DEVELOPING A LIMP AGAIN: CHAPTER 18

It's been almost three years since my ankle replacement. Last September when I had my annual check-up with Dr. Horton, everything looked great and he even commented on my remarkable range of motion. But starting in November I began to have pain again...serious pain that made me limp and be unable to do the normal things I have begun to enjoy again (shopping, dog walks, etc.). I returned to Dr. Horton and he took another X-ray and determined that nothing had significantly changed with the implant and suggested it was arthritis or a pulled tendon/ligament, and said I should wear a brace or support stocking on that leg (on the up-side, his first solution was NOT surgery...so Brownie points for that...although we did briefly discuss a potential future "revision surgery" to replace the silicone ball part). But it is now April of a new year and I am still wearing the support sock and if I don't, I get pain in my left foot  from walking only a short distance. So, I did get 2+ years of really good moving around. But now I am faced with wearing a stupid support sock...won't that look nice with a dress at my niece's wedding this summer?? Also, I've developed a distinct rubbery squeak. No kidding...sitting in my chair in the evenings, I can occasionally hear my ankle "squeak" when I move it up and down. (At first that was amusing...weeks later it's kind of pathetic.)

Something to try is to lose weight again. After all that work, it all came back and I am thinking that 15 lbs. would make a big difference to my ankle. I am now considering what to do about that, as I am sick of Atkins. Someone suggested Sensa, but I am pretty sure the only way that works is to make your food taste like vomit or dog shit. Ergo, suggestions for the mobility limited are encouraged :)

NOVEMBER ANKLE CHECK-UP & WEIGHT LOSS UPDATE: CHAPTER 17

Yesterday I had another visit with Dr. Horton, who I am proud to say, gave my ankle a very good review!  I complained of "more" pain that I had last time I visited with him, but I would guess that the explanation is increased activity. He said that some days, when you get that warning message from your ankle, you just have to STOP and realize that tomorrow is another day. But overall he said I am using the replacement as I should and it is up to me to find and maintain a comfortable activity level. Dr. Horton also congratulated me on losing significant weight since seeing him in June.

I am enjoying some hard-won success with Atkins. It's not always easy to say "no" to the most tasty stuff in life (whipped potatoes, fresh bread, etc.) but so far I have lost almost 30 pounds...I have gone from an estimated start at 204 lbs. to a pleasantly average-looking 176 today...and I have lost 2 pant sizes!  I have decided that losing another 15 pounds is a worthy goal, and my intent is to accomplish that before the holidays.  But I won't kick myself even once if I don't make it.  Maintaining weight is really all one can hope for between the end of November and beginning of the new year, right?

THE ROAD TO WEIGHT LOSS: CHAPTER 16

Effective July 1, 2011, I officially started my diet.  The only diet that has ever worked for me is "low carb" and I am a fan of Dr. Atkins, may he rest in peace.  I am now five weeks into it, and have lost 15.5 pounds!  Already my clothes are fitting better and I am experiencing a noticeable reduction in leg/knee/ankle pain.  As I mentioned in a previous chapter, for every pound lost it is like taking five pounds off my ankle, so the motivation is there!  Never mind that I am looking less puffy and more svelte every day!  (But I still gotta wonder out loud WHY my right hip is more chubbily padded than my left...you'd think it would be the other way around.) If anyone is interested in jumping on the low carb bandwagon, come on aboard!  Drop me a line and we can help each other figure out what to do with a pound of hamburger....

In other news, I wore out a pair of tennis shoes recently.  The reason this is an event is that I wore the soles out evenly. No more dragging-left-foot-limp!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME! CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Yes, it has been one full year since surgery and I am a walking medical miracle!  Seriously, from barely being able to stand for 5 minutes and considering putting a down payment on a scooter chair to walking 3 miles in a day...that is TRULY a miracle!

When I got up this morning I reminded my boyfriend, Clay, of where we were one year ago at 6:30 am, and that was me in pre-op, getting ready to go under for surgery.  He congratulated me on my whole recovery and told me how proud he is of me!  The fact that he stuck with me through the entire process shows what great character Clay has and I (still) appreciate his daily ministrations that include making and bringing me coffee and breakfast in the morning and walking the dog when I am too tired or busy.

My family has provided superior moral support through the entire time, as well, and I want to thank them, too!  Through thick and thin, we are a family of survivors...from broken backs to cancer...ain't nothin' gonna bring us down!

