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6 months post op and still struggling

Posted , 39 users are following.

jacqueline54795
jacqueline54795

I had my surgery in October with 2 screws/wires inserted. Prior to my op I was fairly fit, being an active gym member, running and playing netball. 6 months later I can do very little apart from using an exercise bike. Although I can deal with that in the long term, I just want to be able to walk properly. I am still in my trainers and limping. I am at my wits end as I am told the bones have healed and the pain underfoot is tissue related. When I try to walk in a natural motion, the pain shoots through my foot on lifting the toe. Does anyone else have this problem? I would like to think there is light at the end of the tunnel but at the moment everything seems to have stalled.

4 likes, 88 replies

88 Replies

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  • nancy55055
    nancy55055 jacqueline54795

    Posted

    I had the Lapidus procedure done 8 weeks ago.  My big toe has lost the ability to curl under.  It doesn't even move down at all, just sits there straight out when I try to bend down the toe....like it's not connected to my foot.  Has anyone had the Lapidus procedure?  What were your results?
  • anne53733
    anne53733 jacqueline54795

    Edited

    Hi Jacqueline sorry to hear you have struggled so much & hope things improving for you. I have had a similar experience & felt no one else had struggled this long. I hear stories every day about people much older than me who have recovered in less time. 

    I am now 17 weeks post bunionectomy & hammertoe surgery & struggling to walk without a limp due to stiffness at base of toes and ball of foot . Some days I despair if I'll ever walk properly & hugely regret ever having the surgery. My surgeon wasn't very sympathetic at my last visit at 9 weeks post op, foot massively swollen, he said I wasn't walking on it correctly & just recommended physical therapy, so I was hoping to be walking properly before I had to see him again but now as swelling has subsided I can see & feel a hard lump at base of fused big toe so I've decided to make an appointment & get some answers. 

    Like u I was a very active person & am very frustrated at the time my recovery is taking but your post has helped greatly as I feel I'm not on my own after all. 

  • sue84239
    sue84239 jacqueline54795

    Posted

    Would be great to know how you are getting on now Jacqueline? Hope it all worked out well!
    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 sue84239

      Posted

      Hi Sue. Things are going great now. It's been an 18 month battle to get here and I still feel a little bitter that I was written off as unlucky, diagnosed with CRPS, fobbed off to pain management for medication and given a rather negative outlook. It took a lot of grit determination to prove the medics wrong and I firmly believe you need to remain positive. I didn't for such a long time which hindered any progress but sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can pull yourself back up.
    • sue84239
      sue84239 jacqueline54795

      Posted

      That is good to hear. I feel a bit low sometimes and the crps diagnosis depressed me but thankfully they say that is not the case now.  I still have lots of stiffness and my operation buddy is doing much better than me so am trying to focus on feeling positive and keep moving forwards. It is hard to realise when you know you are progressing but can't help focus on what is still wrong! I am definitely on an up since physio started and the better weather helps my mood hugely 😎
    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 sue84239

      Posted

      Pleased to hear it Sue, focus on what you can do rather than what you can't. It's too easy to just give in but this is a tough surgery and some people just take a lot longer to recover. I can't believe its took 18 months for me to get here but it's a fact and I know I still have face having surgery on the other foot but not this year, if I can help it. Keep me posted with your progress.
    • sue84239
      sue84239 jacqueline54795

      Posted

      Thanks I do appreciate your support. It is sometimes difficult on here to have problems as I don't want to worry pre ops and some people recover so quickly so don't want them to think this will the same for them

      i don't think I am going to have major long term problems but wish I had a crystal ball to know what will be!

