My Trials

Its day nine of me turning the external fixator. I've been going through soooo much. I've had an emergency room visit. Fluid was coming through my bandages. I learned in the ER that it was serous fluid which is actually good and means my wound is healing. I had a fall. I fell while i was sitting in my computer chair that I use to get around with. Now, I have blood coming through my bandaging. I don't want to go to the docs about it because I think I'm getting on his nerves (lol). He told me I would only need about 10mm of lengthening but he lied! Its day nine and my toe is still short. I think I need between 13mm nd 18mm. I'm not doctor, but I know this toe is really short. After the lengthening is complete, I wonder how much longer this fixator has to be on my foot because its giving me hell! I want this all to be over asap!

Ok you guys, I've had a brachytoe for what seems like forever! I've always dreamed about actually getting the surgery to correct my toe. However, the timing just was never never right or it seemed as if I were always backing down. Finally, April 2012 I decided that I was going to have the surgery performed. A lot of things in my life were changing this year. I got married May 2012. I finished my last class as a junior in college in this year, so I felt that with all the new things taking place in my life that I had to have this surgery. I no longer wanted to be held back by this condition.

June 13th, 2012 I finally had the surgery performed. I opted to go with external fixator because it seemed a little less risky than the bone graft. The bad thing about it is that I want this thing off my foot! (lol)! I hate being dependent on others and I hate not being able to do what I want when I want. So this surgery is trying, but in the end I hope for great results.

I'm still a little hazy about what to expect. My doctor tole me I only need about an centimeter of lengthening. I turn one millimeter a day. So that would be about ten days of lengthening and then I would be done right? So why do doctors tell us we should expect 4 to 6 weeks with the fixator on?

I've been turning for about 4 days now, which is about 4mm of lengthening, but I don't see very much difference. I need to learn to be patient, but when you cant walk, patience is hard to come by!

Day prior to surgery

A few hours after surgery

Week after surgery. Post op visit. Started turning that day!