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foot problems

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Hope810

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Hi me again. I wanted to know if others had problems with their foot/ankle after TKR. I had LTKR 5 weeks ago and am doing pretty well except for my left foot. My foot aches all the time. It is not a pain but just aches on the top of my foot near my toes and swells around the ankle. I keep elevating and icing. My knee is fine but my foot is really limiting my activity. My OS said that I have some tendonitis and said I may need shoe inserts but he didn't offer much help. Has anyone else had this problem after knee surgery?

Hope
 
Hope I didn't have a problem with the operated on leg/foot but I have had some muscle pain in the other foot - I think because I'm walking differently now (and walking alot compared with what I have done in the past 8 months or so.) The inserts sound like a good thing to try; go to the drug store first and look at all the Dr. Scholls and other kinds of orthotic type foot inserts. Sometimes it says on the packaging what the insert relieves. What kind of shoes are you wearing? You need sturdy sneaker-type shoes (not regular, too soft sneakers) and try to walk in front of a mirror and see if you're putting any kind of pressure on your foot in a new way. We all walk differently after this operation and you may not have been putting equal weight on both feet before. If you DO wear sturdy lace-up shoes -- try loosening the laces over the part of your foot that aches. And if you're getting PT ask your therapist about the foot; if it IS tendonitis he/she may have a good suggestion for stretching and/or exercises. I have what they call an arthritic arch on my non-operated leg/foot from a very flat foot and my ankle swells on that foot often when the arch isn't well supported. Feet are weird!!! Try working your foot to see if you can isolate where the ache is and what might make it worse and that might help you figure out what kind of insert to try. They're pretty cheap so if they don't work -- not a lot of money thrown away...
 
No but I had the same problem after having my hip replacement Hope!!!! In fact I still get it every now and again 5 months post-op. My OS explained it by saying that because I am now walking "normally" after such a long time limping and lurching around, ALL my muscles etc are having to "re-learn" how to operate correctly! I don't know if it's the same as what you are getting - but it certainly sounds it!
I'd be quizzing your OS further about what you can do just to rule out it being anything to worry about.

Peta :)
 
Thanks for the replies. I've been wearing good support shoes and new walking sneakers for the past two weeks only. Unfortunately, I had worn my moccasins for 4 weeks after the surgery even when doing the exercises. (I had been home most of the time.) Last week, I also got an ankle support from CVS that has helped when I sleep.

I figure all this is getting re-aligned after the surgery but my OS didn't agree and simply said to get an expensive foot orthotic. My husband has a good foot-ankle doctor so I've made an appt with him for this week. I seem to be betwix exercising for my knee and resting to releave the tendonitis in my foot. And the PT was no help at all on this at all.

I'd appreciate if others would share if they had foot-ankle problems particularly aching feet when sleeping. Perhaps this just something that needs some time to clear up? I'm at 5 weeks post op today!

Hope
 
After my BI-TKR I started having very bad foot pain while walking. I was with my wife at the mall and decided to try on some new shoes to see if that helped, long story short I had to buy all new shoes and my feet quit hurting within minutes of putting the new ones on. I also had some heel pain from being able to walk and be more active. I never had any swelling associated with this.

Good luck!

Max
 
Max! You are undoubtedly the hero of most women
Out there who love shoes!
Glad you got relief! I think all of us have developed
Our own gait over the length of time we've been
Hurting! Just remember,,,"heel.....toe!"
Good luck, Hope! :)
 
Hi Hope,

I hope you find the pain just goes in time. I had exactly the same problem. When I had my right hip replaced, I had the pain on the top of my right foot near the toes, and swollen ankle, then when I had my left knee replaced, it happened again and yes it did hurt and was limiting, it lasted 2-3 weeks then just went. I figure both times it was my body aligning itself to my new gait.

Best wishes to you Hope.

Chris :)
 
Hi all - thanks for the encouragement and input. I'm expecting that it is just some re-alignment going on but will see the foot doctor tomorrow. Then I off to PT in the afternoon. Hopefully, I can get a handle on what is needed. I've been resting it a lot but worry about the lack on activity. I want to get going and this foot thing has been holding me back. I have to say that my knee is doing great and healing nice.

I found that one Tylenol Arthritis extended release 650 mg every 4 hours to be working pretty well for me. No more than 6 tablets a day. (I'm also on Celebrex.)

Again thanks for your posts.

Hope
 
Hope

Glad you are going to see a foot/ankle guy or a podiatrist as they seem to be better at biomechanics. I have used custom orthotics for more than 30 years as the patella malialignment I have was really screwing up my walk along with the fact that I pronate. As others have said, good shoes are important and I have to buy new ones ever 6 months.

