I wondered if for those of you who have had a bunionectomy, did you have swelling in the ball/pad of the big toe? I am 3 months post op and still have swelling in the ball of the foot....it doesn't hurt, it is just swollen about three times the normal size. It is hindering the downward motion of my toe (not to mention the scar on top of the toe...sheesh). Anyone else have this?

Yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. At 2 months out, mine is only slightly swollen. But it was terribly swollen up to 2 weeks ago, and it also inhibited my ROM. It gets worse every time I exercise or do my ROM exercises, but I am noticing that it's steadily decreasing.

Absoultely yes.. I think I posted on another thread it feels like a bubble although that feeling is getting less.. it is about 3 times the size of my other big toe.. that is how I measure progress comparing the two feet-- everything else has gone down for the most part but that.
I just went full weight bearing in a flat surgical shoe this week and I am starting to swell again but I know that is expected.. This big toe thing though is interesting.. I asked my doc who said it was because of the bandages being on for so long but that it would eventually go away. I seems like that is not the case though.. how long have your bandages been off?
Oh by the way another poster "KB Team" also complained of the same problem so there are four of us now.. it must not be that uncommon.

My bandages have been off for 10 weeks...I don't think it has anything to do with being in a bandage too long.

My bandages have been off for 10 weeks...I don't think it has anything to do with being in a bandage too long.

I hear you.. that is what is concerning me -- he says that now but what if it continues.. Has your doc given any explanation? I have the scar on top of the toe big time as my toe had to be revised due to the fact it was twisted so my downward rom is very limited at the moment along with the fat pad.. yes I hear you. I only just started full weight on it though this past Monday so only beginning the process. I guess time will tell. If you find out anything more about it please post and I will do the same.

:mad::mad::mad:I am soooooooooooo fed up!!! I am sooooo done with this doctor!!! I don't think I"ll be going back...and she can forget that I'll be doing the other foot. It's got to be falling off before I get that one worked on.

OMG...so mad....furious....

Would you believe her response today was...."Let's just see what happens." Not kidding.

I've been having recurring pain in the foot at night...something that hasn't happened in a while. I've had aching, burning, throbbing, that has woken me out of a dead sleep for several hours. When I put my weight full on my foot I get a horrible tearing and burning sensation from the top of the second toe all the way down and across the top of my foot to below where the bunion was. Didn't ever have that.

Her response to that was "You are going to have that pain now forever because of the scar tissue.":(

I mean, it isn't like I haven't been telling her that my big toe is still pulling left and the second toe is pulling towards the big toe. It isn't like I haven't been telling her that I scar horribly...been telling her prior to the surgery and after as well. She jokes about how bad my scarring is and how she never thought I was telling her the truth!:(:( Now all of a sudden I'm going to have searing burning/tearing pain in my foot forever because of that scar tissue?!?!?!

Excuse me while I go throw a few things........

She does not sound very sympathetic only pathetic in her response to you!
I so hear you but at this point I wonder if going to another doc would be helpful. IF you hear the same thing then maybe she has bad bedside manner but is right or else you might find there is so much more that can be done or is happening. IT is not as if this was the first time she has been this way with you. Particularly if you think you may need to have the other done at some point now may be the time to go searching.. I know what a pain it is to find a doc you feel you can trust. I went through that in making my decision and so far I am happy we will have to see in the long run but my doc has been responsive.
Sometimes they do the wait and see because sometimes that is what needs to be and they are not sure what is going on.. what can they do another exray? Not sure I mean we trust them .. this is their field and you would think they know their stuff..
If you look for a new doc. a good one will answer your questions and be patient. FOr me that is important to begin to trust. Clearly credentials are top priority. Docs that work as consultants to sports teams who teach are the ones who know the cutting edge about the profession. Call a nearby school of podietry and you should be able to speak with someone there to find out which of the teaching docs have a private practice.
I am so sorry to hear your frustration and hope you get some answers.

