May 2014 - It's been THREE years!

This is a photo at the end of the work day.  Not too bad!

Gosh, it's hard to believe it's been three years since I received my STAR ankle.  I can hop, jump, run and  could walk a marathon if I wanted to.

I am eternally grateful for my Surgeon, Dr. Christian Royer!

~~~ Somebody's Reading my Blog! ~~~

I can't believe it after all this time, two lovely ladies found me within the last two weeks through this blog and they both have an upcoming TAR surgery with Dr. Christian Royer at Baylor Hospital in Dallas!

I am doing exceptionally well with my STAR ankle and have given Dr. Royer alot of referrals.  I had my 2 year checkup with him on May 5th and was wearing some less than desirable shoes.  Flats, to be exact. He wasn't impressed with me wearing those because they don't give me any foot support.  I have flat feel and he wants me to wear insoles with arch supports in my shoes.

 You can see it swollen in the photo after standing for approximately 12 hours today.

5-29-13

 The truth is, my ankle does swell and there is some pain at times.  But that is nothing even close to the pain from the disability I had before the surgery.  (Also, I gained 31 pounds from the time severe osteoarthritis set in my ankle and after the TAR.)  I've been too lazy to get those 30 pounds off until now.  I am trying to ride my bicycle as often as I can and make healthy eating choices.

My ankle had broken into pieces like a potato chip and had to be reconstructed.  Because of that trauma, it will always swell and ache to some degree. The x-ray looks fine and the STAR has grafted very well into the bone.  Dr.Royer did have a theory about why I may be hurting at times. The head of a screw that was left in, is located right under the skin and may be causing discomfort.  Dr. Royer didn't put it in there; the original surgeon did.  I'm not anxious for any more surgery; however, the screw can be removed during a day surgery and I would have a very short recuperation from the procedure.  If it bothers me too much in the future, I know I will always have that option.

If anyone wants to contact me, please email me at jan76016@yahoo.com and I'll respond to you as soon as possible.  Good luck on your journey and IF you have Dr. Christian Royer, know that he is the most qualified and compassionate Orthopedic Surgeon in the Dallas area!

Love and Blessings,

Jan Hall



A little Milestone!

I'm writing about something special that happened  because I don't want to forget.  Yesterday, October 5, 2011, I went to the Wyndham Hotel with my Team at work for a business meeting.  I climbed stairs from the lobby to the second floor - on my own two feet - without holding on to the handrail.  (Of course, I watched every step I took, but it was at a normal pace!)  Just one more little milestone in my ankle replacement journey.

I work fulltime now from 8 to 5, and trust me - by 12:00 - 1:00 PM, my foot and ankle are noticeable swollen.  But it's not so much painful as it is tight, with limited movement than actual pain.  My walking pain-free seems to be improving as time goes on.  There are a few times that I walk and don't have any reminders about my ankle.  I never thought that day would ever come.  Also, I don't have a limp when I walk now and I can actually get a little speed in my steps if I'm in a hurry. I'm actually wearing regular shoes (best comfortable flats are Naturalizer).  I'm getting where I want to be.  I'm sure Dr. Royer will be glad also when I see him next month.  More later!

XOXO

Back to "Normal Life"

I'm in Month 4 after my total ankle replacement and I am back to work full time every day.  I saw Dr. Royer  3 weeks ago, and he gave the OK to increase work from 4 hours a day to full time.  I was quite hesitant (ankle-wise) to have more increased time on my foot along with increased walking, but it seems to be doing pretty good for the most part.

I do have good days and bad days.  I prop my foot all the time, but there are those days that it swells and when it swells, it hurts.  There's no other way to say it.  It's then that I get the 3 or 4 pillows back out, stack them high, prop my foot and ice it down.  The swelling goes down in a couple of hours.

I can pretty much wear regular shoes now and that makes me happy.  I can walk without a limp and that also makes me happy.

I will see Dr. Royer before Christmas, and then my visits will.be every 6 months and eventually every year.

My ankle and across the top of my foot is stiff, but I'm told that is nothing that should concern me. I can take stiffness as long as there is no pain.  There are those few times that I walk and I actually forget there's anything different with that ankle.

When I finished PT 3 weeks ago, I had a scheduled office visit with Dr. Royer.  He could tell that my ankle was very swollen and I told him that it really hurt. even though I had lots of movement!  I could put one finger on that area and show him where the pain was/  He said that it was soft tissue impingement and decided to try a cortisone shot in my ankle joint in the top right of my foot. That shot helped alot with the swelling and even helped with the pain. Of course, it took a few days to really notice any difference.