Good luck

Simon
 
Hi Simon - Thanks for the input. I bought new shoes and good walking sneakers just before my surgery from a special foot store. My foot is feeling much better today. I even ventured out for a short trip to the grocery store on my own. Went pretty well and gave me a boost. I walked very carefully heel-toe and all. Came back and iced then rested in bed for a hour. Now I have on the ankle brace from CVS and feels okay. I'm looking forward to getting info from the podiatist so I can get going without doing any serious harm.

Will keep you posted.

Hope
 
An update for you...at 5 weeks, LTKR was Monday, 2/23...

I'm improving every day. I still get pretty tired if I don't take a nap but not much pain now and I'm sleeping through the nights. I took a little outing by myself to the grocery store on Tuesday. Got a few things, did pretty good, then laid down for a nap :) My knee is doing very well but I've been having lots of trouble with my left foot-ankle. My knee surgeon didn't seem to think too much about it so I went to our podiatrist yesterday.

I have a stress reaction (sprain not a fracture) on my 4th metatarsal bone (top of foot in the instep of 4th toe). As some of you know - because I've been telling everyone - it started weeks ago with my initial foot exercises. (I think the office PT sessions made it worst even though I kept telling them about it.) The podiatrist gave me a foot wrap and said to continue to rest my foot for another 4 weeks and it should heal without complications. My OS released me from PT last week but I'll still do home exercises that strengthen the knee but will avoid the ankle-foot ones.

I've been doing a little google research and this stress reaction is common to ballet or athletes who do repetitive motion, but it does not seem to be normally related to TKRs. At least that I can't find any studies linking them. Nevertheless, if others are having foot problems I suggest they see a podiatrist also.

So now I using the small brace from CVS on my left foot but my knee continues to heal beautifully. I'm still planning to do my right knee June 8. I see both doctors in early May to get all checked out. Again thank you for all your prayers and best wishes. Great site!!!


Hope
 
Hope

So glad you got an answer. I totally agree if you have foot or ankle pain a podiatrist is a great choice. The fall before by BTKR I woke up and could barely put my foot down. When it did not clear up after 3 weeks I went to my podiatrist who thought it was a soft tissue injury but he took x-rays just in case and it was a fracture. The following April it was still a bit sore and I asked both of the OS about it when I went to discuss the BTKR. Both checked and said it isn't anything. Well I had the podiatrist check it as the BTKR was schedule and it was that part of last year's fracture had not healed (nonunion fracture). I ended up using ultrasound for 6 months to finally get it to heal.

As everyone on this board knows, go with your gut when you think something is wrong.

Simon
 
Hope & Simon! Glad you are BOTH doing so well,,,,, It just
Goes to prove you MUST be your OWN advocate!
A little googling doesn't hurt either! :)
 
Simon and Judles - thanks for your input and encouragement. It is much appreciated.

Hope
 
Hope, good for you---taking the initiative and going to a podiatrist!! Smart move. I hope your foot heals quickly and doesn't hinder your recovery much.
 
Hope -- glad you found out what it is and what the "cure" is (rest) but too bad you have to deal with that as well as the knee. Also good to hear your knee is coming along well. Feet are a real problem and sometimes it's really hard to find out what's actually wrong and fix it...
 
Hope

I went into the BTKR with the broken foot and it wasn't a problem. What helped is that the tibia cracked during surgery (due to previous bone graft) and it was on the same side as the broken foot and I was restricted to 50% weight bearing on that side.

Good luck

Simon
 
I feel so much better just knowing what's happening. Indeed this has slowed me down some getting out and walking! Thanks for the support all.

Hope
 
Hi, I just wanted to give an update on this. Thanks for all your input. My foot is coming along very nicely. I wore an ankle brace from CVS for several weeks especially at night - gave me good support on holding my foot straight. I also bought some arch supports from CVS like some of you suggested. Last week, I was on a family vacation in Williamsburg. We had a great time. I was able to walk quite a bit around the sites, maybe a mile each time then rest in the gardens. A couple of days were rainy so we used that time to lounge around, play cards, and games. All went very nicely.

I wanted to thank everyone who posted for your support. I see my podiatrist next week again and I think he'll be pleased with my progess.

Hope
LTKR on Feb 23, 2009
 
Hope, I think you're doing amazingly well!!! I'm so happy for you. It will just get better and better. Look forward to hearing about your meeting with the podiatrist.
 
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