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14 weeks post op & still sore/limping

Posted , 11 users are following.

anne53733
anne53733

Hi everyone, I'm 14 weeks post hallux valgus /hammertoe surgery & still struggling to walk normally !! Have stiffness & soreness at ball of foot , wake up like this every morning. I was hoping to be pain free & walking by now at least 1st thing in the day !! While I'm delighted for those of you who had quick easy recovery I'm starting to wonder if I'm just unlucky to be taking this long ! Am having physiotherapy & it's helping albeit slowly & expensively !!! Am starting to think I'll never walk properly again !! 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • sandra11356
    sandra11356 anne53733

    Posted

    Anne, so sorry to hear you are struggling still. I don't think you are unlucky, we all heal at different rates. You may just need some orthotics (if you don't have them). Like you I am about 14 weeks, I had my surgery on 12th December and the last couple of days are the first that I have started to feel more comfortable walking and like my old self. I was given 3/4 Slimflex orthotics because the bunion may come back if they are not worn, however, I have had more discomfort wearing those as they were high density and I felt they were causing what would appear to be sciatica down from the buttock to the calf of the operated leg which was even waking me in the night. I have stopped wearing them but have ordered a lower density to try as I don't want the bunion back having gone through all of this. Speak to your Podiatrist about the orthotic route and I really hope you soon start to feel better. Best wishes Sandra 
  • shelia25757
    shelia25757 anne53733

    Posted

    Hi Anne!  I'm 9 weeks post op austin bunionectomy with screw fixation and have soreness and am very stiff also.  I'm struggling to do my exercises to loosen up my big toe on my own.  I was offered physio but chose to try myself.  I was thinking I was not healing well, until I read other peoples posts.  You are not alone my friend.  It seems to me this is the most painful part of the recovery!  I know its getting better day by day because yesterday I was able to walk on treadmill for 15 minutes and airdyne bike for 10.  That was an accomplishment for me!  Looking forward to being able to walk normally - shop, yard work, exercise, and the rest of lifes daily chores!  I did see someone who got a pedicure at 4 weeks after lapidus procedure.  I could not imagine anyone messing with my foot even now  9 weeks post op.  Ouch!  Anyway, bottom line is we all recover differently and at different rates.  We will get there, just hang on!
  • jacckie62169
    jacckie62169 anne53733

    Posted

    Hi Anne

    I am 10 weeks post op for double bunion op with screws and one fused big toe - I was going to start my own discussion as I like all of you I am struggling to walk properly.  Its the pain on the underneath behind the toes that really hurts.  I was told to stand on tiptoes counting to five then lower and do this twice a day for fifteen minutes but I only manage about 10 times holding onto the sideboard then give up as the pain gets too much.  I had thought of physio just to get me going but not sure about the expense. Does anyone else walk on their heels like when you wore the boots?  Are we just over protective towards the big toe joint after the op or is it the tendons etc that need loosening up or am I just being pathetic! Now worried that I have left it too late to strengthen my toes and will walk like this for ever!!

  • sandra11356
    sandra11356 anne53733

    Posted

    Hi Ladies, I think we are perhaps all expecting a little too much of ourselves at the moment and maybe underestimated the severity of the operation, if it were hip or knee perhaps we would expect to be uncomfortable at this stage but I have been told that bunion operations are far more invasive and have a longer healing time than those other two. I do find soaking my foot in Epsom salts dissolved in warm water is fantastic, as is having a soak in an Epsom salt bath. The stiffness in my toe is easing daily although I want it to ease faster (as we all do) and I haven't really done as much in the way of resting it or exercises as I should so only have myself to blame but although a slow process, I am seeing results daily so be patient, don't beat yourselves up for not healing as quickly as others and by the summer you will be much further ahead than you are now.

    Best wishes to you all

    Sandra 

  • marie19880
    marie19880 anne53733

    Posted

    Hello

    I am sorry to hear you are not doing well - I am now 9 and a half weeks since my op and I am struggling (6 x Hammertoe corrected)....

    I struggle to walk normally and my feet are still so swolen I can't even where my trainers which I bought especially for recovery which are a size bigger and a wide fitting.

    I can occasionally depending on the swelling wear my walking boots but mainly it is sandals here - mid winter it's freezing.

    Epsom salts are very good and I used them religiously in the first weeks after the pins were removed - thinking of returning to this routine to try and get rid of the swelling

    Wishing all a speedy recovery x

  • sue84239
    sue84239 anne53733

    Posted

    I have felt exactly the same as you will see from my posts and at week 11 I expected to be much more mobile and pain free. 

    Every morning when I get out of bed my foot turns bright red/purple and takes and five minutes of hobbling around before it feels better.  It is still swelling but I think my limp has improved.

    i have booked some physio now so I can check that my progress is normal and to just get some reassurance I guess.

    we do all heal at different rates and the physio consultation reminded me that this operation has a very long recovery period.

    i was definitely not prepared for the impact it has had and feel silly not having thoroughly researched it. My consultant told me two weeks non weight bearing so I read that to mean I would be back to normal after about 4-6 weeks but now realise it could be 6 months!

    wishing you all pain free pretty feet for summer sandals!

