Foot surgery

dachshund

Hello Emsjane.
you are doing well.i had a tripple fusion last june on my foot just below my toes i also had my big toe straightened i had my leg in plaster for 12 weeks i had to hop for 6 weeks and then i had a blue shoe to wear for 6 weeks over the plaster i have not had any pain since the op it only ached.
i'm flat footed and i have cerebral palsy.
take care have plenty of rest.
joan xx

emsjane

Hi all,

Just thought id update you on my toe surgery recovery!

It is now day 12 after my op and i am walking around the house with my crocs on and a large melolin plaster over my cut. Im having the stitches out on Thursday morning. They have done one of those stitches where it is stitched under the skin so that the cut on the surface heals nice and smoothly and so far it is looking good. The doc said, when they take the stitches out, they cut them at each end and it comes out as one big stitch, so that will be interesting to see!!! Hope it doesn't hurt.

With regards to my toe joint. I still can't bend it much, especially upwards. That was my problem in the first place before the op and at the moment that is excruciatingly painful to move. The doc says after the stitches are out, i have 4 weeks of different physio exercises to do and he hopes that by 6 weeks the pain should have settled down. So im really hoping that will be the case!!

I drove my car today for the first time and i was careful, but ok. I was a bit worried about if i had to break suddenly, so maybe it was a bit too soon for that.!

Im still getting my OH to do the shopping as i feel walking around the supermarket will be a bit too much at the moment and my sons are taking it in turns to walk the dog every day, so i am looking forward to getting back to doing those things again as soon as possible.

On the plus side, the weather has been fab and as i can't do much, my tan is coming along nicely

boo2kitty

Ah hi emma,
so sorry i havent had time to get on the computer but im so glad you are doing ok. As for the thumbs im confused.com. but i will be aware thanks.
The weather is lovely but i realise it will be pants for you all strapped up. Bless ya!! Thanks for keeping everyone updated i love reading how you are doing. Keep posting i catch up eventually
I had me pre-op today and i left virtually in tears as they have close the theatres in my town and moved them but havent got the go ahead to do bone surgery yet so was told to go back to my GP and asked to be refered to the main hospital again as there is more surgeons and it would be quicker than them giving me a date and having to cancel down the line. Im so dissapointed i have been upset all day. It would of been perfect timing as i dont work term time,(IM OFF THE 6 WEEKS HOLIDAYS) but now i havent a clue when i will get it done and i have to start the process again!!! another few months of hobbling and dodgy shoes!! Been to buy trainers today as the nurse told me my shoes were diabolicle :oops: but trainers do not look good with a frock on believe me!!! Hope your getting stronger by the day as im relying on your recovery to guide me when i have mine, (eventually)

Love Juliexx

tjt6768

:shock: :shock: I am deeply ashamed of myself.. I have only just seen this :oops:
I'm really sorry I wasn't around for pocket duties my dear. I hope you'll forgive me.
Also hope that things are coming along for you now and everything is settling into place.

I've been a rubbish pal of late... :roll:
I will endeavor to do better

Yorkshire Blokey Hugs...

emsjane

Julie- have u tried hotter shoes??? They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn and some of them are pretty enough to wear with dresses! Of course they didn't stop my toe pain , but they helped in sure. I've yet to wear anything but crocs, which I recommend for after ur toe op too.. I got the RX Relief ones, they're great! Sorry to hear you've gta be referred again.. Explain about the summer hols to them when u go and see if u can be put through quickly.. From seeing doc after X-rays, I only waited a month for op!!!

Tony - thanks for your kind words, don't worry about missing my post, I know you've had a lot on your plate lately!!

stickywicket

So, tomorrow's a big day? I hope it goes well. My husband recently had a 'running stitch' taken out of his back and said it wasn't painful. (And he's a bloke so not the bravest :roll: )

I hope the physio goes well and your toe's soon moving freely again but I'd be guided by what the physio says and not push it too much at first. Little and often is what I've always been told. Good luck, emsjane.

emsjane

Thanks Stickywicket! Im hoping the stitch doesn't hurt as its pulled through, the thought of it makes me queasy!! LOL

By the way, i forgot to mention, my thumbs have both settled down now to their normal pain, rather than be flared up, so it must have been something it did after op to make them flare. Probably lying in bed so much and i kept hoisting myself up the bed with my hands, so i must have put extra pressure on them!! Also, my lower back was really playing up the first few days when i was up and walking again, so about day 4 after op, and i couldn't do anything without my back hurting, but that has settled down now too. I put that down to being in bed for a few days and my muscles in my back softening!!! So im pleased to say those things have settled again now and all i need now is to start the physio so that my toe starts to get better and HOPEFULLY stop hurting!!!!

Aprilann

It is now fifteen days since my feet were operated on and I have had my feet redressed and the stitches taken out. The nurse took at least thirty stitches out - another nurse was walking back and forth behind the nurse who was taking the stitches out and I was worried she might catch the nurse.

Will need to keep walking on my heels as best I can for another four weeks.

Hope I can wear some decent footwear for July as my daughter will be graduating.

