3 Months Post Op---Recurrence - Foot Problems Message Board

mediamom · 04-19-2004, 07:19 AM

Hi All. It's been a while since i posted. I had a double bunionectomy in mid-January. Had the Chevron thingy with pins (that got removed) and ligament release on one of the feet. All looked good initially but within the last 6 weeks or so, I've been noticing that my feet look worse in terms of alignment. I used an orthopedic surgeon with a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery by the way, and he seems one of the few (among posts I've read on this board) who allowed weight bearing from the start (as much as I could manage of course). He said the pins would hold the bone until the 6-8 week point when the bones would have been healed (and this is when I had the pins removed). Anyway, I saw him today for my 3 month check and he said that there had been some recurrence but that I'm still swollen and would be for another 3 months so we should reserve final judgement until that time. He believes the cause of the problem is weak ligaments around the big toe joint capsule that were unable to hold the bone in place. He also says there really isn't anything that can be done about it. I'm frustrated because I expected to have pain relief as well as nice looking feet. I definitely don't have the latter and I'll have to wait a few more months to determine if I've got the former (since I'm still not in real dress shoes yet). Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or words of advice. I must say I'm pretty upset to have gone through all that only to have a possible partial recurrence after just 3 months.

Thanks folks.

Les

apegirl · 04-19-2004, 08:25 AM

Hi there. I have the same story as you. My foot did not look promising coming out of surgery, and the bunion recurred. Boy, was I upset! I ended up going back in (with a different doctor) two years later and having a Lapidus procedure, which is often done for people with laxity in their feet. I'm only at five weeks, but I'm very pleased with how things went. Have a look on this board to see what that surgery involves. It pretty well guarantees that a bunion will never recurr because it corrects the structural problems.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this with so little satisfaction, but it happens sometimes. Give your foot a few months and see how it feels.

Linda

fairieswearboots · 04-19-2004, 07:02 PM

Hi marketingmom,
I am sorry to hear about your recurrence. It sounds so similar to what happened to me. My 1st surgeon was also an orthopedic surgeon with a fellowship in foot and ankle reconstruction. I thought that was good enough. I guess I thought wrong. Both of my big toes returned to their original position. Only the big "bumps" were gone. My 2nd surgeon (board certified podiatrist with 27 years experience) didn't do such a hot job either. The bunions (hallux valgus deformities) didn't return but I had different complications after he "redid" my bunionectomies. I am now seeing an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle surgery only - nothing else. She seems to be pretty good. I have had my right foot operated on by her which is the 3rd time for me (for pain reasons only) and will have the left foot operated on again by her (3rd time for that one as well for pain reasons only) in about 3 months I hope. I wish I had known about her and went to her in the 1st place but I can't change that now.

I don't agree that nothing can be done. I think that's just a cop-out for your doctor because if you believe him on that, it makes him look better. If you consider a "redo" surgery, please choose very carefully. I thought I did with surgeon #2 but I guess I thought wrong again. I certainly would have called it quits after the 2nd set of surgeries were it not for the pain issues. I would recommend trying to find a very experienced orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle surgery only, period. Once is bad enough, twice is worse, and 3 times is desparation. You may get pain relief and good cosmetic results with a 2nd set of bunion surgeries by a highly qualified surgeon but if you reach a 3rd time like I did, you will hope for pain relief and cosmetics will be the least of your worries. Healing can be quite a problem as well with repeated surgeries in the same area no matter how young and healthy you may be. I healed OK with my 1st two sets of bunion surgeries but by the 3rd time around there was so much scar tissue in the area around the bones that I am now using a bone growth stimulator. Thank goodness it is working but I should never had to go through all of this.

I can certainly relate to how upset you are feeling. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

mediamom · 04-20-2004, 07:35 AM

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I have no idea what will be over the next 3 months or level of pain/discomfort I may or may not have. One can only hope and pray. But man, makes me so mad at my doc. Why did this happen is my big question.

carolcrone · 04-20-2004, 09:16 AM

OK, first of all, did recent x-rays show that the toe has deviated from the straight-on position that they pinned it in during the surgery? (end of big toe bone butted flat onto 1st metatarsal). At 3 months I was very concerned too that my toe was "creeping" back into bunion position, but the x-ray showed the joint as totally straight. Because of all my complaining, the doctor gave me a soft splint & toe spacers to wear at night, but as soon as I put a shoe on, my toe bent over again. I quit using the splint. My x-ray shows that the bone on the tip of my big toe is slightly curved & that is what causes the bend. Not to worry, according to the doc; many people have that curve & it has nothing to do with bunions. As for the continued pain & swelling, I am at 4 months now & still have that. I was told it takes 12 months to fully recover from a bunionectomy and that I will have some swelling at least until 6 or 8 months. Basically I was told the same as you: there's nothing to be done for it but time will heal. I hope your problem & mine will go away with time. Give it 3 months for sure & good luck!