Big toe fusion after bunion surgery, can I run again?

Hi

can't speak for anyone else but I'm in the UK...

fortunately I didnt have a cast on..... I had small bootie type

casts last time....drove me mad.

I never iced behind my knee so can't help with that but if my

foot felt uncomfortable due to swelling I did ice underfoot and

ontop of it.

My foot would jerk I think it's the nerves protesting....All quite

normal though.

I had bunion surgery with fusion of the big toe and pins in the second and third toe 5 weeks ago. The orthopedic foot surgeon also put a pin in the second and third toe. The third toe pin "slipped" within a week, so he removed it. The second toe pin stayed in for 3 weeks, but I have no feeling in that toe, so there's nerve damage, which may or may not be permanent. The thing that worries me the most is that because of the fusion, I may not walk normally again. My surgeon did not discuss the procedure with me regarding the pros & cons, options, etc. My foot is still very swollen and uncomfortable and the toes are crooked. The best advice I can give anyone contemplating this surgery, is choose your surgeon very, very carefully and choose one with at least 20 years experience! 

Hi Jenny. Wow you have had a hard time! I am with you on not having bunion surgery! I had mine done about 8 years ago and have been in more pain then before the surgery. I sure hope this bone fusion works. My second toe some how is dislocated. My doctor thinks it was caused from previous Dr. Shooting cortisone into a nerve.

She doesn't want to fix it right now. I think after I am all better from the toe fusion, she is going to try bracing it back in place. Kind of like how they take care of crooked teeth.

I wish you nothing but best wishes on your recovery.

Hi misskh. I have to ice behind my knee because of this god awful hard cast I have. I will be so glad when I get to go in the boot.

I hope your foot is doing great!

Thanks Karen. If I had it to do over again, I would opt for a more conservative approach. Shave off the bunion, NO fusion and leave all the toes alone -- just use tape to try to straighten them out. I wish I had tried all these toe straighteners, separaters, braces, etc., before going under the knife.  (Live & learn.)   

With my bunion surgery 8 years ago they shaved the bunion, broke the joint and put one screw in there. Over time that joint they for some reason had to break became total arthritis. It took my surgeon 3 hours to clean it up and had to go in search of a larger cadaver bone then she thought I would need cause she had to scrape so much bone away.

What I want to know is....they have artificial knee and hip joints. Why not one for the toe? .

Hello to everyone on this post.  I am awaiting surgery on both feet to fuse the big toe joint following a scarf osteotomy that I had done to treat my bunions in 2009.  Surgery is scheduled for 16th August and I'm not looking forward to the recuperation, but the long term result I hope will give me less pain than I get now - the whole point I thought!  Having read the posts on this thread I'm wondering now if I've made the right decision.  However, I'm planning a complete life change next year and will be setting up a camping business in France so I thought it best to take up the NHS treatment whilst I can.  My bunion surgery was quite successful at first but arthritis has overtaken leaving me with a dull ache most of the time and shooting pain quite often.  My surgeon has said that the fusion is the only way forward.  I've been warned about the lack of flexibility, but this is the case already, and the fact that I won't be able to wear heels makes no difference as I can't now anyway!

Karen, I asked my surgeon about joint replacement - it is available but because it is a small joint a replacement one won't stand up to much wear.  It's usually only used for people with a more sedentary lifestyle.

Any advice anyone can give me would be much appreciated.

Having just moved house I'm quite looking forward to a bit of a lazy time, but I know that I'll be climbing the walls after the first couple of weeks. One of my good friends is a physio and pilates instructor.  She is going to help me work out some upper body excercises to try and keep the waist line from expanding too much - meanwhile I'm trying to be good for the next three weeks leading up to my op.

Start making a list of everything that needs to be done before and what you need to buy before. I used a memo app on my phone so it was handy when anything came to mind. After I took care of something on my list I checked it off.

Things to buy on my check list was......

Shower chair

Cast cover.

Disposable bathing cloths.

Facial cloths.

A little basket to put next to bed for stuff I would need.

I bought some great cushions for my crutches.

Sun dresses.

I made sure I had cash on hand to give people that went to the store or picked up take out for me.

Ice packs. I found some that are inside an ace bandage that you can wrap around your leg.

I already had a couple of these...memory foam pillows to prop your leg up on.

I also had on this list things I wanted done before surgery like my house totally cleaned, yard cleaned up. And big grocery shopping trip.

I make a lot of easy meals with ground beef. So I cooked up about 8 lbs of it and put in two lb bags. Easy for making any kind of casserole like dish.

And bought lots of easy freezer meals.

I should have been in a cast too, but instead, my inexperienced young surgeon put me in a surgical shoe immediately, which did not offer enough protection. My foot was wrapped in gauze and a "splint" for 2 weeks -- which was nothing more than an ace bandage. He also told me I could walk on my heel immediately, which was bad advice. I am now 5 weeks postop and foot is still swollen and uncomfortable all the time. (BTW, I was told not to take anti-inflammatory drugs because it slows healing of the bone.)

