1 Week Post-Op
(Note: 1 week post-op was February 6th, 2009)
For the most part, the constant pain has completely subsided. The only pain I feel is when I get up to walk around on my crutches. It’s like a race against the clock. If I’m up and about for more than about 30 seconds, the blood starts rushing towards the wound and throbs for a good 5 minutes after I’ve sat down again to elevate my leg. The pain alone is deterrent enough to make me squirm and not break the seal!
My doctor is extremely cautious about having my wound heal properly without any complications, so he ordered me to lay prone (on my stomach) with my foot in the air as much as possible. This facilitates blood flow to an area of the body that doesn’t otherwise get much blood. The first step in the recovery process is to have the incision wound heal as quickly as possible.
I had my first post-op visit to the doctor this morning. He removed the plastic cast to have a look at how the wound was healing. Everything looked great and he said the “architecture” of my calf muscle, tendon and foot all appeared back to pre-injury. He placed me back in my plastic cast and said to come back in exactly one week, at which time he’d fit me for a Cam Walker. Darth Vader ain’t got nothin’ on me. 
I’m getting used to walking around in crutches, but it’s a pain in the arse if you want to carry anything in your hands. Sponge baths (administered by my lovely wife) are a fringe benefit to an otherwise crappy situation!
You remain remarkably positive in your recovery! I have not heard of the lying on your stomach before, makes sense but seems it would get uncomfortable fast. I’m with you about the pain when foot is down. I’m at three weeks post op and still have similar reaction, mostly at the end of the day when I’ve had my foot down and after flexing my toes in the cast.
Man, did you have to end that post with an image of you getting a sponge bath?
Ha! I read to my wife about the sponge and she laughed. Whats up with that?
famin - As for the foot throbbing when standing, I felt the same way first few weeks. I tried to elevate my foot as much as I can for the first couple of weeks. It really helps. Thanks for sharing your story, and it’s a great post! sponge bath IS a nice perk.
i am totally with you on the leg throbbing. it gets better. i think it took me a good week until i could move about without a untolerable pain. I am two weeks post-op tomorrow and that feeling of the blood rushing and the pain is practically gone. elevation (and the percocet) does help a ton! hang in there! BTW i got no sponge baths, you all are lucky