Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Hi all, I have been making many tours through the house since I have been home. Monday was two weeks. I walked outside down the sidewalk about 50 ft for two days, then one house down, then two houses down. The problem is whoever is watching me doesn't want me walking any further. They are afraid I am overextending, though I have explained that I am not. I even tried to explain that this is what I am suppose to be doing. As PT said, only walk as far as knowing you can make it back. I know I can go further. How can I convince these people (they all mean well) that I can walk further? any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2006 Report Share Posted May 9, 2006 Hi marty, I am two weeks post op, onward and upward. > > > > > > Hi all, > > > I have been making many tours through the house since I have been > > > home. Monday was two weeks. I walked outside down the sidewalk > > > about 50 ft for two days, then one house down, then two houses > down. > > > The problem is whoever is watching me doesn't want me walking > any > > > further. They are afraid I am overextending, though I have > explained > > > that I am not. I even tried to explain that this is what I am > suppose > > > to be doing. As PT said, only walk as far as knowing you can > make it > > > back. I know I can go further. How can I convince these people > (they > > > all mean well) that I can walk further? any ideas? > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 , I had the same post op instructions as Cam, from a different surgeon, except for the 5 mile thing which sounds just impossible to me. 15-20 minutes 3x per day, work up to an hour once per day.. I would suggest you walk only on flat ground. If need be, go to the grocery store or the mall. When we moved to our home four years ago, one of my requirements was that it be in an area that I could easily walk on flat ground. Walk a lot and rest a lot. Give yourself time to heal. Bonnie [ ] Re: ideas? ,You don't say, is someone walking with you? Are they afraid you are just going to collapse? The timing of my surgery was such that outside walking was not really a possibility for the first month to six weeks...it was still winter and there are no paved smooth areas, no malls...just dirt roads and trails. My discharge instructions, and I quote, were "Begin slowly and gradually work up to 15-20 minute walks, 3-4 times a day. Work up to 5 miles a day. Use a cane for outside ambulation".Part of that info was good...and part, I think, is a typo. What I did was set the timer on my kitchen stove and walk the loop in the house first for 10 minutes, then build to 15 minutes, then 20 mins....adding the extra 5 mins to each session every couple of days. And I did that religiously 2 or 3 times a day. Once I got so I could walk for the whole 20 or 25 mins. I had my husband bring me to the grocery store so I could walk longer while he shopped....that seemed like a huge moment. Ha!Working up to 5 miles seems like an outlandish goal. Before flatback befell me I walked and hiked alot. I could walk a mile in under 13 minutes. At that pace, post surgery goals would take 1-1/2 hours. Being that I wasn't walking anything like 13 min/miles I am thinking walking 5 miles, even today, would take close to 3 hours. I like the way Martha's Doctor put it better...so I just kind of worked up to taking one big long walk as the weather improved and I felt surer on my feet. I think one of my routes is about 2.5 miles and I could easily cover that by 4 months. I honestly felt a lot safer water walking in the earlier going so I did that more.Maybe just tell your family that this is what it takes, and the faster you regain some endurance, the better it is going to be for everyone. I did order one of those camp chairs (tripod thing) that had a sling so I could put it over my back and bring it on a walk in case I needed to sit down. It turned out I never did...but it seemed to make me feel more confident!Just remember that less is more right now. If you walk 3X 20 mins...that is walking an hour a day....more than most of your friends and family probably do!Patience! Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Thanks bonnie, I started by Cam's suggestion, I set the timer on the stove and just walk around for now. Tiring huh!, Little baby needs a nap now... > > , > > I had the same post op instructions as Cam, from a different surgeon, except for the 5 mile thing which sounds just impossible to me. 15-20 minutes 3x per day, work up to an hour once per day.. I would suggest you walk only on flat ground. If need be, go to the grocery store or the mall. When we moved to our home four years ago, one of my requirements was that it be in an area that I could easily walk on flat ground. > > Walk a lot and rest a lot. Give yourself time to heal. > > Bonnie > [ ] Re: ideas? > > > , > > You don't say, is someone walking with you? Are they afraid you are > just going to collapse? The timing of my surgery was such that > outside walking was not really a possibility for the first month to > six weeks...it was still winter and there are no paved smooth areas, > no malls...just dirt roads and trails. > > My discharge instructions, and I quote, were " Begin slowly and > gradually work up to 15-20 minute walks, 3-4 times a day. Work up to > 5 miles a day. Use a cane for outside ambulation " . > > Part of that info was