Walking after 6 weeks bunionectomy

Oh my gosh, Jac ~ What a day! Glad the CT scan was clear, and that your overall foot results are good. The picture upload button is in the right corner when you are typing a reply. Are your two screws in the top of your foot, too (mine and Dona's are criss-crossed on top). 

Yikes!!! Indeed what a day!!! I hope you both are feeling good today! 

iris, my fingers (but not toes!!) are crossed for all good at your doctor appt! 

yes, two screws same as Iris for me. Internal sutures in the side incision. 

Hi ladies

just popping in to say im on holiday and keeping up with the news on our feet the flight socks were a hit they keep the swelling down but then after a couple of days walking about in the sun my foot is so swollen and feels like there us a marble under my toes i thought i woukd be ok after 12 and half weeks but no i do get a good signal but have been reading about you all i have another batch to read so will do when i get a signal im trying to keep my foot up as much as poss but diffucult on hol first chance i got my foot went in the sea it was lovely and cooling take care all

Super Ann! keep that foot resting and up as much as you can and have a SUPER time!!  

Hi Ann, glad your socks worked. When you have moments in your hotel, or in the evenings, you might try putting them on until you go out again.  This truly is a slow process, isn’t it? Just remember to relax, put your feet up as much as possible. Ice if you can, 

Hi Ann, Enjoy your holiday and remember those sun loungers, they are good to put your foot up on after walking around. You are missing nothing in the UK, it has rained almost every day. Have a massage or foot massage it might help with the swelling. Enjoy.

lulu

make sure you find some shoes your foot can swell in when you on holiday becausr i think it will going by my experience

Welcome, Jen ~ yes, an old thread; however, several of us here are still recovering, also. I am 8 weeks post-op and started walking 2 weeks ago. As far as whether you should be or not, it depends which kind of procedure you had and what your doc advises. Dona and I both had laipidus; we each have 2 permanent screws in the top of foot, and could not weight bear for at least 6 weeks. I have read that weight bearing right away is best for healing, as long as your procedure is the kind that allows it. I would talk with your doc again for some better advice. A few of us have to do the same thing because our docs are not very forthcoming with information.

hi jen

i am now 15 weeks post op and i wore a surgical shoe with heal on and ended up getting a crutch to help i was told i could walk on the show but only as and when like bathroom visits for the first 2 weeks then gradually increase walking in shoe but only small amounts i had my trainers on at 5 weeks but i would say i have only really felt normal at 12 or 13 weeks so good luck and rest footb fir at least 2 weeks no weight

Hi Jen, Welcome to the forum, these ladies on here will all give you really good advice and information, they have been a lifeline in my dark hours and their experiences wide and varied have been kindly given and gratefully accepted.  I think (know really) that Joyce has long since run away ?,   Ann and  Lulu are, I think, the earliest in the current posts on this thread although there are several others.  Some of us are in the US,  Ann and I are in England, I feel you are in England? The information given in each country varies slightly as we are NHS and the US contributors pay privately for medical care.  I had my op on 18th Jan and have 7 permanent screws and a plate, I was given 2 crutches and a Velcro boot which I wore for 7 weeks all the time I was out of bed . Do you have a big wadded dressing on and if so  doesn't that protect the foot from the boot? also are you on painkillers? I had codeine based painkillers for about 3 weeks and they reduced the pain, my pain started really after the dressings were completely removed at 6 weeks. I am between 13 and 14 weeks post op, was always weight bearing with 2 crutches for 3 weeks, without crutches since then.  I have struggled finding comfortable shoes, and like Iris, have bought Hotter shoes which are reasonably comfy, I also have 8 pairs of Pavers Shoes in boxes trying to decide which to keep and which to return, 6 pairs already returned!! I have always been a shoe-aholic, but these are based around comfort not style, the most important thing, I am sure all the other contributors will back me up on that, you will be luckier than us as summer is here (well for this weekend at least) so sandals could be an option for you.  I think you need to wear the boot for support for both foot and ankle, your foot may have swollen as a result of not wearing it, but the biggie and some of the best advice given to me by all these lovely ladies is rest it as much as possible in an elevated position, ice it,  and when the bandage comes off moisturise and massage to make the scar more flexible. I hope you have a smooth recovery Jen. Hi Ann and Iris, regards Janet.

Holy smokes, Janet! I did not realize you have 7 screws and a plate. That seems like a lot of hardware in one foot. It does not bother you, and you are walking okay? What was your procedure called?

I had a bit of a relapse with mine this weekend. I was walking Friday evening, and stubbed the toe of my surgical shoe on something hard, which gave my ankle a painful twist. I had to go back to the crutches for a day, and now I am trying to decide if I need to see my doc tomorrow, or if all is well (other than the pain).  Hope everyone else is healing well!

Hi Iris, Janet, Anne... thanks so much for your responses, it's really helpful to hear everyone's experiences.

It really does seem to me it's a case of "Horses for Courses..." doesn't it? i.e. everyone's experiences and the advice they receive seem to be completely different. I'm 31, of healthy BMI (although not an athlete!) and although I don't know the proper term, my op involved a wedge cut to my right foot knuckle joint/bunion and a corresponding cut on the toe bone so that the surgeon could straighten the toe, a couple of pins (which will stay there permanently unless something happens) and fortunately no fusing of anything whatsoever. 

