Does he have pain?

Sounds like there isn't much because you don't mention it.

Hi Mrs. D.

No, he doesn't have pain (he does have discomfort), but no pain. He does have the neuropathy if he sits or lies down. NOt when he stands up. But he rarely stands up because he can't.

I hope someone can answer my question about walking on the heel of the cast.

Thanks much

no expert here...but if the cast doesn't have the rubber bumper on the bottom..it's normally not meant to walk on. which means the dr didn't want it walked or he would have ordered a walking cast.

Melody,
if they mean for him to walk or put weight on it, he'd have a heel built into the bottom of the cast. No heel means no weight in my experience and believe me I've had a lot of it. I tore tendons loose from my ankle, they took a tendon from the back of my calf and spliced the tendon in my ankle. No heel, no weight was what I was told. And tell him NOOO coathangers inside it to scratch. (yes it will get itchy) He needs to support his weight on his good leg and the crutches. Yes, it will be difficult. He's a strong man. If I can do it he can, let him do it, don't hurt yourself.

You can call your doctor on Monday to see how much if any weight he can put on it.

Billye

Excellent information.

I did not know about the heel on the cast. You all gave good advice.

Alan is doing just fine. No scratching, no coat hangers. We don't have any wire coat hangers anyway.

But I shall tell him what you said. See, I knew he couldn't walk on the heel, I just wanted to find out if he could put ANY weight on it.

Thanks SOO much. Now I know.

I just walked over to Alan and told him what you guys said about the rubber tip thing on the heel.

Alan says to me "Oh, there's a rubber thing here". I said 'there is?? really?? and he says "yeah feel it". I went over to the bottom of his cast and it was hard as a rock.

I said "what are you talking about, there's no rubber thing on your heel". So don't put any weight on it".

He said "I remember the doctor and the nurse saying that if I had to, I could put a bit of pressure, but not too much". Now I remember that too because I was there when the nurse said that.

But be that as it may, unless it's absolutely necessary, he's staying in the wheelchair and on the couch.

Thanks much for all the good information.

Mel

Alan just made the video.

It's amazing, how one can be in so much pain (even after a percocet), and then when he gets up in the morning, he can sit in the wheelchair and be laughing.

I don't know if the endorphins, or it's the weather, (he does not take any pain meds during the day, only before bedtime), and only since he had the operation. Normal pain meds don't work on his neuropathy. I think the Alprazolam works better at his going to sleep. I don't think tonight he'll need a percocet. Just the alprazolam.

Anyway, here is my Alan, in fine form, saying HI!!! to all of you!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPrhlrGJ7co

bone infections (osteomyelitis) and tissue infections are very different. Osteomyelitis never goes away, the best you can hope for is that it remains dormant and that you dont get a flareup or they dont come that often. Osteomyelitis is difficult to treat and can reactivate due to many circumstances, breaking a bone, having hardware put into your body, etc.

If I didn'tt know Alan I would say he's high,but knowing him by cyerspace,
he's a joy and cute,I mean funny..Mel when I was doing the nurse thing
casts that have pressure can break down . There are walking casts
his doesn't look like one..Besides they want him on crutches,which I
absolutely cannot use either..Did they give you a paper that said not to
pressure on it.

Can't wait to hear what they have to say next week...Mean while kept
attacking him it's very good for your heath and his, ahhh a woman's work
is never done..My 2 son's are in town when they get in i'll show them
Alan video..,He looks good Mel,watch your back,I worry about you toooo.
Hug's to all Sue

Hi Sue:

Alan is on absolutely no pain meds at all. Hasn't been on any for 6 years. They don't do anything for him. Just the alprazolam to sleep at night. That's his natural personality. He is a hoot!!

And yes, they gave us the release papers that say "elevate the leg to heart level", blah blah. But the nurse in the recovery room actually said "you can put a bit of pressure if you have do but not too much". Her exact words.

He's doing just fine. I don't think I'll give him a percocet tonight. Doesn't do anything for his neuropathy pain. Only the alprazolam quites down the nerves so he can sleep.

Oh, I forgot to mention a med that they gave him about an hour after he came out of the operation and he was in surgery. A nurse came over and said "do you have any tingling" and he said "are you serious, I have neuropathy, I always have tingling". She said 'okay".

She gave him (in the IV), something called TORADOL. (not sure of spelling) but it's an anti-inflammatory. Well, five minutes after he got that in his IV , he was a happy camper. He was talking and saying "I have no pain at all, what IS this med?? She explained that it is usually given in an IV, it's somewhat like a strong dose of ibuprofen and they don't usually give it in an oral form. (Believe me he would have taken them home if they gave him some pills). That's how good he felt.

It lasted for about an hour or so. But his pain level was not "out of this world" when I got him home. So, so far, he's eating, peeing, pooping, and watching tv.

Maybe they might take off the cast next week?? I have no idea.