Swelling, Pain, and current PT make it worse??

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hi all,

I need advice, please! I had tailor bunion surgery about 4.5 weeks ago. The doctor thought I would have to have the bone cut and screwed and shave the bunion off. He saw I had bursitis in the x-ray. Turned out after surgery that he only shaved the bunion and took out a walnut sized cyst (what he thought was bursitis in the x-ray). Once he did that, he said he thought it was unnecessary to cut the bone and put in a screw, as the tarsal looked fine then. He thinks the cyst was pushing the bone outward. I was very excited that there was not bone cutting and no screw. I thought it would heal so much faster! Wrong. It has been so slow, but finally seemed to be getting better at times during the past week (3 weeks post). But, three days ago I started physical therapy to get my 4 smaller toes to move more and for them to actually touch the ground and supposedly to get some ultrasound to help the swelling when it happens. The physical therapist seemed great and helped my toes go down more and gave me exercises to get things to loosen up and move. But in the couple days since then, the swelling comes back way more easily and the pain under on the bottom of my foot (feels like I am walking on a stone) is worse. Is that due to physical therapy or what? My physical therapist did not do ultrasound, so am thinking of asking her on Tuesday when I got back if we need to do that, like doctor said for the swelling. I'm really not sure if that helps the swelling or pain or what? She did help the movement in my toes already and I am doing the exercises 2x a day. I am just VERY upset and concerned about the walking on a stone pain and the swelling and hot feeling that has been happening the past few days more often. It is like I am regressing instead of feeling improvement. Please let me know your experiences if you have had similar issues.

Thank you!!

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Beth

    I've had different surgery on both feet and for breast cancer. in all three I've had strange feelings and pain as a result. with the BC it was like having a pair of socks balled into my armpit. I had to walk round with my hand in the back pocket of my jeans to ease the discomfort. I was told it was caused by the damage to the nerves. My right foot was the same. The armpit healed and is great however my foot is still very uncomfortable unless I'm wearing shoes and socks. I'm waiting for more surgery on that foot and hope the situation will be improved.

    It is one of the things I was warned about, especially with surgery on my feet. Pain from nerve damage needs different types of painkillers so when you go back you need to ask.

    I hope it does improve, we go through so much having this surgery it is devastating when we feel worse after it.

  • Posted

    HI! Hot feeling of the foot is not a good sing, it depends , but it may be sign of infection. Swelling is normal for up to a year. If you are on facebook, there is a group , i have survived a bunionectomy '

    You can ask to join, you may find there more answers.

    • Posted

      there are lots of things they do not tell about... like foot turning purple for a wile after the surgery, metal allergy...

    • Posted

      YES!! My foot is so much redder/purplish more than the normal foot! It is crazy! Plus all of the many bruises. It is improving now, but really not the "minor" surgery they said it was! I hope I am thankful I did it when it is all over and I am healed. This has been a frustrating, draining, and painful process for the past 4.5 weeks!! And I feel for those of you who had to have the screw and the bone cut. My heart goes out to all of you!

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