I hear you guys, and I feel so bad for you. I still have a small bubble on the pad of my big toe. My doctor put me onMethylprednisolone, it is a six day pack where you decrease the number of pills each day. It did take down some of the swelling, but I still have some. I am six months out May 15th from a sesamoidedtomy. My doctor wants to do surgery to remove the scar tissue, but I am too scared to go thru it all again. I massage the incision and it feels better, but the pain comes right back after a little while. I can't believe that you doctor says you have to live with that pain the rest of your life. Maybe it does take 8 months to a year for the pain to go away. I am going to give more time instead of starting all over again. I wish someone would write to us when it starts to get better. We all need some straight answers. Hope you guys are feeling a little better. KB

Is that Medrol that you were given?? I can't take that....it makes me *very* depressed. This swelling is the only thing preventing me from putting on shoes other than sneakers....it is very frustrating.

Yes, the common name is medrol. It was a six day pack, six pills the first day and went down one pill each day until final day I took one pill. It did reduce quite a bit of the swelling, I didn't feel that great during the week, but it was worth it for me. I believe it is a predisone drug. Now today my foot has not hurt that much and it 1:30 on the west coast. I went to the library, but have not walked that much on it. It seems to be the worst in the evening. My doctor seems to think he can help me by removing the scar tissue along the incision. I'm just not ready to make that move and want to give it more time. My next appt with him is in June. Who knows!!!!! KB

scar tissue can be a little painful, but not enough to notice all the time. its time to go to a new dr. the surgery for removal of scar tissue is not bad, but you have to wait about a year i would think. it will not remove all of it, just some. it can help if you do pt.

My doctor gave me another cortisone injection (very small amount) right in the incision.....last time she did it she used more and the swelling and pain went down a great deal. She was sitting there trying to poke into the scar and she looks at me and says,"This is just so hard and thick...I'm having trouble getting the needle into it.":( duh...really?? Do I really have to do her job for her??? Anyway, this injection helped a little. But, like I said (maybe in another post or here) I have sharp,prickly, electrical sensations from the top of my second toe to down across the scar to right in the middle of my arch. It happens when I try to flex the foot when I am doing ROM stuff. She's told me this will be what I have now forever. Is that true?? Is this what I'm left with after all of this mess??

Removing the scar tissue may not be an option for me because of how badly I already scar up. This doctor said she would do it, but not yet...which tells me that I'll have to wait maybe the year that someone else mentioned....but I don't think I want to do it, I think it will just grow back worse than it already is.

are you sure you should be getting cortisone injections? i hope you see another dr.

Cortisone injections are fine...I would get them before when I had pain in the joint. My first doctor would not discuss surgery with me and would give me the injections. I had 4 in the left foot, 3 in the right...over time (about 3 years). Each injection relieved pain for about 6 months or so, then I would go in and get another. With the last injection in the left joint, it didn't last but about 3 weeks. That is when I decided to do the surgery. When you look at my xrays there is no damage to the joints at all. About a month ago, I had cortisone injected right under the skin to help reduce the scar. If you go to a dermatologist, that is what they will inject into keloid scars to help them go down. When it is done under the skin it doesn't affect anything except the scar. Again, if you look at my xrays, the joints are fine. This second injection on the scar did help reduce the scar somewhat, but I still have a hard blob right over the joint.

As for the other doctor, I have a call in to another doctor. But, I am wary as I really don't like doctors. It took a lot for me to go to the one I ended up with and now with all the issues of the post surgery, and her not giving me any answers, I am wary of going to someone else. I don't know who to go to and if I can trust them. I have had such issues with doctors in the past - bedside manner, knowledge, compassion - I don't know who else to go to.

I just can't believe that after all that I have gone through I am left with constant nerve pain and a horrible scar. My doctor assured me (even showed me her own bunionectomy scar) that my foot would be fine, that my pain would be gone, that I would have flexibility in my foot/toes, that my scar would not be noticeable. I wish I could adequately describe my scar....let's see....imagine a crucifix on your foot....that's what it looks like! I have a small cross on the top of my foot. It is dark brown, it is ugly, it is raised, it is swollen, it is painful. it is stiff. How many of you at three or four months still have a huge scar on their foot?? Mine is two inches long, the cross line is an inch long going across the joint, and it is about a quarter inch in width on all parts...not to mention the raised quality of the thing.

