I am 7 weeks post op (bunion/hammertoes)-----and still my foot is so very swollen----I even wake up w/it swollen. Is this the norm? I confess to walking for exercise my whole lunch hour but now that I am off crutches I refuse to sit all day (and gain weight) BUT it that what you are supposed to do until the swelling subsides?

Annarbor,

I think you need to be patient!!!

I agree with the above! I found that if I elevated my foot while I slept it helped with swelling in the morning. I had swelling for 3-4 months after surgery.

Ann, I mentioned before that I think you are pushing it with the walking. Your recovery will just be slower because of it, but you will recover (without complications, I hope). I know you need the exercise, but rather than walking all lunch hour, could you perhaps do a stationary bike at the gym instead? Cardio, without all the pounding. But yes, sleep with your foot elevated (6" above your heart at all times) and it should help.

Here's to healing!

L.

Apegirl,

I agree with you 100%. Ann if exercise is that important ride the stationary bike. I did that last night because I like to stay fit, so I did the exercise bike for a while and did some weights for arms..

I understand about feeling fit all the time.. it is a great feeling!!!!

take care
CJ

Apegirl,

I agree with you 100%. Ann if exercise is that important ride the stationary bike. I did that last night because I like to stay fit, so I did the exercise bike for a while and did some weights for arms..

I understand about feeling fit all the time.. it is a great feeling!!!!

take care
CJ

Ok, now I'm scared and maybe that is good----do you feel exercising too much (walking all lunch hour) could loosen the screws---my main fear????

I don't think the screws will loosen, but you could be preventing (or slowing down) the proper fusion of the bone surfaces. Plus, swelling can mean compromised circulation, which means the soft tissues aren't healing as they should. Take advice from the veterans and slow up a bit. You don't want to have to go back in to have it corrected.

L.

At 7 weeks the bones should be healed & the screws shouldn't come loose. My foot is still swollen at 4 months, and apparently this is normal. I keep an ice pack in the freezer at work & elevate & ice my foot after my lunchtime walks, although I only spend about 20 minutes walking, not an hour like you. The ice really helps.

I'm about a month and half from my hardware removel surgery in which all the hardware was removed. I still have swelling around where the lizfranc fracture was and where the pins and screws were. I've been told this swelling is from the original injury and the first surgery and it is hard swelling as oppossed to soft swelling. I've also been told by my doc and PT and other people that this swelling may take 6 months to year to completely disappear.
So, hope that helps.