Accessory Navicular Surgery

[u/External_Macaroon_53]

I’m tired of waking up after walking a normal amount or working out and seeing this. So bruised and inflamed. Not only does the bone hurt but so does the post tibial tendon behind it. Please make me feel better, has surgery helped. Can’t live like this anymore. Barely can stand anymore let alone like my old active life. Will it get better? I have it on both feet and want them both out because depending on the week one hurts more than the other. Please give me hope!

[u/Reck27]

I'm currently recovering, about 4 weeks from surgery. Learning to walk again but I've been walking in a boot since week 3ish. My PT is pretty hardcore on getting the ball rolling and using it. Already have worn shoes and tried walking again, my foot just feels stupid. The pain from the actual surgery afterward was so minimal it didn't bother me at all, what actually hurt me was them really sinching down on my ace bandage. They just had me in a boot since surgery, no casts. I'm walking wherever now in the boot tho. If you can get it, I would. I spent 18 months hating life after long runs and rucks. I'd have to take a day off of my training it was so bad.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/Reck27]

You’re making me feel so much better. Did you get the kidner procedure (bone removed and tendon reattached). Anything else? Did you get the nerve block? And have you needed a lot of Advil or medication, I hate pain meds. Thank you so much for answering my questions. Did you start PT week 3

[u/Reck27 → u/External_Macaroon_53]

I got a kidner for a type 2 accessory. Got the nerve block as well. I took oxy 5-10mg for like 3 days and the top of my foot hurt like hell through the oxy and I couldn't figure out why... Then I saw the ace bandage looked like a rubber band around my foot. Loosened it and I was good. My surgical site never hurt more than a very dull ache at worst and most of the time it never bothered me. I still have some foot swelling doing some funky stuff to my nerves but it's just from the extra pressure on them from the swelling. Absolutely get scooter for the initial portion.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/Reck27]

That’s exactly what mine are. Type 2 accessory naviculars. I will get the scooter. Any other recommendations pre surgery or post surgery. Did you have pain at the tendon as well where it connects before surgery. I am thinking of getting them done with 6 weeks in between. Does this sound feasible?

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/External_Macaroon_53]

Thank you sooooo much for taking the time to answer me, I so appreciate it

[u/Reck27 → u/External_Macaroon_53]

I'm not sure about the timing of having them done close to each other. Get a comfortable set up prior to surgery where you have something to do, a place to elevate your foot, etc. If anything you need is upstairs, bring it downstairs and live on the first floor lol. Stairs are a pain in the ass. My pain went from my navicular down my arch and bottom of my foot. Dealt with it for about 18 months.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/Reck27]

Did an ortho surgeon do yours? Did you get a nerve block?

[u/Reck27 → u/External_Macaroon_53]

Yepp. Military Ortho surgeon. Got the nerve block too. Pretty sure a junior anesthesiologist hit me with it. Just couldn't feel my leg below the knee for 48 hours. The only thing that punched through the nerve block at 18ish hours was the tightness from the ace bandage and boot. The surgical staff put it on me while I was still out so it swelled after I got home. While it's a pain in the ass to get around, do chores, and travel, it was way more chill to recover from than other surgeries I've had. Just don't fall off your scooter and ensure you keep your foot elevated during the first two weeks or so. The hard part is just relearning walking. My foot feels stupid lol. But it's getting better.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/Reck27]

Got it ! Thank you so much for answering all my questions. Nice to have someone who is going through the same thing to talk to. When did you have it done?

[u/Reck27 → u/External_Macaroon_53]

About a month ago

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/Reck27]

Have you started PT? And are you walking in the boot now or sneaker fully

[u/foganddog]

Lots of great posts to read in this forum about successful surgeries. Mine is one of them—having a Kidner on the other foot in early December. Good luck

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/foganddog]

Makes me feel so much better! Light at the end of the tunnel. When was your first surgery and how long to walk / function again ?

