Avid Gym Doer
So like many of you, I enjoy working out and getting some exercising in (great stress reliever). And I typically go to the gym around 3 days a week, and pretty active other days. So as you can expect, that was cut off for a couple weeks which was almost harder then dealing with the pain and not able to walk well.
Recover Expectation
Good news, I was able to start back up at the gym around week 3, doing upper body exercises and was limited to leg extensions and leg curls on the machines (no foot needed for those).
I am happy to announce, I was able to start more foot involved leg workouts pretty decent this week. First time back on the calf machine, doing about 50% of my normal weight, able to flex the foot and put pressure on the toe. Anymore then that, I could feel the toe joint (you know, where the bone was cut up) pain a bit.
I was also able to start on the hipsled and put pretty decent flat foot pressure on it, doing about 60-70% of normal weight (about 700 lbs). Felt good to get back into doing some normal leg exercises that require having feet.
So I touched on this the last couple weeks, the recovery feels a bit slower then I want. But I do have to remind myself (its only been 6 weeks since major toe surgery) and I am able to do mostly anything, just not barefoot or walk 100% normal yet.
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. Then repeat that several times. But am also pushing/stretching the toe down for periods of time, as I noticed some severe limitations in that department. I think mainly due to the incision and when it healed, the muscle/tendons got tight and lost some flexibility.
So one tip I have to offer, is to not only focus on flexibility of the toe going up, but to work on it going down as well as early as possible, may have better results.
I am not able to walk 100% normal yet, 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 (mainly bottom of joint) is still healing, as it feels like dull knife if you try to walk normally bare feet (where major flex of toe is required).
When wearing shoes, its way better, as the shoe typically helps reduce the flex needed when walking.
View surgery wound and flexibility after 6 weeks 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 at week 6 on my right foot (week 15 of my left). The swelling is diminishing slowly on both. The right is a bit more stiff than the left. When I go for a walk, it feels pretty normal for the first quarter mile. After a mile both are sore.
I think the lack of any cartilage on the left one is causing it to take longer. Sometimes it feels like it doesn’t flex back very smoothly, almost like something “catches”. Hoping that with continuing PT and walking this will clear up.
Hi! I am not sure if you are still checking this blog. I had the same proceedure done 6 weeks ago. It’s been helpful to read about your journey, as mine has been similar. I’m frustrated that the recovery takes so long, but I guess that’s just normal. You wrote that you had very little downward flex in the toe. I have that same problem. Did you ever get more flex in that way?? I am wondering if it’s just because there is still swelling, or if the stiffness is permanent. My doctor sent me to PT to try to get more mobile. Up seems OK, but down is way stiff.
Hi Jayme – I do check back in, and am super happy my journey has helped others. My downward is indeed better. I would say it has about 60-70% downward motion, then say a perfectly good working toe (one that wasn’t banned around a bunch and butchered up etc…). Good news is, I thought I would notice it more, but I almost forgot that it doesn’t go down as far like it use to. And that’s from a guy who still plays sand volleyball. As my other posts mentioned, I never used PT, but I would recommend keep stretching it down for 10 seconds several times in morning, and again before bed to help keep the muscle fibers from healing “tight”. I would be interested to see what your PT has you doing, if you don’t mind posting back how that is going, that would be great.
Thanks for your response, Jace. I’m so glad to hear how successful the surgery was for you! It give me (and I’m sure others) much needed hope. For me at this point (6.5 weeks) I have no downward flex at all. It’s just totally stiff, like before the surgery. My PT says it could be the swelling, or scar tissue has formed. If it’s scar tissue, the only solution is to be pretty aggressive in trying to break up to get movement. He has me doing traction, where I pulll the toe out to get space in the joint, then try flex down. It’s pretty painful and isn’t having much impact yet, but I’ve only been doing this for three days so we shall see. Like you said, if it heals tight it might never come back. So I guess my question for you is, did you any downward movement early on, or none like me? Also, did you have much swelling? It seems everyone has such a different experience. But all the issues with pain and such that you described are the same for me.
I had my cheilectomy on 1/22/2020, am 6 weeks out, am healing pretty well, but also notice the flexibility of my toe going down SUCKS. I’m wondering how that is now for you?