I have found Sketchers trainers very comfortable these last few years - not that I will be wearing them for he graduation.

emsjane

I had my stitches out today, just one at the top and one at the bottom, others are dissolvable, nothing to it, not like u aprilann!!! Doc has given me a sheet of exercises to do and he says doing them makes all the different to recovery as breaks up scar tissue!! So I'm gna be good and do them

I've driven today too, which I'm pleased about! I'm going to start walking on it alot more from today and just go with how it's feeling. If it starts to hurt a lot more, I'll rest it. Fingers crossed it will just get better each day.

stickywicket

Good news about the stitches. Yes, I remember now about post op exercises breaking up scar tissue. I'd guess that walking is good but, if push comes to shove, the exercises are better as they will target specific areas. Good luck, emsjane.

boo2kitty

Hi Emma,
wow you are brave i hate having stitches out :roll: but i have decided im a wimp
You are doing well with your recovery it gives me hope.
The process here for surgery is long, just got my appointment through for my consultation 10th july thats another 6 weeks wait, they have 16 weeks as their aim to sort you out but i have already been through that as i went in january to see my GP and was refered. Oh well back to waiting again!!
On a lighter note i have purchased some trainers and very wit woo they are too i lasted 10 mins and they crippled me and make me limp more so sticking to my shape up flip flops (they arnt the ones i wore to my appointment they were flat as flat can be ) they are comfortable and i can bounce in them!! Never tried crocs but i think they would be good as i love being comfortable.
Oh well im moving soon so i can get that out of the way before im butchered so thats a positive.
Keep posting i love reading how your doing.

Love Julie x

emsjane

Im being very good and doing my exercises and I think they're helping. My toe area and along the top of my foot where my scar is, which is about 2 inches long, is still abit swollen, so I'm not able to wear my normal shoes yet.
The exercises, bending the toe up and down with my hand and holding it bent for 10 seconds, is quite uncomfortable, but I'm persevering! Im still limping when I walk as it still hurts to bend the toe joint and I can't walk too far before it starts hurting too much. So I'm not pushing it too much at the moment, it's only been 17 days!
So I'm just hoping it will just keep getting better day by day

stickywicket

I hope it does too and see no reason why it shouldn't as you seem to be doing all the right things. It will hurt. They went at it with a knife remember :roll: and movements that came naturally before have to be re-learned. Also we easily forget how much we rely on toes for balance. Keep plugging away, emsjane. You're doing well.

Heather65

Hi emma i have been following your post even though i havnt posted myself ,im glad to see you are recovering well from your operation and are well on the way to getting back to some kind of normality

boo2kitty

Hi Emma,
You sound like your doing everything right. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Im sure the toe will become more flexible the more you use it. Good excuse to rest and sit in the sun i think Keep up the exercises.

Love Julie x

emsjane

Weather cold and wet and every joint is feeling stiff and sore!!

This hasn't helped with my toe recovery as that is also feeling stiff and sore and my ankles are joining in now too, so walking is becoming difficult!!!

stickywicket

Oh dear! Don't be discouraged, emsjane. It has been truly miserable weather and cold with it. There are always little blips after ops when we seem to be treading water or even going backwards. After my knee revision, I distictly remember twice giving myself a day off exercises because I just felt I needed a break. You'll get there. We're all cheering you on.

emsjane

Just to let you know my progress after my toe op:

It's been 3 weeks and 5 days and toe is improving slowly. I can walk around the house happily. If I go shopping and walk around sainsburys, by the time Ive got back to the car my toe is hurting. The pain is between my big toe and the next toe. I tried walking my dog yesterday for the first time since my op, it was too much though, so I will get my sons to walk him and try again next week. I'm still doing the exercises so fingers crossed it will start to improve soon! Doc did say 4-6 weeks.

Since my op my lower back has been playing up! If I do anything that involves bending forwards, even for a couple of minutes, it's agony and I have to stand up straight or sit in order to relieve it! I'm not sure what's causing it, maybe cos I'm walking differently, maybe cos I've put a little weight on or maybe muscle weakening or a mixture of them all!!! I hope it goes as my toe improves and I become more active again.

I'm taking up aquafit to see if that helps

stickywicket

That still sounds to be going well, doesn't it, emsjane? The dogs can wait a bit - you get yourself right first. You'll be a lot more use to them then.

I'm sorry about the back. It might be that you're walking slightly differently or it might be something to do with how you've been sitting. (Did you have to sit with your foot up for some time?) I'd mention it to the doc because you don't want it to become permanent. Probably a few exercises'll sort it out but you need to ensure they're the right ones.

boo2kitty

Hi Emma,
SOOO Sorry not been on here to catch up with you. How are you doing? hows the recovery going? Hope the weather isnt bothering you too much.
Im in the middle of packing as ever. This move seems to be taking ages but at least i dont have my foot op to deal with yet. Im seeing the consultant tomorrow to start the process again fingers crossed i have more luck this time but im not holding my breath.
Hope your recovering well take care for now Julie x x x

Aprilann

Hi Izzie (this will be my fifth time at trying to write to you - I keep erasing what I put somehow).

