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twinkletoes
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Posted: Tue Oct 20th, 2009 07:09 pm |
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| Hello everybody! I have been following this forum since I found it back in April of this year, but have never posted. Needless to say I was soooo excited and started to get the ball rolling right away to get my surgery. I had surgery exactly 3 weeks ago with Dr. Lee(one-stage). For the most part I feel fine, just the annoying swelling. From what I can tell at this point I feel like I am going to be very satisfied with the outcome, but there is still some swelling to go down. If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer them. If I can figure out how to post pics I will.
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luckyleaf
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Posted: Tue Oct 20th, 2009 07:29 pm |
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| Congrats on the surgery, how much did your toe need to be lengthened and did you have a short toe bone as well as the short metatarsal?
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Tue Oct 20th, 2009 08:43 pm |
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Congrats to you as well! Well when I met with Dr. Lee the day before my surgery he took some measurements and said that I needed about 15mm of lengthening and yes I did have both the short metatarsal and toe bone. However he said that my fifth and fourth toe bone were about the same size and that because of that in the grand scheme of things i would still be able to gain significant length. When I went back for my post op he told me that he was able to achieve 100% correction on the metatarsal. So I am really excited to see the end result. Too bad I have another foot do But I'm just trying to take it one day at a time. How about you, are you worried about your toe being noticeably short even after your surgery? I think that I read in your other post that you also have the short metatarsal and toe bone.
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luckyleaf
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Posted: Tue Oct 20th, 2009 10:36 pm |
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I am worried about the appearance of the toe in the end, but I am keeping a positive outlook and I know that in the end it will look much better than it was before. But that is so cool that you went with the one stage, I read that you should not have much pain one week after the surgery. I get pain whenever I turn the thing 
So what have you been up to since the surgery?
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rightandleft
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Posted: Wed Oct 21st, 2009 12:51 am |
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Twinkletoes
Do you live near Arizona, if not where did you stay and how long. Contrats on your surgery.
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southernash
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Posted: Wed Oct 21st, 2009 01:02 pm |
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| Congratulations on your surgery!! I am having the one stage done tomorrow on my right foot. I have looked all through the message board to see if anyone has said anything about day to day living. I am concerned about not being able to drive for several months. How have you been adjusting to that? Also, do you have any advise as far as what to have at home in preparation to make things easier? I keep thinking about things like clothes for work, showering, etc... Any tips would be awesome! Thank you
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 05:10 pm |
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Luckyleaf
For me the minute I found Dr. Lee, I knew he was going to be the one to do my surgery and because he highly recommends the one stage if you are a candidate that's what I went with. I was a little nervous because I have never had any major type of surgery, but his confidence put me at ease. If everthing turns out well with my left foot, I will definately go back to see him for my right foot.
As far as what I do all day, it is not much. You are right that after the first week there is not much pain. The funny thing is that I feel like that at week 2 post op my foot was feeling better than it is now at 3 1/2 weeks. It's not that it hurts but I feel a constant pressure on the top of my foot.I assume it is the swelling. So basically I keep my foot elevated constantly and ice it about once every 2-3 hours. I haven't ventured out much since I got back from Arizona. It's kind of boring but I deal with it. Hopefully the swelling will get better soon so I can do more.
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 05:25 pm |
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Rightandleft
I do not live in Arizona, I live in California. When I went to Arizona for my surgery, I was able to stay with one of my best friends who lives really close to phoenix. That made the whole trip so much easier and way less expensive. She went with me to the surgery and drove me to all my appointments. I was so grateful. Because I was staying with my friend, I was in Arizona from sept 27 to oct 10. Dr. Lee was aware that I was staying this length of time so he actually had me see him one extra day than usual, the Thursday before I went back home( I left Saturday). However before I went out there he told me that I needed to stay until Monday, which was only 6 days after my surgery. So basically if I would have stayed at a hotel, I would have had to be in Arizona a total of 8 days.
