Consultation with the Foot Specialist

  The Hospital For Special Surgery is one of the best hospitals in the country. We were able to make a consultation appointment with Dr. Levine (a foot and ankle specialist) 1 week later on Monday, July 26th. In the meantime, my orthopedist prescribed me a CAM walker boot for protection (which allowed me to go to work in the wheelchair but be protected).  I wore it at all times - even when I slept.  Previously I had my foot out in the open no sock, shoe, nothing because it was so swollen nothing would fit on it.  I was afraid of my foot. I analyzed it every day noticing changes of color, width etc.. I did everything I was told by the orthopedist. I was allowed to go to work as long as I kept my foot up, (to decrease swelling) and iced it.  I prayed that since I was doing everything I was told, the specialist would tell me I did not need surgery.

  Dr. Levine checked my MRI as well as the X-ray. One look at my bruised foot and he knew.... I had a Lisfranc ligament tear which disrupts the movement of my toes.  If left untreated it can case post traumatic flat foot syndrome, as well as chronic arthritis. My heart stopped when I heard that I need surgery.  This was my fear. I knew one day I would have to be in a hospital, but I hoped it would only be to give birth. Hospitals freak me out, surgery freaks me out... the anxiety was setting in. The doctor assured me the new technique called a "fusion surgery" would be easy and undoubtably successful.  Just a few years ago the old method of using pins and removing them meant going through 2 surgeries. The worst part of the fusion surgery would be the first 6-8 weeks recovery and for me, being a smoker, I had to quit smoking immediately. Smoking can increase the risk of a non union & foot not healing properly.

  We scheduled the surgery for Tuesday August 3rd at 8am. It was recommended that I go to the hospital (located across the street from the doctors office) for pre-op the day of my consultation instead of before surgery.  I had to get an x-ray of my chest, cat scan of my foot, and blood test.  Surprisingly all of these procedures in the hospital took less than 2 hours.  HSS was definitely owning up to their reputation. The pre-surgery tests and hospital staff were not as scary as I expected, but I was still very disappointed and fearful that I was going to have surgery.