Hi Everyone,
I am 5 days post surgery for flatfoot reconstruction. I am wondering about the timetable for healing and what others have experienced.
My foot problems started 10 years ago when I had an accessory navicular removed from my left foot. Almost immediately after recovery, my arch started to fall in. The podiatrist saw that the arch was falling and just offered orthotics as a solution. Orthotics did not help. So I just decided I would have to live with a fallen arch. This last year my foot got much worse. I was walking with a limp and had no ability to push off with my toes. A second podiatrist ordered an MRI and said I needed a talonavicular fusion. So then I went to see an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist. He wanted to do a sliding heel osteotomy, FDL transfer, and talonavicular fusion. I knew that the fusion would cause me to lose a lot of motion in my foot. So I went to a 3rd orthopedic who was younger (my neighbor suggested that a younger surgeon might have learned some new techniques that the older ortho didn't know about). The third Dr. said he tries to work around fusing in the major ankle area if at all possible. So I went with him. My surgery was 5 days ago. He did a heel osteotomy inserting a wedge of cadaver bone. Then a second heel cut to slide it over. Then a FDL transfer, reconstructed the spring ligament, loosened the gastrocnemius muscle, and fused the cuneiform-first metatarsal joint. Have any of you had any of these procedures? What was your healing process like? Should I try to wiggle my toes in the first two weeks?
Thanks for any advice on this long recovery!

Sounds like you've gone through a lot with different opinions and now you're on your way to a better foot! Last May I had an Evans osteotomy (the bone graft/wedge) and posterior tibial tendon repair. I'll be having the same procedures done on my other foot in Feb.

The timeline I had was 2 wks in a splint, 4 wks in a cast and then 4 wks in a walking boot. The first 6 wks were NWB and then WB as tolerated the last 4 (I used a crutch for less than a week, then was walking on my own in the boot, but that varies for everyone). PT started around 6 wks and lasted 2.5 months. I started "running" again around 4 months post-op, though that didn't last long due to my other foot going downhill. I took pain meds regularly for a few months, but the dosage and frequencey went down significantly. Elevating as much as possible, putting ice on the ankle/foot and behind the knee is a big help. I know if I was up too much, my toes turned blue and started throbbing and the swelling increased. Wiggling the toes is good to help with circulation...unless you were told not to, it probably would be good to do some of.

I used a knee scooter (Turning Leg Caddy) and this was a lifesaver. I rented it from a medical equipment company and my insurance paid a majority of it. I am going to get one for this second surgery too. If you don't have a shower cast cover, you might want to ask your clinic about one or get one online. The recovery is long and hard...stamina goes down the tubes and it gets boring...but it does get better and the results are worth it! There are a ton of people who have had similar procedures and there is a good thread called posterior tibial tendon surgery somewhere on this board....lots of good info there. Feel free to post more thoughts and questions....it's helpful knowing what others have gone through and that you're where you should be.

Sunny77,
Thanks so much for your response. This is the first time I have ever posted on the internet! I have located a turning leg caddy at a local durable medical company. I think it will be a big help. Did your doctor take x-rays at each of your office visits? Are they able to tell if the bone is fusing properly? I have read of some people who had certain "hot spots" in their fusions where the bone remained soft. When you started physical therapy did you feel a lot of stretching in the posterior tibial tendon and was it very painful?
I am encouraged to know that I can actually wiggle my toes. With a FDL tendon transfer I didn't know if it would decrease movement in the smaller toes where the FDL tendon came from.
Were you given any antibiotics to take at home? I received some IV ones at the hospital but didn't bring any oral antibiotics home with me.
Thanks again

I had reconstruction surgery on November 2nd...so I'm about 10 weeks post op. I FINALLY got my fiberglass cast off this morning. For the last 4 weeks it's been a "walking cast"...just working up to full weight bearing. Now I'm in a walking boot for another 4 weeks. Everything looked great this morning. Everything feels great now. I could wiggle my toes after surgery also...but now I still can't curl them. Not sure if it's from the tendon they used, but I guess curling my toes isn't a big deal if everything else stays this great. Good luck on your recovery! Make sure to eat right, and try to get some circulation down there! I had a weight bench at home and started lifting some weights about a month in. I also started taking calcium pills after about a month. This morning he said I've been doing a great job and all my bones have healed already. Anyway, like Sunny said there are a ton of other posts on here about flatfoot reconstruction and they are pretty helpful. Good luck!