good...and part, I think, is a typo. What I > did was set the timer on my kitchen stove and walk the loop in the > house first for 10 minutes, then build to 15 minutes, then 20 > mins....adding the extra 5 mins to each session every couple of > days. And I did that religiously 2 or 3 times a day. Once I got so I > could walk for the whole 20 or 25 mins. I had my husband bring me to > the grocery store so I could walk longer while he shopped....that > seemed like a huge moment. Ha! > > Working up to 5 miles seems like an outlandish goal. Before flatback > befell me I walked and hiked alot. I could walk a mile in under 13 > minutes. At that pace, post surgery goals would take 1-1/2 hours. > Being that I wasn't walking anything like 13 min/miles I am thinking > walking 5 miles, even today, would take close to 3 hours. I like the > way Martha's Doctor put it better...so I just kind of worked up to > taking one big long walk as the weather improved and I felt surer on > my feet. I think one of my routes is about 2.5 miles and I could > easily cover that by 4 months. I honestly felt a lot safer water > walking in the earlier going so I did that more. > > Maybe just tell your family that this is what it takes, and the > faster you regain some endurance, the better it is going to be for > everyone. I did order one of those camp chairs (tripod thing) that > had a sling so I could put it over my back and bring it on a walk in > case I needed to sit down. It turned out I never did...but it seemed > to make me feel more confident! > > Just remember that less is more right now. If you walk 3X 20 > mins...that is walking an hour a day....more than most of your > friends and family probably do! > > Patience! Cam > > > > > > > > > scoliosis veterans * flatback sufferers * revision candidates > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Bunions can be significantly reduced through massage, but you have to keep up with it. The area should be firmly, but not painfully, massaged, preferably after a 20 minute, very warm (Epsom salts help a great deal) foot bath. I have a bunion on one of my feet from years of high, pointy heals, and I've reduced it in size by 50%, and it's at least 75% less painful. I use a glass, vitamin bottle to do the massage, as well as my fingers. Using the side of the glass bottle allows me to really put some serious pressure on it (pressure just this side of painful). The bunion has put the toe a bit out of alignment, so I gently straighten it during the massage, and that also helps. In the beginning, it's best to do the massage every day, but in about a month, three times a week is enough. This is something that has to be kept up, as I've found that when I stopped for a month or so, the bunion became painful and started to grow again. Your granddaughter is going to have to make very careful shoe choices for the rest of her life. If she's already getting bunions at such a young age, she really needs to avoid heels, and the toe box (front of the shoe) should be very roomy. I find Doc shoes to be most comfortable...very roomy in the toe area. Good luck M > > OT, but briefly: Can anything be done (besides surgery) for bunions?? Too > late for me, but my granddaughter has one, and she's only 13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I do not exactly know that this works for bunions, but it is worth a try. I saw someone on YOUTUBE remove warts with cod liver oil by painting it on daily and covering with a band-aid. When it turned black, it was at the stage of healing. As it got smaller, it could be removed gingerly with a pin or something to lift it up like that. I am a huge peroxide person, and I wonder if peroxide just might do the same kind of thing. I would do a bunion search on youtube and see if someone shows you how to remove them naturally on there. ________________________________ From: J Trettel <gnp222@...> Coconut Oil Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 3:18:46 PM Subject: ideas? OT, but briefly: Can anything be done (besides surgery) for bunions?? Too late for me, but my granddaughter has one, and she's only 13. Nice if there was something else that would help. Thanks, all Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I hadn't heard that about cod liver oil, but do know also that, tea tree oil will get rid of skin tags in much the same way. As far as the bunions, there would have to be a way to straighten the toe, and have to wonder if that's possible; but I will do more searching. Thanks for the good ideas, Lyn!! Judy On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM, Lyn K <godisbest4me@...> wrote: > > > I do not exactly know that this works for bunions, but it is worth a try. I > saw > someone on YOUTUBE remove warts with cod liver oil by painting it on daily > and > covering with a band-aid. When it turned black, it was at the stage of > healing. As it got smaller, it could be removed gingerly with a pin or > something to lift it up like that. > > I am a huge peroxide person, and I wonder if peroxide just might do the > same > kind of thing. I would do a bunion search on youtube and see if someone > shows > you how to remove them naturally on there. > > ________________________________ > From: J Trettel <gnp222@... <gnp222%40gmail.com>> > To: Coconut Oil <Coconut Oil%40> > Sent: Mon, January 17, 2011 3:18:46 PM > Subject: ideas? > > > OT, but briefly: Can anything be done (besides surgery) for