What can I say I'm a sucker for happy titles, ruining suprises, letting the cat out of the bag, predictable physicians and my favorite: therapy.
I went to the doctor because I have a small tailor's buinion that has been flaring and sending shooting pains across the top of my happy yarn tattoo and down the left side of my foot. Exercise is good, not being able to walk on it after, not so much.
What I took to need minor surgery has turned into a major multi-purpose event that will leave me on crutches for a good 6-8 weeks. Period. Along with swelling, aches, scars and possibly ruining the entire piece of ink I have been very recently proud of. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about fixing it, but it does make me a tad melancholy about the ink.
Let me clarify a few things. At the ripe age of 16, exactly 17 years ago to be precise, Twin and I both had bilateral bunionectomy's (i.e. both feet.) This is when they readjust that huge nobby prominence next to the edge of the big toe that gives some of us an awesome hobbit foot look. It was fairly minor and we were up and about after the weekend and I was back on the basketball court within 3 months of both surgeries. We were young and it healed and all seemed fine.
Things can change with time.
After reviewing my xrays for the protuberance on the opposite side of the foot from the original surgery site it was confirmed that I do have a Tailor's Bunion (shocking) and that surgery could be an appropriate route. A few other things were also brought into the light.
First off, a second bunionectomy. The original surgery needs redone. The old procedure was to fix the bump of the foot to make it 'prettier' if you will. The current technique, and second procedure, is to repair it at the root of the problem to correct the duck like splay of the toes and adjust for overall posture. (Sadly my former podiastrist died in a horrific accident within days of the original surgeries and cannot be consulted.) This is called a Lapidus Bunionectomy.
The third and fourth procedures are a like Hammertoe Correction to adjust the misalignment of the baby toe from the Tailor's Bunion and a Tailor's Bunionectomy.
All in all a one day procedure with a much longer recovery time and far more swelling. The physician was so super efficient that she not only took xrays on site, and reviewed them in a my first and only visit to see her but she tentatively scheduled the surgery for July 20th.
Of course it is never as easy as just a surgery.
Starting with work, summers at the hospital can be hectic. Our patient load is completely unexpected, since we are dealing with the wounded from a war and it's not a very polite one at that. As the sun comes out the injuries usually double. As the cold creeps in the terrorists hide a little deeper out of site.
Our house is also bit inconvenient. It is a 4 story monstrosity with our bedroom being on the 3rd floor, full baths on the 3rd and 2nd floors and couch and kitchen on the main floor. We will have to look at setting up a spare bed in the living room or moving some food into the MILs room so we can have a sleepover.
The poor MIL is also in a bit of a bind. Her Crohn's is having small complications and between that and a surge of heart, pulmonary, internal medicine and GI clinic appointments she is also having to be carted to and fro at the drop of a hat. If the cards keep falling where they may we both may be recupping from surgery at the same time.
Have I mentioned my husband is an active duty military member? They don't usually grant 3 month respite leave for him to care for his mother-dependent and wife-dependent. Normally we take care of each other.
And the cherry to this little cupcake is that I get a HUGE blessing in October. (No, I'm not pregnant.) My parents get to come for a two week visit! One of the reasons why I'm not balking about the summer surgery or trying to reschedule is that I will have ample recovery time to be in the rehab stage post first foot surgery. I should be able to walk and tourist and play with them versus having to be coddled in a wheelchair and housebound.
So there you have it. I have to be even more dedicated to do double workouts for the next 7 weeks and not sway from the diet plan because surgery and recovery is not the time to want to gain excessive weight due to sheer laziness and availability.
That's right! (image source)
