Foot / Ankle :: Nerve Pain In Heel/toe After Ankle Surgery
I had ankle surgery to repair my medial malleolus back on May 8. It was fairly routine--just 2 screws. I was in a cast for a week, then was put into a boot but told to treat it like a cast--NO weight bearing for 7 weeks, keep the boot on 24/7 unless in the bathtub. I followed directions religiously.
I did notice that when I pressed on certain areas of the foot, I would feel a sharp pain. This occurred in the heel (from the bottom), toes (again, from the bottom, primarily the foot pad below the pinky, second, and 4th toes). When I asked the doctor about this, he said (around week 5) that it was just because I hadn't been using the foot.
The problem persisted, and this week, week 7, I was cleared to start partial weight-bearing--walking in the boot while taking approximately 1/2 the weight off my foot via the crutches. I don't have ankle pain to speak of (or at least, not often and only if I overdo it), but I have terrible shooting pains in my heel and toes as I step. It's OK if I take most of the weight on the crutches, but as soon as I go to more than just a little weight on the boot, the pain starts.
This week I also started PT and the therapist told me this is nerve pain--not uncommon after surgery (don't know why the doctor couldn't have told me this, but OK). I couldn't get much of an idea from her how long this will persist or if there is anything I can do about it.
I'm doing my ankle and leg exercises (those are mostly non-weightbearing at this point) and they are going great. The ankle is clearly healing well. But I don't see how I can progress to full weight bearing (supposed to try that next week!) when much more than a little pressure on the foot results in this nerve pain!
Help! Does anyone have experience with this? Is there anything I can do to speed things along? I need to return to my second job (barefoot hoof trimming for horses--how I broke the ankle!) ASAP and I'm fearful this will slow my progress to a crawl! The doctor is useless.
Foot / Ankle :: PTTD Surgery On Both Feet
I went for all the fun preop tests today in preparation for my second reconstruction happening in two weeks. I'm starting to go a little crazy realizing everything I still need to do before the surgery. ..finish prepping my house, rent the knee walker, finish Christmas shopping! Yikes! In some ways it's easier having an idea what to expect the second time around, but in other ways knowing what the next few months will be like makes it harder.
Those of you who have had the joy of having to have pttd surgery on both feet, how did foot number one hold up to crutches, etc? Any suggestions for a successful second recovery?
Foot / Ankle :: PTTD Surgery - Transition To Shoe Concerns
I am now about 11 weeks post op ... in a CAM boot and using a walker and sometimes a cane at home or where ground is flat and smooth.
I have just started to go to outpatient PT and my dr. suggested I use an ankle brace in a shoe for extra support ... while I build up my muscle and make the transition out of the CAM walker into the shoe .
What type of Ankle brace has anyone out there used? There is a Malleoloc Brace my PT therapist likes; and I have an Air Cast PTTD one with an air bladder under the arch . I have custom arch supports from before surgery that are still ok to use also.What type of shoes are best? My Surgeon seems to prefer a shoe that laces up and is not too flexible. I have a pair of Ziera lace up shoes I wear with my arch supports...
I am weight bearing and with very little pain...more stiff and slightly achy at times.
Foot / Ankle :: Surgery For Glass Removal From Heel
Has anyone dealt with foreign object removal from their heel?
If so, has your heel been able to heal to 100%?
Are you dealing with any problematic scar tissue on your heel?
How long did it take to resolve for you?
I'm eager to get back to deadlifts and squats at the gym and hoping someone can share a positive recovery story.
Here's what happened:
July 5, 2015, I stepped on shard of glass - I was told by a doctor there was no glass in my heel - I was given a tetanus shot, antibiotics and sent on my way. I pushed through the discomfort for several weeks - finally I requested an x-ray, which showed glass in my heel.
August 5, 2015 - the first surgery - unsuccessful - about an hour into surgery in ER (under local anesthetic), the surgeon said he didn't feel comfortable continuing, as he couldn't quite locate the glass and didn't feel comfortable going deeper. He was able to refer me to an orthopedic surgeon.
August 10, 2015 - the second surgery - successful - the orthopedic surgeon said retrieving the glass was very difficult -he was "mucking around for a while" and "it was like finding a needle in a haystack."