I'm in the UK, yes... and don't get me wrong, I'd never discount advice from NHS doctors and nurses - Christ, they've saved my life several times over. It's just that walking out of the hospital on Wednesday with the boot and one crutch was fine because the ankle block hadn't yet worn off so I couldn't feel anything. When I got home and removed the boot (they told me to take it off for long periods of resting, which is ALL I've done since I've been home, and at night).... I found it then hurt to get it back on... and things had swollen up too so I couldn't fit it in and strap it down properly without it hurting (again, when the nurse did this in the hospital, I couldn't yet feel anything as the block was still active). Hence my reluctance to use it. And as I say, as my mum had the second crutch, this is how I've just been getting to the bathroom and upstairs to bed for the past few days. I'm very lucky in that my husband and I have temporarily moved back in with her anyway (she has a loo on the ground floor, mobility and disability aids around the house left over from when my dear late Nan lived here so getting around and doing things one-legged is so much easier than it could otherwise be). So I haven't really wanted to go one-crutch-boot - I've been much more confident on two.

It seems that the common reason they advise against using two crutches (at least from what people, including the nurse I spoke to on the phone yesterday, say), is you could topple over, and the reason for the boot is for protection. I guess I wanted to know if wearing the boot and attempting walking in the first few days has some sort of healing benefit (i.e. does it put your foot in a position that strengthens muscles/tendons or something etc....) however it seems to be focusing on protecting your foot should you fall over. As I am fairly confident on 2 crutches... but mostly because I can't get the damned b*****d thing ON now, I think I'm going to carry on as I am... at least until my follow-up appointment NEXT wednesday at the hospital... when I will need to wear it, regardless, to get there.

Thanks all.... all opinions and experiences are really helpful xxxxxxx

Jen xxxx

iris

i would prob get doc to check it as you could have bruised it i stubb my toe only 5 days after op i nearly hit the roof it did bruise as well as the bruising from the op.Janet what alot of screws in your foot what op did you have.Jen you seem young to have had the op were they big and painful your bunion

Hi Anne

well for me so far no bumps thankfully.... but I do wonder if wiggled it in my sleep on Wednesday (Op day) and Thursday night (night after) because it was EXCRUTIATING. Im quite tolerant, but Thursday night was truly awful. Since then... no pain whatsoever except the odd sort of ache.

Yes, at 31 I'm quite young for a bunion Op as it's statistically more something ladies have later in life.... but I was told at the age of 16 that surgery one day was a likelihood, if not a certainty, heels orno heels. My mum had them, my nana had them.... even my GRANDAD had them and he certainly didn't wear heels!

Stubbing your toe at that point in recovery sounds dreadful, I hope you're ok now xxxx

Jen xxxx

Actually Iris, I didn't realise till I got the infection in the foot at 6 weeks, about the screws and plate I mean. I don't know what the procedure was , will try to find out, didn't realise till then how far the bones were out of alignment, the lower toe bone and bunion bone looked like a wishbone. Yes for the last few days I am walking much better and there is little pain now. For me it was the desolation, not being at work and the lack of energy which affected me the most. That is where you guys came in to force, you could bring my spirits up better than anyone (except my Son who can always lift my mood) Ouch your poor toe/foot/ankle, I am inclined to say yes see the doc, and take some painkillers. I remember reading that another contributor did something similar but it was ok, but just to be sure? Let us know if you are ok over the next few days. 

I remember the night pain, I was just going to post it when I read one of Lulu's posts (I think it was Lulu) she had written my thoughts and experience and even said I think that she virtually moved clockwise around the bed trying to get away from the pain, I experienced the same, it was awful!! I also remember the odd ache, so you are heading in the right direction, it will get better. I think now your boot goes up your leg? mine was probably more of a shoe with Velcro straps, but the main thing was that the heel was lower than the toe keeping the foot in the right position to aid the bones to heal. You poor girl, 31 and having a bunion op! You lucky girl being 31, I am one of the elderly ones, but don't wipe me out please. x I have two jobs, and work between 35 and 60 hours a week, my students tell me about tutors who are 'very old' when I ask how old they say 40, they must think I am Methuselah 9who was reputed to be 969 years old ) Kids have a strange perception of age. LOL. 

hi jen

yea im fine now bruising took a while to go they say bunions are hereditry. I must be an older lady im 55 but a very young one lol wonder if im the oldest on here ha ha

Not quite the oldest, Ann. I will be 58 in less than 2 months. :-) My bunions were not super painful before my surgery, but my primary phys. said that if I was going to have to have it done, I was better to do it before I got too old. I am glad she said that, because I can not imagine with the balance and strength that is needed to move around, trying to do it in my 70s. 

Interesting, Janet, about your shoe being such that the heel was lower than the toe. That makes sense. I am surprised I have not heard of that before. I think I will see how my foot feels in the morning, and then decide if I need to call my doc. I have had a couple of hits, or spills, during the healing process (first foot, and then this one). Seems like every time I go in just to be sure, and then there is not any damage. Sure wish there was a better way to tell, other than pain. 

Nice chatting with everyone! I appreciate the understanding and support.

Hi Jen,

I'd ring your consultants secretary, they should be able to answer your questions. Mine was brilliant!

I'm nearly 4 weeks post op and have been able to walk on mine since day 1, with my lovely shoes on of course. It all depends on what type of op you had though!

