I thought it might be helpful, especially for the new people, to list some things that you have found to be helpful in your recovery.

These are things I've used and found helpful:

Band-adi Advanced Healing Blister patches - I put them on over the scar and it seems to really cushion the top of the scar.

Arnica creme - helped reduce some of the discoloration of the skin around my scar.

Epsom salts baths - great for massaging my foot and doing my flex/bend workout.

Mederma gel - has helped reduce the size and ugliness of the scar....hasn't made it disappear, but it is definitely reduced.

Ice packs - the flexible kind for wrapping around the entire foot.

Orthonesic pain reliever gel - this my doc gave me. It has something in it that numbs the surface skin and it helped reduce skin pain so that I could massage deaper without as much pain.

Really really thick socks - padded my bad foot in a shoe, helped my good foot fit into a size bigger shoe.

Yoga toes - gel toe spacers that help spread your toes, relax your foot...and I was able to do the grabbing motion to strengthen my toes.

Let's share our ideas!!:cool:

i also found that compression socks may help with the swelling. elevating and resting are essential. this is a great thread!

I often wondered if the compression socks would have been ideal in my case...I think maybe the scar would have "mushed" down much quicker than it has and I think the skin would have become more flexible quicker than it has. I'm definitely going to give this a try with the next foot! Thanks debbie!

I absolutely second the compression sock. It helped keep the swelling down in the few weeks after surgery. Even now, I wear it while I exercise, and the swelling is so minimal afterwards.

i still wear it, also. what kind do you wear?

I'm not sure what kind I'm wearing, because my doc just gave me two when I went in for my post-op check up. He told me they wear out pretty quickly, but mine have held up for 5 weeks now. I would be interested in knowing where you got yours, Debbie. Mine are now filthy, but I'm afraid that washing them might affect the elasticity of the fibers somehow.

Has anyone tried ScarGuard on their scar to help reduce it? It is a liquid that dries. It actually smells alot like Compound W. I thought I would try it and see if it helps any...I've kind of hit a plateau with the Mederma.

Let me know if you've tried it and if it helped....if it helps me, I"ll let you know.

I'm not sure what kind I'm wearing, because my doc just gave me two when I went in for my post-op check up. He told me they wear out pretty quickly, but mine have held up for 5 weeks now. I would be interested in knowing where you got yours, Debbie. Mine are now filthy, but I'm afraid that washing them might affect the elasticity of the fibers somehow.
they should be washable. i have 1 pair that has an open toe and another pair that looks like a knee sock. i think my dr gave them to me-i cant remember. try on line.

Well, I've gotta say, just in the last 24 hours of using the Scar Guard gel I've seen improvement in my scar...less dark color, shrunk, softer, not as painful (the Scar Guard has a smalll amount of cortisone in it)...so, this may be a keeper! :)

Wow! I can't believe how far back I had to go in the postings to find this thread...time flies when you're having fun, eh?

Anway, I'm trying something out. I noticed that if I grabbed my foot at the base of the big toe, where the ball of the toe is and the sesamoid area is, if I grabbed it as if I had a clamp on it to reduce movement, that my foot didn't hurt quite so much. And I thought, it would be great if I could find a clamp type thing to put there....

Well, at Walmart today I found some "arch support" type elastic bands that seem to be what I was looking for. AT $3.50 a piece I figured what have I got to lose?? So, I'm trying them out to see if my hunch is right.

Also, I got some inserts that are "memory fit" soft inserts. I thinkt that the inserts I got at the pedorthist are only irritating my feet and causing more pain because they are hard inserts. I'm going to try these to see if my hunch on this is right too.

I'll let you know.........

cant wait to see if the supports help.

Ok...worn these things (called "Arch Bandage", from Walmart....basically it is an elastic sleeve you slip on over/around your foot....same idea as what they have for wrists) for a couple of days minus when I sleep. Feet definitely feel better during the day with them on.

Question: The directions say they are for fallen arches,flat feet and plantar faciitis...I don't have any of those....so why would they be so helpful?? I actually have really high arches. It isn't a big deal, just wondering about the mechanics of my foot mostly......I like knowing how things work.........

But they do help. And when I take them off my feet are screaming in pain. So, I'll keep using them....but is it good to always wear them? forever?

Update....

I've worn the elastic sleeves plus used a much softer/memory foam type insert and I think..........

I have found relief!!!

So, for whatever reason these things work, they are.....I took them off a short while ago (everything) and I'm walking barefoot and for the first time in two months I haven't had any pain in my feet.

In answer to my own question, I will wear these forever if that is what it takes.......

:bouncing::wave:

Victory Icweiden! Good for you! I know too well the frustration of finding comfortable foot products, the victories are few and far between. Congratulations! Time for champagne.

Friends, to help you cook food, buy groceries, etc. when you are on crutches
and to give you spiritual support