Neuroma in foot-- surgery next week?

Question

I've had shots in my foot every 2 weeks for a series of 4 visits and NOTHING has worked, so now I am having surgery next week. I was wondering if anyone knows about the surgery procedure including anesthesia and recovery time. I work 2 jobs as a hair stylist and I'm constantly on my feet. How long did it take you to be able to go back to work? Did you feel better after the neuroma was removed? Do you remember the surgery?

Answer 1

I have not had surgery for a neuroma but have had foot surgery for a different problem and can answer on the anesthesia aspect with foot surgery.

If the surgery is being done by a Podiatrist and the surgery is outpatient they may do it with a kind of anesthesia called IV anesthesia.  IV anesthesia is where they give a medicine thru the IV to put you to sleep but there is no tube down the throat as is the case with the actual general anesthesia.  The medicine that is often used in the IV anesthesia process is called Versed.

Before I was taken back to the OR for my Podiatrist to start taking care of the problems I had the anesthetist had asked about my health as far as if I had issues with my heart and all that.  Then when it was time to get ready to take me  back he gave me a bit of the Versed right there so that I would be relaxed.

I was then taken to the OR and put on the table and they gave me the rest of the Versed.  Then before I knew it I was now awake in  the Recovery Room.  The first thing I noticed was that I was sitting up instead of in a bed like I had with the other surgeries I had.  I saw a table there with a glass of Sprite waiting for me.  I then looked down and saw that they had my foot (which was dressed and a surgical shoe) on a pillow (to help keep it elevated).

As for the recovery time from the surgery it may take about 6 weeks (that was the case for me).  Also depending on what all else is going to be involved with the removal of your neuroma they may have you walk with a walker for a few weeks to start off with to help the area heal.

Also, for the prep for the home if you have a ton of medications that you take start setting them up in the area where you will probably be resting the most (and you will feel a bit of fatigue most likely for the first few days especially right after surgery).  Go ahead and move any books that you know you may read at that time close too.

If you have a house that is two story set yourself up on the downstairs level to make sure you and your foot has lots of time to rest.



Also, go ahead and cut your toenails now because if you do end up with dressings that are especially kind of heavy you may find it hard to cut the toenails for some time (something I learned the hard way).

Also, with the anesthesia process and you go home the same day make sure that on your way home that you eat something.  I found out that part of the process can include a medication that causes you to not be hungry for a while so it's important to eat as in the hours from midnight on you will not be able to eat or drink (and on the drinking depending on the place where you are having the surgery they may let you take one of your routine medicines unless it's something for Diabetes).

Later on when you are starting to feel better please be careful how much activity you do because when feeling good from surgery there is the potential to overdo.  If this does happen your foot will let you know.  The thing I found helpful when I did start to overdo and my foot said that I had was to make sure I go and rest and then I would be ok.

I want to wish you well on your surgery.  Make a list of any additional questions you have for your surgeon to take for the pre-op appointment that might be last minute questions to help you better understand what is going on with your surgical procedure.

I am starting to feel much better from the problems I have that caused me to have surgery 9 weeks ago.