2 days after lisfranc hardware removal surgery

 2 days after my lisfranc hardware removal surgery I was told to remove the dressing and ace bandage.  I wasn't sure what my foot would look like, and I was surprised it wasn't more swollen.

2 days after lisfranc hardware removal surgery

You can still see where my surgeon placed his initials and where I signed "yes!" indicating my right foot was the correct foot to be operating on.  My surgeon used the exact same incision for removing the hardware as he did for my original lisfranc surgery repair.

lisfranc hardware removal incision

After a shower I had to let my incision air dry and I needed to elevate and ice, something I know how to do!  My nurse told me the ice doesn't have to be over the incision, and that icing the ankle will help just as much.  That knowledge came in handy since the incision area is very tender!

I have been keeping the incision covered with a large band-aid which protects the area from germs.  I remove the bandage daily to make sure the area around my stitches is not turning red with infection.

Lisfranc hardware removal surgical site

I have been meticulous about staying off my foot as much as possible and have been icing and elevating most of the time.  This has been hard, psychologically, for me because it seems like I have gone backwards in my lisfranc journey.  But I know, that in a little more than a week, my surgeon will remove my stitches and I will be able to resume walking again, and this time, I hope it will be pain free !

Lisfranc Hardware removal surgery

lisfranc hardware removal surgery

Last Wednesday I went in for my lisfranc hardware removal surgery.  I requested the same nurse that I had for my lisfranc surgery and was thrilled when she came to get me from the waiting room.   Nurse "Emily" is the perfect combination of humor and empathy with the ability to convey information in a way I can hear.   

In preparation for my surgery, nurse Emily got me into a heated gown, and covered me with heated blankets, which made me feel like I was at a spa.  As she started my IV and explained exactly what was going to take place, I shared that I  wasn't nervous about the surgery itself, but was really anxious about the pain and recovery period.  As we were talking, Emily took my blood pressure and it was 168!!!!

Nurse Emily immediately started re-assuring me that it would be nothing at all like my last surgery and that I would be feeling "normal" in a few weeks.  Then my surgeon walked in, calm as ever, and with a reassuring smile asked me how I was doing. Since it was nearing the end of his surgery day, I immediately asked him if I could buy him a cup of coffee.  He laughed and said he was plenty alert for me.

 He reassured me that this surgery would be nothing at all like the last one and then talked with me in depth about the kind of anesthesia I would be having.  The biggest question I had was whether I would have to go another 6 months with my big toe and the top of my foot being numb.  We decided together that I would not have a nerve block unless I absolutely needed one which would cut down on the likelihood of lingering big toe numbness.

After he signed my right foot and turned to leave, I told him that the anesthesiologist said I couldn't watch the surgery.  He smiled and said, "bummer."  

When he left, I was a lot more at ease with what was about to happen.  Emily shut my curtains and told me to rest until it was my time, which turned out to be 1 1/2 hours!  I have never sat in a room, with nothing to read and nothing to do for that length of time. Unrestrained thoughts can be a dangerous thing!

Finally, my surgical nurse, Sarah, came to get me and she and the nurse anesthetist  wheeled me into the operating room.  The operating room was quite cold and when I mentioned the cool temperature, I was asked to transfer to the operating table with the promise of more warm blankets.  The operating room table was really narrow and did not have space to put my arms by my sides. While I was still trying to decide where to put my arms, someone took my arms and placed on side tables located on either side of the operating room table while someone else secured a thick strap over my stomach.  I asked why the strap and was told it was so I wouldnt fall off the operating room table during surgery.  About  now I was starting to get a little creeped out, and as I was staring up at the ceiling at the many bright white lights that looked a lot like  spider's legs, a mask was placed over my mouth and nose.  I was very happy to succumb to the anesthesia!!!!!

