8 June 2018: Four Month Follow Up
So...I started physical therapy about a month ago with some walk/run on a weight-adjusted treadmill. Along with the therapy protocol, I also began stretching and range of motion exercises along with the running/walking.
Unfortunately, my pain in the foot increased with increase in intensity. Not good. My orthopedic follow up was a month after I started PT, and Dr. C had X-Rays taken to see what was going on in the joint. The concern was the pin-point pain I am having around the joint, which was different than the general aching of the whole area. The latter is acceptable, the former is not!
A Little Knowledge is Dangerous!
I do have a little knowledge of medicine. A little anatomy here, a little physiology there. Just enough to be dangerous. So, when the radiology report says the following:
"Postoperative changes as described above with interval lucency surrounding the screw within the distal aspect of the proximal phalanx of the first toe. An element of osteolysis/hardware loosening is not excluded. Follow-up is suggested."
Words that attract my attention: Lucency, postoperative changes, and hardware loosening.
Not Good. At least I know why I am feeling pain. When my amateur eyes look at the comparative X-Rays, I can see what the Radiologist is talking about. I can also do basic math and I do know that after 16 weeks, broken bones should show healing with no Lucency or hardware loosening.
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| One Week Post Surgery, 16 February 2018 |
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Twelve Weeks Post Surgery, 4 April 2018.
Sixteen Weeks Post Surgery, 8 June 2018
Radiologist's Report: "Postoperative changes as described above with interval lucency surrounding the screw within the distal aspect of the proximal phalanx of the first toe. An element of osteolysis/hardware loosening is not excluded. Follow-up is suggested."
Bottom Line
There should be no light gray or black around the screw, and the joint space should show more bone-growth. This is Lucency, and it should not be there! The joint space should not be visible by 12 weeks. When compared to previous scans, there are 'postoperative changes'. Dr. C stated that if these findings bear out with further scans, additional mobilization of the joint or revision surgery to further close the joint space with additional fixation hardware.
Ugh. Dr. C made it abundantly clear that I was to do NO running and try to limit walking as much as possible until our follow up July 13. She did say that I probably increased my activity too soon and aggravated the joint hardware area.
I know this because there are several risk factors for fusion failure: Obesity (No), Smoking (No), Diabetes (No), Questionable Drug Use (No), Premature Weight Bearing Activities (Yes, possibly).
So, I will find out in July what the next 'steps' are in the road to recovery.
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