Severe burning in foot 14 days after ankle surgery

I'm 36hrs post-op and looking for support and suggestions. If love to hear from you. Thanks

Hi, 

I had surgery 11/7/16..9 days later the burning pain started, on day 16 they took my splint off and the pain was relieved and I thought it was gone. I was wrong, it came back very strong and hurt even worse. I can't take the oxy because of side effects, so was taking aspirin and tylenol every 6 hours. Even with the pain relievers I was in agony. The top of my foot was and still is numb in some areas and it was bright red, my 4th toe is totally numb on top and it's also numb on the outside of my ankle where they cut me. Anyway, I went back to the OS office worried about infection although I was pretty sure it was just nerve pain but the redness worried me. It literally felt like my foot was on fire, I also had shooting electrical pains and my foot would jump on its own sometimes. Anyway no infection, he explained that he moved my nerve out of the way and it wasn't damaged but it was irritated. 

Said he thought the pain would get better soon. The redness started to go away during week 5 and the pain got a lot better. It is still a bit red but not nearly as bad and the pain is now so much better I only have to take aspirin and tylenol at bedtime, so hang in there! I still have numbness, pins and needles and a little burning at times, I also feel like theres a rubber band inside my foot on the top part where my toes meet the foot but that has loosened a little bit as well but it's still tight and I still feel some pressure though not as bad. So just give it time and don't get too scared, all of these pains and weird feelings happen to a lot of people and go away in time. I will tell you what I have done that "may" have helped the nerve issue. I have kept my foot elevated all day/night, I've moved my toes as often as I can since I think that helps to loosen it up, I started taking an antihistamine called Claritin (not claritin D because that has decongestant in it) I decided to take claritin because when my mom had cancer they told her to take it before her neulasta shot as it helps prevent bone pain, they don't know how it works they just know it does work and I was reading about inflammation and decided it was worth a shot, I had nothing to lose since I was so miserable 24/7 with the burning pain, and I took aspirin which is an anti-inflammatory and they wanted me to take anyway to prevent blood clots. I never used ice or soaked the foot but I have heard that helps some people. Anyway thats what I did and I prayed a lot too and now the pain is minimal, so hang in there and in time I'm sure your pain will fade also, mine was about as bad as it could get and if mine faded I bet yours will too! 

Great words of encouragement exactly what I am feeling.

Oh I also want to say that I'm now on week 6 after surgery, two days ago the dr. said I could start putting weight on it and I started yesterday, it aggravated the nerve pain and the redness came back more last night and I had pain again lying in bed trying to sleep. My ankle doesn't hurt me at all, the nerve pain is a seperate issue on top of the right foot, anyway, so I'm torn between waiting a few more days for the nerve to calm down since it seemed to be healing before I put weight on it or just pushing myself but I'm afraid to do more damage. So that's the point I'm at now, to walk or not to walk, actually I should stand since there's no way I can walk yet, when I try to put my foot flat on the ground my toes touch but my heel is up higher and doesn't touch, I have to force it down. I think I'm going to give it a few more days and let my body tell me when it's ready. Good luck to everyone out there that's going through what I am and since I'm at week 6 I'll be happy to answer any questions. I also intend to check  back here once the pain is totally gone and I can walk to give everyone else an idea of what time frame to expect when you have these types of issues. 

I'm glad I could help in any way, I remember how scared I was and all the horror stories I read online about the pain being permanent, well don't let all that scare you lynette I'm sure you will be fine in time just hang in there! 

Thank u kelkel.. I am also at 6 weeks and I think we are dealing with the same issues. And I been putting weight in but with the boot. Are you doing any ankle. Exercises yet?

Yeah Lynette but I was just moving the ankle up and down, now that I know the bones are healed enough I've been trying to move the ankle side to side a bit but sometimes I can feel the plate in there, it feels gross! I don't have good range of motion yet, how about you? I was a rebel and put weight on my barefoot even though the Dr. said to use the boot but gonna try the boot next time, probably easier.

I want too use my bare foot but I dont want y

Too be in pain. I can feel the plate also. But I have use the boot and was able too stand alone on it. The side too side is not good yet and one side I can't go down far enough yet..

Have you been to the pain clinic? Is there a difference in colour compared to your other foot? Does is swell more compared to your other foot? Any other differences like hair growth and temperature? Look up CRPS...

The nerve pain is the worst I been using stop pain gel on my foot and it numbs some of the pain Im feeling In my foot along with pain killers.

My surgeon told me the painkillers won't touch nerve pain. I was popping percoset like Pez candy without relief and also on 800 mg ibuprofen 2x a day. She said for nerve pain I would need something like Lyrica. ( this was yesterday at my 3 week post-op appointment) but as the days go it's less painful so I opted not to take a be prescription. It would make me tired and a zombie for the holidays and I have 3 kids. That can't happen haha

Yeah they recommend gabapentin too, I heard it's hard to just stop some of those medications, I probably should have had something like that for my nerve pain, thank goodness the worst is over. I'm glad to hear your pain is getting better too!

Well I'm on tramadol and I'm popping them every 4 hours that's the only way I would be able too sleep.

That garbapentin felt like fire in my veins too strong. If the pain does not stop I'm going too see a neurologist on 1/5

Lynette, I'm right there with ya...just took a Percocet to try and get some sleep.  Five weeks after ankle surgery and the nerve pain can be excruciating.  I dread the evenings because this is when it is the worst.  My next follow up with the surgeon is the 29th and you can be sure I'll be asking him about it then!

Well good luck my next happy 1/4 I'll keep you posted.

I mean my next visit will be 1/4...

Lynette and Tiffany...an update for you.  I saw my surgeon today (6 weeks since surgery).  Apparently it's not uncommon for the end of the internal sutures to push through the incision and they just trimmed them off.  There is no sign of infection there which is good!  I don't have to wear my Aircast anymore...especially to bed...YAY!!  It was just recommended that I still wear it outside due to the snow and ice.  My physiotherapist will now add strengthening exercises to the ones I already have for flexibility.  I'm still using a crutch, but have put on slippers in the house although I'm nervous to put my entire weight on my foot yet.  Baby steps, right??  LOL!

Now about the nerve pain, I do think it's improving a wee bit because it used to almost bring me to tears and it doesn't seem to be as severe.  It does still affect my sleep at night, mainly because I keep wanting to move my foot around to 'get away from' the discomfort.  Having the cast on just makes it worse so I'm anxious to see how I will feel tonight without the cast.  The surgeon said to give it 5 or 6 more weeks to see if it continues to improve.  He also gave me a prescription cream that comes from a compounding pharmacy.  MULTIPROFEN-CC.  He said it either works or it doesn't!  I do find it takes the edge off but it doesn't last a long time.  If I continue with bad nerve pain, he will give me a nerve block but he wants to see if it improves by itself first.  I didn't need a Percocet last night or tonight so I'm hopeful!!

Whew!!  Excuse the long-winded comment 😆😆 

That's awesome! Sounds mine things are moving along for you! I had my surgery 11/30 and STILL have to be in the boot all the time. I go back to dr next week and hope she will start the PT and get things moving for me. I feel like the process has been so slow. I still get the nerve pain here and there and plantar fasciitis daily. I'm thinking I may have a little arthritis in my inner part of ankle as well. . Opposite where the internal brace implant is. Before surgery I was constantly purposely cracking my ankle to relieve the tightness to the point I think it became habit. mri showed inflammation right where I crack it and surgeon said it was because I was over compensating from the sprain and straining other parts of my ankle. After surgery that tight stiff feeling went away so I thought it was cured for good. But this week I've had to crack it a few times and that feeling is coming back. Frustrating!