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Five months on ......

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jan1001
jan1001

I am now 5 months post fairly straightforward bunion surgery but still have issues which don't seem to be resolving. The top of my foot is still tender over the bone(seem to have a small bump on the bone where it has healed) and if I wear shoes which put pressure on the top I quickly get shooting pains (like tendonitis) from my toes to my ankle. Also still get pins and needles across my toes and, with the new gap between my toes, my second toe sometimes doesn't seem to know whether it should be lying next to my big toe or the third toe. There is some persistemt swelling on top of my foot despite a lot of rest recently since I have had the second foot done now (that one seems to be progressing much better).

My surgeon thinks that all of these syptoms will disappear with time but I had hoped for more progress at this point. Does anyone else have experience of similar symptoms and, if so, did they resolve themselves?

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • tettin
    tettin jan1001

    Posted

    Jan, I too am at the five month stage and my various issues have almost gone, just a bit of stiffness so I dont have full flexibility on tip toes yet,

    The slight bump you feel is probably where the bone has grown back around the break, I can feel something on mine but it does not hurt and is normal Im told. 

    I hope you make progress, if its nerve related pain you get it may be that the soft tissues have attached to the nerve and cause some sensations, this happened to me for a couple of days but then dissapeared. At this stage you should be able to exercise normally, having said that, from talking to others I know it can take a year for some people to recover.  If it persiste you have to go see your consultant again. Good luck.

  • Elaine4625
    Elaine4625 jan1001

    Posted

    Thank god someone else is going through the same.  I though my surgery had maybe gone wrong.  I am 4 months post scarf osteotomy / excision neuroma / Weil's osteotomy.  I still experience swelling and now and again shooting pains.  I haven't got full extension back yet and if I have to cross the road when I car comes I hesitate just in case I can't make it in time,  I went to see my gp and she said she thinks I should be exactly at the stage I am for the time post surgery.  But it's nice to know I'm not alone.  I am 45 and have always been active, and I don't want to be a moan or a pain constantly going on about my foot but it's so frustrating waiting for normal walking again .....
  • Ram2645
    Ram2645 jan1001

    Posted

    I'm 4 months post op...Chevron osteotomy and hammertoe (2nd) arthroplasty.  My hammertoe continues to be sore,swolllen and red after alot of walking. (I'm up to about 3 miles per day).  It also is raised when not weight bearing and even when weight bearing does not quite touch the ground. I'm attaching a pic of the typeof elasticized splint I use which makes the toe much more comfortable and not as sore when walking. Also, depending on how much I walked, the big toe joint area can be sore on the bottom.  None of this prevents me from doing anything and I am hopeful that all of this will resolve with time.....even up to 1 year.
  • gillian14549
    gillian14549 jan1001

    Posted

    Hi Jan.

    I can identufy with everything you describe as I had really severe pain along the top of my foot 3 to 4 months after surgery. It's the tendons ad ligaments getting used to functioning again with a newly realigned big toe. It does impact onall the other toes and this is quite normal. So, too is the pins and needles as we have lots of little nerves in our toes which will have been disturbed during the surgery.

    If you experience pain in the balll of your foot directly beneath the big toe this will very likely be the sesamoid bones which pre surgery sit with the big toe in a specific line. The surgery has meant that these 2 tiny bones have to settle down and I had the most awful pain in that area for several weeks. I massaged the ball of the foot quite roughly and got my fingers working quite deeply and this symptom has now gone away and everything is pain free and normal once more.

    So, if youget this dscomfort reach for the ibuprofen gel and start massging and take the usual in killers but don't be surprised if the symptoms last  weeks on nd off. They will go away eventually.

    Good Lck.

    Gillian

     

  • jan1001
    jan1001

    Posted

    Thanks for your replies, it has been a great comfort to know that my problems aren't unusual. It appears that patience is the answer - shame I don't really have lots of it. Just hope my second foot doesn't choose to be as troublesome later. 
  • joanne77017
    joanne77017 jan1001

    Posted

    Hi I had both of my feet done at the same time 9 days ago...!! incase I was to scared to go back for the other one but I have to say I am really surprised how I can get around.... ok only shory periods of time and the rest my feet are elevated. The thing I am more nervous about is Monday as I get my stitches out, I have two very styling shoes smile which I will not be sorry to get rid of, does anyone have any tips for me for Monday. Also I have not seen my feet yet as the plaster was put on straight after my op 
  • goanna57
    goanna57 jan1001

    Posted

    Jan, swelling can take 8 months or longer to go down. It doesn't seem right how your toes are and the lump on your foot. I think its wise seeing your general practitioner getting a referral having your foot x-rayed. It will show if there are any deformities from the surgery. Best of luck!!!
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