Two weeks post-op: Suture removal

Unlike many other surgeries, where doctors have moved to staples or glue to close the incisions they create during surgery, Podiatrists usually use sutures to close the skin; the logic is that the bony structures are so close under the surface, they require the extra support of sutures, rather than glue, and staples...well, metal and bone, ugh!! Kinda seems not really flexible enough. 

Anyway, as a nurse of a certain era, I've done my fair share of suture removals over the years, so I gave a fleeting thought to taking them out myself, but one look at the S-shaped incision from my 4th toe to the top of my foot, and the scabbing and all that...well, let's just say, the thought of doing it myself was rapidly filed away for "I'll let the pro do it!"...the pro being Dr. Ritchey's nurse in the office.

Again relying on friends, since driving is still not an option, I toyed with taking a Percocet before going, but I know the small pain from the tugging on sutures compared to the in general much harsher pain I had already gone through, for such a short period of time, really didn't warrant the itching that results. 

And I was right. Mere minutes it took her to remove the suture, even the wonky incision on my fourth toe. There were a few cringes, but ultimately she had them out and steristrips over the incisions lickety-split. 

The end result: not bad. The toes are still bruised, as is around the heel and the arch, where all of the blood pooled from the surgery...but it's looking much better. And Motrin is all that's really needed, when they get sore.

One thing that continues to be uncomfortable is if I let the foot dangle, don't keep it elevated continuously, it swells. It just takes time....and I knew about the discoloration that can happen when the foot is dependent, not elevated, for example, when you are walking around on crutches or a knee scooter. Even forewarned, though, it's disconcerting to look down and see a purple, swollen foot....but elevate it for a while and it goes back down. Best thing to do is to wear your boot as much as possible when you are up and around, the compression can help decrease the swelling.

Comparing feet when foot is elevated...both the same color, not much swelling:



And when I've been around the house a bit, on my knee scooter, without putting my boot on tightly; that discoloration. It's quite common in limbs that have been operated on for a few weeks afterwards, but still not pretty.

All in all, healing well. First trip out of town this weekend, and because I tend towards motion sickness in the back seat of a car, I'll probably just sit up front...and my almost 6 foot tall frame means no foot up on the dash for me. We'll see how that goes.