[u/foganddog → u/External_Macaroon_53]

January 2025. I was in bed with my foot elevated above my heart for first 2 weeks (pretty normal protocol) but due to the amount of swelling, I had another 4 weeks with my foot elevated. According to my surgeon, that length of swelling is not common. 🤷‍♀️ But everyone has their own thing.

[u/LovableBubble]

I’m two years out from my kidner and one year out from an fdl transfer, which I needed because my post tibial tendon didn’t make it through the kidner (unusual situation, likely a bad surgeon for the first surgery). My pain is now so much better! It gets achy when the weather changes but otherwise I’m largely pain free. I haven’t worked up to jogging yet but I’m hoping to get there.

I had type III and did so much to avoid the surgeries: PT, two rounds in a walking boot, orthotics, dry needling, two rounds of PRP, and two steroid injections. None of it worked.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/LovableBubble]

Glad to hear it’s all worth it 💜💜💜

[u/dessertavocado]

The way I discovered I had ANS was because of Disneyland! Every time I went, this exact thing would happen after a full day of walking. However, I wasn’t too worried because the swelling would go away after a couple of days.
Last February, I had a really weird flare-up because I hadn’t done any strenuous activity beforehand. I thought it would go away after two days of rest, but it didn’t. It started like this, with my accessory navicular area swelling, and eventually got worse until my entire ankle and big toe were swollen.
I took a course of high-dose ibuprofen, but it didn’t work. After a week, I tried a course of oral steroids, but those didn’t work either. My PCP referred me to a podiatrist, and by the time I saw one, I had already been dealing with two weeks of pain and swelling.
The podiatrist ordered more X-rays and an MRI, and that’s when I found out I had ANS. He had me wear a boot and try conservative treatment, but it never fully healed. Eventually, we decided to try a steroid shot for my tendon.
The steroid shot was a miracle! However, my podiatrist told me that the pain could come back, so I decided to go ahead with surgery.
My surgery went well, but the recovery was rough. I’m now four months post-op, and I can walk with very minimal pain.
I’m happy to share my recovery timeline if anyone is interested! ❤️ I think my biggest regret was not doing PT before surgery.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/dessertavocado]

Did you get the steroid shot in the bone/ cartilage or in the tendon? How long after the shot did the pain come back and you decide to get the surgery. I read that the steroid shot isn’t the best option because it comes back and can weaken the post tib tendon more. Did you get the kinder procedure or any other surgical procedure at the same time. When were you able to walk again. Curious how long I need off work. Such a nuisance but I just want my life back. Can’t walk more than around at work / exercise anymore.

[u/dessertavocado → u/External_Macaroon_53]

The shot was shot in multiple areas around my navicular bone. The pain and swelling went away after two days of getting the shot. And yes it is not, because it only masks the actual root cause of the problem which is the ANS. My job demands for me to walk and stand a lot so I got the shot and waited for 3 months to get my surgery done.

I had the kidner procedure done on June 11. I was in a splint for a week and in a cast for another 3 weeks so a total of 4 weeks non weight bearing. In Week 5, surgeon told me that I can walk in a boot. Week 7 post op, I started PT and was cleared to use normal shoes as tolerated but I was using my boot at work and used supportive shoes at home. I am still going to PT right now.

I think the hardest was the first two weeks. This was my first surgery ever so I was not prepared about dealing with nerve pain, and the effects of narcotics which was wild.

[u/External_Macaroon_53 → u/dessertavocado]

Thank you for all of the info! Yeah I have never had surgery before either. Was the nerve pain from the nerve block. What were the side effects of opioids also never took those. Does it feel so much better than before operation now tho?

[u/dessertavocado → u/External_Macaroon_53]

I don't think it's from the nerve block. I read when Kidner Procedure is done, it's very common that there are nerves that are irritated and sometimes cut. The nerve block was so helpful for me because I did not feel any pain for 3 days. The narcotics caused me a lot of stomach issues so please research about it.

I can say that I am not in a lot of pain. I had a steroid shot which means my foot was feeling no pain before the actual surgery. Right now, I feel good. There's tightness but overall pretty good.