Pain and severe stiffness after bunionectomy

you are right about that.had bunion removed+arthritis in big toe,

pin to straighten 2nd toe, other toes were hammertoes had them fused

about 6w ago,was in plaster cast taken off last week.

my large toe and side of toe so swollen as well as whole front of foot near that area.cant get any type of sneaker or anything on foot

with exception of a thin soled type of slipper with a loose band across the front.can walk with a bit of a limp,but concerned abt only wearing this flimsy slipper,as it can come off easily,could cause me to trip.

but have no alternative,this large toe is about 3sizes bigger than normal.

any advice how to bring swelling down,have heard it takes a long time

Well after reading all these post I am now convinced that I'm not crazy and this pain is not just in my mind. I had both feet done Buionectomy and bunionette done in July 2 2012 and September 28 2012. My problematic left foot had a cyst on the bone and took almost 3.5 weeks before stitches came out and had to wear long leg walking boot up to 8 weeks later during one of the hottest summers California has ever experienced. Post operatively my biggest issue is my scar has developed a keloid on left foot. My left foot was done with V incision and 1 pin insertion. I am only at 8 weeks recovery and I am experiencing a shooting pain in Great toe and very painful ball of foot pain. It feels almost like I have calluses on underside of my Big toe. I returned to my Dr only to get dismissed as its scar tissue issue. I was offered the opition to get Corrisone shot in joint or Volteren topical gel. I've also experienced extreme bunionette swelling as if the bone is trying to go back. I can't wear any of my shoes. I'm scheduled to return to work Monday 11/26/12 but I don't know how this is going to work out. Is there any hope for a pain free foot and increase in ROM for big toe status post recovery. I've been up reading post most of the night because pain is unbearable and can't sleep. I read a post about Mexican cactus,Physical therapy, and massaging the incision site I will look into. Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated...

I had my bunion surgery about a year ago. Not to alarm you but it does sound like something may be wrong. I would most definitely have it checked out. My toe flexibility has been reduced since surgery but I am able to bend my big toe upward and downward. My surgery required 3 pins, one of which is going horizontal in the big toe joint. I was able to return to my active lifestyle of running, zumba and super occasionally wearing cute heels. My only annoyance since recovery is this popping that my joint does. I'm going to have a follow-up with my podiatrist even though he told me that I wouldn't need to see him anymore. Your issue sounds worth checking. Take care of yourself if you're having discomforts.

I have  a bunion right that ive had all my life doesnt seem to be growing and i have no pain. Ive heard that you're not supposed to have bunionectomy under any circumstance before the age of 21 because complications are likely to arise which might be the reason for the pain some of you are feeling but now im terrified to have surgery seeing what its done for you and how i don't have pain right now...any other options out there?

 

* you cant have bunionectomy before 21 because the bone is still growing (osteoblasts...)

I had bunion/hammer toe surgery over a year ago. 

The pin in my big toe fell out one week before cast was removed.  Doctor still had me walking in the boot at six weeks after taking Xray.  By next appointment I was in agony and he had me back on my knee roller showing me my new Xray with a clear crack in the big toe bone.

At six months final visit my podiatrist tells me that it has taken me 6 months to heal to the extent most people do in 6 weeks.  Now he says it's because the pin fell out early. 

Still have pain, can't fit that foot into anything other than slipper or lace up shoe.  I'm not able to walk more than 20 minutes without searing pain.  Part of the reason for the surgery was to reduce length of second toe which was baring all of the weight.  This should be the big toe.  Now, neither toe bares any weight at all, it's all on the 3 small toes and every step is painful.

My suggestions to anyone considering this surgery are: make sure you have the absolute best podiatrist possible, get references of others he has done the surgery on and call them.  Also, if you are not in severe and constant pain, you may well be if you have this surgery.  Make  sure you research totally what you are in for and ask lots of questions. 

I now have a very hard lump on the top of my foot which is likely a screw or a bone that didn't heal right.  Best of luck to you and God Bless.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a bunionectomy 2 years ago on my left foot and a year ago on my right foot. It took about 2 years for complete healing and for the range of motion in that foot to improve. However, the right foot is still tight and the range of motion is not there yet. My husband recomended that I go to Physical Therapy so I had to get an order from the doctor who did the surgery. I don't know why my doctor did not send me to therapy because it has been extremely helpful. I would recomend anyone who has this done to go get therapy. I did not realize how limited my range of motion in my foot until I started therapy.

I had a second bunionectomy on my right foot in August. I applied ice every 30 minutes and wore the cast boot. All seemed to be okay and I had not been afraid of the surgery as my left foot turned out great after surgery about 10 years ago. I am now 66. Suddenly last month I started having burning pain behind the big toe on top and bottome. I invested in very expensive shoes, Ecco, and have been careful with exercises. Friday, the Podiatrist took x-rays and said everything looked fine but I seem to have "too much me movement in my big toe." I don't know what that means. The pain wakes me at 2 or 3 AM every morning. I have three screws as she said she cut the bone in two. Does anyone have three screws? Also, she has not recommended an MRI.

