Shocked at swelling!

Hi when you say you had second surgery I take it you mean on another foot?  and I understand about the peeling cos I have a lot of dry skin but have discovered this morning I have some burst blisters caused by the cast rubbing. Today is the first day I have been out driving. Was fine but only found 1 pair of shoes which I could wear. Think would have been more bearable if I hadnt got the blisters!  

No same foot. Apparently while in the cast I pulled tore something in my foot so he had to go in and repair. This time he put pins in to hold everything in place and recasted, had no weight bearing x8+ weeks. Had the blisters too. No fun. I came out of cast before Christmas but didn't start driving until Jan. By then I was down to one crutch. Mid Feb my mom got ill so I had to drive 19 hrs to get to her, walked w/ cane but also started walking without anything but wore out so easy. I felt like a waddling duck😂 Am doing better now but can't wear a normal shoe due to swelling. Dr is working on that through meds. Am walking straighter and slowly adding distance but do tire out quickly.

Gosh sounds terrible! Can't believe you had to go through it again on same foot. Sounds like he should have pinned it first time. I do worry that the shortening of the tendon hasnt worked. My big toe is leaning into the next toe which it didn't do before the op! To be honest my bunion wasn't too bad but it's hereditary & I didn't want to get to the point my mum has. Hers are very bad but she's nervous of having the op performed & being off her feet for so long! Did you originally just have the bone shaved & tendon shortened (as I did). I don't know what it's medical term is as my surgeon just called it 'a lesser op' & not a fusion! I take it from your word 'mom' & 19 hour drive you live in USA? I'm in UK. I've now had my cast & bandaging off 3 days & consultant said to have a good soak & rub baby oil into the scar to get rid of the disposable stitches which were still visible. I did this & opened up the wound! Also yesterday I went out in the car for the first time & did some shopping (foot was sore after I managed to find shoes that fit) & where my shoe was rubbing has opened up the scar even more &

Is bleeding. Surgeons last words to me when I saw him on Wednesday was that everything looks fine & see you in 2 months!!! And that was 4 weeks post op!!! Did your scar bleed at all? i only found this forum a few days ago & am finding it very interesting but most people appear to have the full fusion op.

I am in the US. I guess most folks are from the U.K. I did have some bleeding at first but that stopped. I had a hammertoe repair, fusion and bone shave. My foot was in bad shape because I waited to long. I have to get other foot next year. He won't do it until I'm completely healed. This forum helped me a lot because some of the stuffi was feeling with my foot I thought I was crazy but really was normal.

Hi you had a bigger op than me so I guess you probably expected to have a bit of a long journey to recovery. I think I took it all too lightly & my surgeon did give me that impression & that because it was a lesser op it would be so easy. I accept the swelling and expected it somewhat but am disappointed with the fact my toe is leaning inwards now. It looked the same when he took the cast & bandaging off on Wednesday but he didn't seem bothered! Wondering if I should make an appointment to see him? I know you had a more invasive op but how long do you think until you will be able to use your usual shoes? Sorry for the long post again!

As for getting in the shoe I don't know. I was told to try every day. I can get my foot into a man's shoe two sizes bigger, did that in Feb. it works but I have to wear two different shoes. Friday I had to wear them and I noticed the shoe is starting to get a little big. So that's progress. Right now I'm wearing adjustable Nike slides. Makes it much easier. I tried the other morning to put regular flats on, no go so..I'll just keep trying. My biggest thing was walking because if all the swelling. It was making it hard. Yesterday I actually walked through a Dept store and was ok. It was sore last night when I relaxed though so it's a work in process. You'll be fine just have pacience. Your toe may straighten out once you're really walking on it. Mine looked like it was leaning as well but has since straightened since it loosened up.

Hi thanks for the reply. Yes I agree it's the swelling which is the problem. Sorry to hear you're not in your own shoes yet. Ive just been out to lunch and put a dressing on to stop it rubbing on my shoes.  But on taking it off I find the wound has opened slightly and is now bleeding a little. I also cant believe how dry the skin is on this foot. Did you suffer with dry cracking skin too?

Yes, I did, I got some really good foot cream and drenched my foot in it. That helped a lot. I can only do it on the bottom now because I'm putting prescription meds on top where scares are.

Hi! Do you still have the blisters?

I have noticed i have developed some water like blisters on my toes!! I don't really understand what it means!?

Am am 3wks post-op today! My foot seams fine and also healing seams well, apart from when am on my feet too long my foot starts to look more awoke and the cast makes it look worse when I take it Of! I've been applying hydrocortisone cream on my foot for the dry skin, seams to be working 🙂

But these blisters are worrying me, there not painful YET! But am wondering if you found out if it means infection or anything else??

