Foot Update Again...

I went to the doctor yesterday (my mom drove me up and the roads weren't too bad, just icy in three spots). I was scheduled to see the PA but the doctor wanted to check my foot so I saw him. The nurse pulled my stitches (which Ethan had asked me to bring home to show him, so I did). The doctor then came in and told me that he was surprised by what he found when he went in with the scope to look at my foot/joint. He used the photos they took during the scope to explain what was going on.

Initially, he was going in to clean out a cyst, bone spur, and arthritis (which he found a lot of in the joint). He was also going to look at the cuboid and calcaneus (the calcaneocuboid joint) to see why I have been having pain in that joint for so long. When he put the scope into the joint (which is a rare joint to have scoped and, he believes, the first time it's been scoped in the state of Utah) what he saw was "alarming." Between the joint, where there should be cartilage, there wasn't any on one of the bones. And it was a considerable size of cartilage missing considering the size of the joint

The joints are like a piston in a car. When it's oiled (with cartilage) it slides back and forth really easily without friction. But when there isn't any oil on one part of the piston (the bone I had without cartilage) then it has friction and causes pain. That is what was happening with my joint.

So, in order to promote re-growth of cartilage, the doctor drilled small holes in the bone. But because it was such a large loss of cartilage, what he did was grind down the part of the bone missing cartilage to a point where it won't rub on the corresponding joint on the other side (the one that does have cartilage). Will this fix the problem? In cases where there is such a loss of cartilage, the hope is to grow back 75% of the missing cartilage. But the doctor believes that a joint fusion is in my future (ugh!). He gives is between 1 and 5 years before the pain is back and I will need something done. I firmly believe I can live with a lot of pain, so we're going to see how long I can go. Bone fusion isn't fun and has a really long recovery (6 months on crutches, etc.).

I have to stay off my foot (stay on crutches) until the full 4 weeks after surgery have passed (next Friday). I have to rotate the foot to try and get back my range of motion and I have to massage my scar every night (which is so gross to me for some reason and I think they missed pulling a stitch, ugh). Next Friday, I get to start putting a little pressure on my foot and use one crutch to help me. I will gradually start putting more and more pressure on it and use a cane to help me walk until it gets better. I have another appointment in a month to see the doctor again and he will see if I need physical therapy at that point. I'm hoping I won't need therapy, but we'll see.

It looks like my running days are over. The doctor said I could start running again after 3 months but that it won't help the joint any. So, in order to be able to keep hiking and to prolong the fusion option, I think I'm not going to run, which actually makes me sad. I am really surprised at that because I never got that "runner's high" I just felt exhausted when I ran, but I don't like being told I can't do something even if I only did it to be Bryan's "running buddy." That's probably why I'm sad about it because I did enjoy running with him. But Bryan suggested that I get back swimming (I really need to learn how to swim first) and he wants to buy me a road bike so we can bike together. I'm great with that as long as I can figure out how to swim without drowning and I learn to use the clip-on pedals so I don't fall off the thing.

All in all, I'm glad I had the surgery done so we could see what was wrong with my foot and why I have had pain for so long. But I have also learned a lot in the last few weeks. I didn't realize how many people I interact with in my life. I went to the library on Monday by myself to test out if I could function (in case I had to be on crutches longer, good thing I tested it) and the main librarian-guy who I haven't ever said anything more than "Hi" to, came out from his back office when he saw me to find out what was wrong and wish me well. I have had so many people call to see if there was anything they could do to help. A friend brought a meal in to us, even when we told her we were fine. A man in the ward made me a special crutch (I'm not putting a photo of it on here because I think he should patent it!) that has a ledge to rest my knee on so I only have to use one crutch and have one hand free. He also gave me a cane to use when I get to walk. His wife has brought us loaves of bread, just because. And, when hobbling around Church on Sunday, I had so many people come up and give me hugs and wish me well. But, most of all, I have realized how blessed I am to have Bryan because he has done so much for me and I appreciate him so much. The kids have been great too (fighting over who gets to help me, etc.). I truly am blessed.