I was given painkillers and antibiotics and instructions not to change the bandaging or take off the tensor bandage for the first 3 days. The first night was horrendous in terms of pain - my pain tolerance is pretty high - how I would describe the pain would be, an extreme burning sensation on the top of my foot (like my skin was being peeled off and then lit on fire) - I was going to go back into ER, but as soon as I got up, the rush of blood into my foot relieved the pain. So for that night, and basically the first 2-3 days, I just kept standing up every 1-2 hours to allow blood-flow into my foot. I ended up loosening the tensor bandage after two days.
August 20, 2015 - stitches removed - unfortunately I had an infection, so I was given a 7 day course of antibiotics.
Sept. 11, 2015 - follow-up appt. - incision still not 'together' and some leakage - I was told a minor infection was still present and given a 10 day course of antibiotics.
Currently...
I'm still on crutches - my heel is still tender and the skin is still somewhat open on the surface (was told it will heal from inside out) - I can't stand normally - I have some pins and needles under my foot near my toes - the skin around the heel is very tight and ankle mobility is reduced - ankle feels very weak (probably from not walking).
I'm now seeing the surgeon more consistently to have the healing monitored more closely.
I haven't been given a time-frame of when I'll be 'normal' and be able to resume my life before the injury.
As you can tell, I'm eager to get back to being mobile and living actively.
I'm just looking to hear from someone who has dealt with something similar, so I can keep positive and start thinking of time-frames for myself.
Foot / Ankle :: Can't Use Wheelchair After Broken Heel Surgery?
My uncle had surgery 1 week ago for braking both heels after falling of a roof and he's been in a lot of pain (we all know that) but he's been in bed all day, showering, doing #1/2 all in bed cause he says the doctor said he couldn't even use a wheelchair to go to the bathroom?? I mean is not a back injury/surgery why he's not allowed to even use a wheelchair? I know they advise him to sit/lay on bed with legs up but... can't sit down with legs up for a while? or use a wheelchair (with legs up) to go the bathroom/move around a bit?
View 3 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Heel Fracture (no Surgery) Recovery Time
I broke my heel 54 days ago, felling down from 2nd floor. I am really nervous & worried about... Doctor told me you need to keep cast for 60 days (or 8 weeks) 2 weeks ago I had 2nd x-ray, it was 40th day of fracture... I smoke, as you know it makes bone recovery period longer....On my X-ray heel didn't look like recovered....bones were darker color, fracture place still lighter, but doctor said its fine & you can put weight on that foot and come back after 2 weeks, we will take off cast and put on some kinda fixing boot. However, neither 2 weeks ago, not now I can put weight on it. It hurts so bad....I don't know what to do, do what doctor says, or listen my pain? I want to know if its normal to feel such bad pain whilst doctor say your bone is okay? and how come it's okay, if on my X-ray even I can see its not okay.
View 14 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Nausea, Constipation After PTTD - Failed Nerve Block And Pain
I'm a 38 year old with ankle and foot problems all my life. I was born with flat feet and I was always spraining my ankles. I acquired PTTD/Flat Foot on my left about a year ago and finally was diagnosed by an orthopedic foot and ankle expert. He recommended surgery and after a second opinion I decided I might as well get this taken care of so that I can go back to a normal life of walking through the streets of Europe.
I had my surgery about 2.5 weeks ago and I wanted to lend advice to those about to take on this crazy surgery. Firstly, the morning of surgery when the anesthesiologist was performing the nerve block it hurt like hell and made me even more panicked about the surgery. The relaxing medication they gave me did nothing to settle my nerves. I woke up from surgery a few hours later and I could feel all sorts of shocking pains coming from my foot. I asked if I should be feeling all the pain and they said that the nerve block failed. The anesthesiologist was busy for another hour and so I writhed in pain (crying hysterically) for the hour and vomited multiple times due to the extra anesthetic they gave me due to the failed nerve block.
