Ankle is fine now, back to normal tkd and activities. I do not notice a loss in proprioception.
I do notice a slight loss of flexibily. I cant quite make a blade of my foot for a side kick but most normal people would not notice.
My finger on my left hand continued to get worse. I might have had success with acupuncture if I had tried earlier. I did trigger release surgery 6 weeks ago range of motion is almost back to before it started. It hurts though I understand that might get better in a month or 2.
Tumeric and black pepper are my friend, seems to keep the inflamation down.
good luck.
Art.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
3 years 4 months post
Forgot all about this blog.
Well my left ankle is doing ok. I have lost some flexibility but that was expected.
There are a few anomolies being followed by my podiatrist. Due to ongoing discomfort I ended up having an MRI that showed several problem areas.
next week I will have a second one to see if we can figure this out.
I feel pain if I am barefoot to much, oddly enough I feel pain in my other foot if I wear shoes to much. Intresting.
I have also found PT to be very helpful, but you have to find a good one. If they dont train athletes as well as old folks find someone else.
As an added bonus with the new year I broke my right foot and am dealing with that right now. Frequent flier miles with my podiatrist.
If you go through the surgery find a good chiropractor in your spare time, you will be visiting them soon.
good luck.
Art.
Well my left ankle is doing ok. I have lost some flexibility but that was expected.
There are a few anomolies being followed by my podiatrist. Due to ongoing discomfort I ended up having an MRI that showed several problem areas.
next week I will have a second one to see if we can figure this out.
I feel pain if I am barefoot to much, oddly enough I feel pain in my other foot if I wear shoes to much. Intresting.
I have also found PT to be very helpful, but you have to find a good one. If they dont train athletes as well as old folks find someone else.
As an added bonus with the new year I broke my right foot and am dealing with that right now. Frequent flier miles with my podiatrist.
If you go through the surgery find a good chiropractor in your spare time, you will be visiting them soon.
good luck.
Art.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
1 year and 1 month post surgery. not a great outcome.
Well back again.
Tomorrow another meeting with the Doc. Nice guy excellent surgeon.
Did not work for me.
I am about where I was before surgery.
Improvements: No more sprains (might have been able to do this with ankle braces)
I did have one sprain early in Jan in the snow. Would have been a ankle popper (min 6 week recovery) but I would probably have been wearing a brace if I had not had surgery, I almost did anyway. As it was it was a grade 1, very minor sprain.
cons:
lack of stability/feedback apparently you lose the sensors in the ankle when this tendon is removed and replaced. this is what gives you proprioception.
I dont have it anymore. My ankle breaks into oscillations when I try to stay on it to long, I think this is sensor and not strength related.
I cannot be bare foot for any length of time, at most I can attend 2 or 3 classes (1hr long) per week. Even then I cannot jump and end up with soreness (that I think is minor swelling) in the Tailor dome area.
One of the fingers of my right hand will no longer close to make a fist easily. this let up during my steroid treatment then returned. I suspect a higher than normal level of inflammation in my body. Noticing some improvement but still painful and annoying. This began just after surgery and has been constant. May not be related.
My other ankle is loose enough to warrant surgery but I feel more stable on it than my repaired ankle.
When attempting to restart PT with Ms Barnett I set up a schedule (re approved from insurance finally for 90 days of PT) her schedual changed and all of my appts were canceled. At this time I think I have spent enough of the families time and effort on myself so will not look for more PT. May change when I see Doc but doubt it.
My blood pressure and weight are almost back up to where they were before I started TKD.
I do not see the ankle improving although I will restart PT given to me before screw removal. Due to my reaction to the screws I hope I never need knee or hip replacement, that would be ugly.
I will also try a paleo diet, some indications that it may remove overall inflammation in my body.
I will report by my birthday (april) if there is any improvement.
This is probably because I use my ankles more than most folks and I am very flexible so the procedure may work for you. For me it does not look good. I can do everyday activities OK just not the 5 or 6 workouts a week as well as teaching.
Good luck I hope your outcome is better than mine!
Tomorrow another meeting with the Doc. Nice guy excellent surgeon.
Did not work for me.
I am about where I was before surgery.
Improvements: No more sprains (might have been able to do this with ankle braces)
I did have one sprain early in Jan in the snow. Would have been a ankle popper (min 6 week recovery) but I would probably have been wearing a brace if I had not had surgery, I almost did anyway. As it was it was a grade 1, very minor sprain.
cons:
lack of stability/feedback apparently you lose the sensors in the ankle when this tendon is removed and replaced. this is what gives you proprioception.
