They are doing WHAT to my feet!!??

For years now I have endured the ever growing lumps on the side of my big toes. The right one has been growing now for a good 15 years. The left one has been growing for about 9 years. I can tell you when they are having a growth spurt...because it feels like someone is hammering a nail into my toe joints, along with stinging and burning!! As of lately, they crack and pop all the time, especially if I don't have shoes on. A day at Dollywood or shopping leave my feet in so much pain that it takes me days to get over it.

This is a hereditary problem for me. My grandmother's feet were painful to look at and my aunt suffers greatly with her feet now! I come from a background of mutants! LOL I've decided that there will never be a right time to have this type of surgery, so the time is now.

One week from today, I will be undergoing surgery to correct this mutant condition of my feet. My sister-in-law is a Surgical Tech and referred me to an excellent doctor. She called me the other night to tell me that the doctor had thanked her for sending such a crazy case her way!! So far this is a learning experience for some of the team as they have never heard of a Bunionectomy called a Lapidus w/dco. Don't ask me either. All I know is that it will involve A LOT OF PAIN (and some good drugs) for quite longer than I want to experience it! I have provided some information on the procedure and a neat little video to explain what is going to happen to my feet.

Base procedures are performed around the base of the 1st metatarsal (bone behind great toe). They include cutting a wedge out of the bone (base wedge), making a semi-circular cut and rotating the bone (crescentic osteotomy) and fusion of joint behind great toe joint (Lapidus bunionectomy). Base procedures are usually indicated for a moderate to severe bunion. Lapidus bunionectomy – procedure performed at the base of the 1st metatarsal.

http://www.physicianwebpages.com/lapidus.html

http://surgerybunion.com/









It is odd to say this, but I'm SOOOO looking forward to this surgery. Does that tell you how bad the pain can get. I got up from bed the other night and when I stepped down with my right foot, the worst of the two (tendon damage and all), it popped and cracked really loudly. Phillip even heard it and asked if that was me and asked if I was OK...but then said how cool that was!! All I could do was hold on to the bed to keep myself from falling. It will send me to my knees!! Maybe this is God's way of saying I'm not on my knees enough!! Lord I get now!!

After today I have less than a week to get myself ready mentally. I can't get up to do a thing for 10 days, except to use the bathroom and sponge bathe. If you smell something, it's probably me! For 10-12 weeks I will be in those funny looking clown boots, and will of course be sitting on my duff for the better part of it. I will also have weekly appointments to have the bandages changed. From what the doc told me, I will also have episodes of swelling for 6 - 12 months.

Is all that worth it? Right now, I say an absolute YES. If it gets me back to where I can enjoy activities with my kids and husband, than YES YES YES. I have faith and believe that God will allow me to recover quickly and get back into the craziness of my life. I have to admit though, I do believe I'm going to enjoy sitting around blogging, crocheting, and resting for a while. Pray that I don't eat my words!!

I plan to blog as much as I can about this little journey and post what I can about it, so keep your eyes open!!