One year post-bunionectomy and scar tissue - Foot Problems Message Board

skigirl · 07-18-2006, 08:25 PM

It has been one year since my bunionectomy. I have a stiff toe and pain on the bottom of my foot. The Doctor said that it's because of the scar tissue. I can't move my toe down at all and that is causing the pain on the bottom of my foot. He is going to go back in and release (I think that's the term he used) the scar tissue so the toe will move freely. He also said that the key will be to move it A LOT right after the surgery. I think I scar badly... my incision has a huge scar on it and I still have a bump on the side of my foot and I'm wondering if that's scar tissue as well. ( I did move it a lot after the first surgery! )
Has anyone had this problem?

roz5 · 07-22-2006, 07:25 AM

I have just started having pain on the top of my incision, where the big bump is for the big toe. I had a bunionectomy last July (toe cut & straightened w/screw; bunion removed). My son had an appt. w/my podiatrist this past week for his orthodic inserts, so I asked her about it. She took a look at it and wanted me to make an appt. to come back for x-rays......just to be sure the screw did not come loose. My foot hurts when I walk sometimes; or if I step the "wrong way". Sometimes when I drive, it is sore on the gas pedal. My big toe does not bend down very far either. I sure hope nothing is wrong!!!

snwtygr · 07-22-2006, 09:20 PM

before going and cutting into it again - and making more scar tissue - look into ART - "active release therapy". Basically it's manual therapy to break up scar tissue. Chiropractors do it - do a search and you will find someone near you who does it.
I had severe pain following triple arthrodesis and my doc wanted to remove my nerve and as a last resort sent me to an ART specialist - I have had 3 therapy appointments and my pain has gone down by 60%. Everything is moving more freely too. It turns out that I had extensive scar tissue gluing the tissues together. My insurance is paying for it too. After a year of suffering it's almost over for me !

Also, ultrasound in conjunction with ART can be helpful.

Please keep us posted !

moondancer2 · 07-24-2006, 03:26 PM

about 2 1/2 months post-op, i was having a lot of stiffness in one of my big toes, altho the other was moving fairly well, all things considered. My OS sent me to physical therapy with iontophoresis...he said no one really knows why, but the ionto will break up developing scar tissue. my health insurance paid for the PT, paid for the ionto...and after the 8 PT visits my ins. approved, my range of motion is greatly improved, and i have a set of stretches/exercises that i continue to do, daily. you might want to discuss these options with your doctor, before you consider more surgery.
again, i had the same pre-op condition on both feet -- same degree of misalignment and 'bunion-ness'...same procedure, same doctor, i followed the same post-op rules, and post-op xrays showed the same degree of improvement...and one foot healed very differently than the other. Doc said 'it happens, we don't know why, we just respond'.

kalalu · 07-25-2006, 09:47 PM

did your doctor not give you any exercises to do for your toe and ankle? mine is suggesting that i do stretches of some sort after the cast comes off and to start wiggling my big toe as soon as possible and keep it moving each day. it helps with the healing and stiffness factor. i did not have as much scar-tissue as you on my first operation on my right foot, but i am my skin is still numb on the top of the foot where the bone was cut and screwed into alignment and on the side where the bone was cut/shaved down. Good luck to you!!