I am into my 13th week since I had my right foot reconstructed. The big toe hasn't healed properly - two nodules were showing prominently on the last xray - The pain has been severe - nerve damage, I guess. I talked to a lady who had bunion surgery so she could wear pretty shoes (I just wanted to walk again! My foot was so deformed) and she is still in pain after a year.
So I just wonder if anyone else has had reconstruction surgery (not replacement - those seem to go well) and had problems with healing and pain. This was suppose to make it better, and although it looks pretty, I have to wonder if the pain will ever end, and the joint will ever heal. Anyone else with anything to share on this issue?
Angie
Ps I tried to add a pic of my old foot before surgery, but it won't download Sorry!
So sorry to hear about the aftereffects of your surgery and that you're still not healed. Unfortunately, I haven't had this kind of surgery and I don't know anyone who has, so I can't really give you any kind of valuable feedback. Your best option might be to have a conversation with your doctor about what you can reasonably expect in terms of pain and long-term effects. I hope things get better for you soon.
Thanks for your reply and concern. It doesn't seem like anyone knows anything about this, although it is done regularly, from what I understand. I googled it and it said up to a year for healing, and my physio said any nerve damage could take years. Last night I took codeine the pain was so bad, and it did nothing! I finally put the cast back on, and that helped, whether because of the position of the foot, or being held tightly, like the nerve damage burn victims get - I know they wear tight bandages, even after healing. My advice is now - don't get surgery, no matter how ugly or painful your feet get - this is so much worse, and the foot isn't even small enough to wear decent shoes - I will still have to get handmade orthopedic shoes. I didn't care about having pretty feet, or fashionable shoes, but I did want the pain to stop. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I guess.
If you're having nervepain, might something like Lyrica be a more appropriate medication? It's a nerve pain medication which has just been approved for fibromyalgia and might work for you, too. Apparently, "regular" pain killers don't work as well for nerve pain so it might be worth trying...
Thanks for the suggestion. My liver is a mess right now, because of the mthx, and everything else I take on top of it, so I will have to find out whether it affects the liver. I know people have suggested some of the other neurological drugs, and I don't want to take them. Only 8 years to re-generate the liver. Then I can take what I want. Until then, I have to tough it out, and pray it gets better. I have had to go off every drug I am on except Synthroid and Kineret, my biologic. We will see in a week or two whether I prefer quality of life or quanity!
Angie
I found this page which says that Lyrica is not metabolized in the liver, so "[p]eople with liver disease should be able to use it without trouble." On the other hand, there are sites where people discuss having liver issues, although who knows if it's due to Lyrica. I'd suggest speaking to your doctor - you may be able to use it. In my experience, even a small dose is very effective.
I looked it up in my compendium, but mine is old, and the drug is too new to be there. If it gets worse, I will phone the pharmacy, and find out what the book says, and contact my doctor. Or if it doesn't go away. Thanks so much for taking the time to look it up.