Same side foot surgery after THR

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I had my right THR three years ago. It's been brilliant. I've done lots of walking, tennis etc.

In November 2021 I had a cheilectomy, to deal with bone spurs on the top of my right big toe joint, which were making hiking increasingly painful and difficult. I was warned it might take up to a year to recover fully from this surgery.

Well - the foot has healed well, and I think the recovery is going pretty much to plan. Initially I had to keep my leg elevated for most of the time for a whole fortnight, then I started walking very carefully pretty much on my heel, then on the heel and the outside of my foot. For about two months I wasn't able to exercise much, although I did the recommended toe exercises. Recently I have been able to get the big toe pretty well flat on the ground again, and I have started to be able to do some 3-4 mile walks. My gait is improved but it's not back to normal yet - it still feels rather jerky and slightly unbalanced.

My hip has started to complain! It's keeping me awake some nights. I think it has been "thrown" by the change in my walking, and maybe I am trying to do longer walks too soon.

Has anyone else had subsequent foot surgery on the same side as their THR? Has anyone any advice?

Joan

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2 Replies

  • Posted

    Pain in the big toe joint can be due to trauma, a chronic condition, or pressure that has built up over time. In many cases, the underlying cause is easily treatable. Some injuries can heal on their own with rest and pain medication. However, some conditions, such as OA and gout, require long-term solutions.

    • Posted

      Indeed. The bone spurs were the result of osteo-arthritis. The surgeon described the OA inside the joint as "severe". So the pain was only going to get worse, which was why I had the foot surgery.

      What I want to know is whether it's normal for the (replaced) hip to be affected during the foot recovery period, and what - if anything - I should do about it. Or will the hip recover as the foot continues to recover?

      Joan

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