Pain and severe stiffness after bunionectomy

cjh1221 · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

I had my Bunionectomy almost 3 years ago. It was an Austin type (1 pin) and the Podiatrist said it went very well. The healing and recovery process was long and he forced me to wear shoes and walk on it even though I was still having severe pain after 6 weeks.
I still have severe pain in the joint if any pressure is applied to it. I also have what they are telling me is a growth of bone scarring and it is a rather unsightly and large lump on the top of the joint (under the incision). Luckily (ha ha) I have no feeling in the skin surrounding the incision site. He said that a nerve was severed. There is not a lot of pain associated with the bone scarring, but it is very large, and is getting larger as we speak.
There also is severe stiffnesss in the joint. I have absolutely no ability to bend the toe downwards. My upward range is reduced by 50% or more than it was before the surgery. There is pain (bad enough to bring tears to my eyes) if the slightest thing moves my toe in any direction sideways and downward is enough to bring me to my knees, as is forcing it past the point where it stops normally in the upward motion.
Is this something that I should have fixed? Is there any way to fix it? Is this normal or did something go wrong? I really don't want to have to go through another surgery, the first one and especially it's aftermath were scary enough. Do I have to live with this for the reat of my life, or does anyone know what could have gone wrong?
Any answers or even personal experiences would be of great help to me. Thank you in advance.

helene · Supporter Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 363

Hi there! My mom had bunionectomy and it was also painful even a year after the surgery. From what I have read, many people have post op problems and it seems that this surgery is not such a good option..but what can you do when you have pain before the surgery as well.

Although her doctor everything was working out fine, my mom would have pain after a longer walk and still does sometimes. She sometimes think it was not such a good idea but what is done, it is done.

You case seems to be extreme and you should definitely have it checked again. Honestly, I am not sure if you could fix your problem without another surgery. But I am not a doctor and only your doctor who can see your problem can give you such information.

What you are feeling is definitely wrong. Have you seen a doctor lately? What did they suggest? Another surgery or…?

I am very sorry you have to go through all of this but without professional help, I don’t think you will get any relief.

cjh1221 · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

I have seen the podiatrist recently, and he decided that he would like to go in and remove the screw, scrape out some of the scar tissue, and remove the bone spurring. Great. I am scheduled to be there Monday morning for the surgery, and am really not looking foward to it. There are some concerns about prolonged swelling because it is a second surgery at the same site, even using the same incision.
I will update on how everything went and my recovery. Thanks!

cjh1221 · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 8

Well, I went in Monday for the removal. He took out the screw and did a little shaving on the bone where the spurring was. I am so happy so far, I have had almost no pain whatsoever. I have been following all his instructions, icing and elevating almost non-stop since.
Things are going great, he says in 2 days I should start some flexing exercises. Literally grabbing my toe and bending it with my hand. Might be some pain doing that but if I don't get moving it now, it will be harder to move it later.
So far really happy with things, we'll know better when the stitches come out. I am just hoping to be able to tip toe without pain. I'm not asking for pointe or anything, just what is normal. He says it looks like a good possibility.

Guest · Guest

I am going through the exact same thing. I am very concerned that I am never gonna be the same again.It has been three months for me now. My doctor told me that i would be okay in 6weeks .That was before I went through with my bunionectomy. I think I made a serious mistake.

sue 99 · Guest

I have had a bunionectomy with a k wire which was removed after 4 weeks and my foot cast removed after 6 weeks i am shocked I cant walk very much on it and may have to have cast put back next week!! I too was under the impresion that it would take about 6 to 8 weeks and be back at work and begining to wish i had not had this done!! I did have a lot of pain before thats why I had it done but now worry if my toe will ever move again! I work all day on my feet and now worry how long it will be before i get back! Has anyone else had theres done by k wire?

missbarb · Newbie Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

Im glad to have found your posts because I was starting to think I was crazy. I had a bunionectomy with osteotomy 8 weeks ago. Everything was fine until he told me to bare 100% weight ont he foot and walk...OMG crushing pain inside, feels like all my bones are falling apart inside there, but xrays show everythign to be "fine" and "looking good." everytime I put a little bit of weight on my foot it kils me, which unfortunately leads me ot walk on my heel or side of my foot which will in turn screw somethign else up,right? So my dr is workign wiht me trying to figure out what the problem is...i keep telling him i think my body is rejecting the 2 screws he put in but he doesnt seem to think that is the problem... he also said i have a lot of built up scar tissue... does that mean he has to go in and take it out or does that heal on its own with some PT? My toe can barely bend upward and downward...so stiff. If id known it was going ot be like this would have never done it..ever. Any advice? I am dying ot go back to work but the pain wont let me.

christie_sf · Newbie Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

I am a runner with a family history of bunions. I finally had mine removed at age 30 by a fantastic podiatrist from Stanford University. It's been five years, and I am thrilled with the results. I can run up to 10 miles, so long as I wear orthotics.

Recently, the screw in my left foot started to pull out, and I could feel it through the skin. I went to a nearby podiatrist to have it removed, knowing it was an easy procedure. Stanford is about 90 minutes from my home, and it didn't seem worth the drive. I was so wrong. After a month, I can barely put weight on my foot without pain. I can't walk more than a mile without severe pain. I don't think the surgeon stitched the incision well, and I have puckering in the skin. I suspect that is the problem. I'm going back to him, but I'll probably end up going to my Stanford doctor to fix the mess.

JBirchett48 · Newbie Joined: 04 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

I had bunion surgery on my right foot, big toe and little toe (also called a bunionette). After almost 10 weeks, I am finally alternating sneakers and a walking boot, plus going to rehab 2 times a week. My foot looks a lot better, but this has changed my life considerably and I'm afraid that I've made a mistake. I can't bend my toe downward and from other posts am afraid that I never will be able to. Can anyone reply after bunion surgery that the toe flexibility comes back 100%?? Plus, both my husband & I remember my Dr. distinctly saying 6-8 weeks, full recovery, we never heard 10 weeks plus. . . . are Dr's downplaying recovery time to get business??

Guest · Guest

Well, I'm glad I"m not the only one having a problem with my bunionectomy. I had the surgery done almost 8 weeks ago and my toe doesn't move downwards at all, and only moves up a little bit. Same with other people. I'm trying to force it to move, but the pain is insane, and all for nothing because it still isn't budging. I had this done because the bunion was extremely painful, and they said because I'm young I would make a full recovery. I ran before the surgery, and I'm terrified that I'll never be able to run again.

So if there's anyone out there who had this problem and was able to overcome it, please write in and let us know!!

Pain and severe stiffness after bunionectomy

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