bunions?? Too > late for me, but my granddaughter has one, and she's only 13. Nice if there > was something else that would help. > > Thanks, all > > Judy > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Darn those pointy heels; I wore them too much, too!! I certainly will try the massage, and tell my granddaughter about it, also. Mine don't hurt often, but when I get gout, and/or toe cramps, OW. She does have a problem when doing the tae-kwan-do classes, or standing for too long. It's awful that she has this problem so young, but IF surgery is necessary, better now than later, I'd say. I had asked my dr back in the 80's if I could have it done then, and he said I had plenty of time. Now, in my 60's, I don't want to be hobbling around on crutches unless I really have to. Thank you, !! Judy On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 6:38 PM, moontidearts <moontidearts@...>wrote: > > > Bunions can be significantly reduced through massage, but you have to keep > up with it. The area should be firmly, but not painfully, massaged, > preferably after a 20 minute, very warm (Epsom salts help a great deal) foot > bath. I have a bunion on one of my feet from years of high, pointy heals, > and I've reduced it in size by 50%, and it's at least 75% less painful. I > use a glass, vitamin bottle to do the massage, as well as my fingers. Using > the side of the glass bottle allows me to really put some serious pressure > on it (pressure just this side of painful). The bunion has put the toe a bit > out of alignment, so I gently straighten it during the massage, and that > also helps. In the beginning, it's best to do the massage every day, but in > about a month, three times a week is enough. This is something that has to > be kept up, as I've found that when I stopped for a month or so, the bunion > became painful and started to grow again. > > Your granddaughter is going to have to make very careful shoe choices for > the rest of her life. If she's already getting bunions at such a young age, > she really needs to avoid heels, and the toe box (front of the shoe) should > be very roomy. I find Doc shoes to be most comfortable...very roomy > in the toe area. > > Good luck > > M > > > > > > > OT, but briefly: Can anything be done (besides surgery) for bunions?? Too > > late for me, but my granddaughter has one, and she's only 13. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Do whatever you can to avoid surgery. She may have to resort to wearing flats her whole life, but they're so much healthier for the back, hips, feet, etc. anyway. Bunion surgery often has to be repeated, and it can lead to terrible, future complications. I think bunion surgery should only be done when a person can no longer function...as a last resort. Truly, it's better to wait on surgery and only have it if walking becomes almost too uncomfortable. M > It's awful that she has this problem so young, but IF surgery is necessary, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I'll try, but I'm sure the dr has kind of scared her into considering surgery, saying it's the only thing she can do. I agree that wearing better shoes would help, but who really listens at age 13; lol. My husband was told 10 years ago that there was no cartilage in his big toe joint, and the only option would be to cut it off. : 0 He's been taking supplements, and it hasn't deteriorated too much, and he still has pain at times, but obviously hasn't had it removed. Doctors can really scare you sometimes. Thanks for the help; Judy On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:20 PM, moontidearts <moontidearts@...>wrote: > > > Do whatever you can to avoid surgery. She may have to resort to wearing > flats her whole life, but they're so much healthier for the back, hips, > feet, etc. anyway. Bunion surgery often has to be repeated, and it can lead > to terrible, future complications. I think bunion surgery should only be > done when a person can no longer function...as a last resort. Truly, it's > better to wait on surgery and only have it if walking becomes almost too > uncomfortable. > > M > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I am just reading a book by DelRe entitled " Rejuvenation " where bunions are treated with a red laser pointer with 5milliwatts. I am sure this would take a long long time to be effective. > > OT, but briefly: Can anything be done (besides surgery) for bunions?? Too > late for me, but my granddaughter has one, and she's only 13. Nice if there > was something else that would help. > > Thanks, all > > Judy > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Doctors are too quick to cut and maim. Instead, this might be something you never thought of doing, but I highly recommend it. Seek out a reflexologist. They work with feet. That is their field of study. I had to first learn what bunions are because I never knew anyone with the condition. But now that I know that it has to do with the bone and not something on top of the skin, I am pretty sure that a good reflexologist can help. I have had much experience with reflexology. They can explain to you exactly how the bunion formed and what formed it and then pursue healing of it. I encourage you to look into this. There is a school in MD that lets their students work on peoples feet and I do not know if it is free for you or at least a reduced price. That might be a way to get started. ________________________________ From: J Trettel <gnp222@...