At long last someone (me) who has had both feet operated on at the same time - AND IT LOOKS LIKE A COMPLETE SUCCESS!

May I first say I have an excellent orthopaedic surgeon and anaesthetist who have given me great care and attention on the NHS.

I was VERY apprehensive about having the operation because in my case I have other health issues whereby I can't have a general anaesthetic and so I have a spinal block. In the past the anaesthetist has had difficulty in getting the spinal block to work but this time my anaesthetist achieved this quite quickly and made this a lot better experience for me to the point where near the end of the operation I was asking if I could have my knee operated on next - my surgeon does not want to perform a TKR because of my health.

I have had RA for 32 years now since 29 years of age. I have had two THRs, shoulder replacement, plastic knuckles in both hands (my hands are SO deformed and so WERE my feet). Previous operation at the age of 36 to straighten the bunion with a pin, screw, whatever. The surgeon at that time wanted to take my toes off (it was the done thing at that time - his words were 'because it was easier for him' - I declined the offer). My present surgeon said she would not do that to me and she has kept to her word.

I was regularly going to he podiatrist every four weeks - initially a few years ago I was getting relief from this treatment. I have found this last year or so I wasn't getting any relief from one appointment to the next with corns, etc. on the metatarsal heads. For years I would have toes rubbing against my shoes but I did find some comfortable trainers what I can recommend to anyone with problems with their feet - they are called Sketchers.

Anyway, about eight weeks ago I had excising of the lesser metatarsal heads - that means, I understand, cut the bones out which are painful. I was to have the big toe taken off from the first joint (this was virtually lying horizontal) but my surgeon decided not to do this. Both big toes were fused (the right foot has a plate in it because the bones were thin - apparently this may have to be taken out about November - at the moment it feels fine). Toes were straightened but the toe next to the big toe on the left foot, which had rubbed on footwear for years, had a K wire inserted in it. I must admit this was my main worry during the healing process. The nurses were concerned about the colour of it (my feet were bandaged up but you could still see the end of my toes so the next day after the operation my surgeon pulled the wire out and said it would be alright. If you knew me you would see I worry and about three times while the bandages were on I had them redressed because I could see the discoloured toe - this now is looking nice and pink but still has a scab on part of it.

For the first time today I have been able to put my Sketchers trainers on and my feet are so lovely and smooth underneath - you would be so pleased with the results if you have suffered with feet like I have.

I did manage the stairs but I must admit I stayed upstairs for two days at a time the coming downstairs on the third day. I tried to walk on my heels and kept my feet elevated as much as I could. I was driving at four weeks - no problem - but I have an automatic.

So I say to you go for it I am sure you won't be disappointed - I certainly won't.

Thank you for the NHS.

emsjane

Hi,

Im glad things are going well for you Aprilann

Julie - It is now 7 weeks and 4 days since my op. Things are slowly improving. I still find i get pain inbetween my big toe and the next toe, right at the tip of the toe. It isn't as flexible as i was hoping it was going to be and ive been really good doing the post op exercises. If i bend the toe too much, it still hurts and if i walk too far, it starts to hurt.

When i saw the podiatrist, he said that even though the docs say 4-6 weeks, he would allow at least 5-8 weeks, if not longer, before its all totally healed up inside. The outside of my foot and scar are looking good and healed up nicely and i can now get on my shoes ok. Ive been rubbing Bio Oil onto the scar.

It seems to be improving a bit each week, so im keeping my fingers crossed that things will continue to improve and eventually i will be able to walk without pain!!! Heres hoping anyway!!

Good luck with your appointment and i hope you get your op date through soon x

mig

Hi,I replied right at the beginning of your post,so glad things are getting better,i just read though the rest of your posts with a great deal of interest as i think i will be going down the surgery route in the future.Mig

boo2kitty

Hi Emma,
Thanks for the reply and im glad things are getting better even though slowly. Time is a great healer! so im told
I had my appointment on tuesday and was told more in ten minutes that i had been previously told in two appointments wow!!
I now know he is going to remove the bone spurs and cut a wedge out of my toe realign it and pin it. He showed me my x-rays and explained everything very well. He said iam too young to have it pinned and he hoped the op would give me another 10-15 years movement then i would probably need it pinning. If it didnt work and i was suffering too much pain after and no movement then i could go back and he would pin it then but he would like to try and get me some movement.
I have my pre-op on tuesday then i should get my date and it will be within 8 weeks. I met a lady who had it done 2 weeks ago and she said it took 8 weeks from seeing the consultant to having it done.
I feel alot happier knowing it will be soon as my job ends on friday so i will be out of work and i cant look for another knowing i need time off. so i should be moving in a couple of weeks and i can get settled and have my op.
Keep me posted on your recovery and hope things keep improving for you. I have got 2 more books from fifty shades to help with my recovery so i cant wait 8) take care love Julie x

stickywicket

I'd just like to wish both of you all the best and hope things turn out really well in the end.