Day 13--Stitches out and boot off!

Today was the big day.  I must admit I was a little anxious about what to expect when the wrapping came off.  My doctor came and got me from the lobby and escorted me back to the examining room and took the dressing off.  I'm pretty squeamish but actually got myself to look and take a photo which I'll post at the end of this entry in case anyone else prefers not to see the incision all stitched up.  I had twelve stitches.  More than I had thought.  Other than some very mild bruising of my two middle toes and a small bruise on the side of my foot, it looked pretty good.  It didn't look swollen and the stitching was pretty neatly done.

I was very apprehensive about stepping down on my foot much less moving my toes but I was able to slowly walk down the hall to x-ray where they re-xrayed my foot to look at how things had changed.

The before xray is on the left, toe facing up.  After on the right.  You can see a distinct bump on the bone at the base of my toe on the left that is much reduced on the right. (Can't quite figure out if there is a way to rotate this photo so it is vertical.)

Back to the examining room where the doctor's assistant very gently took the stitches out (not a big deal at all) and taped up the incision with steri-strips.  No shower today (thankfully, I got up early and took one this morning) but tomorrow okay for shower.  Five days before I can immerse in water but doctor said swimming on Tuesday should be fine.

The assistant showed me how to pull my big toe back to the point of pain and hold for 10 seconds and then push it down and do the same.  10 reps for 10 seconds each in each direction.  That means a minimum of 200 opportunities for pain a day--not counting walking.  Ugh.

I had a pair of sandals that had velcro straps going over the tops of my feet which worked great.  I was able to get my foot into my Minnetonka slippers but they pushed just a little too much on the incision so the sandals seemed like a better bet to get home.

My velcro strap sandals that I wore home today,.

My joint was definitely sore as I left but I was able to walk albeit slowly and deliberately.  I don't quite trust my foot and I'm scared to death to have anyone standing near me with their back to me (like on the elevator) for fear they will accidentally step back onto my foot.

Doctor wants me back in three months and warned that it's not unusual to feel discouraged at that time that there is still some pain and swelling.  He says that's normal.  We're leaving the 23rd of October for a trip that will definitely involve some hiking and walking so I was a little disappointed although not surprised to hear that. Guess that gives me something to work for.

By the time I got home, I had a headache and uneasy stomach.  The sensation in my foot isn't exactly what I would call pain but it is most unpleasant right now which is what I think is contributing to the other symptoms.

Did my 10 reps of the upward movement of my toe.  Not comfortable but tolerable.  Downward is harder.  Feels like a tight cable running through my foot that is pulling on the ends when I try to stretch it.  Got through about 4 reps while I was on the phone.  Will challenge myself to do a full 10 more before the end of the day.

Tried walking barefoot on the tile floor in our kitchen for a bit.  The cold floor felt good but for some reason it was harder to walk barefoot than with the sandals.  Maybe because there is no cushion under the joint.  Joint is pretty achy right now although not what I would say is painful.  It's been 4 hours since my foot was released from its bondage.


Photos of stitches below.  Scroll down if you want to see.

Foot with stitches.  It's not really as bruised as it looks in the photo. 

With steri strips on.  Need to leave these on for 5 day although the first strip by my toe is already peeling off.