(my foot has a Christian emblem on it, but my thoughts are not right now...:()

My scar is rather long about 3 + inches starting just below the joint of my big toe and down to the middle of my meditarsal (sp)
It is extremely thin and not raised at all except by my toe where they had to do an extra surgery to get the toe to untwist. I think my toe will always be stiff now not sure .. because they really had to do a lot of work on it and I am concerned about lots of scar tissue which really does effect flexibility.
You are three to four mths out? Not sure but I think it should not be so bad with all the work you have put into trying to get rid of it.
Going for a second opinion.. is just that though - another professional's opinion which you can accept or not but if they say the other doc is right then perhaps you have some confirmation if not then maybe more questions but at least you will know more than you do now. You don't have to do anything about it unless you want to.. see what someone else has to say. I think once you meet someone you can then decide if you feel they are trustworthy or not. DO you know anyone who has had this surgery before and can suggest their doc.. that was how I found mine.

I went for the second opinon today. The xrays that were taken were done digitally, which made for really clear pictures. The bone still shows the break....my doctor said from the xrays she took that she couldn't see the break at all and that it had healed at three weeks. The swelling in the ball of the foot is where the sesamoids are, but they are in the right place but might be very prominent ( or bigger than normal) which is why I feel like I am stepping on bone in that area. Nerve pain that I have in between my toes can be taken care of by a cortisone shot...but not now as I just had one a week ago directly in the scar to help shrink it.

What I went for today was answers more specific than "I don't know" and "Let's just wait and see what happens", which are both a little way to vague for me, especially if I have a problem that can better be fixed sooner than later, know what I mean?

My doctor did the surgery right...but it was all the after stuff that she wasn't good at....just "I don't know".....and that makes me too nervous.

The doctor today did say that at some point he would give me the name of a plastic surgeon to laser the scar...if I wanted...which I might. This doctor was a bit concerned as to the appearance of my scar since at this point it is still very irritated, swollen, and painful in about half the area.

I agree with you...it should NOT look the way it does at this point. And the doctor did show some concern. He said I should continue to put the Scar Guard on it as it slowly seemed to be helping, but I could come back to him as needed. He thinks (as I do) that there is still suture material under there that is wrapped up in the scar itself. It will take longer than the normal 120 days to dissolve my sutures.

As for my asking someone who had this surgery done already...I DID do that..and their surgeon no longer does bunions...isn't that nice?? sheesh. So I had to search for one...which I hated....and was nervous. Any time anyone cuts into your body it is a real trust factor....even if someone else suggested them to you.

I've been having some scar pain, 4+ months out. One term for it is neuritis and it can take months to heal, up to a year. Nerve damage takes many months to heal. Hot water therapy helps alot and gentle massage. Ice. Elevation. A topical gel called Biofreeze. I have been taking neurontin, to help with the nerve pain. It works some. You are only approximately 4 months postop, if that, so, I now look at this as an 8-12 month recovery. Never listen to a doctor who tells you this will never heal or you will always have this or that pain. I'd go elsewhere for sure.

I can't take neurontin...it causes pain in my head. I have been using biofreeze too, but it only helps surface skin pain and nothing deeper.

*sigh* I'll get there...it's just taking a long long time.....

