Re: Nerve pain in heel/toe after ankle surgery
Hi Paws,
I'm brand new to this forum today. Feeling like I should jump in and offer my '2 cents.' I had surgery Feb 27th for Medial Malleolus break, tip of fibula break with 2 screws, achilles lengthening, and adhesive capsulitis. More extensive surgery than yours, but pain like you in the same area. Once I started partial weight bearing on walker I had severe heel pain. It was relentless. Told to walk through it, and I did. However, my surgeon did take an X-ray 3 months after surgery to make sure my bones were healed. I thought when I began full weight bearing with a cane I'd be thru the heel pain. No way. Came on with a vengeance again. I have been in rehab since mid April learning to walk again. Both my PT and surgeon say the intense pain near my malleolus where the break was is very normal and to be expected, but that it would last a while, and lessen with time. My surgeon said the swelling I still get in the medial ankle area is normal, and that alone can cause nerve irritation. I'm told I have plantar faciitis since the surgery. Hard to tell the difference between healing bone pain, plantar facciitis, and nerve irritation. One treatment that seems to have really helped is Astym at rehab. You'l have too look that up. It's uncomfortable, but I get relief the next day. They also have me using a golf ball and tennis ball which I roll under my foot a couple times a day for a few minutes. It's the only thing that's helped me so far. But hang in there - it does get better. The scary part for me was not knowing if the malleolus bone was fractured again or if it's just normal pain from the healing process. And a word about PT. For myself, I've learned that only I can monitor my pain level during my sessions. My surgeon told me if it hurts, stop. And what's what I do. I've only had one set back when my PT pushed me a little too far. It will never happen again. When something is too hard to do, I don't do it. Or I try a little, but don't push myself to a pain level. It may take longer, but I don't believe in the 'no pain no gain' motto. 'Pain as tolerated' is my motto. It does get better!
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