Healing after wide resection

Hi All! I decided to go with a wide resection and had the surgery 2/22. Pathology came back with clean margins and I was told it was low grade. They are no longer certain that it is a sarcoma at all. They believe it is a myoepithelial tumor (treatment is the same, though). During surgery they did have to take my EHL tendon and part of 2 joint capsules (my foot is still stable). They are not recommending chemo or radiation. I have another surgery scheduled for a skin graph as I currently have a wound vac to try and close the area some. Would anyone mind sharing with me their healing story after a resection of the foot. Extremely grateful but nervous about my future use of my foot as it feels stiff, is swollen all the time (even first thing in morning), is slightly a different color and still has pain. I know its still early but just hoping to hear some positive stories. I am an active mom of five children. I sometimes wonder will I still be able to run with my girls or play ball with my boys...

Give yourself time to heal, make sure you get physical therapy to keep that foot going. We all think that just because we want something to heal that it happens right away but it doesn't. Because of that we end up doing more damage instead of good to ourselves. It can actually take months just for the anaesthesia to get out of your body even up to a year. Our skins and tendons just as long. So don't rush it, get therapy and massage if possible and take it easy. If you have five active children then you get always get them to help. If you explain to them how important it is for you to take time to heal then I'm sure they will do all that they can to make sure they help you as best that they can. Good luck with your next surgery. Give yourself time. Linda

Great news on your clear margins! I agree 100% with LindaC. You need to give yourself plenty of time to heal. My tumor was in my calf and it took me almost a full year with physical therapy and keeping the foot elevated (when needed) to be able to walk with my foot completely on the floor. I realize that your surgical site is your foot but the removal of most of my calf affected the extension of my foot. On thing that helped a tremendous amount with the swelling and edema in my foot was a pressure stocking. I wore it almost every day for a year. It made a huge difference in keeping the swelling down and allowed me to walk more easily. My doctor insisted on my using it and I am so glad he did. I still use it when I fly since I still get swelling every so often.

Thank you both so much for responding with words of support. I know it is still early and I have to give myself time to heal. The doctor says I can begin physical therapy approxiametly 2 weeks after my next surgery scheduled for 5/18. Through all of this I have been trying to keep things as normal as possible around the house but the kids have been great about helping. My mind is constantly racing and I can't help but think ahead. I know that I am very fortunate that this hasn't spread and that I have clean margins. Thanks God! Paula, I will look into the pressure stocking and Linda, will give myself time to heal as you have advised. Thanks again so much! I am so grateful for this discussion board. It's nice to have someplace to come to where people understand what you are dealing with and how you are feeling. You can feel so alone sometimes even in the midst of your loved ones. Take care.

I am so happy to hear that your surgery went well, with clean margins too. You have got to stay tough and give yourself time to heal for sure. It's a long journey, but you can do it and with the help of 5 children, you are really Blessed. Good luck with your next surgery and hang in there. Lynda