I had a Scarf Oseteomy 7 weeks ago. Obviously my foot is still swollen which I have begun to expect after reading on this forum since my operation. However I am very concerned about my big toe which appears to be in a cocked postion. I visited my GP on Monday and she dismissed bunion surgery saying it is only sucessful at removing the bunion but creats a whole host of other problems. This didn't give me much comfort. I showed her my toe and she shrugged and said it will pobably stay like that! I was mortified. I explained to her that I am tending to walk on the outer edge of my foot. She told me not to and to walk on the ball of my foot and big toe. Which I can't do as my toe wont touch the blooming floor. She said I will cause myself more problems walking on the outer edge. I know that, I'm not stupid. The big toe is the balanc for the foot is it not, so if it doesn't touch the floor how am I supposed to walk on it! Has anyone else encountered this and if so what has been the outcome. My GP referred me for Physio but only after my insistance. My consultant discharged me after my 4 week check up. I did mention the cocked toe to him at the time but he said it was early days yet. Should I also ask to be referred back to him. Any advice greatly appreciated.
I'm in exactly the same position. Six weeks post op, my cast was removed last Friday and my big toe doesn't touch the floor either and I'm walking on the side. I have an appointment at the hospital but in March and can't get a Gp appointment until 8 December. I'd like to hear other peoples experiences too.
Hi, I will be 6 weeks post op on Tuesday. I had akin osteotomy so perhaps slightly different. I was worried about my big toe being high up especially when heel walking. However I was given toe exercises to do from the second week which means I can now move my toe and its alignment has gone back to normal. Can you move your toe? I'm surprised you were discharged at 4 weeks! I have appointments at 2 weeks, 6 weeks (for X-ray as well) and 3 months.
The exercises I was given were to rest my foot on my other knee and gently bent the big toe with your hand 10 times. Then with your foot on / near the floor try and close and open your toes, again 10 times, then try and pick up a flannel 10 times. I was told to do these exercises 3 times a day. Initially I was hopeless and my toe was shaking, but now I can do it easily.
I think it's good you insisted on seeing a physio as you do not want there to be problems with your walk / gait. I hope they can see you soon and put your mind at ease. I honestly think if you're given some exercises the toe will settle down.
Hi Beanie. I'm exactly 7 weeks and had pin removed from second toe yesterday evening. I didn't realise until my consultant mentioned it that referral to physio is not automatic (although it is something my consultant does, thankfully). Good that you insisted. Big toe and second toe are very stiff but apparently they'll gain flexibility really quickly. Not sure about yourGP's conviction that the op only creates more problems. From what I've read on this forum, a few people have problems but it looks like the majority don't in the long run. Hope she has not got you worryingunnecessarily.
Hi. I am 6 weeks post op having had both done. I think I it's still early days for us I am confident our toes will calm down. Remember how long our toes were deformed for and let's not lose sight of the fact that probably our muscles and tendons were all tampered with too. My gp was less than supportive, expecting me back full time work after 4 weeks so like you I really don't want to have to see here if I can help it. We have to be patient. We all have different healing times so don't be hard on yourslelf. Good luck xx
both of my big toes are cocked as we've had our feet
bound up in some way or other, mine had been quite
tightly done and I could see they were pointing inwardswhilst they were in the casts, I expect it will take
sometime for them to sort themselves out. Your feet
have taken a bit of a battering and although, like other bunionettes, you're probably feeling thoroughly fed up and wanting to get back to normal feet aren't singing
I have also got a toe which is sticking up a bit. I discussed this at 6 week review with consultant when I could stop wearing the special post op footwear. He said that he felt that it would settle with walking and physio. He referred me for physio and made a further appointment to see him in January by which time he felt it would have settled. Unfortunately, there is a waiting list of approx 6 weeks for physio in my area and I was worried that the linger that the toe was in that position, the more likely that it was that it would stay there. So, I decided to pay for physio. I went to my local Spire hospital as they did bunion ops there and I thought that they would have experience of physio with post bunion surgery. I got an appointment for the day after. It cost me just over £40 for a half hour session and the physio thought that I wouldn't need another session but to contact them again in a month if I did. The exercises are very similar to those described by Bex. I have been doing them for 5 days and I can already see an improvement although it is still a bit raised. So, I think that this has been well worth it. Doing the exercises, should definitely help and should improve walking and gait which is still not right but improving. I am trying to be aware when I am walking to put down heel first and to bend my foot . Sure that eventually it will become second nature. The main reason that I had the op was because the bunions were causing me to walk really badly and this was causing problems with my knee, hip and back. So definitely keen for this to work. Good luck with getting physio and getting improvement with the toe
I had MIS over a year ago then last December as osteophytes being removed on other foot for arthritis, surgeon decided to take bit more away from the ex-bunion site. At the time the bunion toe was turning upwards from the second joint but the rest of the toe did touch ground. I was told to bend hard down on the main joint as much as possible and the toe should eventually go completely down. I do though walk 'properly' which is good. It will take time apparently,but eventually should go down. Hope this makes sense! Should also add stupidly tore toenail half off which didn't help as stopped the exercises until pain went hence the delay in toe going back down!