    😀

  • anita51180
    anita51180 anne53733

    Posted

    I am 17 weeks from scarf op. I have the same problems. Please see my backwards  thread on here. I have the same stiffness and immobility  of the toe, it's painful  every morning  when first on feet. I can still only wear a few pairs of shoes. The joint is still swollen. I am doing all the exercises and massaging the foot. I thought I would  be much better than this by now. It's a slow recovery for me. Some seem to get over this very fast but  I think the scarf op is more invasive and takes longer to get over.  You are not on your own with this and I'm sure you are going forwards at the same speed  as me.  I get sharp shooting pains at any time, under the foot as well.   Do please look at my backwards thread and you will see the problems that I have. Not walking right on the foot has upset the opposite knee and the opposite side of my back.  I did have probs there before , please let us know how you progress, it's important to update this site as it gives others hope.
  • anne53733
    anne53733

    Posted

    Thanks for all your great replies !! All good advice & good to hear from others in similar position, not that I want other people to suffer also but helps to know that it's not something I did or didn't do !! Just needed that reassurance.  Have realised once again that patience is key so will keep up exercises & face the new few weeks with renewed determination & optimism !! Thanks again !!!
  • MollyDJ
    MollyDJ anne53733

    Posted

    Hi Anne, I just read your posting and wanted to share with you that I am experiencing the same things. I am 6 weeks post op today; big foot surgery. I have 3 screws in my big toe, and 3 long screws in my foot connecting the bones from the bunionectomy. X-rays show all is healing well and the doctor said I could ditch the boot and crutches, and put an athletic shoe on and start full weight bearing. I start out ok in the morning, but after a couple of hours, I am in excruciating pain; feels like a pole is stabbing between my big toe and the next toe. By evening I am in tears. I put my boot back on, and wheel around on my scooter from about 3 pm until I go to bed. Sleeping is impossible as well. I get stabbing pains in the top of my big toe. I walk like a toddler when I try to walk in a gym shoe. I bought good new gym shoes in a double width to accommodate my swollen foot. Does anyone else feel like they can't walk? Will I ever walk normal again? How long before the pain subsides? I need some encouragement cause right now I'm regretting doing this surgery.
    • mo51822
      mo51822 MollyDJ

      Posted

      Hi Molly,  I am now 16 weeks post op and still have some stiffness in my foot, after I had the support shoe off the surgeon said x rays were fine and I would have a little pain for some weeks but to wear my trainers up to 6 months.  I bought a pair of black walking shoes to wear to work and walked out the hospital stupidly thinking it was all over. How wrong was I.  I taxiid to work and tried to build up walking every day, After a week I went back to the hospital as all of my foot was in so much pain I thought something was wrong.  The consultant I saw this time sat me down and took time to explain that because my foot had been elevated for so long, the knock on effect was that all of the foot has lost bone density and minerals and this has to be built backup in time by walking and weight bearing gradually, hence the long recovery period.  It is much better but still  pain in ball of the foot if walked on too much.  He reminded me we are not machines to be fixed up with a  couple of screws but humans with  complex healing processes different for everyone.  I expected a quick fix as my 10 year younger sister in law thought I was "at it" as she bounced back with no problems. I am hopeful that at 6 months stage will be much improved and am grateful for finding this site  to  gain reassurance that I am not a fraud.  Thanks Ladies.  x
    • MollyDJ
      MollyDJ mo51822

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply, it was helpful in understanding what's going on and makes sense. I saw my physical therapist last week and he told me to take it real slow; to build up to walking in a shoe. I just was listening to the doc when he said I could ditch the crutches. So I've been alternating shoe with wearing the walking boot periodically during the day. And I've been using 1 crutch, alternating with hopping back on my scooter for longer trips like the grocery store. And have succumbed to elevating my foot in between things in my day. I'm doing much better gradually easing back into my life. Hope your recovery continues. I love this blog, I get useful and very helpful information and advice from you all. Thank you😊
  • caroline38772
    caroline38772 anne53733

    Posted

    Anne, I'm 17 weeks bilateral lapidus and other nasty bits, and yes,i walk like a 90 year ols for the first 15 minutes of the day.

    ive seen a physio 4 times, and am supposed to be way ahead of the pack in my recuperation, yet, I HURT! Walked home from work yesterday in my normal time (3.5 miles -70 minutes and shopping, of course) and today everything is screaming, right foot, knees, thighs and hips. My left foot has been brilliant though, bless it.

    i keep being told by the physio, it will take a good 12 months to get anywhere back to normal, any thing sooner is a bonus. Do the exercises, and stop and massage if it hurts.

    i think the surgeons are very eccomical with the truth, and unless they've had the exact surgery themselves I doubt if they will be able to tell you the truth about things.

    Would I have had this done if I knew the correct recovery time and the ammount of pain and frustration? I would have been very hesitant, but, the other option of not being able to walk within a few years was out of the question.

    from reading in between the lines of these posts I think it's very rare for someone to be up and running within the 6 months. We've all had major surgery, end of, and recovery is slow.

    keep in there Anne, you've done the big part, in a few months time you'll be fine, and so will all of us, fingers crossed.

    Caroline

     

  • gill09855
    gill09855 anne53733

    Posted

    Hi Anne I'm 10 weeks post op still got numb toe can not flex yet pain where bunion was and mega swelling of foot so much so I still can not walk properly I have pricking in my toe too see consultant next week I'm not happy this is normal I still off work as just managed to start weight baring over last week or so walking with limp to as it too uncomfortable to put pressure through it !
  • Aimeekate
    Aimeekate anne53733

    Posted

    I am 5 month post op and I am stiff in my joint now and I get pain after on foot a long time, we all heal differently, 14 weeks to be pain free is expecting a little too much tbh smile they do say 6 months to a year to be fully healed smile if ur struggling to walk I'd go bk n see ya doc n see if they will send u for an xray to double check all is ok xx
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