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 05:43 pm |
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Southernash
Good luck with your surgery today! Is Dr lee doing your surgery? I'm sure you are in good hands either way. How soon do you plan on going back to work after the surgery? I'm a teacher, so working right after the surgery isn't possible. However I wasn't actually teaching when I had my surgery, I was laid off when the last school year was over, so I thought this would be a good time to get the surgery.
Some things I can't live without right now are ice, pillows and my shower chair!
Although I had surgery on my left leg and I guess technically I can drive, I actally have not had to drive yet. I'm staying with my parents right now so they have been taking care of me really well. They've been really supportive through this whole process. I can't wait to hear how your surgery went. Please keep us updated.
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rightandleft
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Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 11:21 pm |
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Twinkletoes
Did find a doctor to do your post op
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rightandleft
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Posted: Sun Nov 1st, 2009 01:24 am |
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Twinkletoe
how long do you have to be in a cast and who is doing your post op. thank you
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southernash
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Posted: Sun Nov 1st, 2009 04:57 am |
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twinkletoes
Thank you for sharing your experience so far. Surgery went well. I live in Atlanta and found a doc here to do the surgery. My foot looks great....at least I think it will after the stiches and swelling are gone. You are right, ice, pillows and shower chair for sure. I would like to add pain pills to that list Today I took a pretty bad fall on the crutches. I tried to catch myself with my casted foot being that the other foot flew out from under me and landed smack down on my tummy & face. I'm so worried now that I messed up my new bone & toe Anyway, praying for the best and looking forward to getting the surgery a few weeks behind me! I hope you are doing great and are healing well. Have a fun rest of the weekend Southernash
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Sun Nov 1st, 2009 06:24 pm |
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Rightandleft
I have a local podiatrist doing my post op care. He is really nice and did not say anything negative about the choice I made to have this surgery. I've read on here that some are not that understanding. It wasn't even that difficult for me to find him, he was the second one that I called and he knew exactly what the condition was. I was a little worried at first because it seemed like he didn't really want to follow dr lee's post op instructions. The first time I saw him when I got back from pheonix he changed my dressings and clipped the stitches, then put me back in the splint that I had on from after surgery. I was in that thing for a total of 4 weeks and I was miserable! I saw him again at 4 weeks post op and he finally put me in a hard cast up to my calf, and it's suprisingly comfy. I should be in this cast anywhere from 10 to13 weeks. I hope that my recovery wasn't hindered because of how long it took to get the cast on.
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Sun Nov 1st, 2009 06:38 pm |
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Southernash
I am so glad to hear your surgery went well. So did you have the one stage surgery done? Did you doctor take bone from your heel or was it a donor bone? That is good that you found a doc in your area to do that procedure because not many do it. I'm sorry to hear that you fell. In my opinion the crutches are the worst part of this whole process. I'm sure that you didn't do any damage to your bone. Are you in a cast? I've had a couple of close ones myself but luckily I haven't taken a fall yet. Do you have brachy on both feet or are you one of the lucky ones that only have it on one foot? I unfortunately will have to go through all of this one more time since I also have it on my right foot (ugh!). But I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end.
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southernash
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Posted: Mon Nov 2nd, 2009 03:46 am |
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twinkletoes
Thank you! I had one stage done with bone from my heal. I agree, the crutches are the worst. I am going to hopefully go in the morning for an xray just to make sure nothing is wrong. I am in a hard cast up to my knee. Next Monday I will get my permanant cast which the doctor said is less bulky and has less dressing under it...just some sort of sock. Thankfully I only had brachy on my right foot. It never even crossed my mind that someone would have it on both feet. Bless your heart for having to go through this twice! It will be totally worth it though
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loren
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Posted: Fri Nov 20th, 2009 06:12 pm |
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twinkletoes
hi there i was just wanting to know how many weeks post op are you and how is your recovery going
loren
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Sat Nov 21st, 2009 11:05 pm |
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Loren
I am about 7 1/2 weeks post op. The recovery is slow but coming along. I don't have any pain and the swelling is minimal now. At my last post op my doctor said he will most likely put me in the walking boot on my next visit which will end up being at exactly 10 weeks. My foot is looking pretty good except that my brachy toe is still sitting a little higher than the other toes. How about you? I think you had surgery about two weeks before me.
