Hiya, it's a week today since my op and the pain is still so bad. I am taking ibuprofen and paracetamol only as I found the codeine was making me constipated. My foot is fine when I'm in bed and it's elevated, the problem starts when I bet up to go to the toilet/bathroom. Instant sharp pain and it doesn't stop until my foot is elevated again then the pain eases. What can I do about this?? I have the wedge boot and crutches, but barely use it because of the pain. My consultation is 9th dec, I am dreading the trip to the hospital! Is this pain normal? Don't know whether I should try and take the pain when my foot isn't elevated and force myself to walk around, being in bed constantly is really getting to me!
Any comments would be useful please, I speak to my family and friends, but they don't really understand. I even think they think I'm faking the pain!
Oh no, that is definitely real pain, poor you! Those who know, know that it is renowned for being painful surgery (post-surgery, to be precise). I had a heel-walking shoe, not a boot, so don't know if this would make any difference to how you walk or whether you feel more or less pain. A week is still very early days. Can't remember having sharp pain whenever I walked but other people might have had this experience. Would you be able to phone the consultant's secretary to see what she/he suggests?
I have done and they said if the pain is unbearable that I should go to a&e :-/ waiting for hours in a&e.... I couldn't think of anything worse right now. Yeah I have the wedge heel shoe too, don't know why I called it a boot. Everything feels heavy though! The shoe, even the duvet over my foot. My mom keeps telling me to walk around otherwise I'll get blood clots! She's really scaring me. It's too painful to walk to the loo, I'm definitely not 'walking around' :-(
You need to walk about if you can just for short walks your mum is right. The codeine would help with ibuprofen better than paracetomol just drink plenty of fluids when taking it.
In my opinion, you should continue taking codeine, which is very effective against post-op pain. Constipation can be managed with a stimulant laxative (eg. senna); if persisting, Mg citrate, lactulose or propylethylene glycol powder will solve the problem. But codeine should not be discontinued.
eeeek! The dreaded walks. I will do my best, just scared I'm damaging my foot somehow when the pain kicks in - like the pain is a sign I should stop walking! Thank for your respond I appreciate it
Hi I agree you must continue with codeine. In fact my surgeon specifically told me no ibuprofen! I am 6 weeks post op and it's been the last couple of week that have been the most improved. Stick with it ! I am confident the pain will start to ease which is why codeine is a must. Don't worry if you can only manage the loo at the moment. It will seem like you aren't getting anywhere but you need to rest.elevate.yes the duvet hurts your foot. My other half dropped the phone on my toe at 4 weeks!! I am now walking about with no pain, hardly any numbness. But you must know your limitations and do what your body tells you. I can remove my boots Wednesday so that's the next phase, shoes or trainers. But for you it is certainly very very early days. Do not beat yourself up. One way to look at it is if you are feeling the pain at least no nerves have been damaged and you have feeling there. Good luck you will be fine. Just try and be extremely patient x
Thanks Paula, I am back on the codeine now! Hopefully this week will be better than last. Trying to keep myself busy! What did you do when you were in bed? There's only so many film/series I can watch, and I've already done far too much online shopping haha.
You have my sympathy Rob. The pai seems to vary from person to person. Did you have a minimally invasive procedure? I am due for mine next Monday (8th) a bilateral too! Do you play Candy Crush? That can certainly eat up the time and it is a pretty mindless, but nontheless, addictive game!
To be fair I had a bit a rough time for the first few weeks! My cat and dad were really poorly so I was consumed with worry there! But I wasreally lucky with visitors and my other half had some time off work. If you can see if you can get use of a wheelchair if someone can take you out? I did a couple of times, not a big fan, but got me out a few times. Write your christmas cards. I am trying, very hard though, to teach myself how to crochet!! I am also doing a bucket list of things I would like to achieve when I am up and about fully. I love the outdoors and exercise so am chomping at the bit to get going again. This operation makes you realise how lucky we are to be fully a able so don't want to waste any time in the future!! However, enjoy your me time coz when you are fit again you won't have the excuse just to sit about!, x
Hi, I'm 2 weeks since surgery didn't have too much pain but couldn't take codeine. Just made me feel reall sick. Took paracetamol followed by ibuprofen an hour later. That seemed to work. I didn't have much appetite the first week so got slightly constipated as I usuall eats loads of fruit and veg but week 2 has been better. My foot gets sore as well as soon as I'm walking but just have short bursts up and then elevate again. The wedge shoe makes it difficult to balance and now got aching hip!
Audio books? I thought I'd read loads and while away the hours by watching DVDs but found I hadn't got the energy to do much of either for the first couple of weeks. Having visitors was good but also really tiring at times - perhaps that was a good result!
Regarding duvet on foot, I really would recommend a bed cradle (actually a tubular frame, the bottom part of which slides between bed base and mattress). I ordered mine off the internet and it arrived the next day. Not sure if you are $ or £ but mine was under £20 and money well spent.
Nooo, I wish I knew about that procedure tho! Just found out you get keyhole. I dread to think what my foot looks like under the bandages. Haha no I've never played it, but I've just got an iPad for my birthday last month so I might download the app and give it a go. Good luck with your surgery!!! Luckily we have this forum to help
This gives me hope, thanks. I just need to push myself to get out of bed more. Currently I only get up to bath and use the toilet. Hopefully all of this suffering is worthwhile in the end!
Bejewelled is another good game and you can play ad infinitum unlike Candy Crush. If you are musical Song Pop is fun in which you play against other people! As I said kind of mindless but certainly whiles away the time without too much effort!
someone suggested putting pillows on either side of your feet to keep the weight of the duvet off your foot and glad to say it works. I ended up with one pillow on the good side and two pillows on the bad foot side. A bit cheaper than having to buy a cradle.
Also another mind numbing game that passes the time is Spider Solitaire. If you get Candy Crush you may find yourself trapped and not able to progress - I just delete it from the iPad and download again and it starts at the beginning.
hope your pain eases up very soon. I'm just over 8 weeks post scarf/akin and am definitely getting different pains. I'm able to walk in shoes I have cut up to be able to get into and found the side of my foot, then my ankle really ached for a couple of days. Then my instep was sore and just now it is the operated toe that is hurting. It's interesting to find out when you wake in the morning which part is going to hurt next, lol.
Hi. I have to agree with everyone who has said about taking the codeine. Although it can cause constipation it is very effective, coupled with the use of paracetomol. Drinking extra fluids will help with that. All better than having the pain. At the risk of sounding like your mum, it is vital that you exercise by walking and getting up every hour or so and by doing leg and ankle exercises whilst sitting regularly. You really do not want to get a blood clot. I was very unlucky and got a clot in my calf. Make sure that you mention any unusual pain that you get in your legs to your doctors. I nearly did not mention this but am extremely pleased that I did! I did follow instructions and did leg and ankle exercises and was just very unlucky.
Some really good suggestions to occupy yourself have been made. I don't normally do crosswords or puzzles but received a couple of these books from friends and found that they kept my brain working. I also took the time to research and plan a holiday for next year. Books on the iPad have kept me going . Reading until very tired meant that I slept better. I found that I kept my feet out of the bottom of the quilt.. Later, I used pillows to raise the quilt from off my feet. This worked.
If the pain does not improve now that you are on the codeine again, then you really do need to go to A and E in case there is an issue eg infection. Good luck!