I forgot to mention that the Podiatrist said she could "fuse" my big toe to perhaps stop the pain. She didn't mention any other possible problems, scar tissue, etc. that might be causing my pain.

I had surgery 2/3/12 and at all follow up appointments, I was told by the podiatrist that everything looked great.  Unfortunately, with every step I take, I feel like I am walking on a screw and have shooting nerve pain radiating to my big toe with every step.  After working with the podiatrist who did my surgery for a year (insoles, 3 different cortisone shots, and the removal of one screw) before I decided to get a second opinion.  I am currently being treated by an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in treatment of the foot and ankle.  I just had a CT Scan which shows that the pin still in my foot is 4-6 mm too long and is probably the cause of most of my pain.  I had physical therapy as prescribed after my surgery and again just recently prior to the CT scan.  Not sure yet what the future holds for me, but I am hopeful with proper care, I will be back to walking and other activities without constant pain. 

I had my 2nd bunionectomy 4 1/2 months ago. I had the left foot done several years ago without any complications. This time it was a different doctor and in hindsight I should have never trusted him. I had no sensation post-op and then had sharp pains about one month later. I still cannot walk, stand, or drive without being in excruciating pain. I cannot get a straight answer from any doctor as to why this is going on.

Get a second and third opinion. If necessary get surgery to correct it from a personal referral. Get a lawyer who specializes in malpractice lawsuits. Do this asap since there is a statute of limitations and it is difficult to prove malpractice.
Good luck to you.

I had surgery on both of my feet about 7 weeks ago. After a hellish month of pain, I'm walking in normal shoes (flat tennis shoes) and exercising my toes as the doctor ordered, but I noticed the other day that on my left foot the big toe is sticking up. It's just my left foot...I have to go back to the doctor in a week or so and I am curious as to what he will say when I ask. Hoping it's not permanently stuck that way though!
As for doctors not being up front...well my doctor said I would be able to walk 10 days after surgery. That was definitely NOT THE REALITY! He did not inform me that the recovery period would be so long and grueling-he made it seem like a piece of cake.

Jersey_girl, Can you please share your doctor's name? I'm one-year post-op and still in so much pain with little movement in my big toe. I love my podiatrist, but even he is out of answers. If you don't want to post here, email to

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. Thanks!

This has been quite the thread of posts! I had a sesamoid bone removed exactly one year ago, and as I understand it, the procedure is very similar to a bunionectomy. My doctor removed a broken sesamoid that never healed right, shaved some bone down, and found some arthritis in there. I have pain every step of every day, and only about 50% upward movement and even less downward movement.DOES IT GET BETTER?! And if so, how? Is it just a matter of waiting it out, or are there things I can try? (Physical therapy was a joke. They had me go from station to station, ultrasaound, electrotherapy, hot water bath, and more to no avail.) Are the people who posted here years ago still sufferring, or are you better now? Please tell us how you're doing.I'm 34 years old--way too young to never wear heels again, but I'm afraid that's what will happen. I'll try anything. Just tell me what to do.

 

I just got past the three month mark of having a bunionectomy on both feet. I experienced a lot of stiffness, but it is slowly getting better. My doctor has me doing exercises twice a day-foot bath in warm water for 5-10 minutes to relax the feet a bit before the exercises. He has me stretching my toes with my hands (I stretch them until it is uncomfortable-I wasn't stretching them enough initially which is why I had one toe sticking up a bit), then wiggling my toes and then while leaning on a table getting on tip toes. I usually do 50 counts of each exercise. The tip toe exercise was very difficult when I first started but my muscles are getting stronger now and it does not hurt as much. I still have not put on high heels yet even though my doctor said I could if I wanted to as long as they did not squish my toes together. I am going to wait a few more months before I try that, I think. And even then they will probably be kitten heel or 1-2 inch max and probably only for special occasions. For now I am in my flat tennis shoes as most of my old shoes are still too tight on my feet. I have a feeling that I will have to just get rid of my old shoes and get some good quality supportive shoes that are good for your feet. No more cheap shoes for me! I know it seems like it will never get better. I felt that way and was feeling very desperate and a little depressed as I could not really leave the house for about a month and even after that my feet were not strong enough to even just do normal errands/work for quite a while. It will get better with time. Doing exercises to strengthen your feet will also help and just starting to walk a bit more will also help. The stiffness and movement will only get better with exercise. Ask your doctor if there are any specific exercises you can do for flexibility. Hang in there! If that doesn't work, maybe you should get a second opinion and see what your other options are. Hope it gets better for you!