Bucking Bronco (Geoffrey)

     Last Tuesday I went to church for our prayer group. It was going to be my first big outing, and I was so excited to go! After we finished praying, we were standing around talking. I turned to speak to someone when my right knee slid off Geoffrey and I started falling. What is the natural reaction to falling? Put out a leg or arm to stop the fall. Down went the foot with the splint - straight down to the floor. My friend, Faye, must have broken my fall because while my foot went to the floor the rest of me stayed somewhat upright. My initial thought was "I don't want to have to go back through this again."

     I got upright on the scooter. At that point I put my head on my arms as I leaned on the handlebars. I looked up to see 5 people or so staring at me. Faye said in an email later that I must have felt like an alien with all the eyes staring at me. I don't think anyone said a word until I asked for my pain medicine.

     Joe called Dr Lillich to see if he wanted to see me. We had forgotten that he was out of the office for a week. Joe left my phone for the doctor on call to call me directly. George, the PA for a hand doctor, called after lunch and was pretty excitable when I told him what had happened. He talked with the nurse of the other foot doctor who called me later. She said that Dr Cox, the other foot doctor, was in surgery all day but she would try to talk to him. Because I didn't hear a pop or was in great pain, Dr Cox thought that I had done no damage.

     Tuesday night as Joe and I talked about what had happened he was able to articulate how I felt. l was terribly embarrassed about falling, especially in such a simple way. 

     The worst part of the fall was the soreness that I have had on the left side - back and hip. I am 5 days out from the fall, and the soreness is finally going away.

     Besides my little setback from the fall, I feel like I am getting stronger every day. I can empty and put away most of the dishes in the dishwasher (except ones that go high in the cabinet). I can take a few clothes to the laundry room. I can transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer. I can take a bath by myself.

     Tomorow is my first post-op visit. I think that I'll be put in a cast then. 

Life is Different

     Life is different! All the things I take for granted I am not able to do as easily. I think that my trip to Nicaragua and having to use a bucket and cup to wash might have been a preparation for bathing without getting my leg wet. At least I have hot water here!!

     I have pillows everywhere to help with the propping up process. Extra pillows on the bed and extra pillows on the couch. I even put a pillow on my scooter so I can use it for a prop sometimes.

     There is a basket on the scooter which I thought was a joke when I bought it. Reminded me of what I thought was a sissy girl's bike when I was little (and I wanted nothing to do with a bike like that). But, my oh my was I wrong about this basket. It is a life-saver. I almost always have my Ragin' Cajun cup with a lid, pain medicine, my Kindle, and my phone in there. Yesterday I put some laundry that needed to be washed in my basket and took it to the laundry room.

     I told Joe that it is strange that from time to time when I need to go somewhere (usually the bathroom) I glance at Geoffrey (scooter) and think "It will be faster if I just walk." It's a fleeting thought, but one that is reoccurring. Of course, I can't stand and walk, but it obviously is what naturally pops into my mind.

     The biggest thing I have noticed in my recovery so far is that I can move around in bed better. The first couple of days were difficult. The cast doesn't feel as heavy - my left leg and my right thigh are getting much stronger.

     I am not taking much pain medication either. I usually take one at night when I am ready to go to sleep, and then another some time during the day. The pain has not been like I thought it would be. Thank goodness.

     I can't say enough about how thankful I am for Joe and his patience and help during this time. He is doing more than double time and being gracious the whole time.

Continuing Recovery

     Before we left the hospital, the nurse said to take the pain medicine every 4 hours through the night so that the pain didn't become overwhelming. Joe set his alarm and woke me every 4 hours so that I could have the medicine. I was ready for it each time. I remember that the most painful time was around 4AM.

     One of the hardest things to do is move around in bed. I can push off with my left leg but I have to be so careful not to try to push off with my right. The splinted leg is also heavier than I thought it would be. I suspect that the cast will be even heavier.  

     I can back "Geoffrey" into the bathroom and be able to use the facilities without any help. Joe put the bath transfer chair in the tub so that gives one a place to lean on the right side. I took somewhat of a bath Thursday which made me feel better to get my hair washed if nothing else. I have to be careful not to get the splint wet - probably being overly cautious.

     I went outside on the patio Friday where Joe and I sat and talked for a few minutes while enjoying the fresh air.