That's a good list, wish some of the medical personel had told me before the surgery!  The best thing I purchased was a knee caddy -- couldn't use the crutches and fell a couple of times trying. 

I was told not to have both feet operated on at the same time. How will you get around with both feet in a cast, splint and surgical shoe? I am 5 weeks post op and am still having to get around on the "knee caddy."  The recovery is going to be much longer than I was led to believe. My friend, who is a physical therapist, has been monitoring my foot and told me to be prepared not to be back to normal for a year or so. The thing I'm most worried about is the fused toe joint.  I'm very active and can't imagine how I'm going to hike, run, etc., with a stiff toe joint. Good luck to you!

I had a severe bunion with a crossover second toe on my right foot. The surgeon shaved off the bunion, fused the big toe joint and put pins in the second and third toes. Because my foot was not protected enough (by a cast), the pins both slipped, so now I have too crooked toes and a totally stiff toe joint. I am now nearly 6 weeks post op and I'm still using a knee caddy to get around. The pain isn't as bad as it was during the 2 weeks after surgery, but the discomfort is awful. I am using "toe spacers" between the big, second and third toes and wonder if I'll have to wear them forever. As soon as I remove them, within an hour, the toes go right back to their crooked position.  Best wishes to you too, Karen and keep us posted! 

I was told to take Ibeprofren to keep the swelling down. And put ice behind my knee while foot is propped up above my heart. Helps a lot with the swelling. I am sure your foot hurts because it's swollen.

A friend of mine had some other kind of foot surgery, but after she was able to walk on it, she told me she takes a ibuprofen before she gets really active to keep the swelling down.

I hope it starts feeling better.

We call knee caddy a knee scooter here. I have one too. They are impossible to use outside. I do live in the rough and tuff country though. Lol. I hated my crutches at first too until a guy at my doctor office noticed I had them adjusted wrong.

You can Google or you tube propper adjustment of crutches. On you tube they even show you how to go up and down stairs and how to sit down and get up.

Hi Jenny,

I had both my bunions done at the same time back in 2009 - and, yes, it's very difficult to get around but with the long recovery time I can't afford to take two lots of time off work.  I hired a wheelchair last time and will probably do the same again this time.  I spoke to my surgeon about the stiff joint and he said that although it will be stiff it is the only way to get rid of the pain of the arthritis.  I find that at the moment my feet are very 'unstable' feeling.  I get an awful lot of cramps and all shoes seem to hurt or cause blisters because my feet swell very quickly.  I do alot of walking which is why it's important for me to get to a more 'stable' foot.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to resume this type of activitiy by the New Year when I'm going to investigate the MBT type of rocker shoe for my recovery period.  There is a shop in Oxford that seems to have a very good range.  It took at least 6/12 months for the swelling to subside after the last lot of surgery and I don't expect this time to be any different.  I have hyper sensitve areas over the scar sites even now.  Massaging them helps this and apparently you can get some sort of chilli infused cream that desensitises the area over time.

Thanks for the good luck wishes and I hope you begin to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel' soon.  I remember getting very down after my last surgery - being stuck in the house and reliant on others is so hard.  This time I'll be more prepared for it.

Hi Karen,

Thanks for the llist of things to think about pre-surgery.  I was trying to remember back to recovery period from my last surgery.  The sun dresses is a great idea.  It was December when I had my last op and I had real trouble keeping warm.  But then again, warm weather could make the swelling worse............ who knows.

hi do you put a pillow order your leg as it might help and put a pillow at the bottom of the bed to take the weight off your feet too

I have tried it all. Still have the cast on. Hopefully it will come off on august 4th.

I think I am so done with this cast I have actually decided to ignore it. Lol. I no longer fight with the pillows during the night. I'm still having the spasms, but have been able to use a little mind over matter. When my foot does that I no longer get upset and focus on it. When it does it, there is no pain, so why give it attention?

I have been sleeping much better!

Glad to hear that a lot of things are mind over matter 

good luck tomorrow with the cast

i have my 6 week appt tomorrow too 

 

Hi Jane. How was your appointment? Mine was disappointing. I did get the cast off which is good, and into a boot that goes below my knee. The bad thing is....I still can't put weight on my foot for another month! Ugh. I work at a school and I am on summer break, but start back in two weeks. Guess my vacation has been extended.

