Stop Turning ????

During my first op appt my Dr. told me to stop turning on Dec. 24th. I then thought to myself, "wow ! That's like a week and a half away ! No way my toes will be regular length by then". But he said my next appt he'll take x-rays and let me know his opinion. He said in the mean time, to take pics and send it to him (below). 

So the 24th came, and my Left foot seemed okay and I felt like I had gotten the best results I could get on that foot. HOWEVER , on my Right foot, it's totally clear that I need to continue turning. But when I sent them the pics they told me to stop anyway until my next appt (which is pretty annoying). 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

3 Weeks of Turning (27 Days Post Op)

I'm so happy with the results so far !!! I actually feel like I'm getting somewhere ! These comparison pics make me sooo happy !!! Lol. If you are going thru recovery, I highly suggest that you take lots of pictures to keep track and so that you can notice your growth. 

Even though my left foot (1 ex fix) has been giving me the most pain, it looks great ! And is growing so well ! 

Although I do see growth on my right foot (2 ex fixs) it does seem like it's growing a little slower than my left foot. Maybe it's because I have two toes to grow instead of one....so it just may seem to be growing slower, but in all actuality it really isn't, at least that's what I'm thinking and hoping. 

My Dr. says that I should be able to stop turning next Tuesday (Dec 24th) but I'm not sure about that, my right foot still needs a lot of bone growth, so I'm not sure I'll be done turning by then, but we shall see !

And as you can see, I tried to give myself a pedicure, and did a terrible job ! lol The External Fixators made it hard to paint my little toes...lol but whatever !

But overall, I'm super happy and can't wait to finish turning and be BRACHYLESS !!!! :D

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Had An Accident (25 Days Post Op)

Well this morning has been one heck of a morning ! I had a minor accident this a.m.  While trying to get in the shower this morning, on of my crutches dropped on my ex fix on my left foot. Of course it had to drop on the foot that causes me the most pain. It hurt like heck ! But only for about ten mins then the pain went away. I text my Doctor and they told me to be extra careful while in the bathroom because that's where most accidents happen. So all in all, that isn't something I should worry about too much. 

Oh ! And not to mention , about 5 days ago, I dropped a 1/2 gallon of milk on my right foot (2 ex fixs) but that's another story ! Lol. I just need to learn to be a bit more careful and less clumsy !!! 

On another note, I've been taking my antibiotics for my pin site infection for about 9 days now, although the pain has ceased, the infection still looks very bad ! I texted a picture to my Doctor and they wanted me to come in the next day to take a look at it. But unfortunately, I'm hours away and won't be back in the area for about two weeks. So once again, they have to call my local pharmacy to prescribe me a stronger antibiotic so that the infection can heal better and faster. This time I'm at my mothers house, so thankfully she can go and pick up my prescription for me. My Doctor also told me to start changing my dressing 3x's a day vs. once a day and to also clean the area with Betadine. Right now it's just a lot of puss and it's still swollen, and stings a little. So I'm praying that I will start seeing change with the infection once I start taking these new antibiotic pills. This whole time, my right foot has given me no problems at all ! My right foot is a tropper ! Just waiting for my left foot to heal and become a tropper also ! 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Pin Site Infection (24 Days Post Op)

So I've been taking my antibiotics for 8 days now. The infection has gotten better but it's not 100%. I have to take the medication for a total of 14 days. I've also been taking probiotics suggested by my Doctor to help with my over health. The pin site still hurts from time to time (like a burning sensation) but I take my meds every 4 hrs so it doesn't bother me as much, I just sleep a lot. Just can't wait for it to be over, then I'll be good to go. Still wakling with my crutches, slowly but surely. I have a feeling that it'll be a while before I can walk without my crutches again. But hey, things happen. On another note....I'm starting to see noticeable growth. So now it's all becoming worth while ! Not to mention, I'm back home with family to keep me entertained and help me out. So I'm much, much happier now ! :D 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Medication after Medication after Medication !!!

So ever since my pin site infection, I've been having to take 3 pills total every 4 hrs, everyday, in which all of them make me drowsy. Yes they help with the pain, but all I do is sleep the day away ! And I hate that ! I feel like I'm always popping a pill and that just feels weird to me. So tonight I'm only going to take one antibiotic pill and hopefully I won't experience any pain throughout the night.

I just can't wait for the turning process to be over because the after effect is just extremely painful ! Only a couple of more days...

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

2 Weeks of Turning (20 Days Post Op)

FINALLY ! I see growth ! :D

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

1st Post Op Appt (18 Days Post Op)

Today was my first op appt. My Doctor says that my X-rays look great and that I've had some bone growth. He also instructed me to take the volume pills for muscle spasms as well as my antibiotic for my pin site infection. I will stop turning the ex fix Dec 24th and my next post op appt will be on Dec 31st. Hopefully by then I will have pretect feet ! I'm still in very much pain as mentioned before in my previous post, but it is getting a little better. 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Sickness & Pain (17 Days Post Op)

