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Severe burning in foot 14 days after ankle surgery

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jane26842
jane26842

Qin had ankle ligament repair surgery after severe sprain.  Had surgery 14 days ago today.  Yesterday the cast was removed and got put in the attractive black ankle boot and told I could be weight baring.  Seemed things were going well and I walked with the aid of a crutch a little around house.  Well, I went to sleep around 11:30 pm.  I have tried in vain to sleep on my back and just can't so I prompt pillows up and layer on my side and elevated foot as best I could. Got woken up at 4:00 am with excruciat BURNING all over foot.  I tell you I've never felt pain like this before and that includes giving birth. It is now 5:45 am and I found this forum.  Has anyone experienced this severe burning after surgery?  I had a block during surgery Nd foot was numb for 48 hours and then it wore off I had some tingling and burning in my heel but that went away.  Now this burning started. I tell you Imwas in tears and I'm a person that usually can handle pain.  Please respond if anyone can enlighten me.

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  • milliewillie
    milliewillie jane26842

    Posted

    Jane, Mark, Cyd and all with burning in a foot or feet.  Mine began the night of the wound.  It was Sunday, Feb. 13, I was wearing compression stockings over a very swollen leg.  Because my husband had been complaining about me not closing the car door well, I gave it a hefty slam, and it caught my left leg half way between the knee and ankle.  I had a 2" divot quite deep.  Lots of blood and fluid through the stocking and pants and continued after hospital visit.  Skin too thin for sutures,  Antibiotic injection and bandaged leg at E.R..  That night the burning began.  Some nights are worse than others.  I, too, have less pain when I am up walking.  I was awakened last night with the same ecruciating burning pain, which is getting worse by the day.  Has anybody gotten a diagnosis for this condition?  I mentioned it to my PCP who said "You might have severed a nerve".  I mentioned it to the wound surgeon, whom I've seen every week since E.R., but she's not addressed it.  I have an ultrasound coming up this Friday.  I've seen several physicians since the accident, mentioned it to everyone, and not one has offered a suggestion besides the PCP.  And, I know what you mean about wanting to cut off the foot.  The pain gets that bad.  

    • cyd2006
      cyd2006 milliewillie

      Posted

      Milliewillie, sorry to hear no one is listening to your concerns.  I do know that nerve pain can be horrible and is very different from other types of pain.  I describe it as burning, stinging, prickly...like a bunch of bees are stinging you on top of a bad burn.  If this is what you're experiencing, I would keep at them.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

    • mark_31926
      mark_31926 cyd2006

      Posted

      Cyd, I agree 100%. Tomorrow will be the first time I will have seen my surgeon after my burning started. He has been good with my questions so far... I will post what (or if) I can get a suggestion or some professional opinion. Mine has subsided, but that first night was horrible. Millie we know what you are feeling : \ Take care to all
  • nelson_40396
    nelson_40396 jane26842

    Posted

    Hello Jane.

    I was looking for some information online about severe burning sensation and pain on foot and I came across your post on this blog. I am 7 days after surgery my self. I had arthroscopic ankle surgery for osteodontral bone defect on my left ankle. The pain for the 1st 64 hours was brutal. It's starting to calm down a little bit but I can hardly walk. Why? I get escrutiating pain a severe burning sensation every time I put my foot down to grab my crutches. It's really bad and are to tolerate. I am taking some very strong drugs for the pain and even like that I can still feel some pain. So I think I know what you're going through.... you're not alone . I hope you've gotten better.

  • milliewillie
    milliewillie jane26842

    Posted

    Thanks, Guys, I can't tell you how good it feel to know that I am not alone in this.  With so many experiencing the same pain, there has to be an answer, and if we all share our findings, we will lick this. G'night to all,  Millie

    • Capital_clutz
      Capital_clutz milliewillie

      Posted

      Hello everyone.

      Post ankle surgery 7 wks. Finally able to put a sock on, & the burning / tingling sensation has diminished, and is now mostly located in the 3rd & 4th toe region. Seeing the surgeon Tuesday, & hopefully I will be allowed to start putting some weight on the leg. I will mention CRPS, but I honestly thing my pain is the result of the strain the large nerve branch endured when I fell. (Leg bent 90° about 6" up on the foot snapping tib/fib, ankle socket both sides...). I will let you folks know how that goes.

      Good luck everyone!

    • jan30278
      jan30278 milliewillie

      Posted

      Millie, your pain sounds like nreve pain. I was put on gabapentin shortly after my surgery and it helped a great deal . It eventually subsided at about the 7th month or so - I m now off of the med. best of luck to you
  • Pollyerrington
    Pollyerrington jane26842

    Posted

    Hi, I'm sure you've had a diagnosis but this is a mirror image of what happened to me.

    I was diagnosed after my cast came off though.

    With the nasty condition of CRPS complex regional pain syndrome.

    I hope you have been diagnosed as the key is to catch it early.

