posted Oct-28-2007 08:32 PM            

I'm not a runner, but I asked the pod when he thought that I would be able to golf. He said no sooner than 8-12 weeks, but since I live in WI, that isn't much of an issue. I just really wanted an idea of how long he expected that it would take.

I'll keep you posted.

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posted Oct-29-2007 04:48 AM               

Now that my neuroma doesn't hurt, my bunion is really hurting. I took a short walk yesterday (2.5 miles.) I may be opting for the bunion surgery. I would do it during Christmas break, since I work at a school.

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posted Oct-29-2007 05:50 AM            

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posted Oct-29-2007 01:41 PM               

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posted Oct-29-2007 07:45 PM            

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posted Oct-30-2007 01:12 AM            

Shortly after getting home from the hospital, my foot bled a lot. It didn't last too long before it stopped, but it did gush. So, when the blood dried on the gauze dressing, it hardened and made the gauze almost like a cast, And the gauze dried and stuck the skin to the gauze]cast-like stuff. After I started moving around more on Saturday, my foot swelled up, which is normal. But there was no "give" in the hard gauze, so it was cutting into my foot, not to mention that it was stuck to the incisions! That's why I was having such horrible pain. And the bandages were on pretty tight after surgery, so that didn't help, either.

My pod cleaned up the foot and put new (looser) bandages on. My foot feels so much better! It's still pretty irritated from the last couple of days, so I'm taking some codeine yet to get me through, but it is so much better.

My foot looked better than I thought that it would. No more bunion bump! Ok, it does look like Frankenstein's foot, with stitches all the way down the big toe and also where the neuroma was. And my toes are really purple. The bruising goes up over my ankle. The bruising is only on the neuroma side, with no bruising on the bunion side. I will get the stitches out in one week.

My ankle has also been REALLY sore since the surgery. My pod told me that was probably from the tournequet (sp?) that they put on my ankle for surgery. I wouldn't have guessed that, and wondered if I was having some weird complication with my ankle!

So, recovery will be slow, but my worries about all the recent pain have been explained now, so I feel a lot better. I'm sure that my dr thinks I'm a total pain, cuz I ALWAYS ask him lots of questions. He's really good with explanations, and I really appreciate that.

Shelley, I know what you mean about getting neuroma relief, and then the bunion hurting more. When I would get some cortisone relief, the bunion would hurt more! My dr said that I wasn't getting enough arch support since I got the neuromas. I had gotten custom orthotics for the bunions before I had the neuroma pain. The orthotics really did help the bunion, but I was never able to wear the orthotics (or hardly any arch support) with the neuromas, so my bunions were being affected.

Sorry for all the rambling. Must be the narcotics!

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posted Oct-30-2007 05:06 AM            

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posted Oct-30-2007 07:46 PM            

I'm now at 3 weeks and 5 days after my surgery - I can walk around some what at home and stay on my feet for let's say 5 to 10 minutes, but with a lot of discomfort and swelling. Mostly I just feel really annoyed that I don't have my mobility (freedom!) back, and at times it's rather hard to imagine that I will be able to walk normally again.

But... there is - although slow - some progress!

Good recovery!

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posted Nov-01-2007 12:04 AM            

In short, I had my seventh shot. The pod. is leaning towards surgery.

In long, the pod. swears it's only my sixth shot. He sternly corrected me when I told him it's my seventh shot. So, I felt kinda stupid and said, "Okay. I must have lost count...". So, I made an appt. for next week with the pod. for my next alcohol shot. After the appt., I looked at my calendar, and sure enough, I was right - it was my seventh shot! I don't really feel like arguing, but I suppose I should correct him. Also, I told him I was thinking of getting a second opinion. I don't know if that put him off or not, but I felt like I needed to tell him, but I feel I was probably too passive in how I went about telling him - I just told him I was thinking about it when, in fact, I had already made an appt. with the second opinion. Anyway, I made a second opinion appt. because of my torn posterior tibial on my right foot. I'm going to mention the MN in left foot while I'm there, too. In thinking about it, I'm glad I'm going for a second opinion since surgery might be indicated for my MN.

That's all.

I hope everyone is still recovering well from surgery.

Take care.

[This message has been edited by GranolaGal (edited Nov-01-2007).]

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posted Nov-01-2007 02:08 AM            

Natasja, it sounds like you are doing really well. It sure is a slow process, isn't it??? I assumed that I would bounce back quicker than the average, but everytime I get up for a couple of minutes, my foot swells up really big. And I'm not putting any weight on my heel at all (most of the time)!

I guess that we just take good medical care for granted. The day after my surgery, i received two calls: one from the surgery clinic and one from the dr's office. They have been great.