Marie xx

Ha!Ha! Ann, I love you, well! you know what I mean, all of  you are fantastic! I beat you by a mile! lets all play a game? Guess my age? no prizes just a little fun, and believe me I wont be offended whatever you guess. Then I will tell you how old the student thought I was when he said his tutor was old at 40. Have a nice day everyone. x

Hi Iris, no you are not the oldest, I am certain I am. Is your birthday in June? and what date is it?

Were your shoes black with Velcro fastenings Marie? Like you I walked out of the hospital, didn't realise though that the block had virtually numbed the foot and it was my leg working the movement. I was so determined to prove that it was a breeze having the op and recovery would be a breeze too, I got home, took the puppy into the garden on my crutches (me not the puppy, ha ha) went over on my ankle had excruciating pain shooting up my leg and down my foot. Not deterred, I went into the sitting room tried to switch the lamp on, which was next to the TV,  lost my balance and fell over with the TV virtually on top of me, my son who had gone to put my lights on in my bedroom came running downstairs, panicked, lifted the TV off me (unbroken, I am pleased to say) picked me up, sat me on the settee, put an occasional table under my foot with cushions to lift my foot high........and.....told me off 'big time!'  From then I started to behave myself.  I really need to find out the name of my op, I didn't realise they had different names.

Feel great today, I am at work with my lovely students.

I think, and medical friends agree, that my consultant is Autistic, he is a brilliant surgeon but, communication is not there.  I am basing this on working with Autistic students at college, and discussions with friends who are in the medical profession and consultants in different fields. That is not a complaint about him as his work is second to none and if I decide to have the other foot done I would certainly go to him, but I would like to have had more information from him.

Janet x

Oh my goodness! I'm glad you behaved yourself after that haha!

Yes, they are very ugly but do the trick. It's a good job as id of needed a wheel chair with having both done! I had Bilateral hv correction (chevron,akin) which basically I think means pins and screws and bone shave. Much less complicated than most of your ops.

I bet it's lovely getting back to normal 😊 I'm going into work tomorrow for a few hours.....i never thought I would be looking forward to that haha.

Marie xx

I haven't seen my Dr since the op but he is lovely and his secertary is fantastic xx

I had my first bunion on left foot removed at 29. Then again at 30, same foot. Now I’m 44, eek! And had the right foot done in February, like Iris. That is quite a gap of time now that I think about it. No wonder it’s harder this time! I should have listened to my mom and had them done when I was younger, but what did she know back then?? Haha. She knew! My daughter who is 25 has them as bad as me. All then women on my moms side had them. My daughter said she would never be able to handle the surgery. And I don’t think she would at this point either. She has borderline personality disorder. This is such a long, sometimes beyond lonely, painful recovery for most of us, she wouldn’t do it properly. Plus she faints at needles and could barely look at my foot. 

My my mom has had 6 surgeries for bunions and bunionettes. I was tempted to take a pic of her feet when I was giving her a shower the other day. She has dementia now, and this is a new thing I have to do for her. Her feet are the opposite of bunions now... I’m not sure how she walks on them!! 

i missed all lf the fun! This group is super. So supportive. 

Driving to work today!!! Oh boy! I hope I am not too swollen for PT tonight. 

Have a super day all!! 

Good luck with the drive, Dona. My first attempt will be next week. Are you planning to wear the surgical shoe, or a regular shoe? I have not decided yet what I am going to wear when I drive, and I have not tried to see if a regular shoe will fit my foot. Let us know how the drive and PT goes. Wow, almost 15 years that you have been unhappy with your first foot surgery - that is a long time!

Yes, Janet, my birthday is in June - the 23rd, so I guess exactly 2 months. Are you a June baby, too?

Good luck with your first drive 😊

I'm 36 and wished I'd done this year's ago. Can't wait to be able to wear a pair of shoes without worrying if my 'lumps' are covered!

 I haven’t decided yet LOL. I know you aren’t supposed to drive with that but I will see when I get in the car. The thought of having to shove my foot into a shoe and then drive without pressure makes me nervous. Once the foot starts hurting most of us know it takes a lot out of us and a long time to get it to settle down. Guess I need to decide pretty soon because I need to leave :-) 

hi ladies

janet i will guess you are 62 if not apologies i will be 56 may 4th time is just going so quick been to work 3 hours today.Dona hope your drive goes ok you are still a spring chick yet ha

my op was a scarf and akin with bi lateral release

The big girl drove herself to work!!! :-)  and it didn’t hurt! I ended up wearing my Footworks clog type shoes as they are super sturdy. I still have some swelling in my foot so it was a little snug but not painful.  And I did not use my scooter once yesterday! I walked on it while at work and actually worked 7 1/2 hours. Most of my job is sit down. As I was working I wore the Velcro shoe. The drive home was a little more tiring but not much. I rested for a bit and then had physical therapy.

