Dr. David Kay, M.D.

Bunion pain is the main reason for bunion surgery. An evaluation is needed to determine the cause of the pain. Is it the toe prominence? Is it arthritis? Is it a combination of problems? The non-surgical treatment is to wear wider shoes and use anti-inflammatory medication. There are a variety of surgical options and a discussion as to what is best specifically for your problem is essential. You need to understand the postoperative care so you will have the best outcome.

Surgery for flat feet is very complex depending on the cause of the flat foot. Some flat feet are from arthritis, some are from tendon and ligament instability and some are combinations of arthritis and soft tissue problems. The big question is how much trouble are you having? Can you navigate the steps? Do you have knee pain? Can you wear shoes without pain? What has been done nonoperatively? I always state that the full recovery from flat foot surgery is one year until we see maximal improvement. I would recommend an evaluation from a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with subspecialty training in foot and ankle disorders.

This is a great question.
The first question is where in the ankle does it hurt? The front, the back, the inside or outside? What type of mileage and where in the run does it hurt and what type of surface are you running on? Is there abnormal shoe wear that shows a deformity? When I evaluate runners I evaluate core strength. If the core is weak the pelvis is not stable at foot strike and the foot has to compensate. What is the hip rotation and knee alignment? What is the running style heel/toe, mid-foot, or toe? Is the Achilles tight - it frequently is? I send my runners to our athletic trainer who is also a running coach for a complete evaluation including running.

A true ankle dislocation is a severe trauma and should only be managed by a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. If you feel that you have dislocated your ankle, what may actually have happened is the tendons on the outside of the ankle have dislocated(peroneal).

Flatfoot surgery can be very complicated and can take extensive time for recovery. The surgery involves repair of multiple tendons and ligaments with bone realignment by cutting and reshaping or fusing bones together. I divide recovery into 3 phases; 1. Skin healing - this can take up to 3 weeks. 2. Partial bone and soft tissue healing to allow for weight bearing. The range can be 6-12 weeks. 3. Everything else. You are now weak from inactivity, the leg is weak, and the alignment is totally different from a lifetime of experience. The leg is now longer and the knee, hip, back, shoulder, and even the head alignment is different. Essentially, you have to learn to walk again. The swelling can take up to one year to improve. It's a long time commitment. I like to use this little verse: Your normal isn't normal, but it's your normal. Your new normal is normal, but not your normal until it becomes normal.

David Kay

It depends on the bunion surgery and your bone hardness. Some with hard bone and mild corrections can return to activity at 6 weeks others 12 or more. In the meantime isometric and range of motion exercises should be ok with the direction of your surgeon

David Kay