> Coconut Oil Sent: Tue, January 18, 2011 5:29:47 PM Subject: Re: Re: ideas?  I'll try, but I'm sure the dr has kind of scared her into considering surgery, saying it's the only thing she can do. I agree that wearing better shoes would help, but who really listens at age 13; lol. My husband was told 10 years ago that there was no cartilage in his big toe joint, and the only option would be to cut it off. : 0 He's been taking supplements, and it hasn't deteriorated too much, and he still has pain at times, but obviously hasn't had it removed. Doctors can really scare you sometimes. Thanks for the help; Judy On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:20 PM, moontidearts <moontidearts@...>wrote: > > > Do whatever you can to avoid surgery. She may have to resort to wearing > flats her whole life, but they're so much healthier for the back, hips, > feet, etc. anyway. Bunion surgery often has to be repeated, and it can lead > to terrible, future complications. I think bunion surgery should only be > done when a person can no longer function...as a last resort. Truly, it's > better to wait on surgery and only have it if walking becomes almost too > uncomfortable. > > M > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 When consulting health professionals, keep in mind the training of the individual. Doctors are allopaths. Specialists in disease, not wellness. (Maybe that's why they have a less than average lifespan.) And, due to thier training, are taught to think & respond to matters of health in one of 3 ways: drugs, surgery or physical therapy. Being as drs. aren't pro-health, asking about how to be healthy is sorta like asking a butcher about vegetarianism. Furthermore, how a therapist approaches the same situation also depends on training. An Occupational Therapist & Physical Therapist will approach soft-tissue disfunction in a different way than a Massage Therapist. But only one profession has training that is 1000's of hours in the palpation, interpretation/assesment & hands-on treatment of the muscle/tendon/connective tissue system.  The situation behind the bunion started a while back & is the culmination of an ignored, previously lesser situation that has gained momentum & greater scope. Reflexology helps restore the balanced p.s.i. that is the muscle/tendon system of the feet. And it was this imbalance that started the pulling that threw everything off. Hydro/thermo & cryotherapy will have a profound effect on the situation as well. Get the training/education to know how/when to apply to help break the spasm cycle as well as sexcessive pulling on the bones, increase healing metabolism/range of motion + reduce inflammation. Deep tissue, nueromuscular treatments will re-educate/balance the system & facilitate the processes of re-establishing normalcy. And then there's the process of strengthening the muscles/tendons to keep it from happening again. Accupuncture can be a vital part of the plan.  Reflexology is a great approach to education of the situation so that you can make your best health consumer investment returning to health.  -, L.M.T.-  On Tue, 1/18/11, Lyn K <godisbest4me@...> wrote: From: Lyn K <godisbest4me@...> Subject: Re: Re: ideas? Coconut Oil Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 10:19 PM  Doctors are too quick to cut and maim. Instead, this might be something you never thought of doing, but I highly recommend it. Seek out a reflexologist. They work with feet. That is their field of study. I had to first learn what bunions are because I never knew anyone with the condition. But now that I know that it has to do with the bone and not something on top of the skin, I am pretty sure that a good reflexologist can help. I have had much experience with reflexology. They can explain to you exactly how the bunion formed and what formed it and then pursue healing of it. I encourage you to look into this. There is a school in MD that lets their students work on peoples feet and I do not know if it is free for you or at least a reduced price. That might be a way to get started. ________________________________ From: J Trettel <gnp222@...> Coconut Oil Sent: Tue, January 18, 2011 5:29:47 PM Subject: Re: Re: ideas?  I'll try, but I'm sure the dr has kind of scared her into considering surgery, saying it's the only thing she can do. I agree that wearing better shoes would help, but who really listens at age 13; lol. My husband was told 10 years ago that there was no cartilage in his big toe joint, and the only option would be to cut it off. : 0 He's been taking supplements, and it hasn't deteriorated too much, and he still has pain at times, but obviously hasn't had it removed. Doctors can really scare you sometimes. Thanks for the help; Judy On Mon, Jan 17, 2011 at 8:20 PM, moontidearts <moontidearts@...>wrote: > > > Do whatever you can to avoid surgery. She may have to resort to wearing > flats her whole life, but they're so much healthier for the back, hips, > feet, etc. anyway. Bunion surgery often has to be repeated, and it can lead > to terrible, future complications. I think bunion surgery should only be > done when a person can no longer function...as a last resort. Truly, it's > better to wait on surgery and only have it if walking becomes almost too > uncomfortable. > > M > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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