now the arm pain too? - Foot Problems Message Board

hurts2walk · 05-09-2009, 09:58 AM

I am 3.5 weeks post op pttd surgery and this past week I have been waking up at night every few hours with terrible pain in my arms. I wake up in the morning in so much pain. It's like pain with muscle cramping. I am really struggling to get going in the morning because of this.

I am frustrated because I was just starting to wean off the pain pills.....now I need them to get me through. I had surgery on the other foot in September and I never dealt with this at all.

I realize that it is from overuse with the crutching etc. But my arms were already built up from the last surgery and I don't think I am doing any more than I did last time around.

So I am asking all you fellow foot surgery survivors if you have dealt with this and what you did for it.

WorldWalker · 05-09-2009, 10:14 AM

I had one of those shoulder packs that you heat up in the microwave. Maybe Icy Hot? I also take longer showers to relax the muscle. Are you sleeping any different? I fell asleep and sometimes I'd hurt from the way I'd fall asleep. I'm sorry you're hurting.

SoCalGal09 · 05-09-2009, 10:36 AM

Hey Hurts,

I never had that, but maybe you are tensing your arms and not realizing it. I sometimes find that I'm clutching my fist and have to mentally tell myself to relax. I would think since you had the surgery before and you know what to expect, you're unconsciously tensing for it to happen. Maybe?

I would try one of those bags that you can microwave for heat - that seems like a good idea to help loosen the muscles and get them to relax a bit. It's a bummer this is happening!

Let us know how it goes...

let me walk · 05-09-2009, 12:50 PM

I was on crutches for a total of 4 months (with a 3 week stint of "walking" before my surgery) (but my surgery wasn't as intense as yours with the PTTD surgery...just a small OCD lesion at the anterior facet of the talus at the subtalar joint and a very small PTT tear, which I PRAY doesn't lead to PTTD surgery). I had issues of tightness, popping, and pain in my shoulders while I slept. During the second 1.5 months of crutching I really laid low...like really laid low because I just didn't want to chance ANYTHING. You might want to do some very mild ROM moves for your shoulders and some stretching. I did that and it helped. If you are participating in PT or have easy access to PT, I would also ask them for guidance. Maybe they could do some electrical current acupuncture, I had that done to my ankle in the beginning stages and it helped me very much to deal with the pain...acupressure is also very helpful (I did that the month after my ankle surgery and it helped). I'm really sorry that your hurting so much. Pain takes it's toll and you've already been through so much. I hope some of this helps!
Julie

walleye77 · 05-09-2009, 03:14 PM

Hurts, I would like to share just alittle about the shoulder. The first thing you want to do is put ice on for 20 minutes on every hour, Although the heat sounds good it is the ice that will help the most. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries and lots of PT for it. The crutches can do some aweful things too our shoulders. If you can avoid them for a awhile to let the muscles settle down that helps. I also would recommend a tens unit as this will help settle the muscles down thru stimulation. Now you can ask your doc or PT person to prescribe one, you have this on for 1 hr on on off. It does help calm those over used muscles down. Its been almost 1 yr since my last shoulder surgery and I still use the tens unit expecially now that I am starting to PWB, my shoulder and arm muscles are barking at me too. Please don't let this pain get to far out on you. Get suggestions from PT they can really help.