Here We Go Again

As most of you know, my right heel has been giving me fits. Well, it looks like it's time to start remodeling again. Soon we'll be talking to Dr. D. about going back in to take the metal out of my feet.

He says it will be 2 outpatient surgeries if we can get the pain meds figured out. Each foot should only take about 45 minutes and will "simply" be an incision where he did it before, back out the screws, and remove the plates. Then I go home and keep off the foot and take pain meds for 10-14 days. Then we get the one foot strengthened back up and go back to do the other.

On the other hand, if we can't get the pain meds thing figured out then I'm going back into Brackenridge for a few days.

It all sounds very simple and straightforward, but after the pain I experienced last time, I'm terrified of going back in. I know it isn't going to be nearly as involved and difficult as before, but I never want to even risk feeling that kind of pain again and I never want to see the inside of Brack again.

On a completely different subject, we've been trying some stuff one of my docs suggested to get me to sleep.

First, I was told to fight sleep. The idea is to wear down the brain and essentially reset it. OK. I tried it. After 2 days and nights of watching bad movies and infomercials I decided that wasn't working.

Next, it was suggested to try a CD with special music and subliminal messages. The first night I listened t the whole CD, then stayed up til 3 or 4. The next couple of nights I put the CD on continuous repeat thinking I just needed more time with it. The 3rd or 4th time into it I got so irritated at it a shut it off and got to sleep about 4 or 5. I tried it another night with the same results and gave up on it..

Finaly, it was suggested I go back on Klonopin, an anti-anxiety drug. I had taken it in the hospital and for a while after I got home. So I got a new script and gave it a shot. I've been getting 7 to 8 hrs of sleep a night since taking it! So I guess Klonopin is my new sleep buddy for the foreseeable future!

I'm still gonna go see a sleep specialist and see if they have any other answers or thoughts, but at least I'm getting some sleep and my concentration and energy levels are picking back up.

So now, it's mainly a matter of dealing with the stuff in my feet so I can get back to walking better and getting back on track on the general rehab. Well, that and convincing the insurance company that I still need rehab. They seem to think I'm all better now (if though I can barely walk, can't drive, can't negotiate stairs, etc., etc.)and they don't want to pay on it any more. So we've racked up about 2 months of PT sessions that they don't want to cover. Gotta love insurance desk docs deciding your healthcare needs!

'Till next time....

Be well!

You Asked For It....

Here are some pics of the new brace I am now wearing that was built buy Gus. It was molded according to a mold taken of my foot and leg and is quite a bit lighter than the old hi-tech mukluk I had to wear for a few weeks.

As you can see, it has a full, solid, inflexible sole plate, it comes up over my heel and on op my leg to the top of my calf. At the ankle there is a cutout above the heel and there is a hinge mechanism at the ankle. In front of the hinge there are "stops". This all allows my foot to bend down, but it cannot bend up, thereby protecting y achilles tendon from excessive strain. Gus also put some orthotics and other padding on the inside for me. Finally, the whole rig fits inside my regular running shoe.

When we are ready to let the tendon stretch a bit more, Gus can trim the "stops" or even the brace structure itself to allow more range of motion. In fact, last Friday we just opened it up a few more degrees. so I am now working that tendon just a little bit more. Also, if the thing starts wearing differently (which happens as my foot shape shifts or swelling changes, or....) Gus can adjust the shape, contours, and padding in the brace to make as comfortable as possible. Yes, Gus is a genius!

All-in-all progress is being made, although it is not nearly as rapid as before and I'm certainly not back to where I was a little over a month ago and I won't be for a while, if ever.

Another Quickie

Yes, another quick update. Sorry, but since I'm only sleeping (kinda) 1 or 2 hours a night, my concentration levels (not to mention my interest levels) are near zero so I can't write much.

First, I got my new leg brace. It is much lighter than the old boot, fits in my shoe (pretty much), and can be adjusted as my achilles tendon improves and I can move it more.

Speaking of the tendon, it is improving. It appears I have move from tendonitis to tendonosis. Meaning it is not all swollen and pissy, but it is now stiff and pissy. It's gonna take some time to get it loosened back up and recover what little range of motion and strength I had built up.

As of last Friday, I am now off ALL pain meds. I am not convinced that is a good thing, but everyone is saying it is time I started "walking through the fire." Easy for them to say!

As it turns out, all my other problems from a few weeks ago were not med withdrawals, but the med I had stopped had been masking the effects of another. Stop taking A, the side effects of B fired up big time. Now I am no longer taking med B either. The only lasting effects from that are some pain, discomfort, and nerve issues along with a wicked-nasty case of insomnia.

If I can get to sleep I sleep fine. The problem is, I can't get to sleep til somewhere between 3 and 6 am. About every 3rd or 4th day I wear down and crash, then the cycle repeats. Accordingly, my concentration, reasoning, and other stuff are getting pretty wonky most of the time so most of my energy is expended doing my PT and doing what work I can. This also means I can't focus long enough to read much at all. I just can't get what I'm reading. So the really mentally challenging stuff at work, or the stuff that requires reading a bunch, is just gonna have to wait a while. Glad I got my BIG project done!

Today was a bit of a landmark also. I had my last pain management appointment. Unless I can't pair the aches, pain, and discomfort and want to try other meds that may or may not work, they have nothing else to offer me. So I'm all done with them. On the other hand, it looks like I'm gonna have to go see a sleep specialist to figure out why I can't get to sleep. Also, I'm pretty convinced (and I'll know more this afternoon) that I'm gonna have to get some hardware removed from my right heel. That terrifies me, but the doc assures me that it isn't all that bad. I'm gonna try to get details from him today.

The PT is slowly coming around. I've been back on the stationary bike the last 2 sessions and I did a little light stuff on the total gym to stat working these ankles and tendons again. I've lost a LOT of ground and I can sure feel it. I can also tell how much the drugs were masking what was going on. But we're back on the road and we're making some small progress. I guess that's all I can ask at this point. I sure wish I could walk the hike & bike trails again though. Even if it was only a quarter to a half mile, it was sure nice while it lasted!

So that's about it for now. Thanks to everyone for your continued concern and support. It really helps.