post bunion surgery....HELP PLEASE!! - Foot Problems Message Board

cind68 · 01-14-2006, 03:55 PM

hi

I'm SO glad I ran across this board! I have felt in the dark for months now and would appreciate any help/advice/answers I can get.
I'll try to keep it as short as possible...promise

I've had bunions that started getting bad probably 5 yrs ago and around 3 yrs ago really started progressing. I put off the original surgery 2 yrs ago and finally realized I couldn't put it off any longer this fall. I'm an avid tennis player and the only tennis shoes I could fit into were these men's Wilson (extra wide) ones that after about a week I would always bust through the side of the right one and about half the time the left one as well.

I had the right foot surgery done on Oct. 18th. It went well and in about 5 days I was hobbling around and overdid myself a couple times but all in all it seemed fine. The doc originally wanted to do them 1 week apart but that just seemed a bit much to me with the severity of them both. I mean I honestly have NO idea how I played tennis with the pain and all. It was really probably just stupid of me but I enjoy it so much that I would carry my tennis shoes onto the court, play, then rip them off and put my sandals back on as soon as I finished. Anyway....I talked him into waiting 3 weeks in between. After the second surgery....you know the saying "you don't have a leg to stand on"? That was me. It was a nightmare. The doc had me in bed 24/7 for a couple weeks and I was having to get nerve blocks to stop the pain. I was evidently right that it threw me into overload because with the first surgery I only took one pain tab and that was only because the nurse in recovery had told me to not let the pain get out of control and when I felt my foot waking up to take something. After having them both done I couldn't sleep, eat ....the pain was horrendous on both feet.

oh...as far as what was done to both feet. I honestly don't know the exact term for the surgery but maybe this will help. I'm going to ask at my next appt (this week) but here's what I know now. They cut off the bone that was protruding then broke and realigned the bone and put in screws to hold it. Like I said, the right foot was much worse than the left but he said after each surgery that alot had to be done on each.

At this point yes, I'm doing better of course than I was but I'm not sure it could've been much worse. I've had 8 major surgeries in my life and recovered quickly and easily from them but this was a doozy....and still is!
I'm so frustrated I don't know what to do with myself. Yes, I'm an impatient person but the doc had told me prior to the surgery that 2 months after having it done I would be back up and on the tennis court. Not quite.

It's been over 13 weeks on the right foot and over 8 on the left one. I was finally told about 3 weeks ago that I could "try" to walk around the block but to avoid hills and stay very close to home. I was allowed to start doing stuff in the pool as of last week along with upper body weights but nothing lowerbody. I called this week and asked if I could start on a stationary bike. NO. Why am I still not allowed to at least try these things?? I'm used to being in very good shape and this is just killing me! I was told at my last appt (about 3 weeks ago) that it would be a minimum of 12 weeks before I could even attempt getting on a tennis court or any type of vigorous activities. Why was I told differently at first? I don't want to mess anything up and go through it again so am complying but am about to pull my hair out. It's not as if I could play tennis if I wanted to anyway. I'm still not able to walk normally even. I've been more than religious with all the exercises and am able to move my big toes now(the morning of course is stiffer but only on the right one) and strangely my left big toe will never touch the ground?? I don't have weakness in my ankles and for the most part the nerve pain is gone. My BIG problem though is swelling. I can't seem to do ANYTHING w/o them just blowing up on me. I normally wear a womens size 10 shoe and am still in a mens size 12 extra wide tennis shoe all the time. And according to if I've done anything or not I'm having to loosen the laces because even they become too tight.

I would GREATLY appreciate any help I can get!! Is there somethiing I'm doing/not doing wrong?? Is what I'm going through normal?? When are most people back in their regular shoes? When will I be able to play tennis again??? When should the swelling at least be to a point where they don't blow up all the time? Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing process that I'm not doing? (I didn't include everything but I've been religious about everything...eating more protein, doing the exercises, you name it!)...I realize now I was given VERY unrealistic expectations and I do feel once this is all over I'll be thankful I had it done as the pain was just ridiculous and preventing me from living life as I wanted and doing the things I enjoy to the fullest but I would just like to know what I should really expect. Is this all ever going to end? For those who've had it done before, how long did it take you to get back in the shape you were in before? Right now I can't for my life imagine being able to play a tennis match. Not just for the fun but that is an important part of my life. I was very sick for a number of years and once I finally got better I immediately got back into tennis which I'd done my whole life and being physically fit and in shape has been my saving grace. Otherwise I have such joint and muscle pain it's unbearable and it's getting back to that point. It takes me until around noon each day for the pain in my body to get to a point that I can get out of bed and start my day. It's just ridiculous but more than anything scary to me. I worked so hard to get to where I was and be able to function and now feel like it's all being ripped away because I had this done.
Sorry again for the length of this post but I really would appreciate all the help/advice I can get!
Thank you!!!!