  • aw1111
    aw1111 jane26842

    Posted

    my pain... well, this particular pain, ended when my cast came off 1 week post-op. I do think the pain was associated with the cast AND nerves in some way because meds did NOT relieve the pain. My best recourse was an ice pack on the backside of my knee.
  • annette_59628
    annette_59628 jane26842

    Posted

    Hi Jane, 

    I hope you are feeling better. I just came across your this site and notice your post was from a year ago. My daughter broke her ankle 7 weeks ago and is experiencing excrutiating burning in her toes. She describes it as "someone holding a match to my toes". I called her doctor because no medication is helping the pain. The pain comes and goes and will wake her up in the middle of the night. did they ever find out what your pain was? My big fear is she may have some nerve damage? We are starting Physical Therapy tomorrow. So hopefully, they will find something to help desensitze her toes. I hope you are better. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Your post is the only one I have come across that describes what my daughter is feeling. 

     

    • debbie25647
      debbie25647 annette_59628

      Posted

      Hi there. I had the brostrom procedure 3 weeks ago on my ankle for torn ligaments I have the horrible burning of the toes and top of the foot I also have numbness on the top of my foot and toes I totally understand what your daughter is going through a doctor explained it as nerve damage and then it can take several weeks for it to start healing itself. Tell your daughter that I will be praying for her I know exactly what she's going through

    • cyd2006
      cyd2006 annette_59628

      Posted

      My ankle surgery was in November and I had horrible burning, stinging and hypersensitivity in my foot for 3 months.  I could not even sleep with any bed covering on my foot.  Assure your daughter this should ease up with time;  the burning and stinging is almost completely gone but I still have persistent prickliness and tingling. Apparently nerve irritation from surgery or other types of trauma can take up to a year to go away.

      i found the worse pain to be in the evening and I had to take a Percocet in order to get to sleep for about 2 months.  Although I still have discomfort, I don't take anything for it now.

    • annette_59628
      annette_59628 debbie25647

      Posted

      Hi Debbie, 

      thank you so much for your reply. I am going to show her your text, so she knows she's not alone. the pain comes and goes and i feel so helpless that I cant help her - except have her stay on top of her pain pills. Her toes are so sensitive. We'll pray for you as well <3 

    • annette_59628
      annette_59628 cyd2006

      Posted

      Hi Cyd, 

      You are describing her pain exactly. Im guessing it is nerve irritation as well.  Did Physical Therapy help you at all? 

    • cyd2006
      cyd2006 annette_59628

      Posted

      I am still in physical therapy, down to once per week.  Yes, physical therapy is very important.  I started three days after getting the staples out!  They will work on desensitizing the foot although it's uncomfortable at the time and can be painful.  In the long run it's extremely beneficial and not doing it could be detrimental to her pain , healing and mobility.  

      I found wearing a compression stocking during the day helped as well- you should ask your daughters surgeon or therapist about this.

      The other thing I found was a bed cradle which is a small frame you put under the covers at the foot of the bed.  This kept all the sheets and blankets away from resting on my foot since I couldn't stand anything touching it at night.  I used this for about two months.  Finally, my surgeon prescribed a nerve cream that does help some people but unfortunately it did nothing for me.

      i totally understand what your daughter is experiencing- sort of like a bunch of wasps stinging you on top of a bad sunburn!  This should improve for her over time. I feel her pain!! 😟😟

    • debbie25647
      debbie25647 annette_59628

      Posted

      Please tell her I am here if she needs me. Today has been the best so far. Burning has eased about fifty percent. I will keep you posted as I progress. Thanks for prayers
    • annette_59628
      annette_59628 debbie25647

      Posted

      Thank you Debbie!!! Are you in the UK or USA? We had to go to the ER yesterday morning. The pain was unbearable and my daughter was up the entire night, crying and screaming in pain. The emergency room doctor suspects its the nerves in her toes. He put her on a 14 day supply of Gabapentin 300 mg. The medication is normally used to treat people with epilepsy and nerve pain. ITS WORKING!!!! She has had very minimal pain! I am so relieved!! The plan is to continue with Physical Therapy while she is taking this medication. The physical therapist will work on desensitzing her toes with various exercises. 

       

    • annette_59628
      annette_59628

      Posted

      the medication she is taking Gabapentin 300 mg is helping - no more burning but now feeling other wierd things... today she felt like someone was tickling her foot and a few hours later  felt like her foot was in water. strange wierd feelings. 
    • jan30278
      jan30278 annette_59628

      Posted

      Annette- so glad to hear the gabapentin is helping- I was given that same prescript for a year- I took it for 3 mos and it was the only thing that helped keep me sane.  I was told it could be difficult to wean off of but I had no side effects at all.  Just had HWR about a month ago and have had to start it again!  Tho, I can tell already that the nerve pain is already better this time.... was not expecting to go thru that again (though not near the extent as of after ORIF surgery).   Anyway- I am thankful that you all found some relief and i hope the nerve pain is short lived!  take care.

       

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