Dr Blake,
Hi, things are really progressing for my toe! Pain is about 0.5 and it’s becoming more and more flexible. I’m in normal shoes with dancer pads—seems to be a good combo at this stage. In a few weeks, I’ll try some orthotics again.
Anyway, if I had feedback for other patients it would be:
- Go to Defcon 4 of a healing program for yourself—it won’t get better unless you’re really doing the work. If you do the work, though, it will get better.
- Contrast baths are much more effective than just icing. Do it front of the TV at night. Easy.
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and loosen up the joint. This really works.
- Self-mobilization 3x per day works wonders.
- Elevate whenever possible.
- Protect your toe from bumping into things with a toe guard or shoe.
- Wear a post-op shoe when you sleep to protect it from injury at night.
- Take your time and remember that you’re injured—whenever I started feeling better I went too far with my movements and set myself back.
- No pain meds—for me that would just mask injury and not give me feedback about progress and possibly further injure the toe without me knowing.
- Lose weight to put less weight on your foot.
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