i am sorry to hear you have so much pain in the hammertoe. I had the same surgery as you, on Oct 31. The problem with my hammertoe was not is not so much pain but the fact that it is stiff, unbending and so hard to walk on. Plus, mine was pinned lower than its neighbors and this adds to the problem. As far as footware is concerned, from my experience, you need wide, deep and perhaps a half size to a size larger. Also shoes that open all the way and close with velcro. Shoes made for diabetics work as long as they can open very wide or all the way. Good luck!
Pin came out yesterday, and I am happy to report, the removal was not painful for me. Given what I have read, I am very thankful for that. Unfortunately, the pain level has not changed much which disappoints me. I am still having significant drawing, tight, burning pain (hard to describe) at the base area of the toe. I was instructed to put 25% of my weight (with boot on) and increase by 25% each week until I do a week of 100%, then graduate to a shoe.
So guessing from reading these posts, at six weeks out, quite a lot of pain is not unexpected and will likely persist for several more weeks, right? I have been told to massage the joint at the base of my toes. So thankful to be rid of the pin, but I am still surprised by the intensity of the pain this far into recovery. It is not a dull, annoying ache but much more. Normal?
Hooray for the pin being out. As for the pain, as long as the incision is not infected, it is normal, sort of. I would massage the incision with some antibiotic cream, to be on the safe side. Everybody's experience is different from what I see. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Good luck to you!
I'm 14 weeks out from surgery... a bunion on each foot plus hammer toe on one foot. I found the hammer toe procedure caused more actual pain than the bunion toes, and my surgeon confirmed this what most people say to him. My hammer toe also constantly looked like a swollen sausage. Now I've realised that it's no longer swollen, nor is it painful. I'm not sure when that happened... perhaps 2 or 3 weeks ago. It does feel weird, but that I guess goes with the fact it doesn't bend.
I've had a lot of trouble with swelling, which caused purple crimson discolouration of my feet by the end of the day, and barely the ability to hobble about - the swelling would often extend behind the base of the toes so it felt like I was walking on some sort of hard lump. I tend to overdo it, though, so maybe haven't taken enough breaks.
Earlier, up until maybe 10 weeks, I had random shooting and stabbing pains in my feet as well but that's pretty well gone. My main issues are the swelling related pain (but the swelling HAS decreased... Yay!) and I get soreness (sometimes more, sometimes less) in the area on the side of my foot where the incision was, plus unpleasant numb sensations beside my big toes. But I can wear shoes now, velcro closing sandals but also about 3 pairs of my regular sandals are fine (till the swelling develops and I have to change shoes), and also my sports sneakers, which I hate wearing as I just don't like sneakers at all. But sneakers feel best when my feet really hurt.
I keep wondering if I'll ever be able to walk at my regular brisk pace again; I get tired from the effort of walking with feet that feel sore and bruised (bruised on the soles... don't know what goes on with that!). But then I look back to 14 weeks ago and realise the improvements that have happened. This is a journey and it's one that you really can't understand until you go through it.
I massage my feet every night, especially at the incision sites, and do some foot exercises recommended by my physio, including getting my big toes moving forward and backward to break up scar tissue around the joint and get some toe flexibility back. I recommend you put your feet up for a good rest after every period of sustained use. That's something I find hard to do, but do what I say, not what I do. I know it really would help me but I keep getting busy and forget.
What is great is that my feet look nice now... due to all the massage and foot creams there's no rough or discoloured skin and the BIG thing is my bunions are totally gone. It will be worth it in the end!
Many thanks to both of you for responding. The pain level has been dis-heartening, so your encouraging words help. I really appreciate the feedback from people who are ahead of me.
I feel like I am a broken record, but today is eight weeks out, and while the incisions are much less tender, I continue to have significant pain between my big and second toe, and my second and third toe. It almost feels like a stick or something in them, not exactly a constant hot stabbing, but a constant dull stabbing. (I know that doesn't make much sense.) I just can't figure out if the pain I am having is normal. I have called in two different times, and I am not getting any sense that the doctor is worried, though his nurse said I could come in before my next appointment (not for another four weeks).
Have most of you had pain beyond aching and burning at this point? I have a lot of odds and ends of pain that are uncomfortable and occasionally downright painful, but this particular pain is so totally distressing me. I have kept a record for the last nine days with notations of whether or not a day was "miserable" or "manageable." Out of nine days, only three have felt manageable. Can anyone give me some feedback about how you would rate your pain level at eight weeks? I really don't think I am a wimp, and I know it is hard to rate pain. Everything else I have is probably about a 4 or 5, but this particular pain is more a 7 or 8 in my own mental system of 1-10 pain. Many thanks to anyone who has insight.
I think you should have it checked out. And get a second, even third opinion. I don't think it is normal. It should not hurt more.
