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I'm in so much pain!!

Posted , 11 users are following.

kim14297
kim14297

Well I'm nearly 7weeks post bunion surgery and 3rd toe op for arthritis, well it's my own fault really Idont see my surgeon til tomorrow, I got impatient and took my splint ans darko wedge shoe off yesterday, my husband and other family members hasd commented that I'm putting it on now and that I shouldn't be limping and should be working and driving by now and to get on with things like before ie shopping etc. I didn't want them thinking this so I decided to try and put my trainer on well tat didn't go any where near on my foot so I thought that I would try my ugh boot I managed to squeeze it on  eventually with a bit of pulling and squeezing in. I drove about 40 miles in total taking my daughter to dance and a bit of retail therapy I thought I needed!!! I knew that as my foot was killing me and pounding that time to go home and put my foot up, well I physically couldn't get my boot off there was intense pain in my big toe area as it's very rigid I was crying in panic and pain I thought the only was to get it off was to cut it off since then I've been in so much pain it's very swollen and I can hardly put it on the floor, I feel stupid by not waiting a few more days to see if my X-Ray is clear I'm sure the surgeon will give me a telling off tomrrow! I'm scared that I've made matters far worse than they it was as I actually thought I was on the mend. I'm a mobile hairdresser and have clients booked in for Tuesday theve all been very patient with me by waiting for me I'm not sure now if I can actually go back to work then. Has any one else been as stupid nd impatient like me? 

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • carol94506
    carol94506 kim14297

    Posted

    I think your family do not understand what you have had done.  I think you should have waited until you were  told to take the shoe off and then took it slowly.  It isalways  quite frightening when you think you may have done damage.  Make your family understand that you cannot do as much for a while.  Can you not work part time so you do not over do it?  Whenever I thought I had done do rethink silly it usually turned out ok I must admit so good luck for your appointment.
  • anita51180
    anita51180 kim14297

    Posted

    I am 7 weeks from bunion op. No way could I do anything like this , look at my string, backwards   Backwards and you will see what the problems are for 7 weeks after op..... I cringed at the things you had done.  And so will the others on this site.  It's a major orthopaedic op..   Some seem to get over this  very fast?  But there are lots of us that are struggling with the  day to day basics.  Please look at my string for more people's thoughts on this very painful and slow  recovery  from surgery.

     

  • gillian81509
    gillian81509 kim14297

    Posted

    The bit they tell u about is it nearly 6 months before you are fully wait bearing providing it works

    the fact you couldn't put a shoe on indicates its still v Mich in the healing phase with oedema as it tries to heal.

    Have you got your boot off

    raise your leg so it's higher than you heart bit like a delivery height

    when swelling goes down and boot off then place peas in t cloth on and off to reduce swelling

    put your brace and boot on you are being seen tomorrow but that's just to see how the opp has worked and the pins wires are in place almost unheard of to be boot free and twb.

    as for your pts have you got a friend who can drive you or can you do them at Home

    as for housework etc tough they want it done they do it

  • sue_22852
    sue_22852 kim14297

    Posted

    Hi Kim. 

    You  have to take things slowly and be patient.  You have had major surgery to your foot and it's going to take time to heal otherwise your going to end up back on the operating table! Rest and elevate your foot as much as possible.  I am 12 weeks post op and my foot is still swollen and I am still limping. It's going to take time.  I would take your husband along to see the surgeon when you go so he can explain to your husband the severity of your surgery and time required for a full recovery. Take care and take it easy.  I wushu you well with your recovery. 

  • gillian81509
    gillian81509 kim14297

    Posted

    Excellent replies it's a major bit of surgery not just a bunion opp.

    it really takes time and the more time you can give it the better the recovery

    get the swelling down asap

  • bohemia
    bohemia kim14297

    Posted

    Aww Kim, don't beat yourself up about this. As Parents and running a home we do too much sometimes and dare I say that our familie's sometimes are not as supportive as they could be. I think it's a case of only 'US' on here, who've been through a similar OP, who really do understand the difficulties, pain and frustration that we have. I've had to be on my feet more than I should with one thing and another and also caring for my disabled daughter so I know how you feel. During my most painful times, I would wish that I could have gone somewhere to re-coup but of course that's not practical.  I know that it's not a solution but if you don't want to lose some of your regular client's, could you offer them a discount if they could make it to your house maybe? And make sure that you work on a high stool, behind them so you are not on your feet. Other than that it looks like they may have to wait another couple of weeks.  When we had our first snow a couple of weeks ago, I dug out my snow boots and went for a walk to our local supermarket....... but I paid heavily for that, for a few days so I've learned from that mistake. I'm actually still wearing the hospital open toe sandal but I've just won a bid on ebay for two closed toe boots so they will be better if I go out to the shops ( Daughter driving my car) I'm just not walking too far yet to be safe.    Good luck smile
    • kim14297
      kim14297 bohemia

      Posted

      Thankyou for your kind words it means a lot, when did you have your op?
    • anita51180
      anita51180 kim14297

      Posted

      24 th nov. It's  a long recovery from a bunion op.  You will see by my postings on this  site.   The pain , the swelling has been awful. I have been  so depressed at times in the slowness of my recovery. I have had to hand over the house to my husband, were retired so can.  All I coulfd do was sit with foot elevated all the time, it was to painful to do anything else.  You have got to rest and elevate the foot or your recovery will take even longer,  your foot has had a major trauma , the bones have got to  heal and the nerves and tendons . This can take months.  This is a brilliant site for help and  advice, read all the pages I beg you , you will not feel so alone then. Please put on the site hoe you get on.
    • bohemia
      bohemia kim14297