I really liked my therapist!  We actually have a mutual friend in common who owns another physical therapy place so I feel he gave me super attention and was very detailed. He did a lot of measuring this visit and asked me if my left foot had always been flat with no arch. I can’t recall. He said I have an arch in my right foot so it would make sense to me that I have always had arches and the two surgeries on my left foot , and ongoing pain and issues may have something to do with it being flat? He had me do several exercises which, thankfully from this group, I already knew about for the most part.  The ABC’s in the air, the towel pick up, and then heal raise seated. I do have pictures of them that I can upload. He also discussed what else I would be doing. Different exercises and he said the scar tissue between my toe was still pretty thick which I already knew and have been working on  it like crazy. He said that is beyond helpful to start touching your feet as soon as possible and massaging those scars. He said he will also use a tool as much as I can tolerate it to where his fingers can’t get to properly to help on the top of my foot. I will have to see what all that is about. I tolerated much much more than I thought I would. He really had me do a lot. And grabbed and pushed both feet. I love that he worked on my left foot too after I explained that I still had issues. He had me walk and then reminded me that I really needed to walk heal,  middle, toe. Both him and my husband kind of laughed and my husband pointed out when I walk I kind of pick it up like a robot and set it down. So I will have to be much more conscious of that. I was just so afraid to put any kind of pressure on my toe area. And I have a hard time accepting the fact it’s ok to to move that joint where the pie piece was taken from. Both he and the surgeon assured me I can do no harm to it, but I still think I can! He told me to only wear the Velcro shoe about half of the time and  I need to double check with him if he means I should be walking in a sock on the floor or a shoe. Yesterday my exercises were all barefoot including walking. He pressed and pulled on the top of my foot and  when I got home it felt like someone had scraped the top of it. But I iced it and it felt much better.  He said having the ice machine was the ultimate help. The only issue that I had was when I got home from work yesterday my second and third toes felt crampy. That is the best way I can explain it. Like I almost want to stretch them out and try and pop them but I can’t. I still have that feeling today. I didn’t get a chance to discuss that with him yesterday. I will be going 3 times a week. I will go again tomorrow.  I still have that con founding bruise on the bottom of my foot. And today I’m noticing around my scars where he touched quite a bit especially on the top one there is a little bit of what might be a bruise there but it doesn’t hurt like the bottom one does. I asked him about that bump on top Iris, and he said it’s most likely hardware. I don’t agree with that because I don’t feel too screwheads but the bump has gone down and hasn’t given me many issues lately. I did notice my heel is sore today, which is odd. 

Im getting there!!! :-) 

so so glad to see we are all getting there. For those who are just starting out, I can’t recommend enough touching  your foot and massaging it as soon as you can. Also that ice machine was a lifesaver. Because I never was instructed anything with my left foot I am so limited, and it felt so foreign to me. I’m hoping my physical therapist will give me a print out of all the measurements he did. I think stuff like that is so cool :-) 

Some pics of the sturdy shoe I got on clearance so that was good! and my foot this a.m. remember the excercises are for what procedure I had done. :-) 

No Ann you aren't right and I am not offended, have another go? 

?Went to work yesterday for 4 hours, came home feeling great and then the texts and emails started pouring in from college and colleagues. My team is targeted for redundancy 'AGAIN1' , went into work today and had a meeting with one of our deputy principals. they want to get rid of half of us,,,,,welcome back Janet!!

?Donna I am glad your drive went well today, it makes you feel better doesn't it. ?

well done dona on the driving

janet im going to say older 65 maybe

Thank you for the excellent report, Dona! From what you said, it sounds like the scratchy/pressure feeling I am having on top of my foot and toe is from exercising. I had been a bit worried about that since I jammed my shoe toe last weekend. 

Wow, he had you walk barefoot? I am afraid to try that. My doc did tell me to wear my shoe all the time when I am walking though. I had thought I might try to place my foot on the shower floor lightly this morning (we have a bench seat, kinda, and I have been putting my knee on that), but then I chickened out when I got in there. 

When you are talking about the scar tissue, you mean your incisions feel lumpy, and we should be able to rub that out with our oils? Or, am I misunderstanding that?

Funny, what you said about walking like a robot ~ I told my husband I walk like Lurch  (not sure if you are familiar with The Adams Family show)!  So glad things are going well for you! :-) 

I was surprised he had me walk barefoot and with no shoes. I think I’ll send an email to the nurse to verify that’s ok. I did remember you saying you wore the shoe most of the time. I’m fuzzy on what the surgeon said exactly. I didn’t think it was a good thing to do to go without any sort of shoes/support. He got a fake foot and showed me exactly what I had done. Which for the most part I already knew but I really wanted clarification yet again and that fusion site. I’m still unclear LOL. To me it makes sense that I shouldn’t be trying to bend that area because maybe it would reopen the bone? I’m sure that is silly. 

Id agree that Your pain is most likely from exercise. Are you massaging it a lot on top? He robbed and rubbed it until I almost had to say something but then he stopped.  Today I can’t get past those toes cramp like feeling. It just won’t go away. I’m not sure what to do about it. I tried looking it up but of course can’t find anything that specific for after surgery. It will be the first thing I bring up tomorrow if I still have it.  It is keeping me from walking correctly for sure. When I do the towel pick up I’m able to do it with no cramping feeling. But when I walk or stretch it the feeling of cramps immediately comes back.  Right in the middle of my toes. Mainly the second third and fourth. He did say that I have no swelling in my ankle and it is all contained in my foot. I hope you’re swelling has gone down. 

The only place I really feel the lumpiness from the scar tissue is in between my big toe and second toe and on the side incision at the end. He said to continue massaging that to try and get it to spread. I’m still not good at steps at all and he said I should leave those alone for now. We have several leading up to our house and I am always extremely careful but I will not be climbing upstairs anytime soon.

toe cramps feeling!!! Help!!! It’s holding me back! 

