swelling after hammertoe surgery

Types of Hammertoe Surgery. Usually, doctors start worrying if the swelling doesnt go down about a month after the procedure. Pain and Swelling Hammer toe surgery requires the cutting of skin, nerves, tendon and bone, and as such, pain and swelling are not unexpected following the surgery, according to Premier Podiatry. But I am worried that I cannot wear even wide soft athletic shoes. I know that swelling is normal and it will last quite a while. This happens more often in smokers, diabetics and those with metabolic diseases. A few weeks after surgery, the doctor will remove any stitches or pins. You can set up a home recovery area where you can rest comfortably, and dont forget to prepare those pillows that will help you elevate your leg. Well, I tried with wide, large sneakers and then wide Lem shoes and my foot does not fit into anything. A host of potential complications may result from hammertoe surgery and the most common list includes but is not limited to: infection, neuritis, painful or unsightly scarring, chronic swelling, malunion or nonunion of bone, and recurrence of deformity. I put antibiotic ointment over that open wound and my husband taped over the wound and all around the foot. You should elevate your leg above the level of your heart if youre lying down, put the leg against the wall or on the pillow. 3 years ago, She earned a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts in biology from William Paterson University. A rigid hammer toe means the joint is no longer movable. You can see my right foot is fatter and swollen in comparison to my left. Patients usually have few. What is the recovery time for hammer toe surgery? It's Summer here, the trainers and socks make my feet hot and look ridiculous with little summer dresses. Reading the responses really hasn't given given me much relief as it sounds like 8-12 weeks is the next date to look forward to. When a hammer toe causes pain, and other treatments fail, surgery may be the only option for correcting the joint. Two months ago, I had hammertoe surgery on all my toes, except the big toe. How can I minimize the swelling and pain in my toes 7weeks after surgery? Swelling could last up to a year, but the pain should subside fairly soon after the operation. After two days I would say that I have noticed a huge improvement in the discomfort I have been experiencing. In rare cases where a person experiences severe pain from a hammer toe and no other treatment works, a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon might recommend removing the toe. What is your experience with walking around in the house just in socks or even bare feet? If you don't elevate, fluid may collect in the foot and cause additional pain. Bunion and 6-week post-op. Have you experienced this? Today I will take my first full shower, including my operated foot which hasn't seen water since October 31. The problem is that my foot is too swollen and too frozen in place to be able to fit into even a wide, larger soft shoe. People with hammer toe may also develop corns or calluses at the top of the joint from the toe rubbing on poorly fitted shoes. Stitches (25) removed at week 2. from him right now and I won't be back to the area until around Xmas. Right now my foot doesn't fit into anything, except still the surgical shoe. If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately. I am 65 and I do dancing for pleasure and exercise. We are committed to providing educational information because, at Nagy Footcare, our best day is the day you wake up with no foot pain. Your podiatric surgeon inserts specially designed surgical tools through the incision to release the tight tendons and muscles. Yesterday was actually my first trip out to a store to buy a bottle of wine to take to a holiday party. After hammer toe surgery heals, it leaves a small scar that becomes less noticeable over time. Thank you. Two to three months after your operation, you should be able to return to all of your usual activities and sports, although some mild swelling may remain for up to twelve months. Once healing takes place, the pain should continue to decrease until it subsides. The deformity typically causes calluses or corns to develop on the toe. I was told that after 3 days I could take a normal shower and be able to soak my foot too. I had bunion & second & third hammertoe,surgery aug 16th, pins were pulled Sept 27, 5 days ago, third toe, looks like it is curling down ward & is very swollen still, is it possible the bone fractured on removal of the pin, it didn't hurt too bad to have pins pulled, but the next 2 days after were bad, did a lot of icing & elevatingIt seems my ankle, calf & across top of foot is still swelling a lot when on it for more than an hour. A good review of the causes of warts and protective measures you can take to prevent developing them. The level of pain after hammertoe and bunion surgery varies, depending on the procedures performed and your pain threshold 5. I live in Southern California so I can at least sit outside and don't have to deal with weather. