Posted , 83 users are following.
Hiya. I had a mid foot fusion 2 weeks ago now. I am really struggling with non weight bearing. Has anyone else dealt with this please. I am crying with frustration. My husband and I are very keen walkers and it is really hard not being able to get out and about under my own steam.
look forward to hearing your tips.
8 likes, 252 replies
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Croquet michelle65897
Posted
Hi
i have been recommended to have mid foot joint fusion to relieve foot pain from arthritis but I am not at all encouraged from reading about patient's experiences of the recovery period. Is there anyone out there who thinks the operation worthwhile please ?
charlotte82484 Croquet
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Hi , I had my operation the end of March . Im currently still off work but hoping to return in the New Year . My hip has eased a lot from where I had my bone graft . I still have discomfort in my foot and my walking is far from perfect but I am improving all the time . It is major surgery and recovery with be a long process . The pain I had before my operation was unbearable at times to the point I couldn't walk . I'm finding the pain bearable and I take no painkillers . I've started hydrotherapy and will require a lot of physio to loosen up the foot as it does feel very stiff but overall I feel that in time I will be in a better position and not in constant pain x
dct charlotte82484
Posted
I had surgery the end of march also,my injury was caused from having the top of my foot crushed from a special needs student, it was an accident. im doing ok, still have pain in foot, doing physical therapy, ill have a few good days and then a few bad days. i cannot walk very long and i cant stand longer then a minute or so. dr says maybe after new year i can go back to work a little, i dont want to go back with any pain, im beginning to feel like ill never be pain free, my foot is bigger, it swells a lot. thanks for sharing, it helps, i still have lots of stress due to wanting my life back before the accident
charlotte82484 dct
Posted
I'm sorry to hear that your still struggling and in pain . The pain I have is more from the side of my foot where they inserted a screw . I'm hoping in time that eases . My walking has improved compared to how it was at the beginning but still slower & comes with a lot of swelling . Have you tried hydrotherapy ?
Nikjohnson charlotte82484
Posted
There can be so many complications from foot injuries and surgeries. I was very fortunate to have a good surgeon. I am approximately 11 weeks out from surgery now, and doing physical therapy a couple days a week. My walking with arthritis in my mid foot resulted in pain in my hip and back. I am now re-learning how to walk normally, putting weight across my entire foot instead of the outside edge. My husband says I used to "waddle", I didn't even realize it. But now I have to relearn how to walk normally after about eight years with this arthrititic condition. Hopefully you can access good medical care and therapy which is so important. I am so thankful that the results of my midfoot fusions were generally quite positive, but it was very very difficult being off of your foot for the weeks it takes to heal.
dct charlotte82484
Posted
Readybluedragon dct
Posted
I had my mid foot fusion/bone grafts on my right foot's 2nd and 3rd MTJs in Sept 2015. I am extremely pleased with the outcome, although it was a bit trying at times as no weight bearing for a few months but my knee scooter was a godsend. Minimal pain now and foot still swells but that is to be expected. It can take 2 years to properly heal and for your foot to adapt to the new mechanics. No regrets as the pain before was SO bad! My TMTJ on my right foot (big toe bones same foot) has now got arthritis/narrpwing and is getting painful. Had a cortisone injection last week in the 1st TMTJ - it wasn't painful (the injection) but have had minimal relief. Back to the orthopaedic surgeon on Thursday as he ordered CT scans too. I would go for surgery again, as it means a better quality of life. One hint though, I am overweight (not grossly) but in hindsight, being lighter would have made my recouperation/rehabilitation eadier and as well, better for my foot not having the extra weight to support.
charlotte82484 dct
Posted
I've started hydrotherapy at the Orthopedic Hospital . Very warm pool where physio actually come into the pool with you to do exercises . In the water I find my foot works a lot better so I manage to do a lot of exercises that I would struggle to do . I do see a improvement aswell
kelly29534 Croquet
Posted
I keep saying over and over again (typically out of frustration from not being able to do anything where I'm non weight bearing) that I wish I had never gone through with the mid foot fusion/bunionectomy surgeries, and that I'd rather deal with the pain I had before! But in all reality, I think it'll be for the best that I DID do it (after waiting 15yrs!) And I will be happy I have no more pain when excersizing and hunting! Just keep in mind this was 2 months laid up, no working (unless of course you work from home), no driving, no showering (sponge bath only), non weight bearing, foot above heart almost 24/7, very emotional process! Good luck!
Skrammy1951 Nikjohnson
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Readybluedragon michelle65897
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Croquet michelle65897
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Mother_Jo michelle65897
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janice43028 Mother_Jo
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kelly29534 michelle65897
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I am 7wks post op. I had a mid foot fusion of 2joints and a bunionectomy. I am very lucky I did not experience a lot of pain. I had a nerve block which masked any pain coming out of surgery for the first 2days. After that was taken out I honestly only had pain at night which I did have pain killers for and took those mostly at night every couple hours and those lasted me 2 wks. I was in a huge leg splint first 2 wks and am on my second fiberglass cast as of now, this ones coming off in 5 days and I can hopefully start walking then! Sleeping was a little tough and annoying, having to elevate your foot above your heart 21 out of the 24hrs in a day but that comes with the recovery and I had to convince myself to just get out of the self pitty mode I was in first few wks! What a long 2months its been, not going to lie, but for those of you going through this, it truly gets better and better every single day
keep your head up and remember it's ok to cry and let all your frustration out! Hopefully you have a great support system as I did (my most of the time patient boyfriend!) Your loved ones go through this too so try to think of them! No the house isn't as clean as I'd like, no the dinners aren't always made on time but hey, could be worse 
good luck to who ever is reading this about to get surgery or those lying around, wishing they hadn't gone through with the surgery, just remember, there are so many out there WISHING they only had this as a diagnosis....there's always someone worse off than u 
SPEEDY RECOVERY to u!
sandi27417 kelly29534
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I had 5 metatarsal break and mistakenly waited 4 weeks NWB just to see if it would heal.
Wish I had had surgery immediately because my surgery was painless as well then had another 4 weeks NWB then 4 in walking boot then good to go however; your surgery was much more complicated.
8 weeks off your foot and raised above heart is a pain in the ass. My husband and friends were amazing because we have a horse farm, dogs and cats as well. Took 3 months to be normal. I am 67 and would break down as well especially when I could not do as needed for the animals. You take care
kelly29534 sandi27417
Posted