Hello gals, thought I’d pop in. I’m 15 weeks yesterday. I’ve had a bit of problems with the ball of my foot. It is still swollen and causes discomfort when walking. Went to my Checkup last week and he said I should be 99% by now. He put me on a 6 day prednisone course. It’s helped quite a bit, but if last week was a 10 on the scale, I’m a 3.5 now. Better, but still. I go back in a week and we will discuss it then. Of course, I find a whole video about this on a podiatrist website who said it is not abnormal and explains why! Argh...I know my doc is good, but why doesn’t he know this, or relay this info.   

My stitch bruises he said it could take a year or two. He’d give me cortran tape to try, there’s laser. Oh for Pete sakes. So, I’m trying hydroquonine for now and see what that does in a month or so.

i did planks today (big smile). You couldn’t have told me in January that I’d be doing those in April. 

 

Hi Lulu-

im at 9 weeks and have had a setback since starting PT and walking. I think I’m probably doing too much, but at the same time I think,  let’s GO already!  The PT works me hard, and it is really good. I really have a problem with my gait! I don’t think I have ever walked right! He had my husband film me walking and it looked so rediculous!! I look like a robot! Both feet!! He asked if it just hurt too much to finish the follow thru (toe part, then pick up my other heel to step off at the same time) or if I was just too afraid it would hurt. Some of both? it for sure hurts though. I still have the cramps in my toes so that doesn’t help. But when I was at PT I was able to do the exercises. He also had me take a towel that was a little rough, and massage my foot with it, helps me bring back any feelings and to wake up the nerves. He has a tool he used for the middle scar that he scraped (but not really horrid painful) with lotion and pushed the fluid, scar tissue away so it wasn’t all in one area. It helped! He said it would take several times but would significantly go down. 

i still have the bruise on the bottom of my foot. When I asked my PT about kinesiology tape, he said he sometimes uses it for bruises. So maybe it’s something to look into Lulu! I was told by a friend to get some and then watch you tube videos on how to use it. I never did  

i have a bad habit of looking online at foot issues too. Last time I looked at pain in ball of foot it mentioned neuromas and I freaked myself out! don’t freak yourself out! :-) 

i have been icing almost non stop the past few days. It’s just sore all around , which I need to remind myself is normal from working on it, and walking. It’s hard to get back on my scooter when I should, it feels like I’m going backwards though I know I’m not. 

What is cortran tape? Laser?? Yikes! Pete’s sake indeed! 

I think my big toe is starting to move back toward my second toe! Maybe it’s just the swelling but of course now I’m focused and concerned on that! I was told I no longer needed my toe spacer, but maybe I do? I sent an email to the nurse, and I hope she actually answers! I don’t go back until May 24th. 

Good for you on the planks!! I could never do those!! I tried a squat challenge a year ago and after the first day I woke up and couldn’t feel my legs, lol. I kept at it for a bit though. 

Im tired of having pains! Such a long process! But we are all improving and we will get there! 

 

hi ladies

well done on the planks what is prednisone lulu im at work now only done 3 hours a day this week but my foot at the side aches alot even with my trainers on dont know why that is happening maybe because im on my foot all the time i am at work .I was like you dona couldnt walk propely for a long while its frustrating

Good morning, all! Great about the plank, Lulu. Hope your other troubles go away. The ball of my foot feels a bit odd/painful, although not too bad. I am still walking in the surgical shoe at 9 weeks. 

Good info again, Dona. I am going to try the towel massage. My ankle swelling and pain has finally gone down, and I walking a bit more everyday. I have a Fitbit, and I am up to 4 or 5 miles a day (not all at once). We are on our way to a campground, and I am hoping to increase that. 

Do you think you are walking/leaning on the side of your foot, Ann? I sometimes do that unconsciously and then have make myself stand straight on. 

Have a good weekend all!

Hey Lulu, Well done doing planks, you sound like quite a fitness person so I bet this whole process has been frustrating for you. I find my consultant is not forthcoming with information it might be a condition for gaining their qualifications!  . My friend is a renal consultant and she took her daughter to see my consultant for a foot op, she was surprised how reticent he was to give information, she says she goes through everything with her patients so they have a full picture. I am revving up to fight to keep my job, we are under redundancy procedures again, 8th time in 10 years! getting to be a pro at it but its awful. Keeps my mind off my foot though.  Hope you are all well.

Hi Ann, I can imagine it must be really demanding standing for all that time, and I suspect there is little walking around, how did you find the work shoes? or did they let you wear trainers? I am doing 4 hours a day this week then 5 hours from Monday, but I have the advantage of sitting some of the time and standing the rest. I take a spare pair of shoes in with me so I can change them and that gives a bit of relief. Donna, Iris, be patient, I had a big step forward this week if you will excuse the pun, my swelling is going down, and I can walk further distances. I am 14 weeks (I think).  Have a lovely weekend all.

Hi Janet! Hope you are well! I just got my two new pairs of Hotter shoes today (finally!!!) after really likng the first pair I got. The first pair was a size 9, and a tad big, but good for swelling. I like that you can take the inserts out to adjust as well! I have nearly no pain in my toes when I occasionally walk in them! so I ordered two more, the Angelica (yes I was dreaming. And of course will not be wearing these anytime soon!!) and the Aura shoes. I got an 8 1/2 thinking they would be a better fit since the size 9 form but a tad big. They are both HUGE!!! I didn’t think the sizes would be so scattered! I wondered if you had sizing issues with them as well? I read every review there was and none indicated the size issues. I’m not even sure size 8 would fit judging by the hugeness of the 8 1/2! 

