Howdy,
This post is going to be more medically oriented, so those of you who don't like medical things may want to skip this one. SHIELD YOUR EYES! Ha.
I have determined that I will most likely have surgery on my right foot this summer. For those of you who don't know, about two years ago, I had a major ankle reconstruction surgery on my left foot. I'll post a picture of the x-ray below. Overall, the results have been astounding. I can stand for hours without any pain, weight is evenly spread from the ball of my foot to my heel, and my gait is significantly more stable. Most surprising, my left foot can almost pass as normal now.
Anyway I have eyeballed this summer as being the best time to knock out my other foot. Between my study abroad trip and the start of grad school, I should have about two months to recover. I'm anticipating three months before I'll be out of a boot, but I should be reasonably healed by the time school starts.
Here is my concern: Last time, the biggest issue with the surgery was the muscle atrophy in my calf. It's been two years and my post surgery calf is still noticeably smaller than the other.
Here is my idea: I'm going to start seeing a neurologist. I want to see if it would be possible to use some sort of electrical stimulation to contract my calf muscles and keep them alive while I'm in the cast. I know people use electrical stimulation in physical therapy, but I'm curious about its use in this particular aspect. A family friend (who is a doctor) mentioned that there had been studies done and they had shown promising results.
We'll see how my appointment with a neurologist goes, but I think convincing my orthopedic surgeon to do some sort of electrical stimulation might be challenging. Unfortunately, it seems that specialists have tunnel vision and I just hope he will agree to look into it.
My CMT friends, have you ever heard of this being done? Let me know your thoughts below! Also, post about any surgeries you've had, how your recoveries went, and any other related thoughts!
Until next time,
Joey
HEY Joey! Just came across your blog on the CMT facebook page. Your xray looks very similar to mine. TWINSIES! Except my second foot they straightened my toes and I looked like wolverine! It been about 5 years since I had the first foot done and 2 for the second. I didnt get my ankles fused, and I think I see that happening in the horizon soone rathen later. Doc wanted to some correction first and fusion later. However we have to remember we have a disease, there is no cure and these surgeries help with the improving the quality of life. Man oh man when I had my second surgery done I cried, because I couldnt remember the last time I ever stood flat footed...with two feet! But alas Im starting to struggle and my ankles are slowly curving out again...but NOWHERE where it used to be pre-surgery. Now that I have a new gait, my knee is rebeling. You can never win with Charcot. Keep up the good fight, and hopefully your suregy goes well and you get a cute nurse! I find having charcot has actually made us better people. We are passionate and compassionate. I have yet to have it slow me down... just maybe a little on the stairs....thats all.
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