Surgery not as bad as I thought but I cannot lift my foot.

[Joyan6642]

I told Jo the night before my surgery that maybe soon I could encourage others even though I was scared to death. None of this has been as bad as I has thought It would be. I am one of those pople who does not have a lot of patience. I had my surgery on Feb. 12, and came thought it even though I had my doughts before. I was a bundle of nerves when I got to the hospital and my daughter asked if I could have something to calm me down. My doc smiled and said sure. With one prick of the IV tube the next thing I remember is waking up in recovery. The pain was pretty good then but the femoral block knocked that right out. They told me that during the surgery I kept opening my eyes and saying " I'm awake". I do not remember any of that. The next day I realized I could not move my toes, them later I realized the rest of my foot would not move. I guess I thought it was part of what was supposed to happen. When I finally said something to the surgen he was concerned. At 2 1/2 week out I can move my toes and my foot up and down but still cannot pick it up. Doc says he hopes that will come along like the other in a few weeks. I may have to wear a brace for a while. I was just wondering if this has happened to any one else.

Joyan

 

[Jamie]

Wow, Joyan! So sorry to hear about the problems with your foot! Has the doctor given you any idea why this happened? I do recall a person on two on the forum in the past who had a long period following surgery before they could move their leg without assistance. In their cases, time took care of it and I certainly will pray that is the case for you. Josephine may have additional information on what might be going on.

 

[Josephine]

Yes, it's an over-done femoral block. Happens sometimes. Not so much bad medicine as just bad luck. It'll right itself in time but you'll have some catching up to do after which will be hard work.

 

[Judles]

So rest up NOW,Joyan!

 

[JudyS]

glad to hear that your knee replacement was not as bad as you thought it would be.
Now we will be praying for you to get the full use of your foot/leg back soon.
Judy

 

[Nana55]

Joyan,
I had my surgery LTKR on 12/11/08 and as Jo said I had a block that lasted longer than it should and could not move my foot or even the whole leg for the first 4 days. When PT came in first day post op to walk me I said,"How, I can't feel my leg" THe nurses came in ever so often to check pedal pulses and I didn't even know they were touching my foot. My OS was concerned and as Jo said, it did set me back some so I have really had to move it to regain ground.

Good news is it does move well now and things seem okay. Glad it is over for you and now you can start rebuilding. God Bless and Good Luck in a speedy total recovery!

 

[Josephine]

Look on the positive side - you're being spared all the early post-op pain!

 

[gayle]

joyan I worried too, but these great people assured me it would come back and it did abou 6 weeks post op, so take it easy... still numb on one half of knee which again will come back over time, good luck with it all!!

 

[Joyan6642]

Hey!
I'm sure if I had to trade dragging my foot around for a couple of extra weeks to facing the pain I had when I first woke up, I'll gladly drag my foot for a few extra weeks. I know I have not had to face a lot of the problems some of the people on this forum have talked about, and for that I am thankful to Our Father up above. I was wondering if this had happened to anyone esle and how it had turned out and just knowing other people have been there lets me know things wil get back to normal soon. It may take a little extra time but I have that.

Thanks everyone for your input. This is a great place to vent and get valuble information.

 

[Texas]

Hi , I was reading your posts and was wondering how your foot was doing. I saw on another post you said nerve damaged. I hope I can ask a few questions. Is this permanment? Are they going to do anything or will it come back. I might have some in my knee and was just wondering. Thanks for your time and sure hope you feel better.......Kim

 

[Joyan6642]

Hi Texas,
Miy foot is getting better. It is taking time and going slow. The Dr said it will come back on it's own time. Could take up to 3 months. The 3 months are up and I stlll have not completely recovered the feeling in my knee, leg, and foot. The swelling is still there. I an doing my excersies though i must admit not as much as when i was in PT. I am feeling some stinging in the leg and they say that means the nerve is healing. It kinda feels like it has been asleep and is waking up and is taking it's own time. If the DR is not happy with the recovery by my next appt. he will order nerve study and " we will go from there" I'm not sure where "there " is but I guess I will find out.