So, one week out of surgery, and the nights have been the toughest. If I take something for pain, I've been too wired to sleep. If I don't, I'm in too much pain to sleep. Then last night I crashed hard and slept for over 13 hours straight! It was so great..... Of course, it's 2:30 am and I can't sleep now, but that's ok.

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posted Nov-01-2007 08:56 PM               

Baby Blue and Natasja, I hope you continue to make progress with your surgery recovery. Please keep us posted. I am taking notes for my own upcoming surgery.

Granola Gal, I hope you feel confident with your 2nd opinion. I will also be going to get another opinion (It will actually be my 3rd) in a few weeks. I got a 2nd opinion in August, and that podiatrist said to do the alcohol shots as he almost NEVER does surgery. But it looks like the alcohol shots don't work for some, and surgery really is the only answer.

Foxy, Thanks for your replies about walking, etc. I think you and I may have very similar feet. I have thin feet, so I don't have as much padding as some in the metatarsal area, and my feet are super flexible. I think the term my doctor used is hypermobile. I also have really high arches and wide feet. So if you also have those last two characterisitics, please let me know the best shoes. Right now I only own 4 pair, and none of them feel too great, which I guess is to be expected.

I go for my 2nd shot on my left foot next Monday, so I'll keep you all posted.

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posted Nov-01-2007 09:04 PM               

Do you feel like your neuroma(s) bring on additional problems in your feet/ body? I'm sure I just sound like a cranky complainer, but I have burning tendonitis in my right leg from walking funny I guess. And now my left foot seems to be growing a bunion on the little toe + has some weird cramping and burning under the little toe. It is sooo frustrating. I'm a little nervous that by the time I get surgery on both feet, I still won't be able to walk normally because of my other issues.

Sorry for the venting, but I'm just wondering if the rest of you have had anything like this.

P.S. Baby Blue, I hope you are getting some sleep tonight.

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posted Nov-01-2007 11:51 PM            

2 years ago, I was only diagnosed with having one neuroma in my right foot, but shortly before surgery an additional one was found in the same foot, and two were removed. Most likely the strange compensating that I did because of the first neuroma caused the second to develop.

I have also rather thin feet, without much natural "padding", who knows, perhaps that is indeed a factor that predisposes one to developing neuroma's.

Babyblue - you are going to feel so much better when the stitches are out! Good luck!

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posted Nov-02-2007 06:05 AM               

I did have the neuroma surgery yesterday, Nov. 1 at 0830. The Pod removed the neuroma through the top of the foot. The neuroma looked about the size of a raisin. The Pod used a local only and was done in his office. He gave me a long acting (6-10hr) pain killer injection prior to wrapping the foot. The Pod wrapped my foot with a wad of gauze at the bottom centered below the cavity to limit fluid build up. Left the office walking out in a special post op shoe. I did stop and get two prescriptions filled for Vicoden and Amoxicillan for infection. Stopped for lunch still walking on the special shoe with no pain but not rolling off the front of the foot. Spent the rest of the day watching movies with the foot elevated, no ice. Got up for natures call several times with little to no discomfort wearing the special shoe only for walking. Went to bed with the foot elevated still experiencing no pain, only a very slight discomfort.

It's now Friday morning, early as this is my normal wake up time, 3am. Still walking on the post op shoe with only a little discomfort, no pain. I will keep it elevated most of today and try to limit the walking. I feel I could have gone to work today as I can stay at my desk if needed. I can walk fairly comfortably on my heel with my foot out to the side to eliminate weight on the forefoot to make the steps longer.

I still haven't taken any Vicoden and am experincing only a slight discomfort, and then, only when I think about it.

I'll keep everyone posted through the healing process. Scheduled to return for followup Monday.

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posted Nov-02-2007 09:06 AM               

Why the difference gang? Did the other surgeries require more extensive cutting?

Chickahuss- I also have a hypermobile 1st ray. My podiatrist is recommending fusion with a Lapidus procedure. I'm getting a 2nd opinion (at his recommendation) the end of the month. Has your doctor said anything along these lines?

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posted Nov-02-2007 02:12 PM               

In fact, today I spent a half hour on my spinner and worked out with weights upper body only for an hour. My foot did swell up a little but never hurt.

The incision was about 1-1/2" long and I know he cut in fairly deep as my wife was watching and told me it looked like he was getting close to the bottom of my foot.

It's been over 24 hours and still no real pain, only minor discomfort.

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posted Nov-02-2007 06:19 PM            

RunTimRun - Re the different surgery experiences. Everybody indeed responds different to surgery. But if I would have to compare my surgery to RudeRod's I would have to point out that he mentioned that he had one neuroma removed the size of a raisin. I had two removed from the same foot with one as long as my pink finger, so not really a raisin but more a big plum..

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posted Nov-02-2007 06:43 PM               

That is a HUGE neuroma. I hope mine aren't that big!

