feel like someone is just squeezing the life out of my entire foot and I haven't been sleeping much. I know it takes time to get back to normal completely but I am hoping this initial pain and tightness goes away soon. Today is my fifth day after surgery. I have been drinking milk every day but holding off on the calcium pills until I'm done taking the antibiotics and pain killers around the clock. In general I have a strong stomach but with the percocets that I have been taking consistently since the surgery I got sick this morning so now I'm afraid to keep taking them and hope the pain diminishes a little.
You said you started weight bearing mid July? So how are things going right now? Are you in a walking boot or regular shoe?
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ninabobina
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 10:56 pm |
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| im getting my cast off tomorrow!!!! then i get to start walking in the walking boot for a few weeks. im soooo excited!! i will post pics as soon as i can.
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vnn12
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| Joined: | Thu Jul 20th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 39 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2007 01:08 am |
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NIna
make sure you massage your 4th toe. I normally massage it 3 or 4 times a day for 20 mins. My 4th toe is almost line up with the rest of my other toes. I just need the middle bone in my 4th toe to bend a little so my toe can curl like the rest. make sure to do a lot of ankle excercises and stretch them back, forth, and side to side. once you start weight bearing, let me know if you can feel a knot under you fourth toe. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. I'm going to ask him what that knot is
Last edited on Fri Aug 10th, 2007 01:09 am by vnn12 |
tallalassie
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| Joined: | Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 5 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2007 11:56 am |
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| Did you have your surgery done in Tallahassee or did you travel to Arizona?
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ninabobina
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Posted: Sat Aug 11th, 2007 03:37 am |
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| i went to Arizona May 15-May 31. I GOT MY CAST OFF!!!! it was the most disgusting thing i ever had to experience, but after extensive washing and shaving it looks great! the scars aren't too bad, they healed up nicely. but because my foot was extended out for 3 months in the cast, my achilles tendon is pretty tight, and my ankle is swollen and hurts. im just trying to stretch it all out and massage as much as possible. pics coming soon!
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ninabobina
Member
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Posted: Sat Aug 11th, 2007 07:24 pm |
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here they are..you can see where the incisions were made on the ankle and top of foot...and my foot and ankle are still really swollen.
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mid77
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| Joined: | Fri May 25th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: Sun Aug 12th, 2007 04:13 pm |
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Nina,
Your foot looks great and it and nobody would ever know what it looked like before being fixed. So you had your cast on for about 13 weeks then?
I am trying to get used to being in a cast and I'm only on week 2 and it is so difficult for me not to be able to do anything around the house or be able to take care of my son myself. It seems like such a long road ahead!
Fortunately I was in Arizona for only 1 week. I had my surgery on Aug.3rd which was a Friday saw Dr.Lee the following Monday and then again Thursday and he said I was fine to go home so we left early and flew back on Friday Aug.10th. I didn't expect to go home that early.
My foot now just feels very swollen and I know it will be for a long time so trying to get used to that and crutches. I wake up a lot at night and don't sleep very well so that's not fun but hopefully that will get better soon too.
So now you are in the walking boot right getting used to walking again? I'm sure that is hard after being off your feet for a while.
Did you get any recommendations on what to do with scarring to make it less visible? I hear they fade after a while and you can use some cream called mederma or something.
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ninabobina
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Posted: Sun Aug 12th, 2007 06:05 pm |
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| ya i have the maderma, and my leg is so weak from 3 months of not using it i havent been able to walk yet. also, when my foot was in the cast, it was bent, so my tendons are all really tight and i cant put it flat on the ground. i hope i will b able to walk soon. i had my cast on for about 10 weeks, and yes it was a looong road..i couldnt wait to get it off!! also my toe is pulled backward towards the floor and it hurts when i try to put my foot down because it hits the floor before the rest and gets pulled. hope u heal well! im jealous u only stayed for that long....my trip was very expensive.
