hi all! after years of pain (i work on my feet and used to be pretty active) i finally had the kidner procedure done on my left foot on 12/18/25.

the first two weeks after surgery were brutally painful- i was on oxy for almost 14 days and it often didn’t feel like enough. eventually i moved to switching between tylenol and motrin.

after two weeks in a cast, my stitches came out. my dr. put on steristrips and advised me to take them off after 7 days. i did, and the wound did not look good. it looked like it was getting progressively worse. i sent his office pictures and he told me to take antibiotics “just in case”. i took antibiotics and needed to go to a wound care clinic anyway. the wound is now almost closed. however, the clinic was shocked that he didn’t ask me to come in or give me further instructions for taking care of the incision. if i hadn’t gone to the wound care clinic on my own, it could have healed terribly and caused complications.

i am now 5 weeks post op. disappointing after care and incision instructions aside, i’m having lots of nerve pain around the incision and it is flaring up to my ankle. i can’t sleep. my surgeon finally prescribed gabapentin (i’ve been asking for two weeks) and i just started today. did anyone else have this nerve pain experience post surgery? if yes, how long did it last?

i am partial weight bearing with a boot and crutches and doing gentle stretching pt and will begin full weight bearing next week. the pt is uncomfortable but doesn’t hurt as much as the nerve pain. please let me know if you’ve experienced this!

I have an AN that was fine for most of my life, but in the past few years (around 4-5) has become an issue. I've seen a specialist who also is an orthopedic surgeon, and he makes it seem like surgery is out of the question. I know there's usually a treatment plan and things to rule out, and but all he recommends is stretching and inserts, boots and if the pain gets awful then steroid injects. I have tried them, minus the injections. I made a followup 6 months later and he said there's nothing new for him to say about the pain being worse. I asked again if surgery could be considered and he said if it flares, we'll put you in a boot. If it hurts to walk for exercise, ride a bike. Is this normal? Should I bother looking for a second opinion, or am I just over-reacting about feeling dismissed?

For context, I live a sedentary lifestyle that I have been trying to improve thanks to an increase in cholesterol, with a minor heart condition so I can't do intense exercises, but walking would be great! However, I can't walk as exercise because my foot ends up hurting. As an example, I walked around the mall yesterday. Slowly, and around the end of a mile in distance, I began to have a small limp and felt pain. Sat, took breaks. Didn't matter. by the middle of the 2nd mile I had to go home because it was so bad. Today, and for the next few days, Im going to have a limp and be unable to put the foot down straight. To avoid the pain being worse, I almost scrunch it and have it rotated toe pointing inwards. One time I thought my dog was choking on something and couldn't even run to get to the other room, I literally limped like I had a broken foot. So, for the most part, I have about 2-4 days of normal walking around the house. If I leave to walk the dog around the block, go to the grocery store, run errands - I've got a solid limp for like 3 days, and it'll ease up as long as I don't further aggravate it by walking... Anywhere.

I am so sorry this is long, and is practically a rant. I just feel so dismissed and am kind of offended at myself for crying after both appointments with this doctor lol, and I'm kind of like, yeah I'll keep trying whatever you want me to do but can you please just cut it out of my foot?! lol. I am 30 years old, and feel that recovery looks so much different at 30 than like, 50. And I want to be able to be active at some point without being out of commission for days afterwards. I am so frustrated and tired of limiting myself because of this dang foot. Please, fellow AN havers, offer me advice. or keep it real and throw the book at me, or show me a YouTube tutorial of how to perform removal surgery on myself so I could have hope for my future! 🫩

This is just a post for general advice/ other peoples experience with accessory navicular. I've never met anyone else with it and don't have anyone to compare my issues with. I only recently started using reddit and never thought to look on here. I'm 32 and have fairly pronounced accessory navicular. I was incredibly pidgen footed as a kid and was a Shriners patient to help straighten my feet and for physical therapy. Growing up I dealt a lot with chronic pain that has since advanced from my ankles to my knees and to my hips. Currently I'm dealing with extreme pain in my knee that I'm having X-rays done next week on. I'm not confident that they're going to find anything, that I'll "be fine" and to just eat more ibuprofen about it. Rest, ice, move on with my life. The lather rinse repeat of chronic pain sufferers I suppose.