I feel so bad for you. I'm six months out and feel some improvement with the nerve pain (worse at night). I also take 300mg of neurontin to help me sleep. People keep saying that it takes 8 to 12 months, so I am waiting to be normal again. I find rubbing where the nerve pain is helps, then I ice it for 20 min. or less. I still can't wear enclosed shoes so wear sandels that do not rub on my scar when I go out. I think it will get better for you, it just seems to take such a long time, especially when the doctor says that it will only be two months before the surgery. I think talking to other people helps a lot. Lets hope each day gets a little better for you. KB

I've had SUCH a horrible time trying to find shoes that fit! I get to the point of tears some days. What fits perfect on the one foot, doesn't even squeeze over my other foot. On top of that, has anyone noticed that shoes just aren't comfortable anymore??? I feel like I'm left with old lady Doctor Scholls and bedroom slippers. I bought some strappy sandals the other day cause I thought, well they don't enclose my foot, I seem to be able to slide it on ok, and nothing hurts. WRONG. When I got home my foot had swelled to double its size. I was supposed to go out for a nice dinner...it was my anniversary, I had a cute little dress and I wanted the shoes. I sat and iced my foot for two hours. Even then I had to go barefoot in the car and only put my shoes on to go in the restaurant. Sitting at the table my foot swelled again. I hobbled out to the car after dinner. I had a real problem getting the shoe off and then my foot was so painfully indented from the straps.

I had tried on dozens of shoes and nothing fits. I'd really like to get past the sneaker stage. Even the flat shoes with the one big strap over the toes...they hurt the bottom of my feet. The sole of the shoe pressed up on the ball of my foot and I had pain there...I can't win for losing.:(

I had a question....orthotics only seem to go in enclosed shoes. What do you do when you are wearing sandals? I mean your foot isn't supported properly in sandals...so what do you do??

what exactly is the after stuff you are talking about. there are no orthodics for sandals so we must endure the pain. i really am serious if you want to wear cute shoes for a special occasion. i willl always continue to do that and suffer at the end, but i think its worth it. am i sick?

Check out Footsmart. Sign up for the catalog.

I am so glad you went for a second opinion. At least you have some answers.
You guys all talking about shoes. I am due to go to the doc tomorrow and he said finally I can go from a surg shoe into a sneaker but there is no way my still swollen foot is going to fit into a sneaker..I am also concerned because I have not really been having any pain walking in the surg shoe (at least not my toe) yesterday I could not even walk on my foot because when I would step and the big toe would bend it was sooo painful.. not sure what happened.. I had been trying to stretch it a little bit on my own but I was not being rough with it at all.. not sure -- today is better but still somewhat painful but at least I can walk
I just can't see me going in a shoe tomorrow and I am now 2 mths post.
Even if I did not have the pain, my foot is just still swollen, on top and the toe is about 2 times the size of my other foot..
Anyone still start into shoes when their foot was still swollen. I know that it gets worse as the day goes on but I wondered if when you all start at the begining of the day is the foot fine and then it swells?

Hi Teddie....it took me 7 - 8 weeks to finally get my foot into a shoe and even then it took some looking...at one point I just sat in the store and cried because nothing seemed to fit. Most of the problem for me wasn't just the swelling, but the incision. Because it is on the top of the foot, and because I have such terrible scarring both internally and externally, EVERY shoe had to rub on the incision when I tried to put it on. Once I could actually get the shoe on, where the tongue is sewn to the shoe would just absolutely press down on the incision and cause horrible pain. I am now 14 weeks out and I"m still having issues with shoes. I've been trying to find ones that not only fit but are comfortable. I think what has happened is that the process of breaking the toe and realigning it caused the toe to be shorter....which is why I think I've had a problem with the top joint of the toe, I'm balanced on the whole foot differently now and putting pressure on parts that I didn't before. And, I don't think they make shoes like they used to....hardly any padding in the shoe....they all feel like hard plastic on my foot. My problem now is that the surgery foot is still swollen a bit at times...if I buy a shoe that fits the good foot, it is too tight for the other. If I buy a shoe to fit the bad foot, it is too big for the other. And the shoe might fit when I try it on, but then when I've gotten home and been on my feet for a period of time, then the foot has swollen and no longer fits in the shoe.

