6 weeks post Talo Navicular fusion and just gone into boot
Posted , 5 users are following.
I had surgery on my right foot on 21st June. I had a half cast for 2 weeks, then had that off and had a lightweight fibreglass cast for a further 4 weeks. Last Thursday I had that removed, joint x-rayed and consultant put me in a boot and crutches and said to walk as much as I was comfortable with. In 6 weeks he said I should be in normal shoes after my appt with him. I know its only 4 days in a boot and I am walking reasonably sensibly, stepping through with my good foot on crutches, but I have to walk and then elevate or it swells. Its also very very achy (not painful) and I'm scared that I wont lose this before I go back in 6 weeks time. I have been told I only need to wear boot when up on it, so no wearing at night. Has anyone else had this bad aching. I certainly wouldnt want to try walking without the crutches although I can stand up and sit down without them.
0 likes, 26 replies
alison42577 SET6024
Posted
I had fusion in January this year. I call it an emotional roller coaster.
Everything you have described is what I been through. Sometimes it feels as if everything goes backwards but your foot has just had major surgery and you are now asking it to do something it's not used to, hence the aching.
I had to elevate and ice for a few weeks when first in the boot, I would be able to do a few jobs around the house but had to elevate in between. Swelling is natural at first, it does subside.
It's a long journey to recovery and it sounds like you are doing very well.
SET6024 alison42577
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Its nice to hear from someone who is a bit further along the line to me. I too am able to do some stuff around the house etc but like you its then a case of elevation for a time. It soon goes down again. The boot does provide great support and I just need to walk as much as I feel able to I guess and take it one day at a time.
alison42577 SET6024
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That's exactly the right approach, do as much as you feel able to then rest and elevate. This strengthens your foot, you may feel aches or pains in different parts of your foot at different times, this is all the muscles and tendons adjusting.
I've found this forum group invaluable through all the different stages over the months.
Don't hesitate to ask any questions if needed.
penny04107 SET6024
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I am sure you will lose the ache but do be careful with walking with a boot because, unless you are using something on the other foot to keep your gait level, you will get a dreadful pain in your lower back - at least I did and it was no joke. It. is amazing how these brilliant surgeons are one trick ponies and can't get their heads round a holistic approach to the body - just concentrating on their particular speciality.
I am supposed to be coming to the end of the same stage and due to have my walking cast (better for the back than a boot) off in a week's time. However I have had a real setback in that I have now got some kind of infection in my foot, not in the operated on part but in the toes and ball of the foot. I felt as though it was like athletes foot and surmised that the very hot weather could have brought in on in the foot as it was in the cast and getting steamy....
I went and saw the consultant and he seemed to think the pain was due to some small cuts and abrasions and told me to put some emollient cream on and rest in an elevated position as I did immediately after the operation. However that had no good effect, the sharp burning pain settled in the toes and in the ball of the foot making walking in the cast too painful. Meanwhile the b----dy man went awol and I could get no further joy. I may say the operation site was totally pain free all this time.......
So a fortnight after the start of the pain, I went to my GP and she gave me some strong anti-fungal cream which after two days has had no effect. I fear the infection is now embedded in the tissues of my foot.
The moral is........ ??
SET6024 penny04107
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Hi, yes I am using one of my trainers on my other foot when walking to level me up. I started off barefoot but it was awful so now I can walk properly and do a proper walk stride. I'm sorry to hear about your infection. Surely they can do better than antifungal cream? Have they taken any swabs to culture. They need to find out wht they are treating so that they can give appropriate treatment!
penny04107 SET6024
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Good point, SET 6024. I actually saw a trio of lovely young junior Orthopaedic surgeons today, as an emergency admission! I was sent through all the hoops , blood tests, X-ray etc and pronounced Okay and the nice young chaps said I should just rest more etc after such a big operation. Afterwards I realised they were all junior to my Consultant and were not about to offer any radical explanation for the annoying pains in my toes and the ball of my foot which have occurred in his absence. I am going back to the GP and asking for that culture test. I have rested the affected foot for two weeks and it hasn't made any difference so need to persist for an answer.
SET6024 penny04107
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girlinacast SET6024
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Good luck to you!
SET6024 girlinacast
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Hiya, I'm sure you'll lose the cast after 6 weeks provide you have followed the instructions implicitly. I was wriggling my toes as much as possible whilst in the cast which helped, and am still taking supplements for my joints which I am sure is helping. I wish you all the best for your continued recovery!
girlinacast SET6024
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I am taking calcium, and multi-vitamin. May I ask when you stopped taking your pain meds? I am almost at week 4 and still take Hydrocodone twice a day. I have already started physical therapy at home and doing my exercises regularly.
SET6024 girlinacast
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girlinacast SET6024
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Thank you for answering all my questions!
SET6024 girlinacast
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girlinacast SET6024
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I am still no weight bearing so I wear a boot now but it’s just so much lighter and manageable!
Feel like a weight has been lifted off!
penny04107 girlinacast
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Yes but do be sure to balance out with something on the other foot to make your gait even. I wasn't warned about that last year and ended up with a back in total muscle spasm. This year I just was given the same cast , after the six weeks' X-ray inspection, to partially weight bear in. This felt fine at first but I suddenly started to have burning and stinging pains in my toes and forefoot. I self diagnosed with athletes foot, fungal infection no doubt brought on by the weather being very hot. This proved to be correct. `I got rid of the cast because `I couldn't bear it , let alone weight bear in it, and hopped around , cursing. So now with no cast and just one stick, `I am waiting for an appointment with a dermatologist because the darling orthopaedic surgeon has admitted defeat....... Ridiculous. The trouble is these guys are such specialists that they don't think holistically. Like girlinacast, I have made progress with the fusion ahead of time and it is just maddening to be afflicted with fungus in the foot. Someone on this forum suggested getting a swab done to.find the bug involved but no one has mentioned that - I suspect it is the usual athletes foot bug - something or other 'pedis'. At the moment I am keeping it at bay with tea tree oil diluted with olive oil but it's not curing it.
SET6024 girlinacast
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SET6024 penny04107
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girlinacast penny04107
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How are you feeling now?
girlinacast SET6024
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SET6024 girlinacast
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girlinacast SET6024
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I know you have been WB for some time now but how did it feel to put weight on your foot for the first time?
I have my follow up appointment on Tuesday, and am hoping the surgeon will allow me to start putting a little weight on the foot. Have a great weekend!
SET6024 girlinacast
Posted