Update: Pin Site Infection

Today has been one rough day !! I have been sick as a dog. My Doctor told me to take 2 pain pills to help with the pain, and I think that was THE WORST thing for me to do !!! 2 pain pills was just way too much for my little body to handle. About 15 minutes after taking the pills, I started to feel super, super drowsy and really weak. I dosed in and out for 30 min intervals for about 2 hrs. During that time, my body was scorching hot and I was so weak to the point I couldn't even lift up my arms to pick up my phone for when someone called to check on me. Finally, I was able to sleep for about 2 hrs all the way through. When I finally woke up, I didn't feel any better. Granite my foot was no longer in pain (while elevated) but I felt terrible on the inside. I was EXTREMELY nauseous, weak, hot, aching....all of the above ! Finally I forced myself out of bed to try and eat. When I got up and made my way into the kitchen, I felt nothing but dizziness and ended up throwing up ! I was so surprised because I haven't thrown up in such a very long time ! The whole time I was thinking "Man ! I will never take 2 pain pills ever again!!"  

I made my way back to the bedroom...but ended up not eating. By this time, I was just weak and hungry with no appetite which is such a bad feeling :( 

I dozed in and out throughout the rest of the night, still weak, but I have to admit, that after throwing up and getting some sleep, I started to feel just a tad bit better as far as the dizziness and weakness is concerned. 

My foot feels a WHOLE LOT better (when elevated) before I couldn't even bare the pain. However when I get up and walk it still hurts. But it's okay because I've been in bed most of the day. It just sucks that I'm back to slow walking and using my walker ! I was doing sooooo good with walking ! I didn't even have to use my crutches ! But to have to go back and use my walker again just feels like a huge set back !!! *sigh* Right now it just feels like I'm moving backwards and not forwards :(

But anyways, it's the middle of the night, and I'm up finally eating. I had to force myself to eat. And I more than likely won't even eat all of what I fixed...but hey...it's something. 

After this...it's back to sleep I go. I'm praying that my health is much better tomorrow !!!

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Pin Infection (17 Days Post Op)

It's been one heck of a night and one heck of a morning. It turns out that I have a Pin Site Infection, which is very common when recovering with External Fixators. But let me tell you...the pain is EXCRUCIATING ! Well at least for me it is. Everyone is different ! This is the most pain I've experienced while recovering. I only have pain in my left foot (1 ex fix). My right foot is totally fine. Last night it was very uncomfortable to sleep. The pain feels as though I sprained or broke my ankle, so I can barely rotate my foot without wanting to cry. My short toe hurts like crazy !!! It feels like I'm constantly getting stabbed in my toe with knives ! Yes the pain is that bad ! And around my pins there is a burning sensation that comes and goes every now and again :( After my shower this morning, while I was cleaning my pins, I noticed that my skin stretched and that there was more puss around my pins and a bit of swelling. So I texted the pic below to my Doctor, and they told me to start taking my antibiotics. A couple minutes later they called and explained that the pain I'm having is due to the pin infection as well as to me turning my ex fix. So I can't wait to complete the turning process !! I haven't taken any pain meds in a whole week, but I had to take one this morning, because the pain was unbearable. I took one pill and that didn't relieve any pain what so ever. So my Doctor told me to up to 2 pills. It's about time for me to take the meds again...so hopefully 2 pills will ease the pain. I also haven't used my walker in a week, but I've gone back to using it today because now I can BARELY walk due to my left foot. So I changed my gauzes and rewrapped my foot, making sure that I secure my ankle a bit more. I have my feet elevated and iced my left ankle, but that really didn't help.  My Doctor is calling my local pharmacy to put in for a stronger pain medication....but how will I make my way to the pharmacy to pick up the medication??? I have no clue !! Now is when I wish I had my loved ones back here to help me out again *sigh* But I'll find a way to make it through. 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

1 Week of Turning (13 Days Post Op)

So it's been 1 full week since I've been turning the ex fix. Just by looking at my feet, I don't notice much growth. But when I do comparison pics, I then see a difference. Yay ! I can't wait to see how much growth I receive by next week ! 

As far as pain, it still hurts to bend my 2nd metatarsal on my right foot. My short toe on my left foot still hurts from time to time, when I'm standing for long periods of time (ie. washing dishes) however I haven't taken any pain medication in several days, so that's a good sign !

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Toes In Pain ! (11 Days Post Op)

So for the past couple of days, my short toe on my left foot has been in so much pain. However, it's not your ordinary pain. It's a different kind of pain. It feels like the circulation in my toe has been cut off. So my toe has this cold, numbing sensation that is very uncomfortable. It actually caused me to not have a good night sleep last night. I'm starting to think its muscle spasms in which my doctor gave me medication for. But today my toe hasn't bothered me. So hopefully it's improving. 

On my right foot, my 2nd metatarsal hurts when I try to bend it. Like REALLY, REALLY hurts ! I'm not sure what could be the cause of that, but I'll ask during my 1st post op appointment. 

Other than that, things are going well. 

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com

Toe Growth ?! (9 Days Post Op)

Is it just me, or has my toe grown from just 3 days of turning ??? Or maybe it's just wishful thinking ! Lol :)

If you have any questions about my recovery with Brachymetatarsia, or just want to chit chat because you have this deformity also, you are more than welcome to email me at thebrachylessgirl@gmail.com