Dh having surgery in January...(kinda long, sorry)

[noel]

If anyone has ever had a major surgery on their foot/ankle, especially if it's a bone fusion, please share your experiences with me.

My DH Todd had been having serious foot pain for the last 2 years. Last fall he had he went to his orthopedic Dr who immediately noticed his flat feet (which he's always had), the huge bulge on the side of his left foot and the fact that his foot was starting to turn outwards. An MRI that showed the tendon holding the arch of his left foot was "weak". The Dr felt cortisone injections wouldn't work and gave him orthotics for his shoes & upped his dosage of Vioxx which he was already taking for his back but warned that surgery was probably going to be sometime in the future..

Fast foward to the future one year later things hadn't improved much. This time the MRI showed the tendon was completely torn and couldn't even be seen on the MRI.

So now we're waiting for his surgery in early January. They'll be grafting bone from his hip and fusing it to his ankle to help give his foot more support and to correct the position his foot has turned out towards. Todd's had surgery on other foot when he was in middle school and recently thumb surgery (again, torn tendon) so he knows recovery will suck. Plus Todd is a "big boy" so I'll definitely need help getting him from place to place in the beginning.

Because of his line of work (sales & service on dish machines and cleaning equipment) and being on his feet most of the day, he will be off work for almost 4 months. Thank God for good short term disability insurance!!!

Anyways, sorry to ramble. I just wanted to share what the new year will hold for us. We are hoping and praying that everything goes well with the surgery and the recovery isn't too awful.
We're confident he'll still be able to do the same type of work once he's done - or at least we hope so.

DH said at least by the time our 10th wedding anniversary rolls around (Jan '05) he should be up for another long trip to WDW.

 

[larry's girl]

So sorry for your husband's pain and having to deal with surgery. The only thing I have any experience with was when my husband had arthroscopic knee surgery many years ago, which is not at all the same thing. I will just say that it sounds like the end result will be better for him than what he is dealing with now, and wish him healing pixie dust so you guys can have a great January '05 trip! Remember to take care of yourself while you're taking care of him - you don't want to injure yourself and then have both of you out of commission!

 

[Pam]

noel,
Prayers for a successful surgery for your husband. I hope his recovery is a swift one. I agree with you on the disability coverage!!

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

 

[helenabear]

Noel, I have had no personal experience with this, but I wanted to let you know that you all are in my prayers. So very glad for STD as well!! I hope everything goes well for you all!

 

[TammyNC]

I am sorry that your DH is going to have to go through surgery. I will be keeping him in my prayers for an especially speedy recovery. Don't let this get you down for the holidays, enjoy them and then deal with the first of the year. Keep the faith.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hoping all goes well with the surgery for Todd, Noel, I am sure it will. And that the recovery time is swift, complete and comfortable, for both of you guys. You both will be in my prayers in the days/months ahead. Please do keep us updated when he goes in, etc. Merry Christmas to both of you and may your '04 and years ahead be bright.

 

[Bon Bon]

Thank goodness he has insurance! I have had foot surgery on both feet, 6-weeks apart. It was bunion surgery and they had to break my bones and reset them with screws. It was painful but well worth it. At the time I was a single mother, living in a second floor apartment. I traded cars with a friend (I had a standard transmission) and drove one-footed with her automatic. It wasn't easy but again, well worth it. I did prepare ahead of time. I bought books, writing paper, magazines, got all my photos in a box and bought photo albums so I could organize them when I was off my feet. I'm sure DH will have times when he is very antsy and frustrated. Just keep him busy in other ways, things he can do lying down or sitting with his foot propped up. Best wishes to him for a speedy recovery and best wishes to you for the extra responsibilities you will have during his recovery!

 

[noel]

So very glad for STD as well!!

WHHHEW - helenabear I had to stop for a second and think "STD?" no, he doesn't have that. Then I realized you meant short term disability!
It covers 5 months at 100% of his pay. I will NEVER complain that his benefits are too expensive again!!!

Thanks everyone for your kind words and prayers and cyber hugs. Christmas is a little different this year knowing one the festivities are over this week and next we'll have a long road ahead of us.

Because Todd needs to be off his feet and at home, that means I'll be at home too playing nurse to my hunny. It'll be a long winter, but I guess it also means I'll have plenty of time to spend here!!

On a side note...
I've come on and off the boards for the past few years and even though the DIS has changed a lot over the years, the CB is still a great place with lots of amazing and special people.

 

[noel]

And Bon Bon - thanks for sharing those tips for helping to make his recovery easier. I hope your tootsies are pain free now, I know bunions can be real buggers.

Todd's planning on trying to learn Spanish via computer and/or DVD on his time off, so hopefully between that, playing XBox and watching movies, he'll not get too stir crazy!

His Mom only works VERY part time and one of his best friends Steve is a nurse and only works on weekends, so he's anxious to come and play video games with him once I'm back to work. We're both lucky that there will be extra help to care for him!

 

[Big V]

So sorry for Todd, Noel. I was off for 2 and a half months this year and it was no picnic! I have disability insurance at work, but it doesn't cover 100 percent, so I was ready to go back to work! Hope to see you at a future Dismeet again! You and your family have a Happy Holiday season!
Scott