bonion op has it gone wrong please help what can be done or what can i do to help my self...
Posted , 7 users are following.
i am just over 8 weeks post op, would be very grateful for help as to how i should be at this stage,,
my big toe does not touch the floor,, if i do anything my foot swells so big. but i try not to give in and keep going , it aches all the time as if i have run a marathon . now my ankle is swelling to and hurts..
i can not walk as i should hobbling still, foot gets very red , i can not get shoe on still , i don't go out because so difficult, now i am getting depressed , i ws happy all the time now cry,, i should have gone back to work 2 weeks ago but could not stand for 8 hours , what can i do to help my self need to get back to work, as financially need to get back,, i exercise foot as much as i can .. thanking anyone for help ... regards
0 likes, 16 replies
lindalou88 caz131060
Posted
caz131060
Posted
tracey2703 caz131060
Posted
I'm sorry you are having problems. I totally understand how you are feeling.
What recovery time did your consultant give you? As I see you expected to be back at work 2 wks ago? this seems too early to me especially if you have to be on your feet.
The foot swelling is common and if you do overdo things it will become red and swell. The best thing to do is have your foot raised and rest it. My big toe would not touch the floor either, and I did have exercises to do to help this.
Have you been back to your consultant for a follow up appointment?
I would go and see him again and explain to him how things are going. I was told recovery should be around 12 weeks, so there is still a bit of healing still to go for you.
Best wishes
lindalou88 tracey2703
Posted
I have been pleased to have been pretty independent since about day 5 - cups of tea, loo, stand up wash etc but getting impatient now after 6 weeks that progress seems to have plateaued, I still get stupidly tired for no reason and am still on full doses of painkillers. Still I think I had pretty much the max done (4 bunions removed & big toes pinned)?
I guess we are all different too and as I said to Caz we need to listen to our bodies, be kind to ourselves and get specialist advice when we need it.
tracey2703 lindalou88
Posted
I had bunions done on both feet, big toe on right foot and 3 toes straightened and pinned.
Do not for one minute think you are not doing well or that you should be further on than you are, as we all know people recover at different speeds and also some surgeons are better than others which I unfortunately have discovered
I think we as women feel as though we should be up and about sooner, i know I am so frustrated as I am used to doing lots of things and having to rest or rely on people is annoying. But as you say Linda doing too much too quickly can make recovery longer x
caz131060
Posted
lindalou88 caz131060
Posted
I meant to add that the people around probably have no idea what you are going through. Our recovery time is actually longer than for a hip or knee replacement apparently, whereas other people tend to think it is 'just a bunion op'. It is YOUR body - only you know how you feel and only you can say what you are fit to do/not do. Personally I can't wait to be able to drive again - I had to miss my hospital appt today as I couldn't face asking people to drive me there again!
caroline_b-m caz131060
Posted
So sorry to hear you have so many concerns, but glad you have an appointment so that you can check it out with your consultant. I am also 8 weeks post op, (unilateral hellux valgus correction on right foot with 2 screws and 1 staple) but fortunately I have a desk job unless I am travelling which I do about once a month on average.
My big toe is also not touching the floor, and I am doing a routine of exercises that I found online after being given rather cursory instructions by the consultant at two weeks. There is no way you would have been able to stand for 8 hours after 6 weeks, the swelling lasts for months (up to a year according to my consultant), so the key as others have said is to make sure at the end of the day you get your foot up with ice. I am still on anti-inflammatories but only take one dose at bedtime when I've had a busy day and the foot is particularly swollen - and I am trying to avoid taking them every day.
You are probably finding that your foot is almost normal in the morning, but once you start moving around it swells up to the ankle, I have had that experience too when I have been on my feet for a while. Can your employer get you a high stool so that you can sit and do your work? If they need you back they have to be flexible so that you can recover.
I hope your appointment goes well - let us know how you get on. Best wishes, Caroline
caz131060
Posted
tettin caz131060
Posted
It took a long time for the redness and swelling on my foot to go away, I thought it never would and I did contactact my consultant. I was told it can take up to 1 year to fully recove. In my case the swelling was still bad at 8 weeks and walking made it worse (at 12 weeks it was almost gone). An instant excellent soulution is to raise your foot really high, well above your heart so the blood drains easily (e.g lie down and lift you leg as high as possible). The blood circulation is affected around where the operation was. The swelling reduced and redness went to normal the instant I raise my foot very high, then just keep your foor up as much as you can. My big toe also took a long time before it touched the floor properly, I think it was about 10 weeks before it started to behave. I discussed this with my consultant and he explained it was because the muscle/ligaments are realigned as part of the operation and they need to stretch as they would have become too 'short' when they were in the old position (pre-operation), Because they are tight this tends to raise the toe. So you may just have to be patient. However I do suggest you contact your consultant and get them to take a look, we all recover differently and the consultant has the experience to know if you are progressing OK.
Good luck, Kevin
jean31984 tettin
Posted
jean31984 caz131060
Posted
My big toe does not touch the floor, either. I saw my surgeon last Friday, and he said tight ligaments are causing the lack of mobility in my big toe. My surgery was June 17, and after September 17, he wants to do a surgery to remove the screw and do a ligament release. According to him, the tight ligaments have pulled the sesamoid bones out of position and I cannot walk normally without pain. It feels as though there is a golf ball on the ball of my foot below my big toe. It is very discouraging. I still have some swelling, and I'm thinking it is due to the screw. I have a pair of wide width tennis shoes and I started wearing those after five weeks. I cannot walk without a limp though because of the pain. Yesterday, to try to get some mobility in my toe, I have really been trying to get my toe to go forward and backwards since it doesn't want to move much. I am going to physical therapy two, and I would recommend that if you have access to a good physical therapist. I feel for you. Last Friday when I got the news I was very depressed. That is when I joined this forum, to see if other people are having similar problems. My surgery date is September 30, but in the meantime I am going to do whatever I can to get the most movement from my toe.
I also have some people praying for me, because I would rather not have my ligaments cut.
Stay positive,
Jean
joyce16553 caz131060
Posted
Pinksasparilla caz131060
Posted
jean31984 caz131060
Posted