SHE'S WALKING WELL NOW! CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Hello, friends & family!  Just wanted to leave a little note for anyone who is interested that I had a great 6-month ankle check-up last week with local orthopedist Dr. Eric Horton.  I am deliberately providing his name, as he is one of probably two doctors in the San Diego area that work with ankle replacements right now.  The other one is Dr. Bertil Smith at UCSD Hospital.  The other two I know about have unfortunately moved their very desirable talents to other states.

Anyway, long story short, Dr. Horton took new X-rays and had nothing but praise for Dr. P.’s work.  The device is working as intended and I am using it as intended (shopping & dog walking, under 3 miles a day).  He was easy to talk to and took his time with me. Evidently there is a new generation of my Wright In-Bone implant that is even more successful; however, to forewarn anyone who may decide to ask him for a replacement surgery evaluation, Dr. Horton prefers the STAR (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement).  

As for what/how I am feeling these days, the permanent pain level seems to have established itself at a manageable level overall and mostly just makes my calf ache a bit at night.  The neuropathy on the inside of my left foot has faded and sensation feels fairly normal now; there is still a small stripe of skin that has little feeling, but it is not especially noticeable unless I am actively poking my foot with my fingers checking for numbness.   I am occasionally able to wear flat (non-tennis) shoes now, although an entire evening in heels still seems like a hopeful goal for the future.  I have gotten new orthotics and continue with monthly acupuncture therapy to help re-align my Qi with my new balance inclinations.  I am just beginning to get interested in exercising at home and will need to start slowly; Dr. Horton encourages non-impact exercise including bicycling and swimming.  I will reach a year of successful replacement at the end of June, which is when I am told the healing should be as complete as it’s going to get.  After 16 years of wondering how this would turn out, life is returning to normal and I am able to function as most other people with minimal discomfort.   Not wanting to hog all the cosmic gratitude, my boyfriend and my dog are also very thankful for the ultimate and long-term success of this procedure J

Huxley sez: "Yay for the Mama!"

IT'S A WHOLE NEW YEAR! CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Just wanted to touch base with a progress report:  Yesterday I walked 10 blocks round trip, which was probably about a mile! And I now walk my dog 1 or more times a day.  I continue to gain strength every day, and if I could just lose some weight, I'm sure I'd improve even faster!  Sitting around for 3 months with your leg in the air is not conducive to keeping one's figure, you know?  But today I read that doctors estimate that for every pound lost, it relieves 5 pounds of pressure on a person's ankle...as if looking better wasn't motivation enough!  Anyway, in lieu of an organized exercise effort (which I notoriously suck at) I am currently working on standing up straighter, sucking in my stomach, and not looking down when I walk. It's trickier re-training than you think, when you've been hunched over a cane for a year or so!  My friend Hanna thinks I should try yoga to help regain my balance and flexibility...am still toying with that idea.  If I didn't have to change clothes before and after, and tote accessories (like a mat) with me, I'm sure I'd be more enthusiastic.

2010: THE YEAR OF WAITING - CHAPTER TWELVE

It takes me a while to work up to actually writing my annual summary down.  There is a lot of self-review and counting of blessings involved, as there well should be.  But after this process winds down, I am still left with the impression that all I did this past year was…wait.

What was I waiting for?

I waited for the recall notice(s) on my Prius (got 2, resolved 1…)

I waited for my ankle operation (check!)

I waited to heal from my operation (check!)

I waited to be able to walk again after my operation (check!)

I waited to be able to go back to work fulltime again after my operation (check!)

I waited for things to improve for those I care about most (still waiting…)

I waited to turn 50! (Uh…check…)

What was everyone else waiting for?

Mostly, they were waiting to find meaningful work for a decent wage (still waiting…)

Some were waiting for the bankruptcy judge to say “dismissed!” (it will be filed in February)

Some were waiting for broken hearts to heal (no one can say when that wait will be over…)

One was waiting to find out what would happen to her in a legal battle with her ex (she won but is still waiting to collect…)

One was waiting to visit her family overseas for the first time in 10 years (she’s still there)

Still another was waiting to take, re-take, and finally learn that she’d passed a career-altering exam (check…but now she has to decide what is next…)

Others waited for their own medical procedures and suffered the time and energy commitment that goes with that (still waiting…)

Many were waiting for loved ones to return home from the war (…the hardest and longest wait of all)

What were you waiting for?  Did it happen?  Was it resolved?  Leave me a comment and let me know! J

Happy New Year!  May 2011 bring resolve and resolution to you and yours!