     Alison sent me a balloon bouquet. Thanks, Alison. You are always so sweet to send balloons which always creates a smile. Joe said that several times he has walked into the living room and was startled because he thought someone was standing there.

     Tom and Kathryn Caldwell sent me beautiful flowers. Tom and I were in Haiti together earlier this year. Very special couple!

Surgery Day, June 11

     We were told to be at the hospital at 7AM which meant leaving home at 5:30. Joe and I woke up at 4:30 so we could shower. I needed to clean my leg with yellow Dial soap. That's a little too early for me.

     We arrived at the hospital about 6:45 and waited a few minutes to check in. Right around 7:00 I was taken back to my cubicle. Questions - when was the last time to have something to drink, what medicines do you take (none), what is Dr. Lillich doing today, which leg, etc. Now to put on that fashionable gown. IV put in for antibiotic and saline.

     Dr. Lillich came in and talked. We asked all the questions we had forgotten to ask at the last visit. He is a very nice doctor and never seems to be in a rush.

     Surgery lasted about an hour or a little bit more. I remember the nurse saying my name so I opened my eyes. My first thought was that I didn't want to wake up because I was resting so comfortably.

     Dr. Lillich's PA said that I would be in a hard splint wrapped with an Ace bandage. I was thinking that I would be in a cast coming out of the OR.

     I didn't feel well at all. I kept feeling like I was going to get sick. The nurse brought me ice chips which really didn't help. She said that women have more trouble with nausea than men. I would close my eyes and start feeling better, but when I opened my eyes I would start feeling terrible again. That went on for an hour or maybe two. At one point, we sent Joe to get the car ready, but I couldn't get up so the nurse had to call him and tell him to just come back to the room. Finally, I had to go to the bathroom so the nurse got me into a wheelchair. I had to have her stop because I started having the dry heaves. That seemed to help because I felt so much better after that. So, after the bathroom, she wheeled me downstairs and helped me get into the car. 

     We took some pillows for the ride home so I would have one behind me against the door and one under my leg. I did fine until we got to Ruston. By the time Joe pulled into the driveway, I was feeling horrible! I wasn't sure I could get into the house. I had to stop four or five times to put my head on Geoffrey's handlebars. It was hot outside, and I was nauseous again. Miserable!

     Finally got to the back door and had to stop again. Joe took this picture.

     Got in bed for a nap.

     The tear was more than 50% of the tendon so Dr. Lillich had to do debridement of the tendon (cleaning out the scar tissue) and a tendon transfer. The tendon going to my big toe which allows the big toe go down was pulled back to use to strengthen my Achilles. That is also called tendon augmentation.

     I mostly need patience to get through this.

Achilles' Tendon Surgery

        Surgery on tendon was Wednesday, June 11. A little background on how I got to this point. When it was time to go to college many years ago, I chose Limestone College in Gaffney, SC so that I could play volleyball and softball. The first week into volleyball practice I had a terrible sprain that the doctor thought might have included a small tear to my Achilles tendon. That ended my collegiate athletic career as I spent several months in BIG plaster casts.

         Over the years, I have had pain and discomfort in that area.

         Fast forward – soreness, discomfort, and some sharp pain in my Achilles tendon sent me to an orthopedist specializing in feet and ankles. We started with a conservative approach with wearing a boot for 5 weeks. I got out of the boot in time to go to Nicaragua (with his permission) and with an anti-inflammatory medication. Sadly, I came back with more pain than I had had before the boot. At my next visit, the doctor told me that he had wanted to try the boot and medication to make sure that the pain was not related to the inflammation.

         So, surgery was scheduled at the Orthopedic Specialists Hospital in Shreveport. There is a lot of scarring around my Achilles tendon so the doctor cannot tell how much tearing there actually is. It seems that a tendon going to my big toe will be transferred to my Achilles to use in the repair.

         I am facing up to 8 weeks in a non-weight bearing cast followed by several weeks in a boot. I have purchased a “knee scooter” to use instead of crutches. So, that is how I will be getting around for a couple of months.

       We have named my knee scooter Geoffrey after a giraffe riding toy that Alison had and was passed along to Katherine and Rachel. I don't know if Alison named it Geoffrey or if we did as Geoffrey was poplar at Toys r Us.