I had a left lapidus eight months ago with three screws in foot, and a keller wire to correct hammertoe 2nd toe. Six weeks on crutches, and back to work (nursing) at eight weeks. I limped around for four weeks in athletic shoes, then had right hip pain, ? strained sacro-iliac ligament. What helped my foot recovery was to exercise the big toe many times each day, both passively and actively. However, I seem to have a permanently numb great toe, and am wondering if this will ever come right. I can wear open-toed moderate heels for special occasions, but otherwise wear flat sports shoes or flip-flops. The big toe has developed an ingrown toe nail, partly because I cannot feel it, but also from the altered gait, and need an orthotic to rotate the foot more so I am walking on the big toe joint instead of the outer foot. Also still have joint pain issues when stand directly on the big toe. The orthopaedic surgeon said he does not know why this has happened, as his other bunion patients have been fine. Has anyone else had a numb big toe after this surgery, please?
Hello Amanda, congrats on being 3 1/2 weeks closer to healing. It took me 8 weeks to start walking (limping), and 14 weeks to get comfortable. Not sure what happened to the great toe. The nerve may have died because the plaster cast was too tight, but I didn't know any better and thought it was normal. Or it may have been when the tendon between the great and 2nd toe was deliberately severed, not sure why, leaving a permanent gap. There was also a Keller wire down the 2nd toe deep into the mid-foot to fuse the joint. At any rate, life goes on and I'm grateful to have a usable foot. Definitely talk to your doctor. What I've got now is similar to a diabetic foot, and will need as much care and attention to prevent accidental trauma because of the loss of sensation in the great toe. Didn't realise there was an ingrown toenail until the pus and blood came oozing out, then didn't need the local anaesthetic the podiatrist insisted on, because no pain. So a mixed blessing, but if there is anything that can be done to save the nerve in your toe, now is the time to do it. Perhaps electrical stimulation? Good luck, and let us know how you get on.