I dont have it anymore. My ankle breaks into oscillations when I try to stay on it to long, I think this is sensor and not strength related.
I cannot be bare foot for any length of time, at most I can attend 2 or 3 classes (1hr long) per week. Even then I cannot jump and end up with soreness (that I think is minor swelling) in the Tailor dome area.
One of the fingers of my right hand will no longer close to make a fist easily. this let up during my steroid treatment then returned. I suspect a higher than normal level of inflammation in my body. Noticing some improvement but still painful and annoying. This began just after surgery and has been constant. May not be related.
My other ankle is loose enough to warrant surgery but I feel more stable on it than my repaired ankle.
When attempting to restart PT with Ms Barnett I set up a schedule (re approved from insurance finally for 90 days of PT) her schedual changed and all of my appts were canceled. At this time I think I have spent enough of the families time and effort on myself so will not look for more PT. May change when I see Doc but doubt it.
My blood pressure and weight are almost back up to where they were before I started TKD.
I do not see the ankle improving although I will restart PT given to me before screw removal. Due to my reaction to the screws I hope I never need knee or hip replacement, that would be ugly.
I will also try a paleo diet, some indications that it may remove overall inflammation in my body.
I will report by my birthday (april) if there is any improvement.
This is probably because I use my ankles more than most folks and I am very flexible so the procedure may work for you. For me it does not look good. I can do everyday activities OK just not the 5 or 6 workouts a week as well as teaching.
Good luck I hope your outcome is better than mine!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
9 Months Post surgery. screw removal.
Ok Im back!
After repeated swelling of the Taylor dome part of my ankle. 1 cortisone shot and 2 courses of antiinflamitories.
And frankly my deciding that this whole ankle stabilization thing was a big mistake on my part. Might be good for some folks but for me
it has removed any barefoot activity. Where before surgery I was 90% barefoot (or wearing vibrum 5 fingers) now I can only do 2 or 3 hours per week of Tae Kwon Do.
Complete loss on my part. 9 months post surgery and including some aggressive PT. (1/2 hour to 1hour per day)
Next try when I told my fine Dr my tale of woe (he really is a great Doc, just does not look good for me). He proposes removing the 3 screws added in my december surgery. 2 of which are showing some signs of irritation. One just outside the Taylor dome (sp?).
1 to 2 week recovery.
Ok lets go for it, not much to lose now.
Registration person from the hospital calls. Tells me all the stuff I have already read insists I need an appt at the hospital. My Dr says I dont, registration lady is snippy and rude. Also reg lady (not a nurse, always ask) tells me not to take my synthroid the day of surgery.
Surgical nurse calls. Obviously this lady is having a bad hair day. I correct a few things she tells me (from memory of last surgery. She leaves out a few things but does tell me to take my synthroid. Seemed polite but Im glad it was my second time around.
11:40 surgery, arrive at 9:40am. Used a local taxi service since my wife is going through a relapse from her traffic accident a year ago. More vertigo. (shuttle express, very nice, prompt and polite)
Turn in cash credit card insurance card and drivers liscence. Filled out paper work all that good stuff.
Ekg, poked and prodded. Waited an hour, took a nap. Bp very high.
Moved to preop.
2 residents come to speak with me (practicing how to handle patients and marking the leg). One was really funny, I dont think he meant to be. He acted all official and Dr ish while pretending to ask questions and write down the info on the back of a piece of medical packing material. The pen was not clicked out, hey if you want to fool an engineer you need to work harder! I was polite and did not laugh at him or call him on it. He while I was out he might give me a tatoo or something. He also forgot to ask about a few bits of medical info, but I knew the nurse had it and the other resident covered it.
Same Anesthesiologist as before. Great guy! If I find where I wrote his name down Ill put it in later.
I discussed not being put out as I did not like the drunk feeling I had last time. (nurse said I had an uneducated liver). Hey Ive been drunk once when waking up from surgery, I can check that box off, I dont see why people like it, more for you guys! Also recovery from the anesthesia was longer than the rest of the surgery!
Since locals dont work well on the bones he will be working on and a block would leave me without sensation I agreed to be put down again. But the great anesthesiologist says he will change some things and it should not last as long.
They wheel me in, this time I get to see all the cool equipment.
Give me a mask turn on the drugs in the drip and away I go.
Wake up they are wheeling me out of surgery.
