I am 45 years of age and have Clubfeet. I was also born with Panhypopituitarism due to the fact that I received an insufficiency of growth hormone in the womb and my pituitary gland didn't develop.
I had several operations on my tendons and at age 9 I had invasive surgery where the orthopaedic surgeons broke my bones, chiselled them, re-set them and placed a surgical staple in my calcanae. Looking at X-Rays you can see where they fused two of my toes together at the base and the surgical staple.
Due to Panhypopituitarism, I was born 2 1/2 years shorter than my peers so I went on growth hormone when I was 16-19 and when I stopped using the growth hormone injections I was supposed to have an operation on my heels. I was at University and didn't want to interrupt my studies so put off the operation.
Now I'm 45 and I still walk over my heel, have week ankles and can't stand for long periods. I wear Colorado boots to lock the heel, which is restrictive and heavy. It is my dream to have an operation on my feet and finally be able to wear something other than Colorado shoes and still be supported and not jar my ankles when walking or standing.
I am very nervous about the surgeries and have only just started researching Orthopaedic surgeons in Brisbane, Australia, however, I did move into a house that is disability friendly.
If you or someone you know has had reconstructive heel surgery as an adult I'd love to hear from you. This operation is way overdue but at the time the only doctors near me where considered 'butchers' by the patients and I wasn't willing to make things worse.
No comments:
Post a Comment