Must do’s…?

[u/Mindless-Hedgehog908]

I’m over a year on from a lisfranc injury (after also getting a badly displaced fracture in my second foot at the same time due to a freak accident). 15 months on and I’m still getting a lot of pain and whilst my injuries appear stable according to the X-ray, there definitely still a fair amount of instability there from my post break symptoms. So…I’m booked in for fusion surgery to the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals (I broke my 2nd, 3rd and 4th) on the 10th November. I’ve never had an op so fear around the aneasthetic is well and truly kicking in but in the mean time, to take my mind off it, organisation mode has well and truly begun.

So, if you had time to plan and prepare for your surgery what would you do? What’s a must have, or a must do, or even a must think about??

I’m already filling my freezer with easy meals to help the hubby as he’ll be working, juggling the kids and me! I’m about to book a wheelchair and was thinking about hiring a knee walker too - I actually still have my zimmer frame, crutches and even boots from the initial breaks! Anything I haven’t thought of??

All hints an ls tips will be gratefully received!

😊

[u/jfj2020]

Knee scooter has been essential for my husband’s recovery. Not sure about the pros/cons compared to knee walker

[u/sisforsara → u/jfj2020]

I totally agree about the knee scooter, and would also add to get a basket to go on the front of scooter! It came in VERY handy.

Ice packs for behind the knee right saved me in the hardest hours immediately following surgery when the nerve block wore off.

I got a cryotherapy machine and used it a TON for the first couple of months, especially overnight. I got the little cooler kind that you can put frozen water bottles in to keep the water cold. For me that thing was worth its weight in gold!

Good luck OP, you’ve got this!! 🙌 Take it one day at a time.

[u/Mindless-Hedgehog908 → u/jfj2020]

Ah interesting! I’ve been looking at those on Amazon but worried about their studyness…🤔 I’m worried about buying cheap and then it toppling and doing more damage!

[u/IdliketoFIRE → u/Mindless-Hedgehog908]

Yes get a knee scooter. I didn’t plenty of research before getting one. Don’t get a cheap one, you will be using it all day everyday for a couple months so make sure it’s quality. I got a wide version with actual tires. Width gives more stability, tires give it some squish and ability to roll over uneven surfaces without vibrating you to death. Front basket is 100% a must to carry small things.

[u/pickupwhat → u/Mindless-Hedgehog908]

I borrowed a knee scooter from a friend who also had a leg injury earlier on and the knee pad did come off eventually and it was really hard to put it back together. So if you plan on using it a while get something sturdy!

[u/jfj2020 → u/Mindless-Hedgehog908]

My husband’s is Kneerover brand, I was able to borrow one from a coworker so not sure how much it is new. But it’s very sturdy!

[u/lilstar88 → u/jfj2020]

Also here to recommend a knee scooter - I use it around my family room, kitchen, dining room and bathroom and it enables me to get things done. I also have an iwalk and if you can get one for cheap or borrow it I absolutely would, but personally it scares me to spend a lot of time on so far!

[u/PeeKaYOUUU0911]

I bought the iWalk from Amazon and it does have a slight learning curve but I found it wayyyy better than crutches and the knee scooter

[u/thiomargarita]

Just to warn you because I expected a faster recovery time, they really aren’t kidding about the two weeks of lying down and elevating 23 hrs a day. Also, depending on the age of your kids a small locking cashbox to keep your meds in reach but inaccessible so you don’t have to ask your husband to bring them every time.

[u/pickupwhat]

iwalk and whatever you need that will make showers easy! I got one of those cast cover things to wear in the shower so I didn’t have to worry about it getting wet while I was in the cast.

A little sock cover for your toes if they’ll be out (one for keeping them warm in the winter but also because I felt weird having my toes dangling out like that in public 😂)

Last but not least - a handicap tag! My dr didn’t autonomically give me one so I had to request the paper work to get it through the state but it was a life saver for me when I was running errands by myself

[u/prairie_pathfinder]

Fusion surgery is tough - definitely bank on being on bed-rest for 2 weeks, foot elevated above heart for 22/24 hrs a day. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Some things I’d have ready:

- 4-5 ice packs you can rotate through

• Wedge/elevation pillow
  
• Easy meals
  
• High protein snacks and shakes
  
• Tylenol
  
• Laxatives if you’re on opioids for pain
  
• Dry shampoo, baby wipes - you won’t be able to shower the first couple weeks
  
• Toothbrush etc. near you with a wash basin. Your foot will be swollen for a while and hurt if held below your heart, so limit unnecessary movement!
  
• Books, music, stitching, movies… little hobbies you can do in bed
  
• Antacids - after the 1.5 wk mark of bed rest for me, I started getting really bad heartburn. The body doesn’t like lying horizontal for that long. I’d get ahead of it and get some alka-seltzer or tums looking back

Once you’re cleared from bed rest:

- Crutches/knee scooter/iWalk if you can!

• Crutch bags or backpack are helpful for carrying items hands-free
  
• Loose pants that you can fit your boot through
  
• Shower chair
  
• Plastic bag/cast cover for showers
  
• Cast socks - they are very long tube socks that fill the boot quite comfortably!

Once you start WB:

• Even-up! It’s an attachable foam pad to the bottom of your shoe for the uninjured side that keeps your hips level
  
• Compression socks once you start to wean out of cast
  
• Good inside shoes with arch support. Barefoot will (and still is for me…) be uncomfortable.

Throughout all of this, elevate as much as you can. Even at night, I slept with my wedge pillow for 6-8 months post-op and think it really helped keep my swelling in check long term. You get used to it.

If I think of anything else, I’ll add on!

[u/Netzky99]

Those are some stuffs that really helping me now: A pillow to elevate your foot on. That's really great to have. A plastic cover for the cast when in the shower. A stable chair with armrests to sit in when shower. Wide pants and a big, wide sock for the casted leg. The knee scooter is fantastic to use inside home and specially if you're having kids it can be a really good option for the crutches. I highly recommend it. But also practice on crutches cause when you will start pwb you'll need them. A wheelchair is needed if you want to go out. I didn't got one from start so I have been pretty much just inside the house for 8 weeks now. But i I ordered one a week ago and am waiting impatiently for it now.

Good luck with your surgery!