Keep exercising and like us all be patient - those tendons take their time!
Hi Beanie. I had my right foot operated on in September last year,chevron osteotomy and my left foot, scarf akin osteotomy was operated on in July this year. I was in plaster for six weeks with both feet and when the casts was removed my big toes were not touching the floor either. My right foot is now totally back to normal and my left foot is getting there,no real pain from the operation site just swelling on my ankle and foot which subsides after elevation.I do still find walking quite uncomfortable after a shift at work as left ankle becomes painful. Probably due to my gait changing but is getting better every day. My big toe on that foot is virtually on the floor now. It does take a full 12 months to heal properly and your toe will eventually sort itself out. I was told that the tendons had been tightened and they will stretch again to enable the big toe to return to its normal position. I have never been offered any physiotherapy or shown any excercises to do. It will get better, just takes time.
My foot has no pain and no stiffness in my big toe. In fact it lifts up a little to easy. I Just expected a whole new foot postsurgery. My bunion never caused me any pain before but deformed my toe to the point it was twisting up. I guess this is a huge improvement. Just wish I had been better informed Pre surgery what to fully expect. Thanks you all, it's nice to know I'm not alone x
I remember yr first pics and I can see massive improvement. Like you I am inspecting my toe every day and is difficult to see the changes so good to photograph as a record and this forum is useful for logging our progress. I am 7 weeks post op for complex procedure on my foot it is still very swollen and looks much bigger than my l foot. It used to go really purple when I was not elevating and that worried me it now just goes a bit pink and is imoroving every day. I still not totally happy they did not do Akins so my toe would be s bit straighter. When I look at it I seem to notice faults but the photos show my feet look pretty much the same probably because I am micro analysing it. Strangely my foot looks wider now than 2 weeks post op so just hoping that settles down.
We have a long way to go with healing the tissues nerves and ligaments need to heal and settle into position as we walk and that can take some time. The swelling around the bunion site needs to settle and this can take months once that settles your toe may go down more. I still have cocked 4th toe, it is improving tho. My toes were very squashed by the bunion and are starting to spread out now. I feel sure u will see continued improvement especially once you start physio and walking more. I just started back at work so daily commute a bit difficult. X
you are the first person I've read that had problems with knee, hip and back - which is my problem and which hospital eventually put down to bunions causing walking problems - took year to get to this point
am in 3rd week post op and starting to have back problems due to inactivity (foot up) uneven walking indoors without crutches due to boot
- any advice?
had stitches out at 10 days , next appointment Jan 19. I asked about physio but was told not usual - waited 8 weeks for physio earlier in year due to waiting lists
I've found it really difficult walking with the boot and got a pair of shape up trainers which have a really thick sole which is helping a lot. Someone said to wear a shoe with heel on the other foot but I haven't been able to wear a heel for years and don't possess any!
Im having bilateral surgery tomorrow . I beleive its the Akin osteotomies..
I dont think Im prepared in the least. Im not in any drastic pain becuse of my bunions . My feet look horrid and I have pain when I try and excercise. Thats all. Im have both feet done at the same time to save myself taking another 6 weeks off!
Hi yes absolutely. I was the same as you. I could put up with the pain but they looked horrible. I am 6 weeks post opp now and so happy with them. I only had about 4 days real pain but just keep taking the codeine and paracetamol and you will weather it! Just be really patient and do as you are told to get the best results. Like you I exercise, have my own gym at home, so am gagging to get back in the saddle but am writing off this year and enjoying the rest. Good luck you will be fine! X
Thank you for your reassurance ! I must admit I was planning to go into this without thinking too much .. But I read up on some of the complications people have suffered and I am now super freaked out !!
I will do as I'm told and take the pAin meds . Fingers crossed !
Hi. Are you having this done by Minimally Invasive Surgery? I had bilateral akin osteotomy and shaving of bone and hammer toe surgery almost 8 weeks ago. I was absolutely terrified before hand but can honestly say that I have not had much significant pain and that which I have had has been controlled by paracetomol and codeine. I would definitely recommend that you use the pain killers as directed as by taking them regularly this keeps on top of any pain. I felt that I didn't really need them but followed advice thy was given to me and kept up with them for the first couple of weeks. I am now in shoes, albeit not very glamorous ones, and am making good progress. Having both done at the same time does make things a bit more difficult but it gets it over and done with in one go!
Sorry that you are having problems with your back. Unfortunately, no real advice I'm afraid. I found that I had back ache but definitely found it easier to use one crutch rather than 2. This meant that I walked more upright . I used a folding walking stick indoors which helped to support my back. Vastly improved once boots came off and could walk a bit better. Still getting some back pain cos still not walking correctly but improving. Good luck