Hi sad to hear that

it is hard not to put weight on it but I think rest is the key

My appointment went well - boot off and sandals on back in 6 weeks

went out for a while today walking and ok but am slow

need to learn to walk properly again roll on Physio

back with feet up now resting

Can you walk with the boot on

My doctor made me promise I wouldn't walk with the boot. Made me look her in the eye. She told me if I couldn't keep from walking on it she would just put another cast on me. I was big time promising. Lol. I have already been walking on the heal of the boot this morning. Oops! It's been 2 months! Enough already! Lol

does the toe of the boot touch the floor or just the heel

 

Just the heal. I would have to really walk right to make the toe come down.

You should be fine to walk then I was walking after a weeks

Hi Jane

pleased to hear all is going to plan for you!

I started walking in my sandles yesterday and I was extremely slow but today I'm a whole lot better-although not pushing it to much. Like you I do rest with my feet up at all other times

I have been deadheading the flowers in the garden and spraying the weeds - makes you feel so much better being able to to a few chores

Well must get on with my exercises.....

Hi Patricia

i too have been in the garden missed it so much

i was slow today but will do a bit more each day I am in no hurry to push things either

it is lovely to hear good stories 

looking forward to what my physio says but have to wait a week as she is on holiday could do with her now

Hi Karen, Same for me, got my cast off and have a boot on now but still non weight bearing for 4 more weeks! I was so disappointed to. :-(

 

So how non weight bearing are you being? I promise not to tell. Lol. I am so done with this. I'm not walking on it a lot, but if I need to just go a few steps...I walk on the heel.

I think the biggest thing keeping me from doing it to much is the back pain it causes. That pain will save my foot. Lol

I find my self ripping it off everytime I am just relaxing. Getting tempted to sleep at night with it off, but was told to leave it on at night. I totally have to loosen the top of the boot in order to get good sleep.

We got this girl! It will be all worth it in the end!

I have been walking a little bit on the heel, but because of the height of the boot. It really hurts my back. I sure hope after this month they don't tell me I can walk in this boot. I will have to find a shoe for my left foot with a pretty good heal.

Hi Karen

Does the toe of your boot touch the floor

Because if it does not you should be ok to walk in it

When I put the boot flat on the floor the toe doesn't touch. That why I walk around a little bit even though my doctor made me promise I wouldn't. I really think after 2 months it should be pretty much fused together.

Mine were only small boots but walked on them from day one as no weight is on the toe

My big toe was fused and had 2 screws in it

Last week had away and surgeon said looks ok can go back to normal shows think you're is a bit over cautious

I do too. I have a metal plate and five screws in mine The cast I had for two months went up to my knee and so does the boot.

How are you feeling now I know it's been years but I was wondering how your walk and toe is? I had surgery also august 16th of 2016 bunon shaved and toe fusion. Doing ok but long recovery just about 7 weeks so far

Hi Krissy 

you have had done exactly the same as me

i had mine done 21st june

so a bit ahead of you have you had your 6 week check yet?

resr with feet up is still the key element

i have just started to wear shoes again and even managed a bit of dancing last night 

my feet are not perfect yet but if you look back after a week you can always see a little bit of recovery x

 

Hi Jane thanks! I'm glad to hear you're doing well! I had a 5 week check up and my next appt will be 8 weeks which I'd oct. 12th. I have a bone stimulator comming this week that I'm suppose to use to help healing and yes im elevating (beside sleeping) 12 hours per day approximately. Trying my best looking foward to where you're at!!

Hi Jane

we shared info a few months ago as I have a toe fusion on the 23rd June.

Its good to see your doing so well and I feel the same, Went back to exercise class after my final X-ray and discharge from the Surgeon. Wore my boots last week for the first only for a few hours and it did feel strange, onwards and upwards now!

all the best

Patricia

Hi Patricia is is lovely to hear we are both doing well

Hope it continues

Jane

Hi Karen I no you have had yours done a long time ago.but I have had mine shaved and screwed through your recovery did you have any problems or did this happen alot later as I'm in week 2 abd not had any but swollen feet.thanks

I  had a severe bunion and had a Weir osteotomy 3 months ago, whereby the big toe joint was fused and pins inserted in the second and third toes. I was told I could walk on my heel immediately, which I did for 8 weeks, and which I don't think was a good idea, because it complicated the healing process. I bought some special shoes with a stiff soul and curved toe (Altra is the brand) and am able to walk around the house daily, but my foot gets swollen and uncomfortable by the end of the day. Taking a jacuzzi bath, with jets directed towards my foot and toes, then putting my foot in a bucket of ice water during the bath, helps the circulation. I started seeing a physical therapist and learned some exercises to promote healing and strengthen the muscles. I have a golf ball and a La Crosse ball that I roll the bottom of my foot on several times a day, among other exercises. I also have a severe bunion on my other foot, but if/when I decide to have surgery, it will be by a podiatrist with 30 years experience, whose speciality is feet, period.  If a fusion of the big toe joint is indicated, then I would request that that toe be bent upwards a certain degree, to insure that I can run, dance, wear at least a 1 or 2-inch heel -- and be able to walk down stairs, which I don't know if I'll ever be able to do normally again, with the surgery I have had. I put off surgery on my foot for 15 years and tried everything to avoid it (bigger shoes, orthodics, etc.). In the end, I may have been better off just living with the bunion, than with the results of this bunion surgery, which I won't know for another year whether it was a success or not and with a fused toe joint, don't know if I'll ever walk normally again or not. 

