HWUMC

beurk!
Hoping for you it will swell down!!

why would we want to see pictures of injuries and stuff??! I think I won't click the link...

Just thought I'd try and satisfy people' morbid curiosity - They're also on my Facebook site anyway!?!?!?

Its actually quite impressive I think - amazing what the surgeon managed to do (1 cubic inch of bone grafted in, 1 big screw, 6 small screws and a plate).

I'll have some nice scars - but it really is a bad injury - I don't know when I'll get up a Mountain next to be honest - Easter next year perhaps? Who knows?

Just thought I'd post an update on my progress, seeing as I went to the hospital today.

I had an X-Ray today (scary!) and it shows that my heel hasn't healed fully yet, but its well on the way.
So I still can't take any weight on it for another 6 weeks

I've been given exercises to do by the Physio, which should help build the strength back up in my leg. I'm now on elbow crutches and not the totally unwieldly armpit ones - which is some progress, I guess.

For those that are interested in such things, the plate in my heal is 9cm long and the large screw is 10cm long (at 45 degrees inside my foot if if were flat on the floor - Looks impressive on the X-Ray!)

Cheers
Mike W

if i've gotten that one right thats nearly out the front of your ankle!!

Andy wrote:if i've gotten that one right thats nearly out the front of your ankle!!

Indeed!
The registrar said that this was the main reason for not letting me try and walk just yet!?!?!

12 weeks have past since the Op so I went back to the Hospital today - in essence, my heel hasn't fully healed yet, but I can now start to put some weight on it, in combination with my 2 sticks. I go back in another 6 and 12 weeks for more x-rays to see how its getting on.

I'm going to the gym regularly now, but I really don't want to push it and relapse by doing too much - I met someone there who has had 3 sub-talar fusions as she was too eager to try things, ending up doing too much too soon and needing another operation - silly person.

So, more patience is required on my part, but I'll soon be back at work as I'm going up the wall at home now!

I was going to try to get to the Pub tonight but its going to have to be next week now - too tired, I'm afraid.

Folks - I believe our rescue will be broadcast next Tuesday (2nd Dec) evening, in "Highland Emergency", Channel 5, at 7:30pm (at least, the clip at the end of last night's show looked very familiar!).

The episode (20) will also be available from their website in due course: http://demand.five.tv/Series.aspx?seaso ... ncySeason1

I return to hospital next Wednesday (3rd) for more x-rays, which will be 4.5 months since my second operation. So fingers crossed for that then - but its feeling better by the day, and wants to be used like a normal foot now!

Question is Mike, does it look like a normal foot yet?

wardka wrote:Question is Mike, does it look like a normal foot yet?

Good question.

It will never look like my right foot ever again, but it is beginning to get all the bumps in the expected places, rather than just looking like a swollen mass.
It also feels like it should be in a shoe now, not this moon-boot-thingy that I've been wearing since July - that's beginning to feel not right now.
I've checked that it will go into a normal shoe, and just about into a rock shoe as well!

So progress then

Good News - I can now start walking again, as my heel has fused sufficiently. I'll be 50% weight bearing for the next 3 weeks, then full thereafter, so matching footwear now, and no sticks hopefully by end of January.

Yippeee!

BTW I thought the Channel 5 program was quite good - we both looked suitably terrified, and you got to see my mangled foot, which was nice(!).

Katie - Apparently it will take months, even years, for the residual swelling to go completely; so I'll be a Podiatrists dream (££££s on orthotics) for the foreseeable.

Happy days

More Good News - After yesterday, the Hospital don't want to see me again till Mid-May. So, still on course to lose the stick by the end of the month I feel, but depends on my progress in Re-Hab (twice weekly). Hopefully, full outdoor funcitonality by Mid-May then, possibly sooner if I'm good!

BTW I have a number of DVDs of "Highland Emergency", episode 20 for the slightly morbid among you!

Katie - Yes, my Podiatrist is going to get good business out of me this year!

Happy days

Mid May... Just in time for you to come on the big trip to Skye and muck it up again!

StrangeSandwiches wrote:Mid May... Just in time for you to come on the big trip to Skye and muck it up again!

Indeed! Not going anywhere near a sea-cliff ever again (Aberdour doesn't count though )

Thought you had wanted to get to Pabbay and Mingulay at some point? Was it not more just bad luck than the fault of a sea cliff?! Can't believe you got dvds made! Glad it's better now.