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Painful ankle after bunion removed six weeks PO

Posted , 5 users are following.

rebbecca98861
rebbecca98861

Hi all,

I had a servere bunion removed on my left foot six weeks ago. The surgery went well and I had my foot bandaged up. My consultant doesn't use a cast as the bandage was tight enough to set my toes in place.

I had the bandages off last Friday (5 weeks and 4 days PO) and everything seemed fine for a few days.

Now my foot is really swollen and my ankle is so sore. I can move it back/forth/round etc but it's painful to walk on.

I had a surgical shoe to wear when my foot was in a bandage but I was walking around at home without the shoe on ok. I wasn't baring any weight on my toes, just mainly on the back or outside.

My consultant said to expect three months of swelling but I was wondering if there is anything else I can do to ease it?

I'm back to work full time which involves a long commute and a fair bit of walking. I've managed to elevate my foot a little bit at my desk but not at heart level as the Consultant suggested.

Any advice would be helpful.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • susann1107
    susann1107 rebbecca98861

    Posted

    Hi, you might experience more then 3 month of swelling. That does depend on your body and heart. But there are things you can do to help with easing the swelling. Cooling your feet when ever you get an oppertunity, and get lymphatic massages, they do work wonders and get everything going.

    Good luck and be patient

  • Kudu
    Kudu rebbecca98861

    Posted

    Hi Rebecca - my op was 5 weeks & 3 days ago, and I still have a swollen foot with my big toe pointing upwards slightly - I'm seeing the surgeon on 29th which will also require an ex-ray to see if the toe has healed ok as they added a screw or two as I had my toe straightened - I would just try and elevate where you can, and as I know you have a commute / walking a fair bit, keep using your crutches to help take the pressure off where possible. I have over the last week, noticed a small difference in the swelling, but with every bunion op, takes a good while to heal x
  • Sheree89054
    Sheree89054 rebbecca98861

    Posted

    My doctor didn't understand my ankle pain either and eventually it went away on its on. My 1st surgery was done in July it's just now not swelling so much when I've used it. The second, done in December, does not hurt in the ankle so much, and it is still swelling. I'm just now getting to a point of wanting to bend it (just a little bit though) when I walk. I have more nerve type pain with the 1st one and hardly any nerve pain with the second. I had the exact same surgery on both, but they've been very different imediately following surgery and during recovery. All I can say for sure is that extensive food surgery should not be taken lightly as it definitely affects out frustration levels and quality of life. I wish you the best with a speedier recovery!
  • Jayniejay
    Jayniejay rebbecca98861

    Posted

    Hi Rebbecca

    I started a discussion a few weeks ago 'Two shoes better than one' as I also had excruciating ankle pain when I had my first bunion op which I was sure was from wearing just one heel-walking shoe (the pain got worse the more I walked and took ages to go away). I had surgery on both feet almost 6 weeks ago so am wearing heel-walking shoes on both feet and, hey, I'm finding it so much easier to get about and have no ankle pain at all. This time round, when I mentioned the ankle pain to the physio on the day after surgery, she said it must have been because of the weight of the shoe and didn't think it would have been from the angle I was walking. I'm not convinced!

    I'm seeing my consultant tomorrow so speak to him about the difference it has made. I should be having my first physio session a week later so will also ask if there's a reason why you can't wear matching shoes even if surgery is just on one foot. If I get the same reply as last time, then I'll ask her to try walking with one shoe and then with two! I might have to eat my words though if I get ankle pain when I start walking at a normal angle again.

    I found that stretching and rotating my ankle really helped last time round. My physio told me to try air-writing with my toes which gave my ankle a good little work-out.

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