Once the new anesthesiologist came she figured out that my nerve split into two and the other guy had not seen this split. After she was finished it was completely numb and I was worn out. I was sent home. Over the next day I vomited profusely, found out that I cannot breath when I take Oxycontin, I lost balance and fell on my foot and I was taking anything I could get my hands on for constipation. I finally found the foul tasting milk of magnesia and I can now go to the bathroom every few days.
My pain was managed by a morphine twice a day while in the splint, but now that I am in the cast my heel is killing me especially at night and the dr gave me hydrocodone which didn't touch the pain last night. Is it normal to have more pain at this point?
When will I be fairly pain free and when will I be able to leave the house? I live in Santa Barbara and i have an ocean view so I should not be complaining but i am feeling pretty horrid and ready to get out. When I think about leaving I worry about falling again and having my throbbing leg down.
Am I alone in all of this? Many experiences I have been reading say that after 5 days everything was hunky dory.
Foot / Ankle :: Foot Still Hurts 5 Months Post-op
My foot still hurts when I walk, in a week I'll be 5 months post-op and I was suppose to see my surgeon on Friday but it got rescheduled to October 3rd. I'm trying to phone my surgeon to see if I can get an earlier appointment because October 3rd is really a long time to wait!
View 12 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Flat Foot Reconstruction, 8 Weeks Postop With Heel Pain
I am currently 8 weeks post op from a very extensive flat foot reconstructive surgery . I was excited to start partial weight bearing this week starting w 25 percent in a boot.
My problem is I have sharp pains coming from the bottom of my heel which I am thinking may be from the screws from the calcaneal osteotomy. This is making it very difficult to put any pressure on my foot when weight bearing ?
Has anyone experienced this ? Did it go away on its own? Was there anything that helped this . I am afraid I will not be able to proceed the wt bearing with this continued heel pain.
Foot / Ankle :: Heel And Bottom Of Foot Pain
It is my right foot only. Heel pain, and basically all of my foot. I wear inserts plus an extra heel cushion. I been to the foot doctor and gave me a antibiotic and he recommended icing and heating and stretching bottom of foot. Any other suggestions?
View 3 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Calcaneus Heel Fracture / Pain
I sustained a calcaneus heel fracture on 1/10/2015 in a mountain biking accident. I fell off a ledge and tried to catch my fall with my foot. Landed on concrete and twisted my ankle in the process. I had surgery on 1/21/15 and have two screws in my heel and a plate and two screws on the side of my ankle. Two weeks after surgery (four days ago), I lost my balance and fell forward and caught my fall with the ball of my foot (I was in a boot). My foot is so stiff that it will not lay flat on the ground. My heel started hurting a few hours afterwards and the next day. It felt better Wednesday and i did some stretches to my foot. Now it is hurting again today. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience? Do you think it is a stiff tendon (plantar fasciitis) that I just pulled or do you think I could have done damage to my heel? I didn't land on my heel, but I feel a dull ache at the bottom of it now.
View 2 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: 1 Week Post Tarsal Tunnel Surgery
Is there anyone that would be willing to share their journey post tarsal tunnel release surgery with me. This has been and is so hard. I had the open procedure on the right foot and need it on the left when I heal. I notice no real change in sensation. I know it could take up to a year but I was wondering what different people experienced. The doctor found varicose veins wrapped around all three branches. He said the nerves looked healthy-whatever that is worth. They feel pathetic. He just moved the veins "out of the way" What prevents them from migrating back around the nerve? I don't think deep varicose veins in the feet are something that can be removed. But if I don't feel better soon, I am going to opt for bilateral below the knee amputations. I know the recovery is slow. I have been out of work for over 4 months because I kept injuring my ankles and finally tore the peroneal tendon in the right leg. That was fixed in December. Then I got sciatica and they found 4 herniated discs. Wound up with three epidural injections in the spine. It was only after that resolved that they would even address the tarsal tunnel. I went to 3 different doctors with no diagnosis until I really screwed up my ankle tearing the tendon. What gives with this disorder? I have never come across it. I don't know if I will ever be able to return to work. My whole life is in shambles right now.
