Question
Hello:) I had bunion surgery and mid foot fusion on 6/23. Had the best ortho foot and ankle surgeon in Phila. NWB for 4 weeks(Cam Walker), PWB for 4 weeks still with Cam walker. The first day I was allowed to FWB on on Cam Boot and sneaker, I couldn't-bad pain. I went back to Dr. the next day, and the new Xray showed the stress fracture on the 5th metatarsal:( So upset. Cast for two weeks, then another X-ray,Dr. said I could go back into Cam boot. He told me I could do full weightbearing as tolerated. Here's the problem, I am so afraid to full weight bear. Since I saw Dr. 1 and 1/2 weeks ago, I have been PWB with my crutches. I started to FWB yesterday, and I can't!! I keep switching to my "good" foot with a limp and a hop. I kept at it leaning on my wheel walker in front of me-it hurts in the vicinity of the stress fracture. I can't feel the sore part on my foot where the fracture is anymore when I press on it, but if I move my foot around, I can feel some pain there. I can also feel some pain when I try to FWB. I am sooo frustrated. 8 weeks recovering from foot surgery, and now 3 weeks recovering from stress fracture. I'm a teacher, and I want to be back in school. I figure when I was told to walk at 8 weeks and felt the stress fracture when I first stepped, and it showed up on Xrays, that I must have had it already in the first 8 weeks. I don't know how that would be possible. The area where I had the stress fracture was bruised along the side of my foot right after surgery. I figured it was because of the bunion surgery and the midfoot fusion, but it was on the opposite side. I am so depressed, I just want to walk, and I am so afraid of hurting the stress fracture. I want there to be no pain there at all. The Cam Walker is sooo hard to walk in. Please, I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks so much.
Update: Today I walked for quite awhile in Cam boot-no pain other than in my ankle-it stops me from FWB because now my ankle hurts.When I try to FWB, the pain in my ankle stops me.

Answer
This Chicago, South Loop & Elmhurst Surgical Podiatrist says.......

Dear Joan

Since the surgical incision is sutured-any small bleeding that occurs may travel to other areas of the foot.
You may need to have a soft insert/orthotic/orthosis made for your Cam-Boot to take the pressure off the fractured metatarsal.
Also you may need to get out of that walker & find a pain free alternative. Maybe a walker with a hinge, or a rocker bottom.
Perhaps a rocker-bottom surgical shoe will work for you at this point in time.That will immobilize the foot-but allow ankle motion.
Do range of motion exercises daily with the ankle & as soon as you sit down-remove the boot & do the exercises again
As far as the best surgeon around-I am!
Only kidding-but the point is that all doctors have less than favorable results-and it's tough to have this conversation with the patient. Let them know that you now have ankle from the walker.
If your doctor's answers don't make you feel warm & fuzzy-then a second opinion can't hurt.
Remember-it's about you & not the doctor
Hope this Helps!
And Good Luck!

Dr George Tsatsos & Svetlana Zats
Podiatrist Chicago 60618 & Elmhurst 60126 Podiatrists
Board Certified in Foot and Ankle Surgery & Orthopedics
New South Loop Location-Chicago 60661
AnkleNFoot.com
Runnersdoc.com
BabyFootDoc.com

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