Post op I wake right up. Moving big muscles to burn off any drugs I can. Quickly moved to the holding area and given ice an crackers. Use the bathroom drink water, repeat.
Ask about drugs (last time big problem, this time no trouble, the pharmacy did not mess up). Drugs arrive and I took 1/2 a vicadan.
Ask about after care, told "No Weight bearing", This was not correct I ask the nurse she talks to the doc and they change it to "stop when it hurts" They give me this wooden plank to put on my foot, nearly trips me twice then I move to one of my old walking casts. They are the really cheap bits.
Wife is called and she lets them know she has to wait until the boys are done at piano before she can pick me up. I could have left around 12:30pm! No problem they let me lay around and even feed me a bit. Wife calls to say she has arrived. (really nice nurse by the way Mary I think)
Fellow asks if I want a wheel chair. Remembering the long walk in I accept. He takes me on a short cut (I could have walked this easy). I point out my car (3 car lengths away). He pulls up in the middle of the road and waves for my wife to roll up. I ask to be taken to the car, repeat.... Finally I get up and head to my wife with my stuff. He says "you cant do that!" Grabs my shirt and nearly pulls me down to the concrete. I tell him to back off and continue to the car.
We went to a quick dinner and head home. During dinner I take 3 advil liquigels. Last pain med I need. Bit sore in a few places but not near where the screws were removed, Ill ask about that at follow up. Not enough pain to keep me awake. This Anesthesia also did not mess with bowel movements sorry if TMI.
Hope this solves the problem. More later.
After repeated swelling of the Taylor dome part of my ankle. 1 cortisone shot and 2 courses of antiinflamitories.
And frankly my deciding that this whole ankle stabilization thing was a big mistake on my part. Might be good for some folks but for me
it has removed any barefoot activity. Where before surgery I was 90% barefoot (or wearing vibrum 5 fingers) now I can only do 2 or 3 hours per week of Tae Kwon Do.
Complete loss on my part. 9 months post surgery and including some aggressive PT. (1/2 hour to 1hour per day)
Next try when I told my fine Dr my tale of woe (he really is a great Doc, just does not look good for me). He proposes removing the 3 screws added in my december surgery. 2 of which are showing some signs of irritation. One just outside the Taylor dome (sp?).
1 to 2 week recovery.
Ok lets go for it, not much to lose now.
Registration person from the hospital calls. Tells me all the stuff I have already read insists I need an appt at the hospital. My Dr says I dont, registration lady is snippy and rude. Also reg lady (not a nurse, always ask) tells me not to take my synthroid the day of surgery.
Surgical nurse calls. Obviously this lady is having a bad hair day. I correct a few things she tells me (from memory of last surgery. She leaves out a few things but does tell me to take my synthroid. Seemed polite but Im glad it was my second time around.
11:40 surgery, arrive at 9:40am. Used a local taxi service since my wife is going through a relapse from her traffic accident a year ago. More vertigo. (shuttle express, very nice, prompt and polite)
Turn in cash credit card insurance card and drivers liscence. Filled out paper work all that good stuff.
Ekg, poked and prodded. Waited an hour, took a nap. Bp very high.
Moved to preop.
2 residents come to speak with me (practicing how to handle patients and marking the leg). One was really funny, I dont think he meant to be. He acted all official and Dr ish while pretending to ask questions and write down the info on the back of a piece of medical packing material. The pen was not clicked out, hey if you want to fool an engineer you need to work harder! I was polite and did not laugh at him or call him on it. He while I was out he might give me a tatoo or something. He also forgot to ask about a few bits of medical info, but I knew the nurse had it and the other resident covered it.
Same Anesthesiologist as before. Great guy! If I find where I wrote his name down Ill put it in later.
I discussed not being put out as I did not like the drunk feeling I had last time. (nurse said I had an uneducated liver). Hey Ive been drunk once when waking up from surgery, I can check that box off, I dont see why people like it, more for you guys! Also recovery from the anesthesia was longer than the rest of the surgery!
Since locals dont work well on the bones he will be working on and a block would leave me without sensation I agreed to be put down again. But the great anesthesiologist says he will change some things and it should not last as long.
They wheel me in, this time I get to see all the cool equipment.
Give me a mask turn on the drugs in the drip and away I go.
Wake up they are wheeling me out of surgery.
Post op I wake right up. Moving big muscles to burn off any drugs I can. Quickly moved to the holding area and given ice an crackers. Use the bathroom drink water, repeat.
