Still pain after 10 weeks after Bunion Surgery - Foot Problems Message Board

Chubstercat · 06-19-2008, 09:20 AM

I am still in pain after 10 weeks of having Akin/Austin Bunionectomy with second metatarsal shortening because of pain in the ball of foot. I am going to Physical Therapy. I am really concerned. The doctor just took x-rays and said everything looks good. He used a "tuning fork" on my foot and said that everything was okay. I am feeling I made a huge mistake, can anyone help me? I see the podiatrist again in 2 weeks for another checkup.

chic43 · 06-19-2008, 11:54 AM

I am right there with you....I feel your pain, and have. I too at 10 weeks was still having lots of issues and really beginning to think if I had done the wrong thing.

I think for some people it just takes a really really long time to heal...and you, and I , are some of those people. And it is very frustrating cause you want to get on with it and can't.

At 7 weeks I still couldn't get a shoe on my foot. It wasn't until 9 weeks that I felt comfortable enough to do any amount of normal errand running...where I didn't think just walking from the car to the store entrance was the worst possible journey.

I am now 5 months post and I just realized the other day that I don't have near the pain I had been having. I too had ball of foot pain, like you. It turned out that I had tendonitis and I was given Celebrex to help with that. I *still* am having issues in the toe itself and don't know why...but for the most part I am doing much better.

I take baths with Epsom Salts at night. This seems to help alot. It helps when I massage the foot and it helps with sleep. You need to be doing your ROM exercises religiously, regardless if you have pain. Any pain *other* than a very sharp and excrutiating and debilitating pain is healing pain and you have to work through it. The exercises will help with pain.

Chubstercat · 06-19-2008, 01:38 PM

The doc says me x-rays looked good, no pain with this "tuning fork" - but every step I take is very uncomfortable. I continue to elevate and ice and massage the scars. I sure hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

debbie g · 06-19-2008, 03:29 PM

healing does vary with people. what does your therapist say? also, how much swelling do you have?

wmkcolors · 06-19-2008, 06:37 PM

At 10 weeks, having had a similar procedure, I was still in alot pain. In fact, i was in alot of pain up through the 4th month, as I struggled to regain ROM, in my big toe joint. Now, at 5 1/2 months postop, my pain has travelled to the arch of my foot and the ball of my foot, as I try to increase my activity level, though it's much less than the first 4 months. I'm a runner, but I can only run about 2 miles, before my foot throbs. I do have full ROM, but that was a painful process of physical therapy. I believe it takes months, on the average, to heal, not the 6-8 weeks that is suggested. The first 3 months is a very early part of the healing process.