July 08th, 2024

I hadn’t updated my blog since the beginning of May, so it’s time to catch up.

As I mentioned in my last post, the situation with my foot had taken a serious toll on my morale. I sought out specialists for this type of condition. The approach they recommended, MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy), along with the book by Professor Mark Williams that I read, combined with a very low-dose medication, helped me regain quality sleep. Just that alone made a big difference to my quality of life. I’ve since stopped the medication and feel much better than I did two months ago. That said, the low point was tough to get through.

In early June, I celebrated my birthday, and Deniz, the ex-refugee I’m supporting, invited me on a cruise departing from Biel, across the lakes of Biel, Neuchâtel and Murten. We dined at a Turkish restaurant in the beautiful town of Murten. It was a wonderfully relaxing day with panoramic lake views I hadn’t known before.

My colleague René from Cologne invited me to visit Phantasialand (https://www.phantasialand.de/en/), a theme park with some impressive rides like F.L.Y. (Flying Launch Coaster), Taron, Chiapas and Crazy Bats (with 3D headset), to name just a few. Definitely worth the trip, and since we went during the week, the park wasn’t too busy and waiting times were reasonable. The thrills were intense!

We also visited an open-cast coal mine at Etzweiler, a breath-taking site due to its size and impact on the landscape.

I drove to Cologne, which gave me the chance to test my new car on long journeys. Verdict: flawless!

I also spent a few days in the Engadine, in the Grisons, which I consider the most beautiful region of Switzerland. I stayed in Scuol and took several excursions to S-Charl, a truly idyllic village, as well as Tarasp with its castle, and the Motta Naluns, where the flora was stunning.

Today, I had another appointment with my surgeon. The swelling in my foot has reduced and I feel little pain. However, I still limp badly and find walking difficult. Additionally, because of the misalignment between my foot and leg, my left leg is about 2 cm shorter, which causes back pain when I stand for long periods.

After the X-rays, I talked with my surgeon, who showed me the images on his screen and explained them. The density of my bones has clearly improved, though it’s not yet at the desired level, which is visible in the shading on the scans. In the picture on the left, you can clearly see the broken screw head. It doesn’t bother me, even though it’s “loose”.

Since I’m not in pain, he suggested continuing the medication to increase bone density (a vitamin D-based cocktail). We agreed on the next appointment in October, which suits me perfectly, as I’m not keen on returning to the hospital or wearing a cast in the summer.

Until now, the fixations were on the side, with a plate. If there were to be another operation, he would fix the foot from underneath, through the heel - Ankle Arthrodesis Nail (AAN)

He also prescribed a new orthopaedic shoe, more breathable and comfortable, along with a sole to compensate for the difference in leg length. This should improve my mobility.

The weather hasn’t been very summery so far, bud knowing I won’t have to go back to hospital means summer can finally arrive!