I had a bunion removed on December 23, 2013. A slice of the big toe was removed (primarily the bunion) and two pins were inserted for stability.
After two months I started to experience pain when walking, and can center it around the location of the pins. My podiatrist made the suggestion yesterday that it might require the removal of the pins, but wants me to try physical therapy first.
Question is, has anyone else encountered this? I'm 47 now. Before the surgery I was fairly active, playing soccer (football) up to four times a week, as well as basketball. I'm worries about extending the recovery time, and the ensuing changes that make returning to my prior activities.
I have no pins although I do have one screw in the big toe. I highly recommend PT. I truly don't believe I would have pushed myself like this and been this far along without them. Hope this gets solved for you.
Hi Diagro....I don't have pins that will stay in the toes but ones that stick out and will be removed at 6 weeks. I have read however that using screws or pins that can stay in is very common and one article stated that in about 20% of cases in the end they need to be taken out. It sounds like trying the PT is a worthwhile thing and I hope it works out for you. I have also read that once out discomfort was alleviated and there was more flexibility. My understanding is that recovery from the screw removal is nowhere near the length of time as the original surgery. Good luck to you!
Hi diagroo. Two months is no time at all to be wanting to resume your footballing acivity. I think you MUST continue to be patient and I can tell you that the discomfort you feel in the location of the surgery is not uncommon. I likve in the UK and had my surgery on 27 November 2013 and today (Easter Saturday and 20 weeks post surgery) I still have twinges but am more or less back to normal. The swelling still occurs if I have been on my feet for too long but this does recede is I rest my foot on a stool. You do not say whether you still have your foot bandaged. Mine was in bandages until 20th January 2014. A period of around 8 weeks. people's surgery requirements vary and mine was a substantial bunion ( this is considered substantial if the toe is bent at an angle of 30% or more. Mine was bent at a 37% angle. I also had the adjacent 2 nd toe opereted on as it was a hammertoe and I had a K-wire inserted into it for 6 weeks I have screws in the big toe where the bunion was previously). To return to the pai you mention when walking. Please don't ignore the fact that you've had surgery to one of the highest load bearing and high impact bearing parts of your body and this will need a lot of careful nurturing to ensure that when it is fully restored it will be a good recovery. Trust me if you start getting fidgety and wanting to do too much too soon you and your poor foot will pay the price. And it will be nobody's fault other than your own. You have been warned!!!!!
Why are you seeking advice from a podiatrist? My surgery was carried out by a proper qualiofied othorpaedic surgeon who specialises in foot and ankle surgery and who also is advisory consultant to some sports organisations in Yorkshire ( soccer, rugby etc). My surgery was carried out under our UK National Health Service. I did not pay to have the procedure carried out privately.
Good luck!
G
Good luck
Hi diagoro , why don't you contact the consultants secretary and tell her your concerns , they may come up with some suggestions , hope you get on ok
Hi, I had pins in my first bunion op, I was 52, one pin moved and was painful, I could feel the end of it! I saw the surgeon and went on operating table again, he numbed the foot with several injections and withdrew the offending pin. The toe was fine, the removal did not slow down recovery. This is because the foot had already started to heal, they can tell this from the x-ray. Good
uck.
Hi. I have screws/pins in my foot and 3.5 weeks post op. So far only mild discomfort. I am very activr too and desperate to do more exercise, however, I am trying limit my activity. From what I have read/heard recovery time seems to vary so much from person to person, but if you have doubts get it checked out. I would think physio/therapy would be a good thing to have!
I have Kaiser insurance here, and everything is in house. Rather than offend my podiatrist, I'm giving her a bit longer to figure it out. I really have no reason, other than pain from surgery 4 months ago, to want to move on.
Thanks for all the suggestions and thoughts/comments here.
I've been patient so far, haven't tried to push myself, but believe I should be able to walk without pain at this point! In fact, the docter said I should be able to run by now.
I'm going to give physical therapy a few tries, but than going to push harder for answers.
A follow up. I had three visits with the physical therapist, but no luck in removing the pain (mostly in the ball of the foot).
Visited with the podiatrist today, and she has no idea what could be causing it. She said the x-rays look perfect. The only suggestion.......some people take longer to heal.
I'm really frustrated at this point. I was good up until two months post-op, than this pain started. I'm now at 6 months, and have been told it can take as long as a year. It really doesn't sound right.
I was basically told to buy special custom made orthotics for $200, something she's been pushin since I first saw her well over a year ago. She also said that removing the pins now might aggrivate the bone too much. The only other thought was cortosone shots, but from the side effects I've read about, that isn't the best option (especially if this turns out to be a bone problem).
I'm tempted to request a second opinion, but as I'm with Kaiser (and everything is 'in house'
, don't want to risk offending her.