I'm so sorry that you're having pain. I completely agree with Simona! It doesn't seem like you should be in pain and especially this much pain. Get another Drs opinion ASAP. I really never had pain other than minor healing pain. Additionally as I began walking my hammertoe was tender for a bit but throughout my entire healing thus far, 4 months or so to date, I never had the pain you're describing. I've stubbed my toe and it became purple and still was not as painful as you describe.
Certainly by 8 weeks you should be feeling much bette than you describe.
I really hope this improves soon for you!
Terri
its been 3 months since this post. How are you feet feeling now? I'm at 8 weeks and experienced alot of the same issues as you. My feet are able to fit in Nike Roshes as long as they are completely untied
My surgery was Oct 31, 2019. So almost 5 months now. My foot is generally back to normal, not swelling any more or rarely. The problem with the mobility of the toes remains though and still, I feel some unease when walking. The former hammer toe is unbendable and since the doc pinned it lower than the others, it strikes the ground in a funny, uneasy way. The big toe is a little bit mobile but not enough. And I know that these problems are here to stay. I have to make peace with it.
I had my surgery on December 19, 2019. Ladipus bunionectomy and second toe was pinned and fused in the joint next to the nail. My doctor recommended physical therapy and it has helped a lot. I am still experiencing swelling and the more I talk to people with this surgery they say it can continue for 6 months to a year. I have gained back much feeling and quite a bit of motion. I have a ways to go though. I think I practically despairing at 6 weeks post surgery. Now I can see that it takes time and I am looking forward to the end result! This site was a great spot to gather information and hear others experiences. It really helped me to hear others when it was time for the pin to be pulled. NO PAIN at all! Whew! I was very anxious about it. God bless you all with healing completely and quickly!
I am now 10 weeks out from surgery, and in some respects I believe I am progressing. I had my bunion done and second toe pinned for hammertoe . I am still having times (lots of them, sometimes for days at a time) when there is serious pain in what feels like it is it between the big and second toe. It does not feel like it has anything to do with the bunion, but rather the area of the hammer toe.
Have any of you had similar issues? I would love to hear that this is just part of the process and will eventually go away, but I am increasingly fearful that something may have been damaged in that area. X-rays at 6 weeks when the pin was removed were normal. It is not a shooting pain (had some of those earlier) but more of a feel that there is something sharp pushing between those two toes. Has anyone had that sensation?
I have not had physical therapy, so I have a call in to request a phone conference with a therapist since going in for non-emergency appointments now seems unwise because of the virus.
Also, my third toe (to which nothing was done) has raised up out of alignment. Doctor noticed that initially and told me to push it down, but doing that repeated for weeks has not made any difference.
Any advice or encouragement?
how are you now?
how are you now? im the same as you. i have an infection in one of my toes. just started antibiotics today, but im super worried and just want ti be back to normal. really regreting this surgery now.
I'm now 10 months post op and doing well. My feet are not sore to walk at all! I only realised that about a month ago but they've probably been good like that for 2 or 3 months. I go to the gym, dance zumba, do pilates (can stand on toes now and do lunges... was too painful earlier). I can wear heels, though with COVID we rarely go out so I don't get to wear them.
Take your antibiotics religiously and expect swelling for a long time, so put your feet up often. Don't be discouraged and wish you'd never done the op as truly, it's so good to see neat feet and not to have bunion pain. It's a journey and you need to be patient but it's worth it!
thank you for your response. i did 4 toes 2 on each foot. all hammertoe , no bunion. thank you for your words of encouragement. ive been so depressed , i just cant wait to be back to normal
how ate you now? im 5 weeks ans 1 day. im hobbling. im so depressed , i need to hear there is a light at the end if the tunnel
I just had my hammertoe (actually 2 toes) done yesterday. Surgery was easy, as was day 1. I'm just experiencing my first bit of discomfort and am planted in my chair with my foot elevated and iced. This is my 4th surgery on my foot all related to a 40+ year broken leg ski cast. Clearly, each surgery is different. The cast did endless damage to my foot. I'm in a surgical boot and have pins and using a cane and walker to aid in heal walking. This morning I felt like I was being stabbed on the bottom of my foot. All normal from what I'm told. I'm so happy to have found this blog. Comforting to know that what I feel and will be feeling is all normal. Thanks for sharing!
I drove within 1.5 weeks. Just took my surgical shoe off and drove barefoot. Put the surgical shoe back on when i arrived wherever I was going. I was able to drive a LOT more comfortably once the stitches were out (2 weeks post op). PS: I found it's more comfortable to drive WITH the surgical shoe on, but the legality may vary by state. So, check our state driver laws. If you're not allowed to, drive barefoot OR take your cloth wraps off and slide into very wide sandals (like Birkenstocks) to drive in.
What therapy did you do for range of movement?