Pain when walking and wearing my shoe.

by Evelyn
(New York)

I had my 2nd hammertoe and bunion surgery on the left foot back in December 2009. To date, (Aug. 2010), I am still having burning and sensitivity where the cuts were made. Also underneath the second toe on which was the corrected hammer toe, I am experiencing pain when walking and when I have my shoe on. Presently I wear my sneakers.

What do you think it could be? My doctor tells me that it is still swollen. How so after nearly 9 months? And he said if the burning and sensitivity doesn't go away where he cut the bunion, he will cut away the somewhat keloid skin. Will any of that help?

Hi Evelyn,
If your sensitivity is where the incision line is then you may have a superficial nerve entrapment in the scar from the incision and yes, it might require having the excessive scar excised and repaired. Prior to doing that, your doctor could consider giving you a cortisone shot in the thickened scar as that might reduce your symptoms.

Eight months seems a bit long to still have swelling but it is possible depending on a number of factors, not all related to the surgery itself.

Since I cannot examine you I do not know why you are having pain under the second toe. In general, if you notices as the weeks pass that there is less and less pain, then even though the area still hurts, you are probably doing alright as everybody heals at a different rate.

If you find that you have reached the point where there is no further improvement in pain reduction as the weeks pass, then it is time to look for a problem in the surgical area.

Marc Mitnick DPM