Hallux Rigidus - A pain in the foot...

My big toe joint has been sore for about 12 years. Over those 12 years I've had three cortizone shots and done a lot of complaining. (I won't go into why I partially blame my husband for this.) I finally decided to see a surgeon. I thought it was a bunion that had grown upward not out but I don't wear pointy shoes, shoes that are too tight or do I dance - I have weak ankles. I must have inherited the cursed maternal bunion.

I was diagnosed with Hallux Rigidus. Not to be confused with Hallux valgus - a bunion causing the big toe to point inward towards the second toe. Hallux rigidus is a disorder of the joint located at the base of the big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the big toe, and it gets increasingly harder to bend the toe. It is a form of degenerative arthritis (a wearing out of the cartilage within the joint that occurs in the foot and other parts of the body). It can be caused by overuse, biomechanical issues in your foot, or even genetics. It caused a bony spur that is growing around the joint and forced the metatarsal bone to become misaligned. All that bone must be removed and the metatarsal bone must be cut and realigned.

I am in for three weeks of sleeping, knitting, reading, movies and TV watching, oh and did I mention pain? I hear this is painful. But when I walk it is painful, when I sleep it is painful and when the weather changes it is painful. If I do what I'm told and take my meds things should be less painful in a few days (weeks?)...
I have a Body Armor boot for my foot, new crutches, pain meds, a handicap parking permit and knitting projects lined up. I need movies and books too. Any recommendations?

My Family Doctor told me today that for the first two days I will want a baseball bat to hit myself in the head with.... (add bat to the list.)
So should I get some Demerol or be put in a coma for a few days?
I am going to have surgery in 8 days - the day after Thanksgiving- my Black Friday!

I think I will use my blog for updates on my toe saga.