That happened this weekend. It was my anniversary, and Mother's Day, and I was supposed to go for a nice dinner and wanted to wear a dress and shoes other than my sneakers. I spent ALL day looking for shoes and finally just bought little sandals. Well, they fit in the store, but then when I went home and showered and dressed, the shoes no longer fit. I had to go barefoot in the car and only put the shoes on to go into the restaurant.

I feel like I am stuck with old lady shoes...no offence to the old ladies and their shoes (if you're reading this), but I'm not near ready to wear grandma shoes, ya know?;)

After 8 weeks I went to Payless and found some sneakers that were comfortable on the feet, but were in no way good for any distance walking....just good enough to put on and go to the store. I did buy a pair of Champion sneakers at Target just to get me to the point where the foot was mostly calmed down...then I'll buy good shoes.

Wmcolors....I'm afraid to order shoes from a catalogue. Considering the amount of trouble I have finding ones that are comfortable and fit properly, I don't know if what i pick out will be right. I know you can return them, but the idea of ordering them, waiting for them to get delivered, trying them on and then they're not right, then shipping them back....ugh...not a pleasant process.

Does anyone know of a good shoe store that sells shoes similar to the Foot Smart catalogue where you can actually go in and try them on?

There are orthopedic shoe stores out there, check the yellow pages for one near you. Also, uniform stores have some super-practical footwear designed for workers on their feet all day.

[QUOTE=lcweiden3132;3565459

Does anyone know of a good shoe store that sells shoes similar to the Foot Smart catalogue where you can actually go in and try them on?[/QUOTE]

Any chance of taking a trip to NYC? There is a store here where they take any of there shoes (they sell the good for your feet shoes like clarks, mephisto, berkenstocks and tons more) and they build the shoe around your foot.. In other words if there is a shoe you like but because of the fact that your foot is different now..you may need some extra buildup on one shoe and so on.. they are certified and trained to do this..--it is a specialty shoe store. You do pay extra for it but even if you bought one pair that were like that..and you could get some nicer looking shoes that don't look so orthopedic. The store is called Eneslow and the people in the store are Pedorthic technicians not general shoe salesman.. if you check out their site you can see what they do.
I plan on going when the swelling is down in my foot and I have my orthotics as I want them to fit me in a good pair of shoes. I figure I will get one good pair for work since I walk quite a bit.
They may have something like this closer to you if you look up pedorthic technicians online see what you find.. I did find a company called protech that customizes.. you can even call them and they may know of someone in your area.

***sigh*** a trip to NYC would be AWESOME! We actually just did that in October...so no chance of that anytime soon.......but, it is our favorite place!

I have a perdorthic place near me, but I dont' think they will build up a shoe you already have...you have to go there, which I did. But, the shoes still look like old lady shoes (mostly for diabetics), nothing cute, and nothing reasonably priced. I will continue to look around though. They wanted $250 for one pair of sneakers and another $100 for inserts. I've never spent $350 just on my feet! I don't even spend $350 on clothes for the year! So, I'm going to have to keep looking.....I don't have the kind of income to support $350 on my feet.

***sigh*** a trip to NYC would be AWESOME! We actually just did that in October...so no chance of that anytime soon.......but, it is our favorite place!

I have a perdorthic place near me, but I dont' think they will build up a shoe you already have...you have to go there, which I did. But, the shoes still look like old lady shoes (mostly for diabetics), nothing cute, and nothing reasonably priced. I will continue to look around though. They wanted $250 for one pair of sneakers and another $100 for inserts. I've never spent $350 just on my feet! I don't even spend $350 on clothes for the year! So, I'm going to have to keep looking.....I don't have the kind of income to support $350 on my feet.

I hear you.. I know the place near me.. will modify shoes you already have so you might want to check with your place you never know.
You are right about the cost.. I can get reimbursed for the modifications but not the shoes from my flex spending acct so I thought to just buy one pair but the cost is something outrageous.
I am trying to get adjusted to the fact that cute shoes are no longer in my vocabulary but there are some out there that are supportive and look not so bad.. but then again are pricey.. oh well.