Hi my blisters were down the scar area & caused by the cast rubbing I think! Still very dry skin but not as bad as it was & still I have a small section at the end where the last stitch was which has a scab on it! I am using bio oil on the scar area. Now out of the darco shoe I am wearing open toe shoe boots with block heal from Kurt Geiger as they are lovely soft leather. But after a short time can't wait to get them off and my foot looks very swollen and red. Bought some gorgeous stilettos from top shop just after op and tried to put it on today but my foot is way too wide! Because my bunion wasn't bad beforehand my foot is much wider than pre op at moment. There's me thinking I would treat myself to a pair of louboutins post op & be able to wear them!!!! Getting worried as now 6 1/2 weeks post op & not looking any different (well worse actually). Good luck to you

Ps was so worried got emergency appointment with consultant last week but he said not to worry & everything looked ok to him!

I'm jumping in here with a comment! I'm 10 weeks post op today & my foot is an inch wider than my other foot because of swelling. I'm told to expect that for a few more months especially with warmer weather approaching. It's very disappointing but normal.

Please please don't try to wear stilettos too soon! Your foot has been through a very invasive surgery. Give it time. You don't want to do any danage.Also was told by PT that flip flops are the worst. A good arch support is very important to take pressure off bunion.

Be patient!

Hi yes I do realise it takes time but I think I also thought I would be fine after 6 weeks as I had a fairly lesser op than most people

tend to have. And that was the impression my surgeon gave! I guess he must have given a optimistic opinion! I also thought every day the swelling would be slightly less but actually it seems to get worse with the longer I spend on my feet!! Do you find this too?

Absolutely! And you'd think after 10 weeks it would definitely improve. I thought after 6-8 wks I'd be wearing whatever shoe I desired. Oh no!

I'm thankful I don't have pain, only swelling. If I'm on my feet too much I do have some discomfort in suture area.

If I wear a compression hose or wrap my foot first thing in morning it really helps control swelling.

I asked my surgeon last week should I be doing any exercises or should I be wearing any supports or as I had previously read from people, should I be wearing gel toe separators, & he just laughed & said no, none of those things! What I have also noticed in the last week is I have a pain when I walk on the outside of my foot near my little toe and a lump. I have googled it & it's called a tailors bunion! Think has formed as been walking on side of foot for so long so now purposely been trying to walk with pressure on big toe! Don't suppose you experienced this? Fed up now & seriously think shouldn't have gone ahead with op!

I also have a tailors bunion on same foot I had bunionectomy on. Surgeon pointed that out to me but it has never bothered me.

So many doctors, so many opinions. I still wear gel toe separator as advised. He'll probably let me go without that when I have checkup on May 3rd.

I actually went to a good physical therapist yesterday just to get a second opionon. She thought it was a good surgery but did give advice on massaging scar tissue & some strengthening exercises for arch ,toes & ankles.

Reassured me about the swelling. Takes alot of time to subside.

Maybe this would be a good option for you. I don't have to go back they gave me work out info to do at home. Insurance covered it. Only $10 copay. Definitely worth it.

I get discouraged too. I want to be back to normal. But learning to be patient.

The PT showed me yesterday how to properly distribute weight through foot. I was not rolling completely through to ball of foot causing me to pull foot up too soon. Was walking with a slight limp.

Try getting some knee high compression stockings or forefoot compression. They really help control swelling. They are available in toeless versions. I prefer them.

That's strange that about the tailors bunion don't you think? Did you have yours before the surgery? I have definitely only developed it after the surgery & didn't have it last week when I saw surgeon! Or I would def have asked him about it! I was also shocked not to have any phsio afterwards as my insurance company said beforehand they would allow me 5 sessions without authorisation. But apparently I don't need it surgeon said. And I specifically asked him about exercises to do at home and he said no need! I still can't get over though the fact that the bunion looks and feels so much larger than pre op! It's hard to imagine now that it will ever be even the same size as previous! 

I guess I've just had mine so long I've never given it a thought. Just seemed part of my foot.

But yes,strange you've developed one now.

I went to physical therapy without consulting my dr. Maybe u should do the same. Check w/insurance if they need referral

Yes it is strange. It doesn't really work like that here in U.K.! I think the fact my surgeon says physio isn't necessary would mean my insurance company wouldn't ok it! I just assume because I've had the lesser op I don't need it!

I feel each week is an improvement & a step forward(no pun intended ) I think you'll feel better in a couple of weeks.

Keep me updated

Thankyou! Fingers crossed (& toes!) Please keep me informed on your improvements!