View 10 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Second PTTD Reconstruction - What To Expect
Disclaimer: If I ramble on and make absolutely no sense,
I blame my incoherence on the pain meds
Anyway, my second PTTD reconstruction is done! I had the exact same procedures on my left foot as I did on the right...FDL transfer, medializing calcaneal osteotomy, Evans calcaneal osteotomy, bone marrow aspiration, and Strayer procedure. The surgeon told my family that over two inches of the PTT was severely degenerated/beyond repair. Prognosis is a full recovery over the next 1 1/2 to 2 years.
Unfortunately, my nerve block didn't work as well this time; so, I woke up in pretty severe pain. The nurses were great and had the pain to a manageable point within a half hour. By the time I was discharged, I was able to take my first dose of oral pain meds...I was pretty comfortable on the ride home.
At this point, I am taking one oxycodone every 4 hours (down from 3 the first day) and think I will be able to start putting more space between doses tomorrow. The pain is not too bad as long as I stay "toes above nose."
Knowing what to expect in the days following surgery has definitely made these first few days smoother/less scary. Each day is one day closer to being active again!
Foot / Ankle :: Pain Outside Of Foot After Flat Foot Surgery
I am 7 1/2 weeks post of from Flat Foot Surgery and the outside area of foot from where my incision ends from the double calcaneal osteotomy up to my little toe the soft tissue is halfway numb and very painful. Has anyone else experienced this and if so how long did it last.
I am not sure how long it takes the soft tissue to heal to a point where it does not hurt when you are not walking. Or is what I am feeling nerve pain. I started PT this week and am PWB. My doctor thinks I will be in a shoe in 3 weeks and I don't know at this rate how that could be possible. I am icing a majority of the day for sure after I do my PT exercises.
Foot / Ankle :: Bunion Surgery Pain & Swelling In Ball Of Foot
I am 7 and a half weeks post op after a Lapidus & an Akin procedure. I was in cast until last week and have managed a tennis type shoe and a sandal on so far.
The swelling has been bad as expected with full weight bearing, but the real pain is in the ball of my foot and my big toe does not lie flat, but rather sits elevated. I think the ball of the foot under the big toe is swollen so that may be the cause? I can only walk for a few minutes properly before the pain becomes too much and I am limping and walking on the outside of my operated foot. I can usually cope with pain so know this must be fairly severe.
I am doing my toe bending exercises and think that already the range of motion is not too bad.
TKR :: 4 Months Post Op - Pain In Heel And Swelling In Thigh
My friend is into his 4th month of having his tkr. It's like everyday there's something new. He had noticed an indentation on the outside of his knee. He is experiencing pain in his heel, swelling in his thigh, and pain in his back. He had to stop his PT because of the pain. He goes to his Surgeon but he just says it's going to take time. Has anyone else experienced this or similar to this?
View 11 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Unable To Do A Heel Raise On That Foot
Today the PT had me try a heel raise standing just on my operated foot and I could barely do anything. When I do both feet together it goes pretty well. Just curious to know how long it took others of you to reach that point where your foot & calf were strong enough to do it just on that one foot.
View 12 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: Heel Bone Fracture? (Right Foot)
Right, so i fell from a stairs which is at least 5-6 foot high and i have no idea how i landed on my heel first but i probably did as it's the only place where it hurts. I Can move my foot, rotate it and bend it and everything but i can't bear weight. The pain is not really in the middle of the heel but more to the left (Right foot). I can walk but i limp and i usually use the right side of my foot to bear weight and the part where it hurts is elevated a little so it looks kinda funny. Did i fractured my heel bone or is this just a sprain? It doesn't hurt when i'm resting, slightly pressing it but it hurts when i try walking using my heel. It has been more than 48 hours and I don't see any noticeable bruising or swelling as well.
View 14 RepliesFoot / Ankle :: NWB - Heel, Side Of Foot On Ground
I know NWB means you're not allowed to touch the ground, but that is nearly impossible for me when I'm driving or sitting on the toilet
I'm 6'0 tall and my legs will hit the ground sometimes! I had a lapidus bunionectomy which is surgery on the first metatarsal, so I'm thinking maybe it's ok if I rest my heel or side of my foot to the ground every once in awhile? Does anyone else on NWB do this? If not, then how do you manage driving or goto the bathroom? Also has anyone ever had any complications from using your heel/side of foot a little bit?