Ask about drugs (last time big problem, this time no trouble, the pharmacy did not mess up). Drugs arrive and I took 1/2 a vicadan.
Ask about after care, told "No Weight bearing", This was not correct I ask the nurse she talks to the doc and they change it to "stop when it hurts" They give me this wooden plank to put on my foot, nearly trips me twice then I move to one of my old walking casts. They are the really cheap bits.
Wife is called and she lets them know she has to wait until the boys are done at piano before she can pick me up. I could have left around 12:30pm! No problem they let me lay around and even feed me a bit. Wife calls to say she has arrived. (really nice nurse by the way Mary I think)
Fellow asks if I want a wheel chair. Remembering the long walk in I accept. He takes me on a short cut (I could have walked this easy). I point out my car (3 car lengths away). He pulls up in the middle of the road and waves for my wife to roll up. I ask to be taken to the car, repeat.... Finally I get up and head to my wife with my stuff. He says "you cant do that!" Grabs my shirt and nearly pulls me down to the concrete. I tell him to back off and continue to the car.
We went to a quick dinner and head home. During dinner I take 3 advil liquigels. Last pain med I need. Bit sore in a few places but not near where the screws were removed, Ill ask about that at follow up. Not enough pain to keep me awake. This Anesthesia also did not mess with bowel movements sorry if TMI.
Hope this solves the problem. More later.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
16 weeks post op
still doing PT.
No sparring or jumping yet, last appt Dr said June.
Getting frustrated, Doing all of my pushups and sit ups together in order to get some cardio in.
Now is the real hard part, wanting to push at TKD but afraid of hurting the surgery. Arrgg!
Keeping on.....
No sparring or jumping yet, last appt Dr said June.
Getting frustrated, Doing all of my pushups and sit ups together in order to get some cardio in.
Now is the real hard part, wanting to push at TKD but afraid of hurting the surgery. Arrgg!
Keeping on.....
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Week 8 post op
Have not been here for a while. Ill try to do a few more entries before I leave this.
Currently polishing my cartledge moving my toe in a circle, not letting my ankle exceed 30deg flex.
Few aches nothing unusual. Started Chiropractic. Bit to soon I should have waited until I was off crutches. Helped back some, I think it was a good choice overall.
Expect to see Dr friday and get a lace up brace! Then I can go around and get rid of all the black marks on the floor from the brace, no sense in doing before I get rid of it. Having extra liners is a big help.. I have them from when I sprained it before, it would be worth buying one or 2 so you can always wear a clean and dry one.
Found out my ankles are genetic. My eldest twisted his ankle playing bball and gets to see my Dr after my appt. Bummer.
Currently polishing my cartledge moving my toe in a circle, not letting my ankle exceed 30deg flex.
Few aches nothing unusual. Started Chiropractic. Bit to soon I should have waited until I was off crutches. Helped back some, I think it was a good choice overall.
Expect to see Dr friday and get a lace up brace! Then I can go around and get rid of all the black marks on the floor from the brace, no sense in doing before I get rid of it. Having extra liners is a big help.. I have them from when I sprained it before, it would be worth buying one or 2 so you can always wear a clean and dry one.
Found out my ankles are genetic. My eldest twisted his ankle playing bball and gets to see my Dr after my appt. Bummer.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Getting towards the end
Time to unwrap gift in a few weeks.
Up to 6 weeks. Now without crutches, today was the first day.
Started taking showers on my own this week. Using a suction cup bar on the side for ballance really helps.
Started Chiropractic to soon. Last week could not stand on injured leg yet so Xrays skewed. They want to repeat. I asked before and they ignored me. I was stupidly patient so now I need to decide what to do.
My good leg is much stronger than my left leg, even shows up on Xrays. Dr says lot of work to do.
Next Dr visit on Friday, hope to start PT soon. Will start TKD next week. Need to make a cover for my boot to protect the mats at the school.
Up to 6 weeks. Now without crutches, today was the first day.
Started taking showers on my own this week. Using a suction cup bar on the side for ballance really helps.
Started Chiropractic to soon. Last week could not stand on injured leg yet so Xrays skewed. They want to repeat. I asked before and they ignored me. I was stupidly patient so now I need to decide what to do.
My good leg is much stronger than my left leg, even shows up on Xrays. Dr says lot of work to do.
Next Dr visit on Friday, hope to start PT soon. Will start TKD next week. Need to make a cover for my boot to protect the mats at the school.
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