The postoperative process and healing aren’t completely pain-free, and it’s normal to feel pain on top of the foot after bunion surgery, that’s often followed by swelling. These symptoms should not last too long, but the period also depends on your specific situation, general health, and many other factors. If you had bunion surgery, the tissue was cut out and removed in order for your bones to be properly aligned again, and once the surgery is done, the healing process starts. If you notice that your pain gets worse over time, you might get worried. This is the time when you should consult with a doctor about the problems you’re facing.
What Causes the Pain on Top of Foot After Bunion Surgery?
It is completely normal that you feel postoperative pain, but only for a limited period. During the bunion surgery recovery process, the pain should gradually decrease until, one day, it stops. In case it continues to show, doesn’t go away over time, or even worsens, you might be experiencing chronic post-surgical pain that can occur for different reasons such as:
- Nerve damage,
- Infection,
- Tissue damage or inflammation,
- Formation of scar tissue.
If the pain appears only on the top of your foot, especially when certain shoes press it, this can be explained by a wrong alignment of a screw. In this scenario, the screw head is about 2-3mm above your toe’s bone, and this small area might cause swelling and pain in the top of your foot. If you’re extremely active, especially during the healing process, you might force the screw to work its way out of the bone. On the other hand, this doesn’t necessarily have to cause pain, and in that case, the screw doesn’t have to be removed.
Who Is at the Highest Risk for Post-Surgical Pain?
There are no rules when it comes to experiencing post-surgical pain, but there are some medically proven groups to be at higher risk, such as:
- Women,
- Older people,
- Overweight patients,
- Patients with autoimmune disease and those with pre-existing health conditions (for example, diabetes),
- Patients with a history of depression and anxiety (these medical conditions are often linked to chronic pain).
How to Treat Pain on Top of Foot After Bunion Surgery?
There are different methods for treating pain after toe surgery. Doctors will prescribe you certain medicines and give you instructions about taking them, so this is definitely one of the best ways to treat the pain safely. Pain medicines should not be only taken as prescribed – if you don’t have a prescription and still feel like you need them, consult with your doctor about it.
What Are Some Home Treatments You Can Try?
The other important thing is to lower your activity. Get enough sleep and rest as much as you can, especially during recovery. You don’t want to force yourself into activities that cause you pain. You should also use bandages that will hold your toe in the proper position in order to reduce unwanted movements and pain they might cause. You should keep the surgery area clean and dry and avoid touching it. In case of pain and swelling, you can put ice or a cold pack on your wounded foot and keep it there for 10 to 20 minutes each passing hour. When doing this, try to keep a dry piece of cloth between your skin and the ice.
Consult With a Surgeon About All the Ways to Alleviate the Pain After the Procedure
In case you’re experiencing any kind of pain or struggle after the surgery, you should definitely book an appointment at the LuxeFoot Surgery clinic and consult with a specialist about the problems after bunion surgery and future treatment. Certified professionals can subscribe to appropriate pain relief medicines and give you instructions about taking them according to your specific situations. They can also give you advice about problems with screws after bunion surgery and answer any other questions you might have, and help you with your concerns. Feel free to contact us and book an appointment right away.
FAQ
Why Does the Top of My Foot Hurt After Bunion Surgery?
There are different reasons why your foot might hurt after bunion surgery. If you can locate the pain in the top of your foot, the main reason for this might be the screw that is dislocated and causes discomfort. This can be caused by forcing yourself into activities after the procedure.
When Is Pain the Worst After Bunion Surgery?
It is usual that bunions hurt for about 48 hours after the surgery. After this period, the pain calms down. The worst pain is expected during the first 24 to 48 hours after the local anesthesia dumbs down and the foot completely wears off.
How Do You Know If You Have Nerve Damage After Bunion Surgery?
There are a few symptoms that might be a sign of nerve damage, such as:
- Numbness,
- Burning,
- Tingling,
- Muscle weakness or atrophy.
How Long Does Nerve Pain Last After Bunionectomy?
The surgery itself isn’t very painful because of the local anesthetics, but once it dumbs down, you’ll start feeling the pain that will be the worst during the first 24 hours after the surgery. In most cases, patients experience pain and discomfort for three to five days after the surgery. This depends on many factors and might vary from patient to patient. Depending on your general health and how severe your bunion is, your doctor will tell you what you can expect after the surgery and give you the proper prognosis of your recovery. For numbing the pain after the surgery, the doctor can prescribe you some specific medicines.
