I had bunion surgery many years ago, 1972. One year after or so I had to have replacement joints on both feet put in. Improper buion surgery i am told. Those were replaced in 1992. I am now told the surgeons put the joints in too short, compared to other toe joints. My present Pod MD says and is obvious my 'padding' on the bottom of my feet are thinning and have deep callouses formed under most of my metatarsals, or meaning across the pad of my foot where the other toes are. I have to have them cut down in and trimmed once a month at least. My balance is off, and am told my knee and back problems are stemming from this also. My feet do not carry or displace my weight as they should, I take it. It is always like walking on marbles, with knives being stuck in my feet. It is horrible and cannot stand it. Now even the pressure from soft sided orthotics hurt terribly to even sit with shoes on. I am talking pain from the first step of the day, on. I can barely make it through the grocery store because of the pain. I cannot even walk for excercise and am putting more weight on which is not helping matters. I am talking a horrible agonizing pain. Bad depression is setting in, total hopelessness. The doc says there is nothing more to be done and any further surgery would increase scar tissue. And no guarantee on any improvement.

I use SAS shoes with a wide variety of orthotics (soft-hard and padded), pads, softening creams and thick padded socks. They feel best just soaking in that Dr Johnson Foot Soap, I believe it is called. We just had my feet impressions taken again and tried a softer appliance/insert but that does not help my arches any, and the softer foam seems to spring back up and put too much pressure on the callous areas. I have even tried staying off of them and totally babying them. Soaking, creams and trimmings. Those darn callouses still grew the same rate and showed no signs of lessening.

Is there anything else to try? I am being treated at the local Veterans hospital, which has improved my situation greatly, but I am still far from any normal functioning. I am 51 and seems the older I get, the worst they get regardless what I do. I need relief. Living in this agony and no social life is not fun. Any ideas? They can hurt so bad most of time that it wakes me up at night.

Thank you!

Well callus will continue to develop since yours seem to be the result of the biomechanics of your foot. The orthotics that you have should be helping to reduce them some; if they are not then it may be time for a new one. You mentiond that you have tried creams. Have you used over the counter creams or prescription creams? I have been seeing some great results with my patients and a couple of the creams currently available by prescription so check with your podiatrist.

I am familiar with the shoes that you are wearing; but I would suggest that you give the Ambulator shoes a try. These are available on our web site and your doctor may also prescribe them for his/her patients. I know that you are in pain, but another surgery may not help either since you seem to already be getting transfer lesions, which are common occurences following surgery.

Foot.com Staff Member

HI,

Thank you. I will look at those other type of shoes. I have tried over the counter creams and am now using script creams like one is a Urea, compound. Which has also helped to a great degree. Nothing seems to lessen the growth of those darn callouses.

Again, thank you.

Yes, the urea creams are quite helpful. I prescribe them alot for may patients. They are excellent for the calluses, but you may find that you need something to moisturize so often I also have my patients use a cream daily for that purpose. Please contact us again if you have any other questions.

Foot.com Staff Member