The first ones I got were Solace, and I LOVE!!!! them!! 

Im so sick of shoes not fitting! I really only have one pair that I can wear when I do wear both shoes. And those came in an 8 1/2 box, but when I looked the other day at the actual shoe, it said 7 side!! Omg, I have never worn a 7!! These are Footworks brand slip on type. 

Hope you all doing well! 

 

I know I walk on the sides of my foot for sure. It’s very hard to concentrate on walking correctly. 

Iris, you will continue to only use the Velcro boot until you go back to the doctors right?  The PT told me that by walking on the shoes it’s not allowing me to walk correctly because we are really bending her toes. It seems that every time I go to PT I am really sore and have that crampy feeling in my other toes the next day and I have to ice a lot and take ibuprofen. The swelling gets pretty bad and it’s always the day after PT .  He even slowed it way down for me last time because we don’t want to have that! So now I am confused as to how much I really should be walking in a day and if I really should just be walking in that Velcro shoe. Maybe I’m doing too much at one time and I need to break it up throughout the day.  I can’t stand it when I have to take an entire day to recoup from what seems to me  like minimal exercises and I trust the PT completely. Maybe I started too early? I really can’t stand always doubting myself and it’s really helpful to see what everyone else is doing at this time. 

Hope the campground was enjoyable! nice out today it seems. We camp at a lot of State Parks throughout the summer. 

Hey Dona, yes, I am walking in the shoe until I go back to my doc on Wed. I am glad it is soon because my foot gets very sore after walking—the top of it is painful where the screws are, and I have pain at my toe knuckle and upwards that feels like a rough brick is pressing down on my foot and toe. Like you, I want to make sure all is okay, and this is just something I need to overcome.

I did get more exercise this weekend walking and riding my bike. Camping was great! Our first time this year. We drove over to your side of the state—kinda. Bay City Rec Area. It was our first time there, and we liked all the hiking. Wish I could have done more!

Oh, and I also experienced the same thing as you in regards to recouping after doing too much. I was very sore and walking with my cane this morning after all the activity yesterday. 

The toe knuckles... that’s where my pain is too, but it’s my other toes. My big toe isn’t bad! The PT said it’s most likely inner swelling that flares when I walk too much. I have been using biofeeeze on them and it helps a bit. Along with that ice machine. The scar in between my toes is still feeling like a grain of rice. He works on it with a tool, and it doesn’t even hurt. I’m thinking I should have waited to go to PT, or just go once a week. I can’t work and be out of commission an entire day after PT. And he’s eased up since I told him and I still have it. I want to get the most info and exercises that I can from him, so I may just go to once weekly until I can tolerate new things. I’ll gladly share the exercises with you! 

 One of them that he has me do is on a long board which my husband just uses a shelf board on the floor. He has a thing called a slider that I put my foot on but I noticed with my socks it’s slides pretty well on that board. I sit in a chair and with my foot flat on the ground push it forward and then backwards as far as I can go until they heal naturally starts to lift off and The toes start to bend. 

We dont camp for a few more months. Hoping to update our camper this year or the next. We go to Harrisville every year during Memorial Day, and get a site overlooking the water. It’s so beautiful! 

i can’t believe you are hiking! That’s super regardless of how much or little you do! I should try to ride my bike... not sure my clunky shoe would allow me to. 

Thanks  for letting me know, sounds like our pain is similar and I don’t think we both did anything wrong. Just part of the process. I’m so over it! :-) 

The toe knuckles... that’s where my pain is too, but it’s my other toes. My big toe isn’t bad! The PT said it’s most likely inner swelling that flares when I walk too much. I have been using biofeeeze on them and it helps a bit. Along with that ice machine. The scar in between my toes is still feeling like a grain of rice. He works on it with a tool, and it doesn’t even hurt. I’m thinking I should have waited to go to PT, or just go once a week. I can’t work and be out of commission an entire day after PT. And he’s eased up since I told him and I still have it. I want to get the most info and exercises that I can from him, so I may just go to once weekly until I can tolerate new things. I’ll gladly share the exercises with you! 

 One of them that he has me do is on a long board which my husband just uses a shelf board on the floor. He has a thing called a slider that I put my foot on but I noticed with my socks it’s slides pretty well on that board. I sit in a chair and with my foot flat on the ground push it forward and then backwards as far as I can go until they heal naturally starts to lift off and The toes start to bend. 

We dont camp for a few more months. Hoping to update our camper this year or the next. We go to Harrisville every year during Memorial Day, and get a site overlooking the water. It’s so beautiful! 

i can’t believe you are hiking! That’s super regardless of how much or little you do! I should try to ride my bike... not sure my clunky shoe would allow me to. 

Thanks  for letting me know, sounds like our pain is similar and I don’t think we both did anything wrong. Just part of the process. I’m so over it! :-) 

The toe knuckles... that’s where my pain is too, but it’s my other toes. My big toe isn’t bad! The PT said it’s most likely inner swelling that flares when I walk too much. I have been using biofeeeze on them and it helps a bit. Along with that ice machine. The scar in between my toes is still feeling like a grain of rice. He works on it with a tool, and it doesn’t even hurt. I’m thinking I should have waited to go to PT, or just go once a week. I can’t work and be out of commission an entire day after PT. And he’s eased up since I told him and I still have it. I want to get the most info and exercises that I can from him, so I may just go to once weekly until I can tolerate new things. I’ll gladly share the exercises with you! 