I had a severe bunion and had a Weir osteotomy 3 months ago, whereby the big toe joint was fused and pins inserted in the second and third toes. I was told I could walk on my heel immediately, which I did for 8 weeks, and which I don't think was a good idea, because it complicated the healing process. I bought some special shoes with a stiff soul and curved toe (Altra is the brand) and am able to walk around the house daily, but my foot gets swollen and uncomfortable by the end of the day. Taking a jacuzzi bath, with jets directed towards my foot and toes, then putting my foot in a bucket of ice water during the bath, helps the circulation. I started seeing a physical therapist and learned some exercises to promote healing and strengthen the muscles. I have a golf ball and a La Crosse ball that I roll the bottom of my foot on several times a day, among other exercises. I also have a severe bunion on my other foot, but if/when I decide to have surgery, it will be by a podiatrist with 30 years experience, whose speciality is feet, period.  If a fusion of the big toe joint is indicated, then I would request that that toe be bent upwards a certain degree, to insure that I can run, dance, wear at least a 1 or 2-inch heel -- and be able to walk down stairs, which I don't know if I'll ever be able to do normally again, with the surgery I have had. I put off surgery on my foot for 15 years and tried everything to avoid it (bigger shoes, orthodics, etc.). In the end, I think I was better off just living with my bunion, that with the results of this bunion surgery, which I won't know for another year whether it helped me or not. So far, it's been pretty miserable, with no light at the end of the tunnel yet.

Hi Olivia -just joined this thread and was wondering how you were recovering? I'm sheduled to have big toe fusion on both feet in January 2017 and I don't mind admitting that I'm absolutely terrified!!

Lynn: Just joined this thread - did you have your surgery in January? I'm scheduled for left toe fusion at the end of March and I also don't mind admitting be being terrified! Wondered if you could share how your surgery and recover have gone? Thanks!

Hello Olivia, i was wondering you ever got the "chilli oil" and did it work? Thanks

Hi Kathryn, I just had surgery, bunion fusion with a p!ate. I am only 10 days post op and w/o pain. I am sitting mostly with my foot up and I use ice to keep the swelling down, which it has down. 12 - 15 minutes every hour only!. I was told I could walk on my heal so I have, infrequently and carefully! No ibuprofen because it inhibits bone broth. I have asked a few questions on here, but do far no one responding. God go before you ... BTW I am in the U.S.

Hi joanna i am 13 days post op after a fusion with a plate..im walking with a heel bearing shoe all day...im out shopping and have even driven locally and i have no pain, i am only really elevating at night now and i have no swelling at all...i feel very lucky

Thanks for your response and I am so glad you are feeling so well. I am being very careful because I want to make sure the fusion takes and is solid. What directions did your Surgeon give you, I was becoming concerned because of the issues spoken of here.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.,

My consultant advised to elevate as much as possible and to wear shoe at all times..which i do but apart from the obvious annoyance at having to wear it i feel ok..im having the stitches removed tomorrow and last week xrays confirmed everything was ok..i do need to have plate removed in 8 weeks but otherwise im happy with how its gone so far

It's so interesting how each doctor has a slightly different approach. Stay well and continue with your great healing!

Joanna: Thanks for your reply - I'm also in the US. Glad to hear you're doing well! I'm deciding between just removing the bone chip and a few spurs and hoping that buys me a few years of a little less discomfort and still having flexibility (plus that shorter recovery time for a mom of two teenagers! - one of which is the one who accidently put cleat to Mom's toe a few years ago, causing the chip! - oops!) or just going for the fusion. Reading your comments and those of nicola57237 makes me feel better about the "big" surgery. Some of these stories have been really scary! Hope your healing continues well - keep us posted! 

Hi joanna

i had my toe fused last june and it has healed well and am back to normal now

 i sat with my feet elevated for 2 weeks and then began walking gradually more each day in my boot on my heels

did not wear my boot unless walking as the air can get to you better 

didn't drive till after my 6 week check as if you cannot do an emergency stop you are not safe xx

take care and rest as much as possible is my best advice and you will heal well

 

Thank you Jane, I am keeping the boot off also, but my foot is still tightly wrapped.  I see the surgeon on Friday so hopefully he will remove these bandgages and I will certainly remembr and follow your advice. God Bless

I pray that whatever you decide to do goes very well for you!  I am quite a bit older, but still bery active.  But I definately understand about not wanting to be laid up too long.  God Bless