I've been wearing sneakers for most of the day - hooray! Once I eased them past the incision site they felt pretty good, although it also felt good to take them off. I can tell my foot was starting to swell again.

But it seems I've forgotten how to walk normally. I've grown accustomed to being sightly off balance, because none of my regular shoes had soles the same height as the wooden sole on the surgical shoe I wore for a month. Now that both soles are the same thickness, I've actually lost my balance a couple of times - haven't fallen, but it's a little disconcerting. I feel like all my muscles are out of alignment - they're either overdeveloped or atrophied - and I can't manage a normal stride even when I really concentrate. My foot doesn't hurt when I walk, but I feel like I've been reprogrammed and can't snap out of it. After counting the minutes until I could wear shoes, it actually felt like a relief to go back to the familiarity of the velcro shoe, and I certainly wasn't expecting that! Will this get better on its own, or will I need physical therapy?

The other alarming thing was that when I took the sneaker off I saw that my bit toe seemed to be angling in toward my other toes like it was before the surgery. After a couple of hours it looks more straight again. I guess it was just leftover pressure from the sneaker, but I felt pretty disheartened for a few minutes there. Has anyone else experienced this when they started wearing shoes again?

I feel like I've done nothing but ask questions since finding this board, but it's so great to be in touch with people going through the same thing. My doctor prepared me pretty well for the actual surgery, but I'm clueless about what's normal for the various stages of recovery, and I don't want to call him about every little thing. I appreciate the way people share experiences around here - it kind of normalizes the whole process. :)

Hi Hoppy - I know what you mean - it does feel wierd to "walk" again. My dr told me to ease into sneakers (an hour the first day, 2 the second, etc) and go back to the rocker boot when I wasn't in the sneaker. The first time I put the sneaker on it hurt my foot to get it in (and I opened up the sneaker as much as I could). I've only been in them a week but now I can wear them all day (but by the end of the day I'm ready to take them off). In fact the first couple days at work I took my "boot" with me in case I needed to put it back on which I didn't.

Have you tried using a cane until you get your balance back? I know I was off balance too - now it's better but I still can't walk on uneven gound. I have to stay on paved surfaces.

Good luck with your recovery and you know you can always come here to ask questions. I found this place to be a wonderful resource and thanks to all the other "bunionities" for passing along their experiences.

Mary :wave:

Welcome to the world of walking! I did not have problems with my balance per se when I graduated from the velcro sandals, but I found myself taking "baby steps" like a Chinese woman with bound feet. Not sure how much was physical and how much was mental with all that, but after a few months I have regained my normal stride. You will be amazed how things improve as time goes by.

As for the big toe angling in again, I also experienced that when I switched to regular shoes. I am in Mexico and not in touch with my surgeon until January, but my (temporary) solution was to insert a doubled-over small piece of moleskin between my first two toes at night. It immediately put a stop to the angling in I was fearful about and after a few weeks of that, I find I don't need to do it anymore.

I agree...this board is one terrific resource for people for people contemplating foot surgery, undergoing it or recuperating from it!

Marianne:)

hi hoppy, make sure to wear the sneakers as much as you can so it will minimize the swelling. also dont walk on the outside of your foot. glad you are doing well and i wish i could say the same. debbie

Hi - I realized when Marianne mentioned it that my dr did give me a foam spacer to wear between my big toe and the next one. However I do not wear it at night (I don't think it would stay in place) but I have it in all day long when I have my compression sock on. I think it's helping but I know I still have swelling so we'll see as time goes on.

Mary

Thank you, everyone! It's always so reassuring to ask a question here! :)

Mary, I've been keeping the velcro shoe nearby too, but I think I'm needing it less. Walking is going better too. A couple days ago I deliberately walked around outside for a while to try to retrain my muscles. I paid for it in pain the next day, but my stride is much closer to normal now as long as I don't try to go too fast.

Marianne, I had exactly the same thoughts on Chinese footbinding! And I'll try putting cotton or something between my toes. It will make me feel better.

Debbie, thanks for the tip on walking out the outside of my foot. It's definitely a temptation, and the nurse even commented on it at one of my last appointments. I hope things start going better for you soon!