Less pain but flex is near same as before
So with any surgery recovery, there may be times it feels stuck, well I’m at this point now. Although the pain (when flexing/walking) is down to about a 2-3, almost where it was prior to surgery which is good.
Now I am waiting for that to go away, not sure I will get much more flex then what I have as it feels like it hits a wall when I force it stretching. But will keep trying. There is less pain when “pushing” off on the toe, and I can also do calf raises with slight pain. (this was a no go just weeks ago)
Walking in shoes little less throbbing
Cushy walking shoes is still my best friend at this point. Walking bare feet and in sandals, I still need to pick up foot prior to full flex of big toe, as one, it doesn’t flex fully, and two it throbs when at its max flex upwards.
But looking back to week 6, I do believe it is doing better, and at times, can flex (if I keep at it).
Physical Therapy Continues….
Still doing the same physical therapy to improve flexing up by pushing on toe right where I feel stretch and slight pain and hold it there for 30 seconds. But I am also at that point where its touch to press it with hand, so I stand and slowly step forward to give toe a big stretch with my weight. That seems to be helping more now.
As stated last time, not really close to be able to walk 100% normal yet (flat sandels etc..) , still throb a bit when toe flexes during normal walk. I believe this is getting slightly better, time will tell. Flat foot you can definitely feel the surgery area both bottom and top, which is still healing.
When wearing shoes, its way better, as the shoe typically helps reduce the flex needed when walking.
View surgery wound and flexibility two months after surgery.
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.
Today marks 8 weeks for me. Next Friday (at 9 weeks) I’ll be doing the other foot. In a way this experience sort of makes me dread going through this all over again.
I started wearing a corn cushion over the top around week 5 since there’s a part of the scar that rubs on the shoe. I put a bit of aquaphor in the hole and tape it on with micropore tape to secure it in place. I highly recommend doing this, and I’ll be doing it sooner for my right foot.
As far as pain, it’s difficult to compare with before surgery because the pain was different and depended on the trigger. The ball of my foot hurts when I walk, and sometimes when I walk downhill I guard it to keep it from bending back, something I’m training myself to stop doing, and that is worse that letting it bend back naturally which really doesn’t hurt much. The area where bone was shaved off is sensitive, and probably the worst type of pain, but has improved a lot. Pre surgery, not landing right caused excruciating pain that lasted hours, and so far, post surgery no pain has come close since I’ve been off pain meds (after about week 2).
The swelling has subsided a lot and the foot is almost the same size as the other. It took about 3 weeks to be able to fit it back into a regular shoe for a short time.
The color of my entire foot is strangely darker than the other one. It was much darker for the first 4 weeks but has gradually lightened.
The toe doesn’t bend down too far because it’s still swollen a bit where the toe bends. That’s improved. I was a little worried about that at first.
I am almost at 8 weeks now. This blog has been very helpful, thank you for writing it. The first two weeks post-surgery were tough. Walking in the flat surgical shoe would every once in a while zing me with an unexpected 10/10 pain scale electric shock. Fast forward to now. I have removed the laces from my sneaker. I can walk perfectly in sneakers but the seam where the tongue joins the shoe digs a little due to swelling. I placed some duct tape over it on the underside of the sneaker at the seam and that worked! Before I did that though I had angered the nerve at the incision site from that pressure and whoa did that hurt. It became very sensitive nerve pain so word to the wise: be gentle with that area. Very gentle. My exercises are now flex when standing as I have also met a wall with using my hand to flex the toe. My toe lies flat now when standing from the flexing down exercises. The biggest thing now is the swelling making shoes a challenge and long times being upright or sitting with my foot hanging down. But there is light.
I started taping a corn cushion over the highest point of my incision, which is along the top of that metatarsal head. It has made a noticeable improvement.
I still have pain and the side of my foot feels numb.
Week 5 from my surgery and the surgical boot is definitely in my way. Reading I should be able to toss it. After reading several of these I realize my recovery has been quite good. Stitches out last week and doing toe flexing exercises. Can walk more normally now than before the procedure. My foot was never very painful after surgery. At the most it was a 5. Hurt more than this before the surgery. Very pleased.
I’m exactly two months from having cheilectomy surgery. I wear a comfortable New Balance sneaker. Also, I have this burning sensation underneath the ball of my big toe. I apply some pressure and twist my foot (where the big toe is located)to the left and to the right which soothes the pain. Other than that, I continue to wear my same sneakers until I’m fully recovered.
Did that pain in the ball go away at some point? I’m at 4 weeks in today and hope that gets better.