I just reread my post and do want to add that YES, it could most definitely be worse than what it is so I don't want anyone to think I don't realize that. I've read some other posts that are absolutely horrible and I can't even imagine!! I think because I was given false expectations I'm now disappointed. I would much rather a doctor tell me the very WORST scenario as tell me it's going to be a piece of cake knowing that's not the case. I really don't want to sound like a pity case. I have really even beaten myself up for not being where I thought I was supposed to be healing wise according to what I was originally told. I can't say that I would recommend this particular doc to anyone because of this too. It's just not right to tell someone things will be one way and set them up for such disappointment....in themselves, in what they thought they would be doing....many things.....I really don't agree with that line of thinking and so far have always been set up with an appointment with one of the other doctors at the clinic but have made sure my appointment this week is with HIM and I have a few words to tell him too. This will be the very first time I've even seen him since having either of the surgeries mind you. Something seems a bit wrong with that as well. I did speak with him on the phone once when I called in terrible pain after the second surgery and he reprimanded me like a child telling me that I should be up and "running around the mall" at this point....(4 days post-op second surgery.) This of course made me wonder just what was wrong with me??? I've never been a baby before but he made me feel like one then! ...anyway, I just didn't want to come across as "my case is the WORST" as I know others are having a much tougher time but I would like to know if I'm on course and what to expect along with my other questions. thanks again.....cindy

SairyDairy · 01-14-2006, 10:03 PM

Hi Cindy I'll post more tomorro w I almost cried when I read your post because I got fed he same line of garbage bfore I had my surgery a double hammertoe on Nove 17th ( Ikept my bunions for now. )
Yours was very extensive and I will leave it to the bunion experts to try to help I dont blame you for being upset and angry I am too The docs said three months then six Now the PT say up to takes a long time I wear a size 8%1/2
Now Iam am in a ten that flip flops so bad I
A little girl who massaged my very stiff toes yesteday gve me some wonderful advice She said "No other part of your body take the pounding that your feet do .Other parts of you generally arent constantly hitting the ground Your feet are."Take the time you need even if it is horrible and driving you crazy
I don't want to loose two very special trips I had planned for this year I have lbood clots in my legs I put my very strong surgical stockings on this morning and the pain was so bad I though I would scream My right toe turned purple I will get better so will you.

I would give the doctor a piece of my mind I dont even want to see the guy who did my surgery His rosy time frame was ricuculous.
Another thing t hat got me too is why dont they give you a schedule of what you can reasonably expect Of course we have to remember that we are all different Younger people generally heal well You were in good physical shape Hopefuly that will work for you .
Me I am sedentary I have severe Fibro so I will be a slow heal Keep up what you are doing and hope the others can help This is a terriiffic bunch of people I am glad I found them too Rose

joll43 · 01-15-2006, 02:34 PM

Wow. Okay, first I'm going to give you my timeline:

January 21, 2005 - Bunionectomy on left foot (broken in 3 places, 2 screws and a pin) - pin came out after about 3 weeks.

I was in a cast and non-weightbearing for 8 weeks. After that, I went right into physical therapy to reduce my swelling (so much swelling!) and get my range of motion & strength back. He insisted on PT, and I went twice a week for another 8 weeks before getting the right foot done. If I was going to be on crutches again with the other foot, I'd need my left foot to be the strong one, so I was basically in training to have my other foot done, which was great incentive. Aside from doing my PT exercises constantly, I also got myself to the pool and did more weightbearing exercises my therapist gave me.

May 25, 2005 - Scarf Bunionectomy on right foot (different procedure, faster healing process). Non-weightbearing for only 6 weeks this time, then back into physical therapy. There are things only PT can give you as far as massaging your incision to break down scar tissue, and really making your work your butt off no matter how much you think you can't do one more rep.

I have great range of motion now, and brand new feet. It took months to get my swelling down - a year later, I'm finally able to wear my regular shoe size and width.

BUG your doctor about physical therapy, or just have him write a prescription and get it on your own.

I'm so sorry it hasn't been easy for you, but this is a long recovery process and I read so many posts by people who are back on their feet after a week or so, or even just a few DAYS, which is totally ridiculous. No matter what, if you have a broken bone, it takes 6-8 weeks for it to heal properly. That is the deal; you can't rush it!

