chic43

I had a bunionectomy with osteotomy and am now 5 months post op. The majority of my swelling is gone, although I seem to still have some if I sit at my desk doing work...and I noticed I still have some of that post surgery discoloration when I stand....but, doc said that was normal. I don't have hardly any pain, except in the big toe between the bunion joint and the tip of the toe...feels like it is in the bone, but I don't know for sure. My ROM is pretty good as I can stand on my tip toes, but that seems to irritate the big toe pain. But regular walking doesnt' hurt. I think the pain and swelling issues must be one of slow decrease, sort of from the bottom up over time...at some point pain/swelling might only be in the top to the toe and then eventually gone.

I had some tendonitis in the arch and ball of the foot recently, maybe from the foot finally getting the idea that this is the way it is now. I've taken some Celebrex and wear an elastic sleeve to relieve that and it has helped alot...within a week it has mostly disappeared.

The first thing in the morning is probably the worst as everything is very stiff....but I'm also 43 so things are bound to hurt these days . But a bit of stretching, massaging, and the elastic sleeves seems to relieve that within about 10 minutes of initial walking.

I agree that the ROM of the surgery foot is not anything like the normal foot...and I think that is just the way it will be. Although, I was not made aware of that fact before surgery so it came as a shock and disappointment. But, I think that my feet were over-flexible to begin with which may in fact have caused the bunion issue in the first place. So, a decrease in my ROM might actually be a good thing. I had one doctor tell me that because I was hyperflexible he would have actually FUSED my foot and higher up in the foot....so, I'm glad I did this surgery which was less invasive but had a similar outcome....reduced flexibility.

And, lastly, my scar has decreased quite a bit, is much more flexible and flat, but I still have two small areas that are still tender...but again, over time that will be gone. I used ScarGuard on the scar and that helped tremedously.