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek Bunionectomy and Plantar Plate Repair After image taken six weeks post surgery. Is this something good or does it do anything bad to the foot? The most common cause of a wound dehiscence is infection. In some cases, a wound dehiscence may occur. Pain and swelling are normal for about a week following surgery. | 3 Types of Foot Strikes That May Cause You Foot Pain While Running . Most patients have some swelling after surgery, which may last for . If you have a hammertoe or are concerned that a hammertoe is developing,contact us at Nagy Footcarefor effective diagnosis and treatment. Is this tall, heavy boot my only option? One reason why a person may be hesitant to have rigid hammertoes treated is down to the nature of traditional foot surgery. Bunion Correction Surgery. Minimally invasive surgery requires only a few small incisions. Obviously, I cannot do anything like that. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. It may be necessary to wear a special shoe or a shoe insert to support the toe following the procedure. It still hurts to walk. To understand this, its crucial to know that every surgery presents a certain level of trauma to the tissue even quick, outpatient procedures like minimally invasive hammertoe surgery. thank you for your response. Dr. B. is online now Related Medical Questions the-good-doctor I will never wear normal trainers again, I'll only buy wide ones. After your surgery, your toe may be stiff, red, and swollen. I want myself back! Did you try bare feet or socks around the house? The progression is predictable-from five days with absolutely no pressure on the foot, to the resumption of modified activities in six to eight weeks. In this procedure, the surgeon removes portions of the joint to allow bones to grow together. Read our editorial policy. It is suggested that cancer may surpass CVD as the number one cause of death in older diabetics. However, this is only possible in milder cases where the affected toe is still flexible. Yay.. 1st shower( without pin and plastic cover) at 6 weeks too. Hang in there, we will get there. site (top of google search) and actually find all the answers I needed Keloids are more likely to occur in African Americans. I do not have any pain in my toes; however they still look swollen and do bend like the other toes. A hammer toe is a potentially painful deformity of the second, third, or fourth toes, where the toe bends upward at the joint, resembling a hammer. The swelling has really gone down more - my foot looks normal from the top (well few scars and a funny colour and some bruising still) but it's still swollen when you look at it from the side, so I couldn't yet put my foot into most of my shoes (even if I was allowed). This causes problems with balance and weight-bearing. Minimally invasive bunion surgery recovery. Then, the surgeon will use pins to help keep the joint in place. While effective at relieving the hammertoe, these surgeries required a long recovery time and often resulted in a lifetime of swollen and stiff toes. All rights reserved. I went out and purchase a pair of soft cloth shoe in a size bigger. Appointments 216.444.2606. I was looking forward to my hammertoe pin removal and clearance to begin weight bearing but its just such a battle of swelling and pain. It is possible to treat flexible hammer toe without surgery, often by simply switching to better shoes. Ice packs to reduce pain and swelling can help with pain and inflammation. The next day I ended up going to UC. on the sides of my feet. The sooner something is done, the less likely you will be left with residual problems. The surgeon stresses the importance of that. A tendon transfer pulls the toe into the correct position and often works well for a flexible hammer toe. You will be able to carry your weight the same day after the procedure, and its recommended that you walk a little bit each day. I want to wear something on my feet that doesn't hurt and that makes me feel normal. After classifying your hammertoe as either flexible or fixed, . Thank you for your very interesting and informative site! My doctor said that I could walk in soft wide tennis shoes. Still, if there is too much swelling, that might slow down the recovery, which is why we take steps to reduce it sometimes. But when an underlying condition such as rheumatoid arthritis causes a hammer toe, doctors may recommend treating that condition first. to thank you for an EXCELLENT website. I was told the steri strips would eventually come off by themselves. And your site is so intelligently arranged. This means a person may go home the same day the surgery is performed. My pin was pulled out at 6 weeks minus one day, my foot was unwrapped and only some steri strips were left at the sites of incisions, that is a few such strips over the former bunion, a few strips at the base of the second