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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

trouble walking after removal of bunion and metatarsils 8 days after surgery

by silvie
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

I am a healthy, fit 44 year old woman who had a bunion on the great toe and metatarsals on 2nd and 3rd toe removed 8 days ago. I visited my surgeon's office today and met two girls were there who also had foot surgery a week ago and were able to use their heels on the foot they had suregery to walk on. I experienced great pain for the first four days that I was able to get minimal relief by taking PMS Hydromorphone (4MG). Although I am mostly out of pain now when resting my foot, I feel quite intense pain when I try to put weight on my heel to walk, so much so that I cannot put my full weight on it.

I am concerned that I am not progressing as I should if the two girls are able to walk with their heels. I am also wondering if there is something abnormal about me because of the pain I experienced those first four days where as so many others I have talked to told me they had much less pain. Ironically, I had 2 wisdom teeth out just over a month ago and experienced no pain at all. Discomfort, but not pain. Please help!

Hi Silvie,
The short answer is that no two people heal at the same rate. You had surgery on your bunion and two metatarsal bones and I would think it would be normal to still have a fair amount of pain eight days post op.
As long as you do not have an infection and assuming if any of the bones were surgically broken and are not aligned properly, the pain you are experiencing is pretty much normal.
Having said that, you should begin to experience less and less pain as the days and weeks progress. Keep your surgeon aware of your progress.
Marc Mitnick DPM

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

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Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Poland

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San Diego, CA

Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

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Albany, NY

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Colorado

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Wonderful advice

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This is the best site for foot problem info.

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location unknown

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location unknown

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

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Florida

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Jodi

location unknown

trouble walking after removal of bunion and metatarsils 8 days after surgery

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