 

[Texas]

You sound really strong. Hang in there. and thank you I couldnt rememeber the name "nerve study" . lol about the "where there is" right!! Please keep us up to date on your progress, as I might follow your foot steps.........I hope you feel better.........Thanks again....Kim

 

[Joyan6642]

Just an update about the nerve damage. I have gotten feeling back in most of my leg and foot., A spot on the knee still numb and a strip around my foot including my big to and the toe next to it are still asleep. Also I cannot kick out yet. The muscle is very weak. If I need to kick something or someone I have to turn around and kick backward. (This could be a problem if the timing is not just right.)There is still a lot of swelling in the leg and foot. I hope that clears up soon. Would like to wear shoes sometimes in the near future. (there is a difference in the way each spot feels.) I am walking better each day. Standing for very long is very unconfortable, but that is because it makes my back hurt.( May be a posture thing.) The doctor was happy with the progress I guess. He said he did not think that a "nerve study"would be necessary at this time. He also said I did not have to come back for 3 months. I hope by them that my toe will be awake. If not I have my doubts if it ever will. Now all I have to so is keep excerising aook forward to doing this again. From what I read from other people here that the next time will be better just because i know more about what goes on. and what to expect.
Joyan

 

[Jamie]

Joyan, I'm glad to hear your positive attitude and that you've made some progress. GREAT!!! Hang in there...you are still really early in the whole recovery process. Some people just take a little longer and I think you'll be surprised at where you are a few months from now.

 

[beth1954]

I just want to know...........who were you going to kick???

 

[brs0660]

Awesome, Joyan!!! I was panicked when I had no feeling in my foot and leg after three days...cannot imagine what you have been through!

Day after my surgery, they got me up and I could not feel my foot...I almost collapsed.
Barb

 

[Joyan6642]

Well.............Hello everyone. we're awake and I feel everything now. I feel a lot of things I did not know about. I'm not sure if this was happening along and I did not feel it or this has just started. The muscle in the back of my calf stays in a knot and has a lot of feeling...all sorts of feeling. Now I need to find out how to get the swelling down in my foot. I have a Wedding to go to the end of July and it's about a 4 hour trip. The most I have ridden is one hour and that was rough afterwards. The muscle in the front of the leg is coming along but it is still not very strong. How much longer dose the swelling stay? I elevate and that helps some but as soon as I stand it comes right back. I am also taking Advil at night.

 

[JudyS]

I am mostly a hippy and spiney, but did dabble in the knee. I am so glad feeling has returned to your feet, leg, knee. Keep on healing. I hope the swelling continues to decrease for you too.
judy

 

[Motherofmany]

Sorry to hear about the swelling issue and the muscle spasms, Joyan. I've had the spasm issue to deal with the last 3 weeks as well. Called my OS and he gave me some muscle relaxers. They really help with sleep and PT. My husband said I was flopping like a fish in the bed at night because of them. He even had to move to the couch to get some sleep. Since I've been taking them at bedtime, he and I get better rest.

I also had problems lifting my foot after surgery. Had a nerve block in the leg and spinal block. Told the OS and nurses it felt like my leg weighed 1000 pounds. I sometimes have to have my teens help me lift it if I've over done it. With rest, it improves. PTL!

I have traveled several times since my surgery about the same as your trip to the wedding. I did two things I would recommend to you. The first is, we went the night before and stayed in a hotel so I could rest and have plenty of time to elevate and ice. This also allowed me extra time to get moving without having to rush. Well worth the hotel expense.

The second is I traveled in the second seat of our van with my knee to foot elevated with pillows and stopped every 30-60 minutes to walk a bit to avoid stiffness. This seemed to help even though it made the trip longer. My hubby was great and didn't complain at all. He was more concerned about my comfort. Bless his heart.:wub:
Find a comfortable pair of shoes to wear to the wedding. Don't worry about fashion, comfort is more important. I have a great pair of opentoed slip on sandals I wear most places.

I still hate wearing shoes and always take them off at PT. I'm also in menopause due to hysterectomy 2 years ago, so it helps with heat control. They don't mind as long as I do my excercises. They even have a little portable fan they give me when I get on the torture machine that stretches my bend. :hehe:

Hope this helps some. Mostly just do whatever you are comfortable with.

Blessings,

 

[Joyan6642]

Thanks Rose,
We had decided to go the night before so I could stretch my legs every hour and rest. The other leg has been giving me more trouble than my new one latley. ( Get it taken care of next year.) I feel like I should have been back closer to normal by now but I guess thing do not always turn out like you think. As for the muscle spasams, my leg has been really tight in that area ever sence the surgery, but I do not know if I have been having spasams all this time or not. That is so weird.