Hammertoe Surgery - my experience and some helpful tips

I am too dreading having the pin out!!! So nervous my pin gets removed in just under 2 weeks 😬 It has been in for 6 weeks now

Hi Lydia, my pin will be removed in 3 weeks, I have to say I'm getting fed up now, just want to get back to normal..when my right foot heals, I have to go through it all over again, as I'm having the same surgery on my left foot, I now wish I had both feet operated on at the same time..let me know how you get on , with your pin removal, kind regards Maggie..

Good luck! Wow straight after recovering from your right foot?

Ive had 2 surgeries previous to this surgery but this is the first one that I've had to have a pin in! Ahh it's scary haha

Hi Lydia, have you bathed where you stitches are, without getting your pin wet?..I did today and took plaster off,as my toe seemed moist, I'm frightened of getting an infection, I'm just letting the air get to my toe, but think I will put plaster on when I go to bed..

Hello no I haven't I have one of those shower bags for my foot so I have just been cleaning it with baby wipes I know it's disgusting but I got told not to wet my foot 😫

Hi Lydia I'm from the uk, where are you?..it's not discusting my foot stinks. .lol..I used cooled boiled water to clean my foot, but didn't go near my pin..

I am also from the UK. I can honestly say that I'm really worried about the pin being removed but at the same time I can't wait to shower my foot it's been just over six weeks now 🙁

I can't wait to have a long soak in a bath..also am dreading the pin removal..but as the days go by, have noticed no pain now..I'm hoping the pin removal will be like having a plaster quickly removed..im due to have it done around the 16th feb, have you had a date for removal yet?

I am totally different I am still noticing a lot of pain and wow not long now then and I have my pin removed a week today! So 2nd Feb I'll give you a heads up on how mine goes haha

Hi which, toe was operated on?..and was it for hammertoe surgery..concerned about your pain, as you are much further along than me after surgery..

Hi I had surgery on the second toe and the surgery was meant to stop the pain that I was recieving before because the op before to help I have friebergs disease but that went wrong as the surgeon damaged the nerve in my foot which resulted in me not being able to move my toes... this probably does even make sense. So I have the k-wire going right through my second toe x

Hi lydia, sounds like you have had a bad time of it, let me know how you go on with your wire removal on the 2nd, will be thinking of you..kind regards maggie

Hi, Lydia. Good luck for tomorrow, I'm sure you will be fine..kind regards maggie.

Hi Maggie hope your well, I had

A k wire removed today and all I can say is don't look at the X-ray first! The nurse practitioner who removed my pin said that she would show the X-rays after and i asked if it would hurt she said you will feel a little pull. It felt very strange and hurt a little and it over and done with in a matter of seconds, very quick!

I even recorded it because I'm sad like that 😂

Good luck with your k-wire remove it really isn't as bad as it looks/ sounds.

Well done you!! I'm so pleased it all went well, its the fear of the unknown I think..Are you still wearing your boot after having the pin removed?

Actually proud that I did it! Haha

Yes I'm still wearing my boot but that is because I haven't been working whilst my K-wire has been in so I have to slowly start wearing my normal shoes she said give it another week or two. I think if you feel comfortable with putting your own shoes on straight away then you will be aloud, I'm still struggling to walk a little but I guess that is because I'm too scared to put all my weight onto it again. I go back to work on Monday and I'm on my feet all day.

The main thing is I have finally been discharged from hospital don't have to go back ever again! Haha

Hi Lydia, I hope your first day back to work goes well..is your toe still swollen? As my toe seems to be very swollen still..can't wait to get back into normal shoes..

Thank you and yes it's still very swollen

Good luck Lydia, hope your happy with the outcome..take care Maggie...

Thank you Maggie, let me know how your pin removal goes! Good luck 🙂

Hi Lydia, I hope all is well with you, i bet you running some marathons now..lol.

I still have not received my appointment for my wire to be removed, but got up this morning, and my wire decided to come out on its own..I have to say my toe feels a bit more painful now.I'm going to ring the hospital at 9.00am for advice, but hopefully everything should be fine..kind regards Maggie..

The pin came out on in its own?!?!

How big was it? Mine was massive haha.

Let me know what the hospital said but surely it should be ok as it's been in there quite a few weeks.

Not quite the running marathons just yet 😂😫 still wearing my healing shoe whilst at work and then weaning myself into my normal shoes outside of work and at the weekends it's a little painful but something to get used to and the swelling is going down really nicely won't be long now.

At hospital for an xray this afternoon, i suppose they just want to make sure everything ok..im going to have a long soak in the bath tonight, cant wait.!good to hear your doing ok.i really am not looking forward to having my other foot done, but I suppose it will be worth it in the end..

Enjoy your bath! Bet it will be nice to soak the foot haha. Was everything ok with your xrays?

Hi, yes xray was fine, got to see my consultant next Tuesday, just to check everything ok..all that worry about wire being removed..lol, and it did it all on its own..bath was wonderful!! No more smelly foot..lol..

That's good!

Do you still have to wear the healing shoe?

Yes healing shoe for At least 2 weeks, my toe is very swollen..

Hi Lydia, hope you are doing well?.I was also out at the weekend, wearing my healing shoe.also took one of my crutches with me, as I'm so scared of someone treading on my toe..I'm at the hospital later today to see my consultant.. kind regards Maggie..

Hi Maggie, how did everything go with the hospital today?

I'm doing good still wearing the healing shoe for work but apart from that I'm in my trainers and walking round the house in my fluffy socks as I can't find my slippers anywhere haha! Roll on payday so I can buy some 😂

Hi Lydia, good to hear your doing well..consultant was pleased with my healing scars, advised me to massage my foot and toes, using a good moisturiser.he also told me to do exercises, by putting my foot on the floor, and to claw my toes, as he said sometimes the hammer toe, can raise up and not sit rite,and the exercise helps to prevent that happening. He also said plenty of elevation is a must, as the swelling can take 3months and more to go down..he has also put me back on the waiting list for op number 2.. yikes.

Hi there Lydia I'm in the UK I have hammered toes and waiting to see a specialist in think I need 3 or 4 toes on each foot how long are you in hospital for after surgery

Hi Rose,

I was scheduled for an over night stay and was the last to have surgery on the day so didn't go to threatre until half 3. They have to keep you for 3 hours after surgery because of the anaesthetic so I was able to go home at about 9pm that night 😊 It all depends if you have had physio and they have taught you how to walk... they did this before my surgery it was very strange.

I didn't have hammertoe surgery but I had reconstruction on my toe and they needed the k-wire pin to hold it in place, that's why I'm on this group because the recovery is very much the same ... sorry for babaling you only asked a simple question and look at me going on.