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mid77
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| Joined: | Fri May 25th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 46 |
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Posted: Mon Aug 13th, 2007 12:03 am |
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It must be tough not being able to walk right away but it makes sense since your leg and foot isn't used to hitting the ground. I hope the toe thing straigtens out fast too. It's only been a week since my surgery but it's so weird how the fourth toe is pulled forward so much.
My trip didn't end up being too inexpensive even though I only stayed a week. We had the condo paid for already for almost 2 weeks and then we had to get an early flight out and it was very expensive to switch it las mintue and ended up getting a whole new flight home that cost the same as our original flight It was worth it though to come home 4 days early and we missed our son.
Glad you had your cast on for only 10 weeks. I'm hoping for 10 weeks too and then I know it's the walking boot thing for a while. I'm sure it's all worth it at the end so I just try to concentrate on that.
Keep us updated on your progress.
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achybrachytoe
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| Joined: | Tue Aug 14th, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 14th, 2007 06:43 pm |
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Mid77,
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I had the surgery one week before you...third toe left foot. I don't know why I haven't joined the forum earlier, it's helped me so much. I was able to leave and go home the day you had surgery. I was so glad because I missed my two young children so bad...but I, like you, had to deal with the airlines for quite some time before I was able to get on a flight.
My foot feels the same way...tight! And my heel hurts worse than anything. Mostly, I wish I was able to do more around the house. Have you had your first visit with your podiatrist now that you are home. My first visit did not go well...he would not follow Dr. Lee's instructions. So now I am looking for another, ugh! Thanks again to you and everyone who participates in this forum, it's so wonderful.
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mid77
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Posted: Tue Aug 14th, 2007 08:34 pm |
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achybrachytoe
That's great that things are going well and it sounds like you're pretty much at the same stage as me. I just tell myself to be patient and that it will be worth it at the end. I do however hate being useless around the house and not being able to take care of my son myself for a while.
My first appointment with the podiatrist at home is this Friday actually and I really hope he does follow Dr.Lee's instructions. I saw this doctor before my surgery just so he could meet me and know what I am doing and what the expectations are and he seemed very open and interested in the follow ups so I hope those are fine.
What happened with your home podiatrist and in what way did he not follow instructions that Dr.Lee provided?
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achybrachytoe
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Posted: Thu Aug 16th, 2007 03:26 am |
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mid77,
I am sure that your appointment will go better than mine on Friday. I actually found another doctor that was able to see me this morning. They were very nice and did my incision care and put me in a cast. Everything looked great, and I was very excited!
The other doctor I went to was trying to talk me out of being in a cast...he wanted me in a walker that I could take on and off...defeating the purpose of having my foot protected and non weight bearing. Even though I did my part in seeing him before the surgery and making sure he knew what was expected in post op care, it came down to the fact that he didn't normally do casts and didn't want to get the supplies to do one for one patient so often. (I was never aware that he didn't carry these supplies in his office.)
I, too, am having a difficult time with how little I am able to do with my children right now. My oldest is being a big helper, but my youngest still doesn't really understand what's going on and why we have so many people in and out helping. I have found that patience is key...especially with these crutches. I have already taken some falls. Right now both knees are bruised up...but the toes are safe! One thing I found to help me around the house is a walker with a seat on it. I can at least put things on the seat and get from room to room (like with the laundry). I don't know if it is any safer than the crutches, though...
Hope everything goes great on Friday!
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ninabobina
Member
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Posted: Fri Aug 17th, 2007 01:56 am |
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so..just an update...i got my cast off about a week ago, and i still havent completely walked yet. i started going to the pool to do some physical therapy and work out my leg more...and it really helped, i suggest it. i started getting around without my crutches to go to the bathroom or the kitchen, but it is more of a "scoot" then a walk. i step forward with my walking boot and kind out hop with my other because i cant put pressure on my boot yet. but its giving me hope!!!
i put the scar cream on like 3-4 times a day and i can tell it is reeally helping. also massaging is helping too. my toe is starting to look less like it is pushed downwards. hope everyone is healing well!!!