It felt like only a few minutes when I woke up in recovery with my nurse Sarah asking me if I had any pain.  As I slowly came to, I felt a searing red hot pain in the top of my right foot and noticed tears starting to stream down my face.  I told nurse Sarah I was quite uncomfortable and she said I did not have a nerve block and that they needed to control my pain with meds instead.  She immediately gave me a couple of opiates and some crackers.  After about 20 minutes my pain level decreased from a 7 to a 3 for which I was grateful.  After getting my pain under control I was offered ice water and I can honestly say, no ice water has ever tasted so good!!

My surgeon came in smiling widely and told me everything went extremely well and asked me if I wanted to keep the hardware he removed from my foot.  I told him I planned to take pictures of it and post it on my blog and keep it next to my boot.  He laughed and  said they would sanitize it and mail it to me.  Eventually, my pain remained under control and I was told I could return home, where I have been mostly in bed, sleeping and occasionally visiting with family and friends who have been care taking me and my husband.

lisfranc hardware removal surgery ice and elevation and a cute new surgical boot

27 weeks post lisfranc surgery with more surgery tomorrow

After recovering from lisfranc surgery for 27 weeks, my husband and I took a quick trip to Florida before I head back into surgery tomorrow.

I was not able to walk barefoot on the beach, and sandals were still uncomfortable, but that didn't stop me from being able to enjoy the feeling of sand on my toes!

27 weeks after lisfranc surgery

I decided to be really adventuresome and try walking through Sea World.  We took it slow, and I was able to manage walking around the entire park and enjoy several of the shows!  

After visiting Sea World, I even managed to walk through the airport to catch our plane. When we got home last night, all it took to be pain free was a little ice, elevation and tylenol!!

Tomorrow I am having the hardware removed from my foot.  I am not at all nervous about the surgery itself, but am apprehensive about the recovery.  I have been assured by both my surgeon and his nurses that recovery will be much easier this time, but I still wonder how long it will take to recover to the exact point I am now.  I have worked hard to regain almost normal walking and I dread going backward.

I know, though, for a positive long term outcome, hardware removal is necessary.

Amazing leap forward at 26 weeks post lisfranc surgery

Today marks another milestone in my lisfranc recovery journey!  While shopping at the grocery store, perusing isle after isle of items, I suddenly became aware that I hadn't thought about my foot since I walked into the store!  The realization hit me after walking halfway through the entire store without one ounce of pain or stiffness.

26 weeks post lisfranc surgery scar

 I couldn't stop smiling at feeling so "normal" and greeted everyone I saw with a huge grin.  I did resist the urge to tell complete strangers to notice that I was just a normal walking shopper, once again.

  After checking out, another shopper bumped into me and I didn't fall apart in a panic worrying she would step on my recovering foot.  In fact, my first reflex was no longer to pick up my right foot and hide it behind my left for protection.  Instead I managed to smile and say, "hello."  WOW!!!!!

I am now able to walk about 3/4 the speed of other people and I can keep that gait without a limp!

26 weeks post lisfranc surgery wardrobe

I still am much more comfortable in sneakers and decided to buy matching jackets.  I girl needs choices of what to wear in  the cold Minnesota fall weather!!!

25 weeks post lisfranc surgery

Finally, after 25 weeks of healing from lisfranc surgery, I am able to do 2 full hours of regular housework, including being able to vacuum!!  I never thought I would say I enjoyed doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, picking up, getting out Thanksgiving decorations etc!!!  My foot told me I need to stop, but that's OK. I can honestly say, I am thrilled to be able to take back another part of my life!!! 

I also decided to move up my hardware removal surgery to Nov 20th.  This decision was based on my insurance, who will pay for the entire surgery if I have it done by the end of 2013.

I traded a couple of e-mails with my physical therapist (whose wife has still not had their baby boy yet) and he wants to come and observe my operation! (My surgeon and my PT have a good relationship.) I am absolutely thrilled!!!!!  How cool is it that he wants to follow my case even after I have graduated from PT!!!!

plates and screws after lisfranc surgery
24 weeks post op

So, in a few weeks I will be saying "good-bye" to the plates and screws that were imperative to my healing bones!!