    • sue84239
      sue84239

      Posted

      Update tonight is that I do have crps.....my head is spinning with this off and on diagniosis! My physio is great and she is saying I am making good progress and need to keep up my positivity levels.  She said tonight that regional pain syndrome and stiffness are my additional problems and that I will have to work harder to overcome these elements.  Bring it on...!
    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 sue84239

      Posted

      Hi Sue, was this diagnosed by a consultant. Mine was, based on thediscolouration of my foot and nerve sensitivity. I was floored initially after reading horror stories about the condition and cried for days but that was when I also began to fight back and pushed through the pain with the help of a great physio. Sounds like you've got good support from your physio. i really do believe it's mind over matter and Once I got off the crutches, started to put weight on my foot and gritted my teeth through the pain I started to believe that I would beat it. De-sensitising the pain is key. I also massaged my foot God knows how many times every day, really deep into the tissue which helped. Please keep me posted and message me if you need my support
    • sue84239
      sue84239 jacqueline54795

      Posted

      Hi. Yes diagnosed by consultant initially and then my physio confirmed it but I also see another physio for a hip problem and he was checking my feet and said there was no way it was crps hence my earlier post but to be fair it was a normal colour when I was there instead of the colour it usually is especially by evening and sensitivity increases. Have you got a normal foit sensation now? I can keep positive if I think it will go eventually and physio is supportive telling me I am working really hard. Sadly I only have one more with her and then due to move over to nhs physio sessions for review. 

       

    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 sue84239

      Posted

      I think CRPS is hard to diagnose. A leading foot specialist diagnosed mine, said I was unlucky and referred to a pain management consultant who confirmed I did not have the syndrome. My foot still swells on a night but the sensitivity and discolouration gradually subsided the more I worked my foot. I think she you're footie dormant for so long, circulation will be affected and lead to other problems. I know you will get there in the end Sue, I had a private physio initially when everything went wrong and then once my metatarsal joint began to move I was finally given physio on the NHS, which was great as they had me off crutches and walking within a few weeks. Let me know how you get on
    • sue84239
      sue84239 jacqueline54795

      Posted

      Hi. I have now been referred to a pain management consultant but this may take some time apparently.  The discolouration is still bad and I have burning pains in three toes and the middle of my foot.  I do think I have improved flexibility so hoping this will help and my end two toes are now moving more freely and I can clench a piece of paper in the four toes.  Did they recommend any other treatments to you to help with the discolouration issue? I am still trying the hot and cold soaks at night but unconvinced!
    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 sue84239

      Posted

      Hi, I hope you continue to improve before seeing pain management so you don't have to resort to medication. I just think it's too easy to be fobbed off with pain medication which masks any underlying problem that can be addressed with a more hands on approach. I don't know about you but with my foot being dormant for so long, my leg muscles deteriorated very fast and this also caused problems with discolouration in the foot due to poor circulation. I just kept on with my exercise regime as instructed by the physio and continuous deep tissue massage,ice and elevation.
  • wendy89734
    wendy89734 jacqueline54795

    Posted

    Hi Jacqueline, Sorry to hear about your problems.  In my case (I am 67 years old) I had a bunionectomy with 3 screws 2 years ago which was extremely painful.  After a short while the toe drifted back over and my bunion was very painful again and didn't seem to be any better.  After being fobbed off with physiotherapy etc., I decided to see the head surgeon from my local hospital privately  (I couldn't see him on the NHS) to get a second opinion.  He said I needed a revision.  He said he would do this himself on the NHS as he thought I shouldn't need to pay for it privately. I was referred back to the NHS and 4 weeks ago I had the 'revision', the removal of a painful mortons neuroma (which was not picked up originally), and also some ligaments cut which were causing pain as they were too tight.  This operation was a breeze compared to last time.  I had been really nervous because of the trauma of the first operation, but I have been very lucky second time around.  My advice is not to put up with it - keep going back and if possible ask to see the head surgeon.  It sometimes varies as to who does the operation as to how successful it is. My original one was performed by a locum and I think that was one of my problems.  I really hope you persevere and sort it out soon. 
    • jacqueline54795
      jacqueline54795 wendy89734

      Posted

      Hi Wendy, I'm happy to report that 18 months on, my life is finally back on track. A lot of heartache along the way and uncertainty made this one hell of a journey but I can walk, run and have recently gone back to work. I agree you have to fight to be heard and I learnt that the hard way after nearly giving up last year.
    • kate95239
      kate95239 jacqueline54795

      Posted

      Hi Jacqueline, wondering if you are limited with respect to foot wear? Are you still in flats/trainers or can you wear 'regular shoes' and heals? Thx.

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