Pillow for propping foot up removed
Finally, feeling pretty decent in hopping around, having slight flex in the toe and much less pain in the base/joint area is allowing me to move around. Even went to town (passenger)
Was able to put some of my bigger pair of sneakers on where I made the laces on them pretty lose. Eventually, felt some tightness in foot during the wear of these shoes.
But eventually walked (with slight limp of course) about 5k steps apparently via my fitbit. Foot swelled a bit, and changed the bandages, was nice to see the would looking much better (and less disgusting). No fluids leaked out and took a shower just fine.
The most painful things noticed now is during PT or walking, its right in the joint/base of the foot, which makes sense as they cut some bone out and tore around in that area in respect to moving the toe muscle and other things out of the way to perform the cheilectomy surgery.
I think for a short 9 days after surgery, feeling optimistic.
View surgery wound after 9 days of healing.
Warning slightly graphic picture..click to proceed
Did you complete the procedure? If so did your surgery/healing thus far match mine or differ in someway? Lets hear it in the comments below.
I’m on day 10 today. Just had my post-op this afternoon along with an x-ray where the doctor showed me where the bone was removed. For me it was on top and on the sides around the joint connecting to the foot, looked like a bit was shaved off the top for more than 1 inch in length.
The wrap and gauze was removed. Only one small scab from chafing. I tried my shoe on, but it’s too tight from the swelling. So I’ll be wearing the recovery shoe a while longer. I went home with a bandaid over the scab.
Took the first proper shower in 10 days. Dried around the scar with a hair dryer. Applied aquaphor (I learned about aquaphor from a cyst excision years ago and how it’s important for a surgical scar to not dry out). I then applied a small gauze with transpore tape (like micropore).
I can bend my toe up and down, and it feels surprisingly good. My right foot still needs the surgery, and I did the left first because it was in worse shape, but now I can see how different my stride is comparing the left and right. I can now walk in a straight line with the repaired foot, but the damaged foot forces me to walk around the outside.
So grateful for this blog. You’re right in that there is an utter lack of personal experience info to be found about this procedure. I have a bilateral cheilectomy scheduled in two weeks. I’m very nervous because it’s both toes. I’m self employed and must return to work within 8 days, 9 days tops. Your information and that of the commenters have help me with realistic expectations. Thank you!
Had surgery 2 weeks ago. Doctor said it looks great and I can take a shower and put weight on my foot now. However I noticed a black & blue circular mark at the bottom of my foot. Is this a concern or normal from the procedure
Hi Sharon, sorry to hear the results thus far. They do seem to be below par of what should be expected. Stretching and doing the tow movements are a absolute must or the tendons cut up will heal with limited movement. My doctors guidance was to start doing activity / stretches without causing undue pain as soon as possible. So was doing light bending of toe by end of first week. and put foot in normal walking shoes (laced super loose) day of stitches (day 13) removed. So I think they are suggesting to stretch it (several times throughout the day) little by little you will gain movement, which then reduces the pain the more you can flex it. As right now, your pain sounds immediate at touch, as the tendons really have no give. If needed, you may want to engage with a PT to help. I wish you the best of luck.
Hi, I had my surgery 6 weeks ago & have today been to my post op where unfortunately I got slightly tearful as my toes are actually stiffer now than they were before I had the operation and I can’t get any shoes on (other than t shaped flip flops) because of the tenderness……the hospital explained that the muscle, scar tissue etc all needs to be stretched to allow movement, which I’m hoping is the case. Any help or tips on the best way to do this would be much appreciated as walking like a duck which has pooped itself isn’t quite the look I’m going for! Thank you so much x
Thanks for ur blog..it gives me some hope. I’m on day 9 and still have a lot of pain. The doctor says the xrays and incision look great, and the pain will get better, but it’s hard to imagine at this point.
I am going under the knife in a week and have three upcoming road trips where I will most likely be driving. The first is on day 10 and around 6 hours. Not ideal but any advice based on your recent experience?
I assume the foot going under the knife will be the same operating the gas and brake? If so, you will want to take some breaks and elevate (& ice if possible). As just the 1hr drive I did on day 12 after cheilectomy surgery did make it throb just a bit and swell. In addition, usually around the 12-14 day mark they want to remove stitches, do quick follow up.
Just had the procedure on the 19th so on day 7 today! Was no where near as bad as I expected it was going to be! Had to be at work on Monday day 5 and really was no problem!
Can’t wait to be wearing a pair of shoes and driving!
That is great to hear. It took me to day 13 (stitches removed) when I first put my normal walking shoe on. Although it was fully unlaced to give it some room.