Good luck and feel free to ask more questions!!!

cind68 · 01-15-2006, 08:41 PM

Thank you so much Rose! Even if it's not what I was told by the "doctor" to expect or what I wanted it to be like I am glad to know what to REALLY expect. I've been noticing how important the PT is and am planning on telling my doc to write me a script for it at my appt this week. I've done all I know to do on my own and even through just that feel it's helped me tremendously but like you said, they can show me so much more and get me to a further point than I can on my own.
This is off topic really but honestly why do you think it seems so many docs give such false expectations?? I mean I knew I had to have it done as there was no way I could continue like I was but telling me something so far off-base is just criminal in my mind. It's gone through my head a million times thinking what in the world I would have done if I didn't have family close to take care of me being a single person, what I would do if I were working as I did for years on my feet 12 hrs a day or even worse if some doc had told me to expect to be off a couple weeks and then going strong as ever in 2 months and I were a single mother with children to support. It really is just ridiculous and unethical to me. Is it out of greed that they give a person false expectations? Is it because they think perhaps the person won't have it done if they know the real truth? ...I honestly just don't get that one. I have my opinion on my doc....(not a good one either)...but am curious as to what others think about just why this seems to be a common occurence....any ideas??
Today and just the past few days have been much better ones for me for some reason. I've started to walk a little better and I really think now knowing moreso what to expect and being able to have a plan and time frame I can put in my head has helped me tremendously. I also think it's really helped that I've been able to do some exercise as well. That does so much for me mentally I can't even tell you. For the past 2 days I've gotten on a stationary bike at the gym and put only my heels on it and gone for about 20 min and done the pool as well. I'm not sure if it was the warmer water or having to walk on my heels to and from the pool that really had my feet so swollen....or probably both?? but I got some "aquatic tennis shoes" and used them for the first time today and wow what a difference they made! I could do SO much more it was incredible!! Really helped me alot!
Like I said, just knowing what to expect has helped more than anything but just a few more questions. Sorry about that too....I am so glad I can't tell you to finally find somewhere where I will get straight answers and not be misled. As I said before, I really am a tennis nut....for a number of reasons besides just "playing" even and am thinking that maybe in a month or so I can at least just kinda stand there and have the ball-machine feed me balls to the same spot and hopefully by the end of summer/first of fall I'll be doing more then maybe by around Sept I'll be able to play....well, kinda anyway....and then next year be back on my team. Do you think this is completely unrealistic?
Also I'm just wondering. I'm not a freak about weight but I do like to stay in shape....again, moreso for how it makes me feel physically/mentally and honestly, when I'm in shape the winters of course are worse but nothing like if not and no matter what time of year I'm able to get out of bed and maybe feel like one mac truck hit me rather than 20. I can also get up earlier too....like right now it's around 11am before my joints feel part human. I may wake up earlier but feel so horrible I have to just lay there and will watch tv while I do stretches and of course all the toe exercises as well. I know I can't be alone completely on this one. How has everyone else dealt with it? I'm by no means eating like crazy but have put on around 10 lbs. I had been trying to put on about 5 so that was ok but not being able to exercise like I was really does change your body. Do most people gain some weight when they have this done? Now that I can do something I feel much better but even still it's not what I was used to and I don't think it will get to this point but I really can't afford a whole new wardrobe! Am I completely alone on this one??
...I have lots of other questions too but won't bombard you and everyone at once!

Thank you so much Rose for all your insight! You've helped me much more than you know!!! cindy

joll43 · 01-16-2006, 02:58 PM

I know it's really hard, but you will see a light at the end of your tunnel. As far as doctors go, I guess I was lucky - mine let me know exactly what I was in for, and didn't sugarcoat it; my fiance was there at all my appointments, and we were both fully-informed, which is why I cooked and froze tons of meals, and we went bulk-shopping and basically prepared the whole apartment for what was to come. I thought this was the norm; that all doctors would prepare their patients like this. Of course after a year of reading these boards, I know it's not, which is really a shame.

Weight gain? OH YEAH....like mad. It was winter when I had my first foot done, and both my fiance and I ate mostly comfort foods. I was NWB for an entire 8 weeks, and my weekly doctor appointments became a "what-do-I-wear" nightmare!

Just try and watch what you eat, and do whatever exercise you can. Lifting weights helped my arms a lot, especially with the crutches, and I tried to do crunches whenever I had a free moment, which was all the time. It's hard, but as soon as I was allowed to to real exercise, I did it. At PT, they had me do 5 minutes on the RECUMBENT bike to warm up, then 5-6 minutes on the treadmill, walking backwards on the highest incline, then onto my regular PT routine.

Let us know what happens!