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Anyone else had further surgery after bunion op?

Posted , 6 users are following.

k11990
k11990

Hi here is a little about me:

Female age 35. I had first bunion surgery 18 months ago which was done keyhole on right foot. It was a relatively small bunion but due to the extra bone growth on top of foot it was restricting nerves and causing me to lose feeling down side of foot. I found after the op a very long painful journey with months of physio and many many medical appointments. I still suffer from pain in the 1st metatarsal but the worst pain was metatarsalgia under the ball of my foot between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal.

I had injections (sorry I can't remember what these are called) last October injected into both feet by same surgeon to try kill some of the nerves - this helped a little but didn't stop the pain.

I had further surgery last week on right foot this time DMMO (metatarsals cut) on 2nd, 3rd and 4th. From what I understand the surgeon believes my metatarsals have dropped due to my bunion surgery?

The pain is much more bare able this time round and I am 4 days post op. I have a heavy dressing on it with a wedge shoe (same type as I had after bunion op) and I also have crutches. I am able to bare a little weight on heel ok.

I have searched the Internet for anyone who has had this surgery after a previous bunion op and can't find any similar cases. I'm not sure what is normal after this type of surgery as the advise from hospital is very general.

I am due to get my initial dressings off on Friday and have a foot splint and flat shoe fitted.

At present I have no feeling at all on too of my 2nd, 3rd and 4th toe (I can feel underneath).

I am literally zapped of energy and believe I may have carpel tunnel in my right wrist which has flared up again.

I'm self employed so gradually trying to get slowly back into my work - would be great to hear from others who have had similar surgery.

1 like, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Footsies
    Footsies k11990

    Posted

    I can't be much hlep to you as I haven't had surgery, yet, but just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear of your experiencees and I do hope things are better for you now.  All the best.
  • Ram2645
    Ram2645 k11990

    Posted

    I too hope you are doing much better now! Isn't awful how little information we get from the doctors about recovery? Thank goodness for this site. I have learned so much from the various threads.....so comforting to be in touch with others going through similar experiences. Take care 😃
    • Footsies
      Footsies Ram2645

      Posted

      Thank you.  Yes, I agree.  I have only just discovered this site, it's a wonderful source of information and so nice that people are helping each other by sharing their experiences.  I hope it's all going well for you now.  All the best.
  • polly120
    polly120 k11990

    Posted

    Hello k,

    Just wondered how you are getting on. I had bunion op 5m ago (Dec 2013) and am now struggling with metatarsalgia ( I think). There is a feeling of golf ball under toes 2/3 and pain in ball of foot. 'Special' shoe people suggest using insert with pad to support metatarsal arch?

    Also, three month assessment indicated bunion correction was ' not as good as it could be' so I am concerned re prospects for further surgery.

    • Footsies
      Footsies polly120

      Posted

      Hi Polly, please excuse me chipping in when your post was addressed to K, it would be nice to know how she is getting on, but there is a lot of information about your condition on the web, including advice on this website.  I would question why is your correction 'not as good as it could be". There must be a reason for this, an explanation, and if it is anything to do with how the operation was performed, in my opinion you should be told what it is.  Have you seen the x-ray?.  I have looked at a lot of information on bunion ops on the web (sadly since having the op - I wished I had done more research prior to the op) and I am sure there is an explanation for your problem.
    • polly120
      polly120 Footsies

      Posted

      Hi Sally, thanks for your comments. I have been following the various discussions and have done lots of reading and it seems metatarsalgia is a potential complication of bunion surgery. As for the wide metatarsal angle remaining post surgery, I have not seen the surgeon since immediately post op when I was told 'it all went well' ! It was the follow-up x-ray at 12wks that showed a wider angle than the podiatrist had hoped for.

      I am due to go back to see the podiatry specialist in September to review things. Just wondering if anyone else has the same problems and what the outcome was - perhaps I will start a new discussion!

    • Footsies
      Footsies polly120

      Posted

      Hi Polly, the more I read about bunion surgery the more I think it is a lottery whether or not the surgery will be good and the operation a success - especially under the NHS. Patients may think they have a good surgeon, but what if it's a teaching hospital and the surgeon allows a trainee surgeon to perform the op.

      Foot surgery is very intricate. One of the GP's at our surgery told me he would never have an operation on his foot. How honest are surgeons with patients? It is easy for them to say it all went well but did it really? And once the angle has been set and the bones healed what can be done about it? But if it isn't right the patient is left with a problem, that can prove very painful.

      There are a lot of medical papers, written by orthopaedic surgeons available on the internet, via Google. They are very technical but they do explain what can go wrong.

      September seems a long time away, especially when you are in so much pain. Could you not go back to your GP and get a referral back to the surgeon. However, it would not surprise me if they attempt to fob you off, quite frankly.

      I am sorry if I don't sound very positive but in a sense the die is cast. There are surgeons who correct 'failed' bunion surgery, although maybe your surgery does not warrant this. I have a feeling mine does, as I still have a hammer toe, even after surgery! All the best.

  • k11990
    k11990

    Posted

    Hi sorry I didn't realise I had replies to this and thought I would write an update. I had the metatarsal surgery 8 months ago. I am off the crutches and mobile again. However I suffer from pain in that foot a lot, particularly at the end of the day. I am not as mobile as I used to be - I can do up to half an hour walking etc but the more I am on my feet the worse I suffer on a night with pain and swelling.

    I have also developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot due to the way I am walking after sugery so am now having treatment for that too.

    My general health hasn't been great this year so perhaps there are other reasos why I have found the surgery so hard.

    I'm still not sure if I did the right thing having the surgery as I am still in pain but as the specialist advised it can take up to one and a half years to recover from (which I was only told recently on a follow up appointment!).

    I did have carpel tunnel and dequervains synovitis which I have recently had a cortison injection for - probably the crutches haven't helped this.

    • sheila_27698
      sheila_27698 k11990

      Posted

      Hi

      I am sorry you have had so much trouble. I have had similar surgery to you 5 weeks ago.

      Scarf osteotomy plus weils osteotomy of 2nd and third toe and ligament release and ligament release of 5th toe. Basically had my meratarsals shortened to improve the spread of pressure when I walk. I had severe ball of foot pain plus bunion pain. I also have neroma on left foot , previous very successful bunion surgery 20 yrs ago the neuroma was present preop. I had cortisone injection recently which has helped. The xrays look good.

      The scar on top of my foot for the weils is still numb. My foot looks good but still very swollen and goes purple when I put it down. I think as I increase walking it will settle. I am 61 so may take a little longer to heal than first time around. I hope u are making good progress. Elevation ice packs and physio may continue fir some time.

      You don't say what yr other health problems are but current health status needs to be factored in when considering this surgery.

    • k11990
      k11990 sheila_27698

      Posted

      Good luck with your recovery  - I lost a lot of feeling on the top of my foot/toes after this surgery and am pleased to say its gradually coming back.

      Elevation is key to recovery too, it really helps with the swelling.

    • sheila_27698
      sheila_27698 k11990

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply not many others have had the extensive surgery I have had but I think my recovery is going well considering . Hope you are doing well now
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