toe (formerly hammer toe) and a vertical strip along this second toe. Get a 10% Discount on Minimally Invasive Hammertoe Surgery Today A surgical site creates a wound, so there is the small possibility of developing an infection afterward, according to Premier Podiatry. Thank you. Take over-the-counter or prescription pain medication according to your doctor's instructions. Patients with hammertoes often have other toe problems, such as bunions or corns. You are lucky to live in So. You may experience some swelling and bruise in the days following surgery, but this should subside within a few weeks. You may not be able to put weight on the foot during those 6 weeks. With minimally invasive procedures, the trauma to the tissue is significantly . Take Anti-Inflammatory Medication. Once the anesthesia wears off, you'll feel pain and swelling, which can be regulated with painkillers and antibiotics. In some cases, the return of the deformity can be a consequence of a technical mistake during surgery. Upgrade to Patient Pro Medical Professional? And long walks. Bandages and stitches removed on day 15 (Dec. 6th) and there was an infection beside my right big toe. Truly, it is uncommonly kind. While these untoward results can occur, they are unlikely if both the surgeon and the . I appreciate you having this website. All my toes are now straight and I was getting used to the new wider, chubby looking toes until I had the right foot done a week ago. Removing the forces that caused these problems in the first place (e.g., pinching . My doctor said my x-ray looked perfect but if it still was swollen in another 3 months to come back for an MRI. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of developing hammer toe. Day 11 my right foot started stinging, stabbing and feeling not right, but naturally I couldn't see anything because of the huge bandages. how ate you now? ins.style.display='block';ins.style.minWidth=container.attributes.ezaw.value+'px';ins.style.width='100%';ins.style.height=container.attributes.ezah.value+'px';container.appendChild(ins);(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({});window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'stat_source_id',44);window.ezoSTPixelAdd(slotId,'adsensetype',1);var lo=new MutationObserver(window.ezaslEvent);lo.observe(document.getElementById(slotId+'-asloaded'),{attributes:true}); .errFld{padding:3px}.errFldOn{padding:0;border:3px solid red}.errMsg{font-weight:700;color:red;visibility:hidden}.errMsgOn{visibility:visible}#edit textarea{border:1px solid #000}.editTitle{font-size:22px;font-weight:700;text-align:center}#preview .editTitle{margin-top:0}.editName,.editCountry{text-align:center}.editName,.editCountry,.editBody{}.editBody{text-align:left}#preview{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto}.GadSense{float:left;vertical-align:top;padding:0 8px 8px 0;margin:0 8px 0 0}.gLinkUnitTop{width:466px;margin:12px auto}.gLinkUnitBot{width:120px;float:right;margin:4px 0 24px 36px}, My second toe on my right foot is still swollen after my hammertoe surgery 6 months ago. Allowing adequate space for your toes will help relieve pressure and pain. I greatly admire someone like you who would donate and dedicate so much time and effort to helping strangers with no compensation. You will be back to your dancing and I will be back to cycling in time. Today I had the idea of holding some frozen pea packets against the swelling. After surgery, a person will typically feel some pain in the toe and must have someone drive them home. The shoe should remain on until seen in the office for your first post-op visit. Its done, Platelets and stem cells work in unison together, they heal diseases and injuries in our bodies. Often, hammertoe corrective surgery requires the patient to take significant time out of their schedule. Hammertoe surgery was done on both feet, second toe on each foot at the same time. I knew this sedentary lifestyle would be brutal. People with unusually long toe bones, a history of toe injuries, and rheumatoid arthritis are more at risk of developing hammer toe. Deformity recurrence hammertoe can return after surgery if the surgeon hasnt treated its underlying issue or selected the wrong surgical procedure. Also the skin on top of my foot and also sole, toes is very thick and hardened and now peels like crazy. Hello. I have a big problem with swelling and I dread trying to put on my soft trainers. Hammertoe surgery is one of the most successful and gratifying procedures for surgeons and patients alike. It was a good thing I brought a sock at my visit. I was looking forward to my hammertoe pin removal and clearance to begin weight bearing but its just such a battle of swelling and pain. