Hi all:

Just wanted to update on Alan’s foot. We just came back from Beth Israel for his follow up. They did not take out the stitches. Next week. He has a big incision on his calf. I asked his doctor what the name of the muscle that was operated on. This is the name and a short description.


GASTROCNEMIUS

In humans, the gastrocnemius (pronounced /ˌgæs.trɑkˈni.mi.əs/) muscle is a very powerful superficial muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg and also called the calf. It runs from its 2 heads just above the knee to the heel, and is involved in standing, walking, running and jumping. Along with the soleus muscle it forms the calf muscle.

As you know, he was in a Cam Walker previously. I brought that with me today to show the doctor. The doctor quietly said: “no, that’s crap, we have a new one that’s perfect for Alan”.

Here’s the photo of his previous Cam Walker



And here’s the new member of our family!!






He’s still uses the wheelchair to get around our apartment because the doctor doesn’t want him too much on the foot. But at least he can get up and down by himself.

Just thought I would share. This one goes all the way almost to the knee. His pants are hiding the top of the boot. Big difference in the shoe boot thing, don’t you think??

Oh, if any of you want to laugh your head off, I posted all about what happened to us today at Beth Israel. On Social Chat forum. Very funny.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...321#post227321

HI Mel!
Sounds like Alan is doing good now from his surgery.....glad he has the new boot and is doing so well! Hooray for new surgeries and technology!!

Roxie:

How come, everytime I look at the photo of the NEW boot, it reminds me of a duck???

lol

That was like my boot I was in for 4 months the grey one. Brings back bad and painful memories. Don't loose the pump. I thought I did and they said it would cost the same as a whole new boot. Hope he is doing better though.

Alan can't use the pump. And I'm not losing it. I'll put it someplace safe.

When the guy was explaining the boot to him, he said: "do you see these two air hoses here, and Alan said 'yes, and the guy brings out this pump thing and it has inflate on one side and deflate on the other side. So he began to inflate (whatever it was he was inflating). I think they are called cells.

He told Alan. "Be careful, and when you start to feel the inflation, that's when you stop inflating". Alan said: "well, I don't feel my feet so I can't feel what you are doing". The guy immediately deflated whatever he was inflating, and said: 'Don't do this, you don't need to do it now, because you are all wrapped up. I forgot that you have neuropathy (this was the orthotics guy). He had read his chart and then he explained. "Because you can't feel it when you inflate it, it's just better not to inflate".

So the little pump is sitting on my kitchen table.

I'll tell you, we did more laughing today with all the shenanigans that went on at Beth Israel. What a beautiful medical center.

How long will he have to wear that snazzy boot for Mel ?

That's a good question. I asked the doctor and he said 'we do it slowly". He goes to physical therapy, he wears the boot. I then said "Oh, will you be doing the one day on and one day off kind of thing??" And he said "yes, most likely"

I forgot to ask him the BIG question. Doctor, when will he wear his regular shoe?" You would think I'd remember that one right?


Well, Alan goes back next week. Believe me that question will be asked.

He has trouble remembering Heel-toe, Heel-toe.

But he'll learn.

And I'd love to kiss the person who invented manual wheelchairs.

You can't think of every thing Mel, i like the idea of slowly, slowly though.
i hope it all goes well.

This morning I asked Alan "do you think you might like to go to Dunkin Donuts in your wheelchair. He said "hey, it's no problem for me, you're the one who has to bring the darn thing up and down the stairs".

I wanted him to get some fresh air and see people, so we went for it.

You should have seen the people at Dunkin Donuts when I wheeled him in. They were going "Hey there, how are you"??? Very nice breakfast.

Then on the way down the block to our home, we ran into many of our friends/neighbors who oohed and aaahed over his shoe boot thing. Even some of the dogs were wagging their tails. Alan was laughing. It was a good feeling.

Then when I got him home, my 82 year old neighbor who lives down staris, was coming out of the driveway. He immediately helped me with the wheelchair.

Now I won't be doing this again until he has to go to his physical therapy session next wednesday, it's just to hard on my body. But at least he got to get some Dunkin Donuts, he got to see the neighbors and we socialized.

To me, that's the way to live your life. As best as you can.

I am now pooped and just relaxing on the net.

Bye for now.

Melody

Nice boot- looks like if you get me 2 of 'em - I can go skiing again, (...sigh)