Pain is Slightly Better
Hard to believe just 3 short weeks ago my toe was under the knife. I am wearing normal shoes again, but with the laces very loose in this shoe.
I am also wearing a large band aid like these, just to keep the rubbing/irritation on the wound down during walking. I still hobble some, even though the toe is getting some flex back, when pressure/weight is put on it, still feels like a knife underneath the joint occurs.
I think this is mainly due to not only needing the normal cutting (cheilectomy) of the bone on top, but in my case surgeon had to also do some scraping of the bottom of the bone he said, as tendons were tight against it preventing it from bending as much. I assume due to other trauma.
Whats next?
So far its going well. Wound seems to be healing, no infections, occasion ibuprofen here and there. I continue to flex the toe (like standing on tippy toes until it starts to hurt slightly, then stay there for 20 seconds, slowly put foot down, repeat about 5 times. Several times througout the day seems to do the trick.
By evening it flexes the most, then in mornings it loses some of the flex it seems and is achy to get flexibility back in the morning.
View surgery wound after 21 days after surgery and stitches removed.
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 coming up on week 3.
Not sure if all cheilectomies are 1st ray, but all (or a substantial amount of) the work was done around the metatarsal head. The outermost joint was unaffected. I didn’t pay attention, but noticed yesterday that the toe won’t curl down. I’m hoping it’s due to the swelling.
I do the bending up and down PT I was advised to do. The swelling has improved and I can wear my new Hoka shoe on that foot for a few minutes. But I’m wearing sandals for the most part, and they don’t have much cushion.
The pain seems different than initially, and slightly greater than after the first week. I feel like it’s due to the healing process coupled with my flexing it, but also because of walking on it maybe more than I should.
I am a little concerned that it doesn’t bend at that first joint and hoping that’s to be expected at this point.
Hi Jace – I stumbled across this blog last week and it has been helpful to read through your experience as my podiatrist didn’t prepare me much for what recovery was REALLY going to be like. I’m right at 3 weeks since my surgery today and was back into my regular shoes about a week ago. I have pain if I press into the joint with my thumb and still on the underside of my foot / toe when I walk. I’m guessing this is still because things are now stretching out (muscles and tendons) that haven’t been able to stretch for a while. Again, thanks for the blog. Everyone’s experience will be slightly different but your details have made me realize I will just need to be more patient with my recovery.
Thanks for dropping the note Ryan, and glad it’s helping out. And I agree, the healing rate, and/or degree of “cleanup” (AKA cheilectomy) plays a role and can shift the dates further (or quicker) for others. But at least there is a general idea of how the progressing goes, and great to see others drop a note during the same time period to compare their experience. Think it helps everyone reading through these. Take care.
Hi Leanne, the only pain I had at this point was during the PT sessions, and slight throb occasionally. I of course still had to adjust my stride (walk on side of foot etc..) during walking as it was still a bit painful if trying to over extend the toe bending. Pain should reduce and flex should increase week by week though. Hopefully your pain subsides greatly in the next week or so.
Hello,
Thank you for posting your journey. It has been very helpful to me. I am at 3.5 weeks post surgery, and I was hoping that you could elaborate more on the pain you felt at week 3. I am experiencing the same pain that I had before I had surgery, however it is more consistent right now and very painful. It does feel like you described, “like a knife in the joint” I spoke to my doctor last night and he said this is because I am more mobile and using the joint again. He suggested to continue with PT, ice and elevate my foot. To be honest, at this point I am very overwhelmed and frustrated right now with my recovery journey from the pain perspective. Is this similar to what you were experiencing at this stage? Any information would be very helpful. Thank you!
I’m having the same issue at 3 weeks post op. I had the bilateral procedure so I am able to compare one foot to the other, and my left foot is feeling pain exactly like pre-op. I’m worried that it’s the arthritis (which would not get better without fusion surgery) and not just healing from surgery. I also have a couple pressure sores from the bandages I had to keep on my feet the first week and although they’re healing, even water drops from the shower send waves of electrical/nerve twinges spreading all over the top of my foot. Is that something anyone else has had to deal with?? Hoping that will go away!! It’s super unnerving….no pun intended!!