It sounds as though a second opinion would definitely be in order. It is your well being at stake here....it is your body. If the second opinion concurs. then that will relieve your worry. If it doesn't, then you may find your solution. Go for it ! 
Diagoro,
I gad major bunion surgery right foot 2008 and left foot 2009. Screws and J hooks and the whole works. I had the screws removed in my right foot a few shirt months following the initial surgery due to one of the screws popping up. I've had no issues with my right foot since. I gad the screws removed in my left foot just this summer due to one of the screws starting to come up. All if these screw issues were confirmed in x-rays by my orthopedic doc. I too have had issues with pain in the balls of my feet prior to surgery, but not even close to as bad now that the screws are out. Prior to the screws being removed it was painful to walk on hardwood floors in my bare feet. I have inserts from Good Feet and they really help when I'm on long fitness walks. I wore custom orthotics prior to my surgeries due to plantar fasciitis which I no longer have issues with. I would suggest you see a good orthopedic foot doc. Don't worry about offending your podiatrist. No one doc has a total lock on all of the knowledge in their field. When your feet hurt, you hurt right through the top of your head. Courage man, get a second opinion.
Finally had that second opinion, and glad I did. My faith is a bit shaken, and still keeping an open mind. But symptoms and suggested issue have more relation than before.
This podiatrist took a look at the xrays and noticed some swelling on one of the sesamoid bones under the ball of my foot. These are xrays from 4 months ago, no idea how my primary podiatrist missed this at least twice!
I'm not sure what caused this, and wonder if it had existed before my bunion surgery (the pain is in a similar place). But moving on, from the research I've done, it looks like the only real remedy is total rest.
Hi Gillian,
i have just just read your post and wondered if you could tell me if your screws in your big toe will stay in or can it be taken out once the bone has healed.
i am having the same surgery as yourself end of July a wire in toe next to big toe that comes out after 6 weeks just not sure I like the idea of the screw staying in it making me feel anxious not sure why, I also have Fibromyalgia which I cannot do anything for the pain but this I can so that's what's helping me to stay positive one pain I can try and sort.
be lovely to hear from you
best wishes
cindy
Diagoro I got my surgery done in 2014 and I left screw in mine. Decided to do so cause I was advised the bunion could grow back. I had the option to remove, but the surgery was so painful I just keep them, wrong decision. The metal is causing me sooo much pain and discomfort. Plus, I like to wear heels and removed bunion for better comfort. Also, it's causing a corn, bruise or something on top of big toe and can't wear certain shoes if press on toe. I can't wear narrow heels 😔 at all. My feet get numb standing too long, the cold stiffen toe and can't move foot. Getting mines removed expeditiously. If bunion grow back it was know were near current foot problems.
Erica,
I had surgery 5 weeks ago - besides bunion, I had pin in 2nd toe to straighten it - pin was removed yesterday. I have had severe pain this whole 5 weeks, and still. Dr took my boot off finally and wants me to start using a supportive athletic shoe now ...but the muscles (feels like muscles?) feel really sore still AND I swear I can feel the metal screws in my foot (even though by appearances I wasn't sure they were there) and it feels like the bone that was cut (filed?) feels just like that ...a bone that was filed. My Dr says everything LOOKS good and he's not sure why I would still be in so much pain ...but I AM. I haven't used prescription pain killers for the last 2 weeks because he's been wanting me to do more "over the counter" pain relief. I didn't mind because I really don't want to rely on the narcotics either. But I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO - but feel like he doesn't understand, nor does my husband. It's a very LONELY feeling. 
. Please tell me it gets better?
Hi,
I had bunionectomy surgery nearly 2 years ago then physical therapy for 6 weeks. My doctor had to put 2 screws and sn implant in my big toe. Things were going fine til I started getting a pain in that toe as I walked. My doctor X-ray'd my toe and she said it appears the one of the screws MAY be the issue. I just had surgery to remove the screw and although she doesn't want me to put pressure on the toe, I have had ZERO pain from this surgery. I go back to her in s few days to change my dressing. I've been able to drive and go back to work so hopefully my pain will be gone for good.
I ALSO HAD A PIN PUT IN MY FOOT AFTER A BUNION REMOVAL..IM CONCERNED AS WELL BECAUSE I AM A DIABETIC N IT SEEMS LIKE ITS TAKING A LONG TIME TO HEAL! ITS GOING ON TWO MONTHS! SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION! BECAUSE I PERSONALLY IS STRUGGLING WITH WHETHER OR NOT I SHOULD HAVE THE PIN REMOVED!
I also have this.problem..i am scheduled to have the.rod removed.this.week.
Hi
iam new on the site. Had surgery (bunion) it's 8 weeks . Iam still wearing boot. My question is do they remove the pins? if so Is it painful? My big toe feels like it has something in side rubbing. I am not replying to anyone. I am looking for some information