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions before the procedure, so lets see how you can reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation. college years ago, so I know the benefits of good care. Adverse events did not seem to be any better or wors. Of course, resting is an important part of your recovery its crucial after every surgery. A surgical site creates a wound, so there is the small possibility of developing an infection afterward, according to Premier Podiatry. I'm so paranoid and just want a 2nd opinion. im hobbling. When hammertoes are diagnosed and treated early, you can usually avoid surgery. This pulls the toe into a straighter position, compensating for muscle weaknesses and improving the toes appearance. About Us You might also be advised to have physical therapy to correct the muscle imbalance in your foot. What is the long-term impact of toe fusion surgery? i did 4 toes 2 on each foot. I asked for it since I read a lot about PT being very helpful. Everything look good,until the day I hit my toes.My surgeon told it's all the swelling and that's why they look short. All went fine minimal swelling now my whole foot up into my ankle is swollen. Or should I check in with my dr. Osteomyelitis needs to be treated in the hospital with an extended course of intravenous antibiotics, followed by another course of oral antibiotics. Swelling and Pain As mentioned earlier, post surgery recovery will involve varying degrees of pain and swelling. It's not always in the same joint or even the same toe. Some swelling may remain at this point, but a year after your operation healing should be complete and any remaining swelling will have disappeared. It's one of the hammertoe treatment options used when a defected toe loses all its flexibility and becomes rigid. really regreting this surgery now. So, what can you do in case you have a swollen toe after hammertoe surgery? I'm yet another person with an ugly swollen second toe several weeks after surgery..much more swollen than it was weeks ago. .I have been told that it is not hard enough to be cut off. You can contact us to book your consultation by filling out an online form or calling our office we are here for you. You will likely need to wear a special shoe or boot. as being in breach of those terms. Usually, infections after hammertoe surgery arent complicated and can be fully treated with a course of oral antibiotics. At present I wouldn't be able to walk to the end of our street without having to hobble back like I'm 100 years old. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel but how long is this tunnel? In general, it takes approximately 6 weeks to 3 months to fully recover from surgery. An orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist can help a person correct the problem before surgery becomes necessary, so anyone experiencing symptoms of hammer toe should speak to their doctor before allowing it to get worse. Week 2: This is probably the most difficult time after foot surgery. I can only wear flip flops right now, my 2 middle toes are sore & swollen & are constantly getting bumped or stubbed. All rights reserved. The thinner the person the greater the positive impa, One of the best ways to help yourself heal faster after surgery is to eat well. Read More. We then remove the pin in the office once the toe is fully healed. Joint resection can help with a fixed hammer toe. This straightens the toe and can help reduce pain. Surgery was done to stop pain from fractured toe that was still painful after 2 years so I've had this pain for 3 years now. appreciate it. I used to work for a podiatrist (front desk) back during summers in Your doctor may suggest that you elevate for about 30 minutes every two hours or on an as-needed basis if you notice a high amount of swelling or pain after the initial . I ended up seeing my surgeon and he removed the wire and gave me antibiotics/Mobic. Not what you're looking for? Swelling is a reaction of your tissue to that trauma, which means that having absolutely no swelling after a surgical procedure is not realistic. Here is a suggestio. Surgery is one of the most effective ways to treat a hammer toe. about laying down on sofa or bed with my feel elevated. Wearing ill-fitting or pointy-toed shoes is one of the most common causes of a hammer toe. I landed back in hospital, on a drip, for 3 days! Its very frustrating to still be so swollen. Usually the patient feels very good and wants to start doing things. Could be normal : Because the foot is the lowest part of your body, swelling may persist for weeks after surgery. i have an infection in one of my toes. It also permanently changes the foots appearance and can be riskier and harder to recover from than some other surgeries. Less trauma equals less pain, inflammation, and downtime for you. She was co-founder and editor of the professional magazine "Footsteps" and began writing articles online in 2010. I was told that it will get better and the swelling will go down within time. I had to laugh at your description of your husband ripping off the steri strips but ouch! Lapiplasty is minimally invasive, meaning it requires smaller incisions and less trauma to the foot area. Blog Bunionectomy and Neuroma Removal After image taken 12 weeks post surgery.