-Steven

Steven,
Thanks for responding. It sounds like you have really healthy, strong bones!
I can't tell if I can curl my toes because the splint comes out too far.
I'm 7 days post surgery. This afternoon I tipped my turning leg caddy and accidently put weight on my foot. I really hope that I didn't damage anything.
What procedures did you have done on your foot? Has this been a longstanding flatfoot or did you have some kind of trauma to your foot? Do you still need pain medication?
I go back to the Dr. on the 24th to get the stitches out and get a hard cast.
I'll bet you are glad you're as far along as you are!
Susan (Footjoy)

My foot has been flat since I can remember. I broke it when I was younger and it grew wrong. I started running on it so much that it started causing knee and back problems (I'm only 23) so it was time to get it fixed! I had most of the normal "flatfoot" stuff done, but I'll explain my surgery using layman's terms because I'm tired of looking up how to spell all the medical terms....My heel was cut off and shifted over, I had a midfoot fusion, I had some lengthening done with bone grafts, and I also had a wedge cut out of my tibia to put my ankle back 90 degrees with my leg.

I actually stopped taking hardcore pain meds after about 5 days. I know it sounds crazy but after that I just took Tylenol. After about a month I only took Tylenol before I went to bed, and now I don't take anything at all.

My surgeon did say he was surprised with how "hard" my bones were. He thought he would have to use a plate on my tibia, but just ended up using two screws. This must have been why my bones are already fused back together so early.

Before you go to the doctor for your first post op visit take some pain meds! I didn't, and boy did the staple removal and x-rays hurt! Woo! So far, I'm pretty happy I had the surgery. I had a tough first week, and back then I was super mad that I had it done. But now everything is good and hopefully it keeps going well. Keep us updated on how everything goes for you!

-Steven

HI, I had the surgery on Nov 2nd and it is a rough recovery, but this board helps alot:) Someone said there are threads on here that explain different recovery times and experiences. It is always good to hear about how someone else is coming along.
I also posted a list of things to prepare that helped me get ready and on that thread others have added some great ideas. It is under Posterior tibial tendon recovery or maybe just the Posterior tibial tendon. But they have great ideas.
Let us know how you are doing and good luck to you :angel:
Sabrina

Thanks Sabrina,
I just tried to type a response and must of hit a wrong button because it disappeared! So you must be about 2 1/2 months post surgery. Can you tell if your bones have fused? Have you started physical therapy? I have heard that P.T. can be painful at first. Yesterday I tipped over my scooter and accidently put weight on my injured foot. I really hope I didn't do any lasting damage!
It really hurt this morning. What procedures did you have done? I am hoping that all the things my Dr. did will result in saving my foot's range of motion. I had pretty much given up hope on having a usable foot until I found this new doctor. He said he was very happy with how the surgery went - he was able to get the medial bones in alignment. So now I just need to heal properly.
Good luck with your recovery,
Susan

HI. I just had the tendon repaired as it had completely broken. They had to remove the scar tissue where it had grown in place at the top break. They also aligned my heel. . I am walking without anything at this point...but it is very painful after a little while. My foot swells ALOT. and I cannot feel the big toe or the next two, or the ball of my foot..but they are VERY painful when you walk on it:confused:hopefully you didnt't injure your foot by putting weight on it. If it keeps hurting you might want to go to the Dr.
Physical therapy is painful.....but I hope as I get better it will lessen up. I am ahead of schedule so I am happy.Looking foreward to being pain free:)
Good luck with your recovery and let us all know how it is going .
Sabrina