5 Week Update
I had my first follow up appointment at 2.5 weeks post-op. The plan was to remove the stitches but the resident thought it would be better to leave them in for one more week. She said there wasn’t anything that looked bad, it just wasn’t all sealed up. The bottom half of the incision looked very wavy to me, almost like they purposely made it that way so the incision could handle swelling without separating. I had almost no swelling at this point and I think that extra may have made it more difficult to heal. At the top where there wasn’t as much puckering everything looked great. If the sutures were staying in I had the option of going back in a splint or getting the boot. If I got the boot I had to leave it all the time because of the sutures but I would be able to PWB. I decided to go with the boot so I could start PWB and get out of there quicker.
At home I tried PWB but it felt like the gauze over the sutures was rubbing on the boot and then putting pressure on the sutures. I didn’t want to cause any problems at the incision so after the first day I just stayed NWB for the next week to let things heal. Holding back one week now will mean nothing in 2 months if I can avoid wound problems. In the end I probably would have been better off with a splint for this week because it was lighter, easier to cover in the shower, and I had some hot spots that first week while I learned how to adjust the Vacocast.
At 3.5 weeks the stitches were removed and steri strips placed over the lower half of the incision. The top half looked great and didn’t need anything. I was given 3 tubigrip compression socks to wear under the boot and the plan for the next several weeks; 1 more week at 20 degrees pf, then 2 at 10 degrees, then 2 at neutral. I was also told to start PT at 6 weeks.
The first few days I started PWB and had some pins and needle pain on the bottom of my foot. I also got some ooze from the wound site. Because of this I fell back into my routine of NWB and using the knee scooter for a few days. Finally at 4 weeks 3 days I decided I needed to put the knee scooter away and start weight bearing. I had tightness in the Achilles and various pains in the foot but I’ve been progressing slowly and things seem to be going away. Now I have some remaining pain on the outside of my heel. I can go short distances with one crutch and I just moved to 10 degrees PF. I think once I get used to 10 degrees I will be able to be FWB.
The steri-strips are still holding on at 10 days but they will probably fall off soon. I can see some scabbing under the strips but nothing to be concerned with at this point. I occasionally get a drop of ooze but from what I see that seems normal at this point and there is no blood.
Next step - FWB and new freedom!
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I think that was right decision to stay NWB and give your incision time to heal. The bottom portion of my incision took much longer to heal than the top and even at 13 weeks I still have some scabbing on the lower portion. Even with my incision being a little slower to heal it did not impact my ability to move from NWB to PWB to 2 shoes. Sounds like you are listening to your body and doing the right thing. Hope your recovery continues to go well.