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Having trouble heel walking. Anyone else?

Posted , 7 users are following.

Ts_Bunions
Ts_Bunions

Had my surgery on my left foot on Thursday 6/16. And my question is ... Anyone find ways to help ease into heel walking without terrible discomfort?? I know it's only 4 days from surgery and it's going to be a process in itself. But I was told by my dr that I need to have heel walking w at least 70% of my body weight because I will be having other surgery on the 30th for my right foot.

I know it sounds crazy but I have to get both feet done close together bc of recovery time w leave of absence.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

  • susann1107
    susann1107 Ts_Bunions

    Posted

    It is sad to see what you expect of your body. Having an operation on your feet and walking on them will take a lot of time. If one has a facelift, we expect the face to be swollen and bruised for weeks, not our feet? We not walking on our face. You should have been told that is will take quite some time before you expect to be back to normal. Walk slow, concentrated and use the help of crutches. After a while, once all is over, you find you still walk on your heels. Then you have to retrain your brain to get you to walk normal. Good luck for the next one and try to be patient, lots of that.
    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions susann1107

      Posted

      Hi. Yea I was told it will not be 100%. But my swelling is so minimal. And I need to at least be able to support some weight bc of other foot being done. Probably for moving and shifting to things most likely. Def going to be challenging.

      How did u deal with heel walking? When did u start to become confident and comfortable? I know everyone heals differently but I just want to know others experiences

    • joanne76164
      joanne76164 Ts_Bunions

      Posted

      Hi, I'm 7 wks out from surgery and I'm just beginning to heel walk. Go slow and be careful. I fell just last week. Someone says it takes time and patience. It sure does and I don't think I could do another foot at this time. My surgery was not minimally invasive and I was told I'd be non weight bearing for 6-8 weeks. My point is I am not sure how that compares to what you had done. Good luck, it sounds like you're asking a lot of your body but we do what we have to do sometimes. Best wishes.
    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions joanne76164

      Posted

      Hi Joanne. Thx for input! I had the Austin bunionectomy done. But was told I can do partial weight bearing. And heel walk. But I still fairly new into recovery. So the heel walking not really happening. After ankle block wore off I stopped. But I HV no choice at this point to get other foot done. I do have the choice to not go through with it by my next visit post op. But w leave of absence and recovery time w job ( I'm a nurse) I think it was best to just do both a few weeks apart.
    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions

      Posted

      I did start to press my heel into the memory can cushion I HV just to get my foot slightly motivated. But I'm not going too crazy. It is what it is at this point of recovery. ☹
  • lucy26672
    lucy26672 Ts_Bunions

    Posted

    Have you bought some Darco heel wedges shoes? They look horrible but get you around ok and ensure you don't put weight on your toes. I wore them all the time for the first 4 weeks when I had both feet done smile best of luck with your recovery

    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions lucy26672

      Posted

      No 🙃did not even think about that. I will def take a look into them.ty! 😬
  • beth57815
    beth57815 Ts_Bunions

    Posted

    I am really confused why your doctor made you wait 2 weeks to do the other foot.  Both my feet done at the same time.  I am in week 6 and finally feel like they are getting better.  I have been heal walking since I had the surgery with no problems.  Good luck with having your second foot done.  All I can tell you is be patient, healing takes time.
    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions beth57815

      Posted

      They are two weeks apart bc he did not want me under anesthesia too long. I have heart condition. So the two week option was best for me. Plus the recovery time seemed better that way for me. I been trying to heal walk but I have the surgical shoe that I hate. I feel like it makes it more difficult to do with it on. But I have to protect the pin in my foot

      Def taking my time to heal. I'm not trying to rush it but I have to be heel walking more

  • bracken_68234
    bracken_68234 Ts_Bunions

    Posted

    Hello, I've been told to walk on my heel yet I cannot move my ankle up to do so. It's not because of pain, I just cannot lift my foot up at an angle... Is this normal?

    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions bracken_68234

      Posted

      Hey bracken .. I been heel walking for a few days. I do not lift my foot up completely either. It stretches my foot too much and I get a bit of discomfort. Do I'm not completely center on my heel. I believe the. bandage has a huge part tonplay in this. Best of luck to u!

    • Ts_Bunions
      Ts_Bunions bracken_68234

      Posted

      Hi bracken. I have been actually pressing my heel into s memory foam cushion. And it has helped me tremendously. Helps with keeping foot straight and directing muscle as much as possible. It helped me stretch out the foot and make it better prepared for a heel walk.
    • bracken_68234
      bracken_68234 Ts_Bunions

      Posted

      The bandage is very heavy for my foot, I think that may be part of the problem! Thank you smile

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