I find it amazing RudeRod that you have such little pain and swelling. I also think you were smart not to suffer too long with your neuroma. In retrospect, I wish I had begged my doctor to take mine out this summer when I only had one and it had only been a few months. Every day that goes on, I really think they get worse and affect everything else.

I also think it is true that we just don't know how our bodies will respond to surgery. I guess I will draw an analogy with getting one's wisdom teeth pulled. Some people have absolutely no swelling and are chomping carrot sticks 24 hours later, while others have major swelling and have to drink a liquid diet for two weeks. I, unfortunately, was one of those liquid dieters, but I'm crossing my fingers that maybe I'll be a carrot chomper for my neuroma surgery.

Natasja, Baby Blue, and RudeRod, please continue to keep us updated.

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posted Nov-03-2007 08:14 AM            

If you haven't tried Zappos for shoes (www.zappos.com), check it out. Free shipping and free return shipping. Can't beat that. They also have loads of customer reviews of the shoes.

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posted Nov-03-2007 08:20 AM            

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posted Nov-03-2007 09:14 AM               

I'm walking much better and faster this morning. Still no real pain to complain about but I'm staying off the forefoot where the surgery is. I'm going to do another work out today on my spinner wearing tennis shoes on both feet and try to go for an hour, or I may just put regular pedals on my mountain bike and ride around the streets for an hour as my clip in pedals position the forefoot over the pedal axle exactly where the surgery is and with regular pedals I can just slide my foot forward to miss that part of my foot. And I'll also do weights for an hour or so, upper body only again. I've been up on it all morning so far and it doesn't seem to be swelling much at all.

I go back to the Pod on Monday for a check up and change of dressing. I'm definitely going to work Monday wearing tennis shoes. I'll be moving slowly, but don't foresee any problems.

I do plan on easing into the walking, then very easily into the running which I miss horribly and haven't done since a 10 mile run the 4th of July which left me barely able to walk due to the neuroma pain.

My Pod hasn't limited me to anything yet other than not getting it wet. He says if it doesn't hurt, do it.

I'll keep everyone updated.

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posted Nov-03-2007 09:40 AM               

[This message has been edited by ShelleyM (edited Nov-03-2007).]

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posted Nov-03-2007 10:04 AM               

I was on the spinner for a bit, but my wife called me off to eat breakfast. I walk so much better in tennis shoes and the pain is almost non existent. I'm currently weating New Balance 476's as they are my favorite for running and my rather fast hikes and I've found them to never ever give me blisters and have always been extremely comfortable.

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posted Nov-03-2007 10:10 AM            

I am 12 days out of surgery, and can't imagine putting weight on my whole foot yet. I can barely put weight on my heel. And there is no way that I would be able to get a shoe on that foot yet. I did have the bunion surgery done along with the neuroma. I only saw my incisions once at my one post-op visit, but I'm guessing that the neuroma incision is about 3 inches, and the bunion incision is about 5. They may have just looked bigger, and I'll let you know once I get the stitches out on Monday.

I didn't ask my dr what size it was, but he said that it was "really a GOOD size neuroma," and that's why I had problems even after the alcohol did work. The neuroma/mass had extended to the nerve branches, so the surgery was definitely needed. He did tell me that it can be much easier for people who go to be treated early. With mine, I didn't have pain until I triggered it when golfing and twisted on my foot wrong. At that time, he told me that the neuroma was already very large. I assume that it got larger throughout the steroid and alcohol shot processes (7 months).

Once I originally triggered the neuroma, I spent several months seeing an ortho, who was trying to fix my knee. My knee had also bruised at the same time, and I had been seeing him for a prior knee injury. They told me that my foot hurt because I had changed my gait and that we needed to get the knee fixed first. Apparently, the same tendon was involved, and I lost a few months of treatment on my neuroma, because they apparently didn't make the right call there. As it turns out, most of my knee pain was because of the neuroma (walking different). So, yes it can certainly affect other body parts!

For those of you with upcoming surgeries, my biggest problems are at night. My foot tends to swell much more at night. And there is so much pressure then. Two nights ago I finally took all of the bandages and wraps off, except the gauze wrap. The sticky bandages had pulled the gauze tight in some spots and it was just killing my foot, I know that there is concern about getting the gauze dirty, so whenever I get up, I put the sticky ace bandage back on REALLY loosely, just to keep the gauze from getting dirty. Anyway, this has helped more than you can imagine with the pain and pressure. I'll see if I get yelled at from my pod on Monday.

Another thing, my pod told me to make sure that I kept moving my toes, even right after surgery. There isn't a lot of blood flow to the toes, so this is important. Even the big toe, for those of you having bunion surgery, too. I was kind of afraid to move the big toe that first week, and my pod told me that the joint was already starting to stiffen in that first week, so don't be afraid to move them. It won't hurt the incisions at all.

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posted Nov-03-2007 02:25 PM               

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