We hope that a corrective operation is the final step in helping you find the relief you seek from your foot condition, and for many patients, that’s exactly what they find at the end of their rehabilitation period. For others, they find that they are still dealing with lingering pain and discomfort. What should you do if you find yourself in this position? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at what you should do if you’re still experiencing foot pain after surgery.
Continued Pain After Surgery
There are a number of different reasons why you may still be experiencing pain in the wake of your foot procedure. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common reasons, and what steps you should consider next.
Still Rehabbing – You may still be experiencing pain and discomfort in your foot region following surgery simply because recovery hasn’t fully run its course. We bear an immense amount of strain through our feet when we walk and run, so it’s not uncommon for recovery after surgery to take 6-12 months or longer. The pain you’re experiencing may be completely normal, and it may just be a byproduct of your foot working to become the strongest version of itself following your operation. Talk with your doctor if you are concerned about lingering discomfort, but know that this could be completely normal depending on your rehabilitation schedule.
Mismatched Expectations – Sometimes there is so much arthritic degeneration or bone malformation that surgery simply isn’t going to be able to fully resolve all of your discomfort. We’re confident that your feet will feel better than they did prior to the operation, but perhaps total pain elimination was never an expected outcome. Make sure you’re on the same page with your doctor when it comes to goals and expected outcomes so that you don’t have any mismatched expectations after your procedure.
Misdiagnosis – While incredibly rare, we do want to touch on the possibility that the underlying issue was not addressed during surgery because of a misdiagnosis. This is why physical exams, imaging tests and conservative treatments are all used prior to surgery to ensure that the provider has a complete understanding of the issue and how to best treat it. If you’re concerned that your underlying issue may not have been addressed during an operation, seek out a second opinion.
Surgical Issue – There’s also the possibility that surgery did not go exactly as planned. Nerve damage or an infection could cause localized pain and discomfort following a procedure, and again, your surgical team will work tirelessly to reduce the likelihood of these possible complications, but they can never be completely prevented. If you suspect that your discomfort is due to a surgical site infection or a problem with your incision, reach out to your care team right away. If you suspect that there is an underlying nerve issue, consult with your care team or seek out a second opinion.
In the vast majority of instances, pain or discomfort following a surgical procedure is due to one of the first two reasons. Either you’re still in the rehabilitation process and soft tissues are healing, or there was a possibility that the goal was to improve pain, not eliminate it. Whatever the underlying issue, if you are concerned about the pain or want to learn more about the recovery process, please reach back out to your care team. They would be more than happy to provide answers and do what they can to keep your rehabilitation on track.