You would benefit from post operative physical therapy. It will help you move along, regain range of motion, help ameliorate pain and progress you from assistive devices to normal gait again.

It's incredibly important to get that big toe moving again.

Good luck!

I have been having pain in my left foot, and someone said it might be a bunion, because it seems to come from about the same area....below my big toe, around the joint. However, my foot isn't misshapen....like my sister's was....and she had a bunion. They also told me it takes about 6 weeks of being off of your foot to recover from the surgery....and there is no way I can do that. I haven't been to a podiatrist yet, because have had so many doctor appointments with my husband, who was in the hospital a couple of months ago, and still having follow up appointments almost every week.....but that is what I am considering. If only to get an idea about what could be causing this. You mentioning the problems caused by your broken hip....gets me to thinking about how much trouble I had with my right knee before I had it replaced. My left foot problem may be as a result from that...having to compensate. My right leg was so bent that it became shorter than my left leg.

Yes! I had a HUGE bunion removed about 4 years ago from my right foot. The only pain I experienced was for maybe a day and a half post-surgery and even then the pain meds I was given helped tremendously. I must say that the post-surgery pain was a breeze compared to the pain I went through with that ugly bunion. Don't wait...found out the hard way that the longer you wait, the more complicated the surgery can become. I would do it again tomorrow if I developed one on the other foot. My poor mom suffered for years with giant bunions on both feet and never had the surgery. The recovery time can be lengthy (I don't recall how long I was in a hard cast) but a good portion of it I was in a walking cast. Don't put it off.

Oh and it's fun being able to buy and wear cute shoes again.

Gout is another possibility.

Yes, I have had several years ago...but now it has grown back and need to have it done again but putting that off as long as I can...I do not get along very well with crutches.

Thank you, Sue _va. I will definitely look into that.

My SIL just had it done and only missed 1/2 day of work (she did it on Friday) They put her immediately into a walking cast and she never missed a beet. She did, however have to wear that walking boot for a while. I am looking into it (changing insurance's) as she said it was the best thing she ever did. i guess recovery depends on the procedure.

I had bunion surgery in 2011, and they gave me the most attractive (not) shoe to wear for 4-6 weeks. I never needed a cast, or crutches, or pain meds. It was on my left foot, so I was able to drive within a day or two. My DH is disabled, so not only do I have to take care of myself, but also of him (and the Yorkie), but that was no problem. I did not have any type of therapy afterwards, and have had no issues whatsoever.

The most painful part was the financial hit. I didn't have Medicare at the time, so I had to pay about $500 out-of-pocket. But it was worth it.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will see what the doctor says tomorrow.

I agree, see an orthopedic surgeon rather than a podiatrist. Orthopedic surgeons are more skilled and educated than a podiatrist.

I also had the surgery and it was no big deal...I had heard all about the "bad" things and how painful but it was a piece of cake...It was done under a local, I was put in a fancy little shoe and went back to work a couple of days later...I tried not to stand or walk on it a lot but had no problems and no therapy...That's been almost 25 years ago and have had no problems since....Never regretted for 1 second......

I had surgery a few years back and I'm sorry but I'll never go through that again. It was done in the office with a local. For me it was the most painful experience I went through. But I am glad I had it done. If I ever have to have it done again I will be put to sleep or I'll just wear slippers. LOL

A friend in the Santa Cruz area (haven't you said that's where you are?) has spoken highly of a Nicholas Abidi, MD. He trained as a foot and ankle sub-specialist after completing a specialty in orthopedic surgery.

As it turned out the person I saw was an orthopedic surgeon. I have to wait for the assistant to call and schedule it. Going to be pricey because with my Blue Shield health insurance I have to pay 20% of the total cost. I have no idea what that will be.

Snidely - Thank you for recommendation but have to go with whom ever PAMF assigns me.

I totally disagree about seeing an orthopod vs. a podiatrist. Podiatrists are highly skilled in feet and feet only. Every podiatrist I have ever worked with has been excellent.

It's harder to get into medical school than into podiatry school, entrance standards are higher. (Many who go podiatry school tried and failed to get into either allopathic or osteopath schools). Physician training is more intensive. For those going into surgery, the training route for physician surgeons (compared to podiatrists) takes more years and involves exposure to arguably better teaching practitioners and a broader variety of situations.

Of course there are great podiatric surgeons and lousy physician orthopedists but if given a choice, why would anyone pick a service provider whose training was less rigorous and whose profession is less selective for entrance?

There are things that podiatrists do that orthopedic surgeons don't, I don't mean to suggest that seeing one for one of those problems is a bad choice. But if surgery is involved, I think finding someone whose training and academic background are on a higher level is something most would prefer.