Day 13

Got the stitches out and a walking boot that I can't walk in yet. I was scared they'd try to put my foot at a 90 degree angle because a lot of people have said their docs did that, but they didn't. It stung when the stitches came out. I was glad when it was over. Then they cleaned up the foot a bit, put on some steri strips and sent me on my way with a new cast.

I must admit, I was shocked when the cast came off. The strangest part was the missing little toe. I have cursed that toe for years and it has gotten worse and worse lately, but it was still weird to see it gone. My toes were straight and surprisingly long (who knew that they were long when they were all curled up?) but they were all lumpy with stitches and covered in dried blood. Definitely NOT a pretty foot! The arch was - dare I say it - perfect. It was like those arches you see on foot models that I'm always so jealous of because I know they are functional. I can't wait to see the foot in six months. It really is still Frankenfoot. Two sets of stitches on the outside, one at the heel for the calcaneal osteotomy, one kind of mid foot for the fusion. The toes, like I said, are the worst. Stitches on top of the foot, about mid way, then stitches on the leg where they lengthened the Achilles. Actually, I think there was one more set of stitches running along the outside along the Achilles. Wow! Lots of stuff!

Pain 2