 One of them that he has me do is on a long board which my husband just uses a shelf board on the floor. He has a thing called a slider that I put my foot on but I noticed with my socks it’s slides pretty well on that board. I sit in a chair and with my foot flat on the ground push it forward and then backwards as far as I can go until they heal naturally starts to lift off and The toes start to bend. 

We dont camp for a few more months. Hoping to update our camper this year or the next. We go to Harrisville every year during Memorial Day, and get a site overlooking the water. It’s so beautiful! 

i can’t believe you are hiking! That’s super regardless of how much or little you do! I should try to ride my bike... not sure my clunky shoe would allow me to. 

Thanks  for letting me know, sounds like our pain is similar and I don’t think we both did anything wrong. Just part of the process. I’m so over it! :-) 

Hi Donna,

I am now 15 weeks post surgery, but can remember (especially when I was coming close to returning to work) those experiences you are having.  For total comfort I resort to my slippers (odd ones) and one old pair of Geox slip on shoes. Buttt!..... the swelling is going down and yesterday I went for quite a long walk (for me) with my daughter in law wearing the Hotter trainers and they were comfortable.  I bought the size 4 (my usual size) and they fit and go on easily, two weeks ago they were a little uncomfortable so I had to pad the scar and the black dot, but now no socks and no padding. Are you aware that they do extra wide fitting and extra, extra wide fitting?  When I went into the shop I tried about 10 pairs of shoes and the trainers and a slip on pair were the only ones I could put on, but I would have needed the extra wide and they didn't have it in the colour I wanted. Do they offer free returns? If so send them back and order your size but extra wide? I also bought some fit flops (not the right name but a variation on that0 from Pavers they are mules and are comfortable (they were in their sale at £15 and £20. My foot was swollen for a long time because I had the infection in it for 3 weeks, so it was like a balloon, but although it is still there its nowhere like the swelling two weeks ago.  Hope this helps Dona.

Take care all. Janet.x

Just read the above post and some of it is confusing even to me so: the shop was Hotter, the ones I needed the extra wide were the slip ons. I bought the Hotter trainers from 'Debonhams' because they were £10 cheaper than Hotter even with the postage (to the UK) at Debonhams they were (41.99 as opposed to £55 at the Hotter shop)

The Harrisville sites on the water--yes, those are beautiful, Dona! We have been to that campground once. We stay in west MI most times. The hiking I did was mostly flat ground. So basically, it was just walking in the woods. Riding my bike was a tad tricky with the clunky shoe. We only went a few miles each day, and again, flat ground and I did not go fast.

I am going to try a shoe tomorrow when I take my maiden drive voyage (less than 10 miles). I hope I do not need to buy new shoes. Last time, I see that my foot was still swollen at 14 to 16 weeks (about where you are, Janet), and that I had been able to wear my own shoe unlaced. 

Have a good week, all!

 

hi all

been to work today for 4 hours bottom of my foot is aching this is prob going to be like this all the time now i do hope not even my leg aches

Hi Janet! Thanks so much! yes, they do offer free exchanges, and only a $7 return fee if I’m not exchanging. I was positive they would fit just like the lovely Solace slip on’s I got. Of course they don’t have my size in the two pairs that are huge, and a half size smaller! I will have to try to call and see what they can do. And in those they don’t offer wide. :-( again I was positive after reading the reviews and already having a pair that I’d have no issues. Never fails with me! 

iIll have to look at the Geox, thanks! So the fit flops go between your toes? I have heard many ppl say they like that brand. I looked up Pavers and they have good prices! but I’m not sure they ship to US, and if they do, it might be spendy. 

Im glad you’re swelling has gone down! It has to be so nice to take walks! it was super nice here yesterday and I worked. Today I have PT and I’m hoping to at least go out on my scooter for a bit just for fresh air! 

happy driving! it’s funny when I drive now, I’m hyper aware of the crazy Michigan drivers, and constantly wishing they wouldn’t get so close and drive so fast! I worked 10 hours yesterday (go me!) and was feeling fine, no scooter. I sat most of the day. On the drive home my foot started to hurt when I pressed the gas. I found myself wishing the gas pedal was higher. I can’t move my seat any more closer or I’ll have a hard time with the brakes.  As it is my hubby has to adjust it from me to him before he can even get in the car I’m so close! 

I hope you find out about our toes! I wonder if they will X-ray you again? Take pics! :-)  I don’t go until the 24th and of course the nurse hasn’t emailed me back.

I was sore and restless most of the night. I spent it on the couch with the ice machine. Today I have PT. I’m noticing a pattern, it takes a full day after PT to start to hurt. So I’ll most likely be cranky tomorrow at work! I’d better bring my scooter just in case. I do wish I had a cane. I still think I’ll tell the PT I only want to come once a week, until my doc visit on the 24th. That way I can work on what he’s given me so far, and then really concentrate on my gait and walking right with the PT when hopefully the soreness and swelling isn’t as big of a deal. 

We go to Harrisville every year during the Harmony Weekend. And Tawas. We were lucky to get a lake site. I swear you have to be in the mafia to get one they go so fast! We schedule the reserve time in our calendar and then we use our phones, iPads and computers every year to try and get a lake site. 