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achybrachytoe
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Posted: Mon Aug 27th, 2007 11:01 pm |
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nina,
how's your recovery going? are you able to walk yet?
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mid77
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 03:02 pm |
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It has been 3 weeks and 3 days since I had my brachy surgery on my left foot and things are going well. I had my first cast change when I returned home from AZ and the doctor did a good job with it but at first I thought it was too tight. I think it was because I was used to the loose one that Dr.Lee put on to allow room for swelling on the flight. I also asked my home doctor to cover the toes so they are protected which he did so I am comfortable walking around on crutches and not afraid that I will hit them on something.
My foot doesn't hurt at all anymore and just feels a little swollen and tingly every now and then. I can wiggle my toes and can feel the 4th one that was fixed. I don't think I can actually move that one alone on its own but it doesn't hurt to touch it anymore.
It is definitely a long recovery as it's only been 3 weeks and I am so ready to get the cast off. I use the bone stimulator every single day so I hope that speeds up the healing a bit and I can get into the walking boot at 10 weeks.
Hope everyone else's recovery is going well.
Nina, I am wondering if you are able to walk on your own yet without crutches.
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mid77
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 03:05 pm |
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vnn12
I was just reading through some of these postings again and I noticed that you were in your cast for only 8 weeks before going into the walking boot? That's great! I keep thinking 10 weeks in my mind but would love to be able to get out of it sooner if possible. Of course I don't want to do anything too early just in case so I'm just trying to be patient.
How is your walking and healing going now and how about the scarring?
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ninabobina
Member
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Posted: Tue Aug 28th, 2007 06:58 pm |
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I had a docs apt last friday which was supposed to be the day that i start walking in lace up shoes, but my tendons are still veryy tight and it is hard to walk, so for 90% of my day, i use the crutches still, but i still put pressure on it to stretch it while i walk. with the boot on i am able to walk without the crutches, but not swiftly. it is more like to get around the house for short distances. i just started fall classes today, and got a temp. handicapped permit for fsu campus which is helping tons...
other then that, the scars look great, and my toe is pretty much totally even, but still stiff. i will try to post more pics soon.
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veryshymom
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 07:39 pm |
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| Mid77- I am curious as to why you are using the bone stimulator when Dr. Lee does the one step procedure. Did he recommend you do this and is this normal?
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veryshymom
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 07:40 pm |
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| Mid77- can you give me details on where you stayed in Arizona?
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veryshymom
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 07:43 pm |
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| Nina- how expensive was your trip? Any ballpark?
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mid77
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 09:27 pm |
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Veryshymom,
I stayed at a condo in Phoenix that I found on http://www.homeaway.com. You have find a variety of options on there but the one I stayed at specifically was listing #136554. It was in a good location, first floor, comfortable and had a Walgreens right across the street that was very convenient. The contact name is James Reynolds and he was very helpful with any questions I had and I believe he may have a couple of properties so if you end up going through him just make sure to ask about the one level one because you really don't want to deal with stairs if you don't have to.
As far as the bone stimulator goes, Dr.Lee does recommend them but it is not an absolute necessity. It is a battery operated machine that you put around your cast once per day for 30 minutes and it sends magnetic waves through your foot which is supposed to optimize the blood flow and speed up the fusion of the bones that were corrected. It's very easy and painless and my insurance covered it so I did get it.
I'm not sure if you have health insurance or not but if you don't or if you're not sure if they will cover the surgery just make that clear to Dr.Lee's office because I believe it is much less expensive to do it at a surgery center rather than the hospital (Nina - I actually meant to ask you that since I think you said you didn't have insurance for this). I have insurance and I had my surgery at Arrowhead Hospital out there and the charges I have just from that day surgery are crazy - they added up to around 27K! And those are only the hospital charges and do not include the charges from Dr.Lee. If I didn't have insurance I would be paying this off for years.
If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I check the website frequently while I'm at home recovering. It will be 4 weeks tomorrow so I still have a long way to go but things are going well so far.
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