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Stinging scars

Posted , 10 users are following.

Jayniejay
Jayniejay

It's 3 weeks since my stitches were removed and foot redressed. The long scar from the scarf procedure is stinging more and more and also feels really tender when I touch the side of my foot, even over the padding and bandage (and no, I've not been standing for hours or overdoing it) and I've started taking painkillers again. Is this quite normal?

0 likes, 22 replies

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  • kathryn02630
    kathryn02630 Jayniejay

    Posted

    I recall my stitches being very tender and sensitive at this stage. I was told that it was the dissolvable stitches being absorbed and the nerve endings and tissue mending. I was given white plasters to cover my scars after I had the stitch ends removed at two weeks post op. Do you know how much longer you need the bandages on for? I went to see our surgery nurse to ask for more plasters, when I was about 3-4 weeks post op, and she said it would be good to let the air get to my feet and gave me tubular stocking bandages to wear instead of plasters. I wore socks over these when going outdoors. 

    Hopefully your wounds will heal soon and you will be more comfortable. 

    • Jayniejay
      Jayniejay kathryn02630

      Posted

      I'm still in bandages, from ankle to toes and with big toe wrapped in bandage so I've not been able to apply ice, although I can massage along the main scar over the bandages. I'd love to get some air to it - lucky you! But only 8 more days to go. I think I've been kept bandaged up because there's a pin in the second toe and also thick bandaging under the arch of my foot (and I thought I had flat feet!) which helps a bit with sticking to heel-walking.
  • marykez
    marykez Jayniejay

    Posted

    I remember that too. Don't worry it will pass, ice may help, elevating yr foot too. 
  • joyce16553
    joyce16553 Jayniejay

    Posted

    Yes, it's quite normal. I'm five months out and occasionally, they still sting, ike when a shoe rubs on them. Mine stung so bad at about 4-5 weeks, then I had my physical therapist massage them side to side, with some kind of cream.  You can't hurt them.  Just massage them rather briskly to beak down scar tissue, but wait until 4 or 5 weeks out.
    • kathryn02630
      kathryn02630 joyce16553

      Posted

      I massaged my feet instinctively as I found this relived the tight, fuzzy feeling. My GP's practice nurse recommended petroleum jelly to rub on my feet to relieve the dry skin. Bio oil is helpful in fading scars too. Apart from seeking advice myself, I was given very little guidance from any medical personnel apart from a very brief visit from the hospital physio to recommend rotating my ankles periodically and to keep my feet elevated as much as possible. Climbing stairs was mentioned and I was advised as how to approach them. Other than that I have learnt a lot from other patients on this site - my thanks to everyone who has contributed their help and logged their experiences. I hope everyone recovers fully soon.
    • danuta45472
      danuta45472 kathryn02630

      Posted

      SOS !

      what advice were you given about climbing stairs? Because of size of boot I've been going up like a crab and now I'm beginning to have problems with my back

    • karen27130
      karen27130 danuta45472

      Posted

      I was advised to go sideways up the stairs one stair at a time. To come down the same way. However, I took the easy way out and moved the spare bed into the do in groom and stayed downstairs. I am lucky because couldn't have a shower anyway and have downstairs toilet. I think that I was more scared than anything!
  • marykez
    marykez Jayniejay

    Posted

    Yes it is normal !! What's not normal is that most of us did not get any of this information from our medical staff. Anyway, you will be fine in a matter of weeks, maybe less, it's positive, your healing. Mine has been just over five months and I feel amazing, give it time and you'll look back and it will seem like it was years ago. 
  • beanie65
    beanie65 Jayniejay

    Posted

    Oh my days, so glad you posted this, I am 5 weeks post op. I have the worst stinging ever, my foot is fine, no pain at all, still swollen around the old bunion joint and on bridge, but the stinging is constant. I am massaging with bio oil several times a day and using a dry skin lotion in between, I am constantly aware of the stinging sensation and nothing seems to elviate it. Sleeping is a nightmare. I am still wearing my shoe but can get rid of it at the end of week six, then I should be able to drive, but witht eh stinging sensation I am not sure I will be able to plus with my foot still being swollen as it is I can't get my shoe on even my wide fit. sad
    • Jayniejay
      Jayniejay beanie65

      Posted

      Ooh, that sounds a right pain. My foot's still swaddled in thick bandaging so I can't apply anything onto it. I suspect it's going to sting more once there's no real buffer between foot and shoe, which is where you are at by the sounds of it. Do you resort to painkillers for the stinging? I try not to but have done a few times. Hope it starts to settle down soon. There's a few people who seem to be getting fed up at about the 5 weeks mark of recovery - I wonder if there are certain points where it is particularly 'challenging'? Take care.
  • sheila_27698
    sheila_27698 Jayniejay

    Posted

    Hi all

    I too was happy to read this. Had my pin out friday am now 5 weeks. Foot swollen scar really stingy and although pin removal completely painless toe now very sore today and foot achy after having been handled. Back to high elevation and ice. I dont think will be gettin into normal shoes any time soon and got my granddaughters christening next weekend 😐

    • Jayniejay
      Jayniejay sheila_27698

      Posted

      Hope it was at least a relief having that flipping pin out, even though there were after effects of foot being handled. And I hope you manage to find some snazzy little fluffy slippers to go with your outfit for next weekend - perhaps adult-sized version of bootees? 👟
    • sheila_27698
      sheila_27698 Jayniejay

      Posted

      Ha ha

      That could be a plan. Think my trustee fitflops may not go into mothballs for a while.

  • karen27130
    karen27130 Jayniejay

    Posted

    I am also having some stinging despite having dissolvable stitches. One foot is definitely worse than the other generally.  Have been a bit worried about this but perhaps it is normal. I would also like to say thank you to everyone for the advice and support given. Much easier to raise issues with other people who understand what you are feeling. 
    • elizabeth_83569
      elizabeth_83569 karen27130

      Posted

      Is it normal for scar to be still crusty I'm 5 weeks in I get my pin out 24 but I think my foot look awful is this normal my stitches are dissolving 
    • karen27130
      karen27130 elizabeth_83569

      Posted

      I am almost 6 weeks post surgery and scars are definitely healing but still crusty. One foot is much clearer than the other. Looking at them I would say that one will be clear within a week bit that the other will take a little longer. Showed them to my friend who is an orthopaedic nurse and she says that they look good for the length of time post surgery. So, I would say that you are doing fine and sure that everything is absolutely normal. 
    • elizabeth_83569
      elizabeth_83569

      Posted

      I'm now nearly 8 weeks started driving on Friday short distance my scares are still a bit crusty doctor said it's normal I have dissolving stitches I put my feet in warm water and tea tree oil every morning it really helps but still getting pains where the bunion was is this normal 
    • beanie65
      beanie65 elizabeth_83569

      Posted

      My scar was only crusty for 4 weeks.It looks just like a normal scar now. I think it depends on the individual. As soon as I was able to shower without using the cover I used Sanex shower gel and daily moisturised my feet with bio oil and Nivea dry skin relief, these both helped get rid of the tiny scabs that were over the tied stitches scar area. So 5 weeks post op I was totally scab free. X
    • karen27130
      karen27130 elizabeth_83569

      Posted

      My scars are ok but yes, I get pains where the bunion was on one foot but not on the other one ( both done)  which is not what I expected! Similar to the pains that I had before and a half weeks post op? Could be that it is part of the healing process? 
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