My family used to go to Mears when I was younger. I believe that’s by you. We also try and take a trip to the UP when we are in Harrisville since it’s not too much further. 

Let us know about your doc visit, and again, hoping your drive today is easy peasy! 

My short drive was easy today, Dona. I actually wore the surgical shoe (rather than put a shoe on and off, since I am not walking without it yet), and it did not get in the way at all. I guess it was similar to if I had been driving with a small snow boot on. We are going to Tawas for the first time near the end of June. I think we may not have a great site from the looks of it--hopefully, it will be good! The site we had booked for last weekend in Bay City was lousy. Fortunately, the park was mostly empty, so we did not have any trouble changing.

I do not think I will have x-rays tomorrow, unless doc thinks I need them from the pain I have, and after he feels my foot. I do not think he took them last time at my 10-week visit. The pain I am most worried about is the bone pain through the top of my foot. The rough pressure, and sore toe pain I remember having last time. I see in my blog last year, I wrote that I had toe cramps/spasms after I started walking  in my regular shoe (similar to a charlie horse cramp). I think you said you are experiencing that, Dona? 

Lulu, if you are still on here (or, anyone who has been doing yoga or stretches) ~ I know Lulu mentioned doing plank poses. I wonder when you could place the top of your foot on the floor to stretch it fully (like pigeon pose, or upward facing dog)? I have been slowly and gently stretching my foot that way, and it is not very flexible. 

The attached photo is the condition of my feet this morning; lone suture in left foot still not dissolved, and right foot top and ankle still a bit swollen. If I get any new info from my doc tomorrow, I will share it!

Ok I think I may have figured out what exactly is bothering me when I say I have cramps in my toes when I try and walk. Between the third and fourth toe when I put weight on it and walk it feels like a bone is moving. So I was touching my feet as I always do trying to figure it out. I stood flat on my foot and then picked up my foot and I could feel the bone shifting over. Or whatever it is. I think I can almost see it! I did not have this issue until I started walking on it. I'm not sure if that's normal or not. And when I try and compress it like my PT advised me to wear a compression sleeve I noticed when I take it off and wiggle my toes it clicks again. I'm not sure which way is right or wrong! If it is still like this tomorrow I'm going to call. It's rare that I ever have the pins and needles feeling anymore and I know it's because I have massage my foot from the beginning. Maybe a little in the mornings at first. I also have PT therapy again tomorrow so I will ask him as well. Yesterday he had me stand on my right foot and put my left foot in the air in front of the table and try and balance without rusting my fingers on the table in front of me. I was horrible at it LOL

Good luck today at your appointment Iris. Find out all you need to find out and just stand there until they answer :-) that's what I did when they were trying to tell me I didn't need PT.

Hmm, that sounds odd about your 3rd and 4th toes, Dona. I would definitely ask about that. My toes that far over to feel out of whack at all; just my big toe and the one next to it. I feel my bones cracking every time I bend my big toe using my hands. In my case, I think it is just like when you crack your knuckles because they are stiff (or, whatever the reason). The pressure pain I am feeling in my knuckle and top of my foot is not tingling from the nerves. I think it is something else, because it is more like rough pressure. My foot does not tingle or anything when I touch it. I have been exfoliating and trimming my nails, etc. 

I was wondering if I could try to stand on my right foot with all my weight to try and balance! :-) You are probably farther ahead than me. I tried the foot slide you described, and that seems to help the top of my foot I have been trying to stretch. I will let you know what my doc says later. 

When you are in Tawas go to the the Chocolate store, Ben Franklin and I used to love the Blue Bear jewelry store, but it’s changed hands and not as super. I love the fire and colored opal jewelry, she used to stock a lot, Tawas is super, we always stay in Harrisville and make the short drive. Harrisville has a new bathroom and it’s awesome. Individual private bathrooms and showers with a sink, they are bigger than my bathroom here!

ill keep practicing the standing position he showed me. Because I worked yestersay I came home to a swollen foot, despite the fact I rested it on a water bottle (I think they are called) that I keep frozen and freeze it totall flat  and put it on top of my paper box under desk. I think the true relief is raising it above our hearts, which of course I can’t do at work. I have never looked at my foot so much! it’s funny when my boss hears my Velcro strap coming off he comes and looks at my foot. Lol. When he saw how swollen it was he got the ice for me. Very thankful he is being supportive this time! Takes a lot of stress away from me. By the time  I got home and started the ice machine and rest of it above my heart it wasn’t very long when I was feeling relief. I do wish I could find ways to naturally get the inflammation down instead of taking ibuprofen. I don’t like taking medications that mess up my gut. Wonder if turmeric  oil would help. I have that! 

Ive also been driving with the shoe, it gives me the added thickness and easier for me to reach the gas and not push my foot too much. I’d  agree with you that it is very similar to wearing a snow boot. I’m going to try and scrub my feet good later and I will take pictures again. I am finding that when I rub the bottom of my foot flaky skin is coming off even though I moisturize it daily.

Your foot looks super. I still have that one scab on my foot.  The bruise on the bottom is finally almost gone and not as tender. That sure took a long time! Looking forward to PT today. When I told him that my surgeon didn’t really want to give therapy he said he hears that a lot and is truly shocked about that. It certainly can’t make things worse!  Especially for people who have always had bunions I think we all tend to walk incorrectly  to help with pain.