6 months post op and still struggling

Sounds tough, I am at three months and at times feel very frustrated at pain when walking more than 100m. I am told by my consultant it can take 6 months. In your shoes I'd be persistent with your consultant, I wonder if a nerve problem is causing you an issue, I had this for a few days, felt like electric shock. I've heard of some people taking a year to recover.. Your issue sounds different to mine, as I said, at 6 months I'd be asking for more tests, injections, whatever. Good luck with your treatment.

Hi Jacqueline. I had my surgery bunion and hammertoe on 27 November. All went very well and I've been told by my consultant on 31 March that I have made a 'better than average recovery'. Delighted with that. Sacar on side of foot by bunion site still tender but impoving all thime. Have been in virtually all of my shoes ( I do claim to have lots of shoes. But, I am a woman!!) since end of February. Wearing just 3 pairs to start with due to the swelling and finding getting others on difficult and uncomfortable. It's a case of gently does it and it's paid off. I too am active and enjoy proper walking and gardening. I'm now in the situation where I have discomfort/pain in the ball area beneath my big.bunion toe. I had this in March and mentioned it to the consultant and he said it was probably due to the Sesamoid bones which lie beneath the bones to the great/big toe. The Sesamoid bones are normally overlaid by the toe bones but sometimes following bunion surgery the two sets of bones don't sit as they ought to do  and can have been pushed out of alignment during the development of the bunion which obviously is a process which takes years and therefore we're not aware that the Sesamoid bones are interfered with until after the surgery and the haling process is under way. My consultant told me ( I am seeing him again in July to discuss having my other foot done) that it should settle down but if this doesn't happen/ hasn't done so, by the time he next sees me in July, there are a number of options available. I have read oin the internet that Sesamoiditis ( which is what I think I am suffering fro) can be treated by an injection. Then there is surgery to remove the Sesamoid bone(s). The latter was mentioned to me by my consultant but obviously surgery will be a last resort I feel. I have to say that I tend to get relief if I massage the area beneath the ball of my big toe. I really get stuck in with my thumb to the point of it hurting and I work away for a few minutes. I also do this whilst I am taking a bath. I can honestly say this massage does help and compared to this time last week my underfoot is heaps more comfortable. I think having done so very well following this surgery and now I have this unexpected 'problem' has made me feel a bit downhearted. But, I'm not going to give in to it. I am dying to get out into the countryside to do some serious walking but for now am having to make do with walks of about 3 miles. All the while I'm doing this I am conscious that my fitness/ergy levels are not getting back to what they were pre-op and also I have put on about 4lbs in weight due to being immobile for so long and not able to get about very quickly. All that said, I am getting there. I need a new pair of walking bots as my current ones are past their best ( I wear Brasher Hillmaster) but am delaying getting new ones until I am confident that spending the £150 won't be a waste of money. I have recently bought a pair of 'Waldleufer' walking trainer type shoes. I just happened to pass a rather smart soes shop and saw them in the window. As I was struggling with my underfoot I decided to investigate these shoes and tried a pair on. I wasn't intending buying any but in the end found them so comfortable i made a purchase. They come in a boot style and a shoe style. I got the shoe style. They are waterproof and very comfortable. I do wear my tatty old Brasher boots as well but I find the 'Waldleufer' a little more comfortable for now. This morning my underfoot feels very good. It's a case of not overdoing things even now I'm 22 weeks post-op.

G

Hi Jacqueline - You are describing the way my foot also feels when I walk.  I'm 4 months out, surgery to my left foot was Jan. 8.  About a month ago I could feel the screw on the outside of my foot protruding a little and it was starting to hurt when I stepped down on it, and sure enough, x-rays showed it was sticking out a little longer than it should be.  I am scheduled to have it removed tomorrow, and I have opted to also have the three screws on the inside of my foot removed even though they are not protruding.  I feel pain on the inside of my foot when I walk which may or may not be screw-related, but I'm hoping my entire foot will feel better and I will no longer have to walk with a limp once all 4 are removed. I will report back!

I too have surgery for my bunion and three screws inserted last october. My problem now is more on the ankle part, pain especially  when standing or walking too long. I am a bit worry the big toe might go back to its original positon. At my age(51 years) dont expect the bone heals within less than a year. My work nature requires alot of standing and walking. Last March I had my third x-ray of my left leg, the bone where the screws were did not show proper healing I guess. At that time my surgeon was not around and not convinced of what the medical officer

 

Sorry I havent complete my writing. The medical officer advised me to see the surgeon in the month of May but I hesitated. Before I see the surgeon I have to have an xray again for my foot. That wont help to heal my bone i guess. I fix another date which is end of June. By three months at least the progress can be seen. I agreed with Gillian every morning some stretching to all the toes will help. Last 2 weeks after I did some clearing my house compound, my left knee became inflame and i had to bear the pain and put some ointment. I suspect there was something to do with the nerve correlation with the toe and ankle. Luckily its gone now.

hi jacqueline, i am 4 and half months since big toe fusion op, after 10 weeks i was given an aircast boot to protect my foot while getting used to walking again, that was nearly 2 weeks ago, while i was using it i injured the plantar facia under my operated right foot then it happened too my left foot as i was overusing it to get around.     nearly 2 weeks ago i went to the podiatry for results of x ray and they told me i can start walking on it now without the aircast boot, like you i am experiencing some incredible pain in my foot and after trying to walk on it for around 20 mins to half an hour my foot gets hot and starts to swell so i have to sit down and wait for it too calm down, also my foot swells if i put the heating on in the house more so in the afternoons, like you i can,t see the light at the end of the tunnel, and sometimes feel really down , its going to be a long haul , i try to be as positive as i can sometimes it feels like its improving , then the next day it gets bad again, i really want it to improve so i can get out and about a bit more.

 

7 months on and latest update - Pain underfoot still raging on - back from hospital today and will be having acupuncture to try and alleviate pain. Has anyone else had acupuncture following this surgery and if so, what were the results?

 

Thank god.....I'm not the only one.  I thought maybe I was panicking that my op hadn't gone well.  I had a scarf osteotomy / excision of mortons neuroma / Weil's osteotomy 9 weeks ag and I'm still limping slightly.  I thought the surgery went well and I coped post op....everything was great.  But I'm still experiencing limited range of movement and pain where the neuroma was ....  I am hoping this is normal.  Can anyone reassure me?