      Posted

      Hi Kim. Mine was 13th December. Big toe, bunion, 2nd hammer toe and I was advised that I've had a metal plate inserted? But I understand that it is a similar OP to others on here with, screws, etc. I have bad arthritis in various joints neck, back, hips, hands, and feet. Having got worse with age and the right foot was so very painful that I agreed to the surgery in the end. My problem is with it being my right foot, I'm weight bearing on my left side and that's the worst side for my hip arthritis, so I can't win. rolleyes but long term I'm sure that this will help with the awful pain and 'shoe' discomfort that I have had with my right foot for several years now. I could not let the ball of my right foot touch the ground with out having what seemed like an elecgtric shock shooting up through my foot. And my big toe had moved so far right that my second toe was in a hammer position. With the pain and constant blister type sores on the bunion and second toe, I couldn't put the OP off any longer. I go on my own because I'm not with my EX but as he had to help me out initially with my daughter's care and school attendance for the first week, I felt the need to email him a detailed video of the operation that I found on you tube. This might sound extreme but sometimes when 'people' refuse to 'get' it or understand the only way to explain is to show the reality of the OP !! I am relying on my other adult daughter to help me out as much as possible but she works full time and until midnight sometimes, so I'm just grateful if she can do most of the driving for myself and disabled daughter..  Needs must eh?  good luck x
  • Mayfairmam
    Mayfairmam kim14297

    Posted

    Yep i guess you found out that it needs to be gradual,  little by little.  It must be har d though without support and needing to get back to work.  At 6 weeks and 2 days after my double scarf all I managed today was very slow and small amounts of walking around the house (coming down any stairs is agony, big toes are practically rigid!).  And my first very short walk outside ( at normal pre op speed it would have been  3 minute walk!).  Even so my feet have swelled magnicantly this evening and have nneded TLC bathing and elevation. 
  • jazzym05353
    jazzym05353 kim14297

    Posted

    Hi Kim

    I really do feel for you. I know I used to feel guilty after my op about the day to day cooking and cleaning which my sister in law and kids used to do. But at the end of the day you have to look after yourself first because in the long run only you will suffer if you don't. The longer you take it easy and look after your feet properly the quicker you actually will be back on your feet. Hope you get better soon x

  • gillian81509
    gillian81509 kim14297

    Posted

    Brilliant replies to Kim from all of you

    it's a big opp and takes time

    I'm a podiatrist by training so I do know how long these take plus if the biomechanics that caused it havnt been resolved it may take longer

    can you ask someone to cover your clients or as suggested you get them to you

    as for rest well meals microwave dust after a while you can't see it

    relax and get better

    • bohemia
      bohemia gillian81509

      Posted

      I agree Gillian, I actually bought a chest freezer before Xmas because I knew that we would be relying on the microwave much more than usual and because of my familiy situation I couldn't expect my other Daughter to manage all the cooking with her working hours etc. It will do us no harm for a few months and TBH when I do prepare a full cooked meal I over do it and then freeze some too for another day. It's all about Fams helping each other out and if that's not practical we have to prioritise the things that really matter. providing we are eating and warm, I'm not getting stressed over the house.. just doing important stuff. The washing machine packed up Christmas week, so that's been my biggest problem TBH. It can't be repaired so it will have to be another when, when finance permits, because the launderette is so very expensive! ............... KIM...... I was wondering if you could put on a pamper day in your house.....tea and cakes and if you get a few of your regulars around, they might enjoy each other's company and you can still do their hair and be more comfortable yourself.  ( I was a mob many years ago and I used to come up with ideas to generate custom and pamper days was one of them, when I used to do hair extensions in the early 80's before it became a trend, lol ... I blame all that work on my arthritis now sad too much standing, bending, long hours etc..)
  • Mishe55
    Mishe55 kim14297

    Posted

    Hi Kim

    first thing first,  you are very unlikely to have done any long term damage but you just had a taste of reality.  We all hope for much quicker recovery and I can tell you, it never changes.  I am a veteran of huge orthopeadic surgeries since I was born with a club foot and have arthritis in most joints of my body.  The current surgery is my 5th one,  yet like you I would like to be all recovered just few weeks post op.  The hardest part in your situation is the earning capacity and your not so supportive family.  I wonder if you could get your husband to read some posts on this website?  Taking him to your specialist appointment may also be useful although in my experience the specialists minimise the recovery time and pain issues so the patients cope better.  

    The likely reality of the situation is that you will be in pain for much longer than you hoped for.  It seems to me that you may have to work out your priorities and if earning and keeping your clients is the most important thing you may have to concentrate on that.  Although my guess is that you may have to cut down the hours to what you can manage initially.  As for your family,  try to educate them as they are clearly not that compassionate and since they do not have your experience they are making pretty uninformed judgements.

    In all this Kim,  remember that you will recover and things will come back to normal,  just not in the time frame you were hoping for.  The sooner you accept it the easier it will be on you.  So push yourself a little but do not expect to be fully recovered tomorrow because that is simply not possible.  All the best Kim.

  • heather00719
    heather00719 kim14297

    Posted

    At 7 weeks you should be ok but I would still take it easy for another couple weeks.

    at 7 weeks of my procedure (I had the bunion cut off, the big toe broke and realigned with 2 screws & tendon repair) I was just getting my cast off and put into a walking surgisurgical shoe & crutches. By 8-9 weeks I was wearing tennis shoes and walking as much as I could stand on my own but it would swell still the more I used it.

    Each day at the 9 week mark was noticably better than the last but I still have a limp and can't figure out why.

    I think you should be ok and the pain could just be nerves getting back to working again.

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