There is no doubt in my mind that God led me to Dr. Royer. I love Dr. Royer.  He has taken such good care of me and is really interested in this new technology.  I am, indeed, his test subject.  I have done more, faster, without his permission, than any other patient.  That's because I am very determined to go, do and see everything I've been missing for the last two years.  The man has given me my life back.  Thank you, God and Thank you, Dr. Royer!

Here are the latest pics of my ankle.  It looks almost  like the other foot.  I hope these help someone.........somewhere. 

More updates later!

XOXO  Jan

Pretty Close I'd Say

Overdoing it takes a toll!

Swelling in ankle area and lower leg after being on it 2 to 4 hours:

After Ice and Elevating it for 4 hours:



Week Twelve and Thirteen - Doing more and more!

One of the most frequently asked questions is, "Are you still having pain?"  Answer: Yes - in varying degrees.

Since my last post, I have been through Physical Therapy which helped tremendously.  I did foot exercises with the bands, balanced on one foot, did circles on the floor with a circular disc and apparently I've gone just about as far as PT can take me.  I have two more visits this month and I'm pretty sure I will graduate from PT if I'm still progressing.  I'm walking without a limp now, and the rest of the healing, decrease in swelling and pain will just take time.

In the morning, my foot and ankle are very stiff.  It takes awhile to loosen it up.  By the time I get to work at 9:00, it's getting more flexible.  I prop my foot up underneath my desk the entire time I'm at work (unless I'm walking, or in a meeting) and by noon or 1:00 it is starting to swell and hurt.  By swelling, I mean it is two or three times the size it was when I woke up.  That is painful.  With my reduced hours, I leave work at 1:00 and go home.

Once home, I elevate it high on 3 or 4 pillows and ice it on and off all afternoon.  It helps the swelling and pain.  I go back to Dr. Royer on September 2nd and he will re-evaluate me for how the STAR device is holding up and decide if he thinks I can tolerate full time hours at work.  Hopefully, in September I can be back full time.  My bank account certainly needs it and my Team at work needs me.

I went to a couple of stores with my daughter and granddaughters yesterday and held up okay, though there was pain, I tolerated it and didn't need a pain pill, but couldn't wait to ice and elevate it for several hours afterwards.  So that's where I am right now.  I'm definitely more active, I don't use a cane any longer, I'm doing more and going more places, but there's a price to pay for that increased activity.  Hopefully - in time, this will get better.

The upside is that I'm doing more and staying up on my foot longer.  The downside is that it swells and hurts.  The good thing is ICE and ELEVATING it.  Feels so good!!!   Like an ice cold beer on a really hot day.  :)

Would I do it all again if given the choice?  Definitely.

Thank you Dr. Royer!!!  You have given me my life back.

Week Ten and Eleven - Back to Work

Swelling from Standing 

Two weeks ago at week ten, I went back to work.  Dr. Royer has cleared me to work 4 hours each day (in the morning) because my foot swells after I've been on it after 4 hours and it is painful.  I can't complain too much, though, because I'm a lot more active than I've been in months!  I no longer have the foot and leg brace that I wore for almost one year prior to my total ankle replacement which is nice, because the brace made my walking very stiff and it made my foot and leg hot.  In this 100 degree-plus weather in Texas now, I'm so glad that's gone.


I have Physical Therapy twice each week and I started out by doing range of motion exercises but now I am doing resistance band stretching.  Doing those exercises doesn't hurt.  Walking does.  Right now each day is different in measuring pain.  One day - PAIN, the next day - NOT.  One thing is for sure:  the longer I'm standing or walking, my foot WILL swell and then there is pain.  Major pain.  


After work and/or Physical Therapy, I immediately go home and put my foot up on 4 large pillows and put an ice pack on and off for hours.  It is my only relief at the present time.  I take pain pills usually 2 or 3 times a week if I've stood on my foot over 4 hours.  I'm still using a cane but at this point, Dr. Royer or Physical Therapy will advise me when it's safe for me to ditch the cane.


I am finding out each day that recovery from a total ankle replacement is a long process!  This is something that is slow but sure.  Let me emphasize: S-L-O-W.  On the other hand, I am walking to and from my car to the entrance door at work, I can get out and put gas in my car.  I go to the grocery store, push the cart down the aisle and don't have too much difficulty as long as there is minimal swelling in my foot.  If it's swollen, I'elevate and ice.  I can see this routine in my life for several more weeks. (Hopefully no longer.)


More later!  I attached the photos which show the swelling in the ankle area.  This is week eleven.  Next week, it will be 3 months since surgery!  I'm so glad I had it done.  No regrets!

Swollen leg and ankle after 5 hours of being up today

Update!!!

Nine Weeks

Range of Motion Comparison

at Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation

June 21, 2011

Dorsiflexion                 3 degrees

Plantarflexion             19

Eversion                      20

Inversion                       8

July 12, 2011

Dorsiflexion              10 degrees

Plantarflexion           25

Eversion                    25

Inversion                   22