Morton's Neuroma vs TKR

[beth1954]

I have been talking to people on the foot forum about my surgery on Friday. (To remove a neuroma.) They all say that the MN surgery takes longer to get over than the doc says. I have the surgery set up for Friday of this week. I think I'm going to go ahead and have it and pray for a good recovery. Not everyone has great success with that surgery. Right now it hurts when I walk (dull ache mostly--feels like I'm walking on something).....After surgery it might hurt worse--even after it heals.

Anyone have any thoughts on the order of which surgery I should have done first?

I am going to try to make it til fall to have the TKR.

 

[Jamie]

Beth, it would seem to me that you are doing the surgeries in the right order. Assuming things go okay with your foot surgery, at least you won't have that pain to deal with on top of your knee. I don't know how the foot impacts your gait, but I would want every opportunity to get a normal gait going after the knee replacement.

 

[Josephine]

Oh for sure, get the neuroma done first!

 

[Sandy R]

Beth, I had a neuroma years ago. I had surgery to fix the problem and they had to cut the nerve to do it. The result was I no longer had feeling in my 2 smallest toes. The Dr. told me the nerve might eventually connect again but not to count on it. I'd stub my toe, I couldn't feel it and I knew it should hurt, which drove me crazy. About 5 years later, I did get the feeling back. What I'm trying to say is, not being about to have feeling in those toes, might be to your advantage. I don't recall that it was a long recovery but as I said, it was many years ago. Good luck...
Sandy

 

[Josephine]

The nerve doesn't always have to be cut. Depends how deep into the nerve structure the cyst has grown. Sometimes they are just sitting on the outside, sometimes ther aren't. No telling till you get in there and look.

 

[beth1954]

Once again, you have all made me feel much better about my decision!!
I know that the neuroma surgery will probably take awhile, but my knee has doing so well for awhile now, I think I am making the right decision.

It just helps to hear that from people who have experienced the same thing. Hopefully my knee will hold out. Like I said, the Medrol has made my knee feel SO good! Maybe if in a month or two it still hurts, I can get the Medrol again to quiet it down until my surgery......hopefully not until fall.

Friday my daughter and my mother will be there with me to help me around. My mother lives with me, so that will be a big help. I just don't want my knee to start up on me again because then I'll have two bum legs!!

Thanks again.......

Beth

 

[beth1954]

Well, I had the neuroma taken out this morning. So far so good, but then my foot is completely numb at this point. I'll let you know later how it feels. Hasn't tasked my bad knee YET.

 

[Judles]

So glad you're finished with that surgery, Beth! Just remember o keep up with your meds,,,,,and take them BEFORE any pain breaks through! Take care now!

 

[Josephine]

Oh excellent! So you had it done under a local anaesthetic?

 

[Jamie]

Great news, Beth!!! Any idea how long your foot will be numb?

 

[beth1954]

Feeling has come back to my foot. Not too much pain as long as I don't put my weight where the incision is. The incision is about 2" long. I didn't think it would be that big. Apparently the neuroma was being pressed between just the bottom of my foot (walking) AND a bone, so it was pinched with every step. I'm glad it's out, and I will be going back to work on Tuesday. Bad knee on the other leg is doing pretty good. I use a walker at all times so not to stress out my bad knee also.
Thanks for asking!

 

[Josephine]

Apparently the neuroma was being pressed between just the bottom of my foot (walking) AND a bone, so it was pinched with every step.

That's quite usual!

 

[Jamie]

Take it easy, Beth, and I hope you continue to feel better!!

 

[beth1954]

My foot has no numbness now. One toe has a little bit of tingling, but that's expected. It's not something I notice unless I touch it. May stay that way forever. Had my follow-up appointment this morning and everything is good so far.
Stitches out in about a week and a half.

It IS starting to task my bad knee, so I'm being as careful as possible to limp evenly on both sides! (Not easy!)

I have yet ANOTHER health problem that I need to have checked out further this Wednesday, off-topic so I won't go into details. But not a good thing either.

I'm falling apart!

 

[Jamie]

Beth, don't worry about bringing up other health issues here. It's okay and others have done it before you. Many times when there are other things going on in your life it can have an impact on your healing from joint surgery. So there really are NO topics that can't be brought to the fourm. This is your thread, so it's fine if it's something that remotely pertains to your foot and knee surgeries. If not, there is always the Lifestyle forum....ANYTHING goes there!!

And, hon.....you aren't falling apart! Sometimes we just have to do a little "tweaking" to the ol' bod.....things will get better!!

 

[Judles]

Yes, Beth! Listen to Jamie!! And concentrate on feeling better....part by part!

 

[beth1954]

OK. This has definitely impacted my bad knee now. It's hard to limp when both legs and/or feet are in pain. I'm trying my best, but it's hard.
I have some numbness between two toes. Actually it's kind of half of one, and then half of the other one. When I walk, it feels really strange like there is something there (almost like a little piece of rope or something)......but at least that part doesn't hurt. Also, the little "boot" they gave me to wear isn't quite the same size as my shoe on my right foot, so I have one leg shorter than the other. That is a problem too. So I have the strangest gait. You would all laugh if you could see me.....I'm sure of that. One of the guys at work saw me walking, and he said "Get a little pep in that step! Put a little pride in that stride!" I think from the look I gave him he knew he went too far. Actually it was funny, and that was how he meant it. Another one of the guys saw me in the hallway and wanted to race back to our office. Haha. Well, I'm hoping for the best in my healing. Don't really know what is going to happen yet.

 

[Jamie]

People and their warped sense of humor sometimes......sigh......

Hang in there and give things some time to stabilize. I know you are concerned about your foot problems in ADDITION to the knee surgery, but I still think you made the proper choice to get your foot problems taken care of first. Here's an extra ((((HUG)))) to get you through the next few days until WEEKEND!

 

[Josephine]

I have some numbness between two toes. Actually it's kind of half of one, and then half of the other one. When I walk, it feels really strange like there is something there (almost like a little piece of rope or something)......but at least that part doesn't hurt.

Is this the foot you just had operated on for a neuroma? Or the other foot?

Also, the little "boot" they gave me to wear isn't quite the same size as my shoe on my right foot, so I have one leg shorter than the other.

Well, you're not going to be wearing it too long so I wouldn't worry about it. Soon as you've had your stitches out, you should be about ready to go 'au naturale'!!

 

[beth1954]

The numbness is on the foot that was operated on. I thought it was just tingling, but upon further "inspection" two toes are numb. (Like I said, half and half)

I found out tlast night hat when I wear my house slippers everything feels better. I don't have one leg shorter than the other, and I walk much better.

I brought them to work today. So I have on a black and gold striped shirt, black pants, black socks and fluffy pink slippers.

I was going to try to wear my normal shoes, but with the bandages and all, I couldn't get my foot into the shoe.

I definitely feel some improvement though!!