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loren
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Posted: Sun Nov 22nd, 2009 12:57 am |
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twinkletoes
hi there it's great to hear that all is going well with you. i am almost 10 weeks post op i also had the surgery done with Dr Lee. i am also really excited with my end result. and i just can't wait to be done with this. it has been a really long road and these crutches have been no joke. how have you been finding the crutches are you managing okay. my good leg has become a little sensative i think from supporting my whole body on it's own. it seems to feel realy tight and over worked have you also experianced that. i'd love to see some updated pictures of your foot. do you only have it on one foot.
loren
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loren
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Posted: Tue Nov 24th, 2009 06:25 pm |
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twinkletoes
hi there how are things coming along. was not sure if you received my last message. about your brachy toe been stiff my post op doctor told me to move it up and down and he also said that with excercise and walking it will loosen up eventually. i also have the same problem. how much loger do you have.
loren
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twinkletoes
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Posted: Tue Nov 24th, 2009 10:02 pm |
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Loren
Recovery is still coming along. I don't think that my leg is becoming sensitive because I don't really get around too much on them. I still spend most of my time sitting around since I'm not back at work. Can you describe more in depth what you mean by sensitive? I've always agreed that the crutches are the worst part of this whole process. That's funny that your doc said to start moving your toe around because mine told me I shouldn't yet, but sometimes I can't help it and I do it anyway. I wish i knew how to post pictures on here but the attachment on here doesn't work.
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loren
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Posted: Tue Nov 24th, 2009 11:01 pm |
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hi twinkletoes
my post op doctor might have given me the go ahead to move my toes because i'm at 10weeks post op now. and my post op doctor said that the sensitivity that i'm experiencing is due to be on the crutches for so long and also because my good leg is having to support the whole body on it's own. and i am much more active now than i was in the beginning. it just feels tight around the ankle and knee area. well i have my 11 week appointment on Monday November 30 and i'll be put in my walking boot so i'll be able to start putting weight on it slowly i can't wait. i'm glad that you recovery is going well. thanks for mailing me back
loren
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rightandleft
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 04:16 pm |
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Hi Loren
Did you also have a bunion surgery, if yes what type of a surgery did you get, and how bad is the scar, can you post your pictures if you can thank you
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loren
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 04:38 pm |
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rightandleft
hi yes i also had the bunion removed on the day i had my brachy surgery. Dr Lee did the surgery and it was done very well i'm still in my cast i have it taken off on Monday. everything has healed well and the scar seems to be fading nicely i think the way Dr Lee does it he really has a cosmetic appeal so the over all look is really nice. have you had yours done what exactly do you need done.
loren
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rightandleft
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 05:59 pm |
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Hi Loren
I have not done anything other than going for consultation. I also need bunion surgery. Would you be able to post a photo of your foot once the cast is off, I would like to see the scar from the bunion. thank you
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loren
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 06:02 pm |
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rightandleft
yes sure as soon as i have my cast taken off i'll post a picture. are you considering going with Dr Lee if you do you will be in really good hands he really does do excellent work.
loren
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loren
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 06:04 pm |
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luckyleaf
hi how are you doing i remember you saying that you had your post op visit today how are things coming along.
loren
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rightandleft
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 06:34 pm |
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Loren
As much as I would like to go with Dr Lee, I don't have anyone who will travel with me to AZ, this is the only issue that I'm having, and I will have to make the trip twice, so I am only left w/one option which is ex-fixator w/local Dr.
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loren
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 06:40 pm |
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rightandleft
thats great i'm sure the doctor you have chosen will do a great job. when do you plan on having it done i wish you the best of luck if you need any questions answered don't hesitate to ask
loren
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rightandleft
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 06:43 pm |
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Loren
when is your cast coming off, is it this coming monday
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loren
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Posted: Wed Nov 25th, 2009 07:01 pm |
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rightandleft
yes monday november 30th than i'll be in a walking boot for two weeks but i'll be able to start puting weight on my foot so i'm really excited
loren
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