I am so tickled to announce that my foot finally feels "normal". I had a bunionectomy 5/8/03, really bad bunion, 3 incisions. The Dr. "released" me at 7 weeks post-op but, boy, it sure didn't feel "normal". It still felt stiff, swollen and that "golf ball" feeling in the bottom of my foot. I started some physical therapy on my own (Dr. doesn't even know I had it) and it has made all the difference in the world. It has broken up the scar tissue and helped tremendously with mobility. I can actually run down the stairs barefooted and not blink!!! Wahoo! So, for those of you who feel like your recovery is slow, be patient!!

Hi,
Congrats to you...!
I am 9 weeks post-op and can hardly wait till I get to where you are. What did your physical therapy consist of? What exactly did you do? I have just started the toe exercises that others have talked about in here...was wondering if that is what you did also?..or something in addition to that?
Thanks...

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~~Maya~~

PMCW58 - when did the golf ball feeling go away? I'm 3.5 months post op and my big toe is still stiff - doesn't bend down, just up and I have the golf ball feeling still. My Dr says to give it at least 6 months. I don't have any pain and I'm comfortable when wearing shoes but not comfortable walking in barefoot. I had 2 incisions, 2 permanent screws and a non walking cast for 6 weeks. My foot was ugly, ugly and I'm quite happy with the way it looks now but wondering if the toe will ever lay flat again. It sticks up off the floor. I don't want to get the other one done until I'm happy with the first one.

What kind of toe exercises are you talking about? I had bilateral bunionectomy 4 weeks ago. My doctor had said that I now can walk on my feet. But I am not sure that I am ready. My feet feel very tight and seems like they hurt if I really walk on them with all my weight on them. So I have not walked yet and continue to walk with my hands, butt and heels around the house like what I have been doing since the surgery. I am afraid that the bones are not healed enough to take all those pressure. Anyone with similar experience who wants to share? According to my doctor, bones were cut on both of my feet during surgery and a pin was used to stablize my left foot.

It's so weird how each experience is different. My right foot operated on in March is finally perfect! (6 months) It took lots of therapy, exercises, and a cortisone shot in my 4th month because my big toe was so stiff. The cortisone shot really helped. My second surgery was July 3. After 10 weeks, I got full mobility back in that foot. It was weird, because my second foot felt better than the first. I can play tennis now for a short time. I had the exact same surgery to both feet. My left foot is still swollen, but I teach school and am on my feet all day! Good luck to everyone! I can't wait until my swelling goes down.

Re: the physical therapy--she did the ultrasound on it every time I came,which supposedly helps break down the scar tissue (I hope I have that right). She manipulated the big toe some and had me really practice walking by putting weight on my big toe and "pushing off" with that big toe, which I had not been doing. Also, I noticed the bottom of my foot felt so "weird", sort of swollen and she said that, because of the way I had had to walk for decades, that a callous/fat pad had sort of built up. The ultrasound has helped with that also. Next week, she is going to put some kind of insert under the sole of my tennis shoe to help me put weight on a different place on my foot. Re: the "golf ball feeling"==it seems to have improved significantly between 3.5 and 4.5 months post-op. The only time my foot REALLY hurts is when I wear a shoe with a heel that puts lots of weight on the ball of my foot. Ouch=that still hurts. I hope I answered your questions. Don't hesitate to ask anything else..