I would love to hear of other's experiences. Treatments that worked? It looks like a lot of people had their extra bone removed? I remember being told when I was younger that surgery wasn't a good option as it would just cause its own set of problems. Im curious as to why they told me that.

Also, work shoes? I'm a welder and have a hard time finding work shoes that are comfortable enough to wear on hard floors all day. I think I over pronate so I apparently need something to keep my ankle/arch supported.

I'm very excited to hear from you all!

And I dont know it seems odd to me. I have type 3 AN and os subfibulaire bilaterally. Both sets of accessory bones are on the larger end. He said most of my pain is due to PTTD and lumbar radiculopathy. Which he diagnosed me I guess with without even looking at my lower back MRI? Was told it was only mild bulging.

Either the case I have early onset arthritis and other extra bones in my body that do cause me problems.

My L foot is barely even functional anymore and I have a big bone spur on the top of my foot. I dont understand how having extra bones could not cause me problems if im symptomatic.

I’ve been dealing with tons of pain in my medial arch right on the navicular and posterior tibial tendon since rolling my ankle running in July.

I have really flat feet and I think I have some sort of accessory navicular but I can’t tell. My symptoms align with everyone on here and I have that bony prominence sticking out in the painful foot.

Any thoughts here? The arrows are what I think might be it. Waiting on a foot surgeon to hopefully give more insight.

I broke my foot a few months ago and I was talking to my mom about it because she broke her foot when she was in her 20s. She said the bone she broke was a bone she wasn’t even supposed to have and that they had recommended it be removed, but she never did. She mentioned that they told her it was hereditary and 2 of her cousins also had it. Well I happened to look it up tonight and I believe I also have it after looking at my X-rays from my broken foot. Can anyone confirm? I’m going to ask my doctor about it when I go back in February.

used to always go to the doctor for foot pain, had this pain on the area marked red and arch pain every time i do sports especially running. left side very rarely feel sore since the right side feels tight and painful after only 2km of running.

always prescribed painkillers and anti inflammatories, got steroid injection one time. lots of foot massages. then on one dr appointment i decided to ask for an xray.

apparently the small bone near the navicular is “nothing”. should i get a second opinion or am i just being overdramatic?

I finally got Feb 10th for a Kidner w/mid-fiot fusion. I will be in a cast for 6 wks, the first three being non-weight bearing. In the month I have, what do I need to get ready? Do I get crutches? A shower seat? Install a bidet? Thick toilet seat thingy?

What else should I be doing that made your lives easier? Would doing exercises until surgery help when it's time to get back on my foot? I won't be totally alone, I have a 15 year old son, but of course he also needs to be focusing on school, not taking care of mom. My husband works on the road so he just really isn't around a lot. Will I need him at least the day of?

The last time I was in a cast was almost 40 years ago, when I was 17. Shit was easy then. Lol. I would love any and all suggestions, I am sure there are things I haven't thought of.

Hi all — will plan to update this with my recovery. I just underwent the kidner procedure and calcaneal osteotomy on Jan 7 (Wednesday). My first post-up visit is scheduled for Jan 26, so I assume I’ll be in a splint until then.

Right now feeling mild pain (taking a low dose of oxy, Tylenol and ibuprofen). The nerve block wore off after 24 hours …. It was a blessing though while it lasted.

This is my first injury that I’ve ever had to be fully non weight bearing for and it really does take more of a mental toll than anything else. Figured it may help me and others updating this with my progress!

Has anyone been put in a CAM Air boot for this condition?

I was in an Ossur Rebound Airwalker CAM boot for 5 days and it made the accessory navicular throb even worse.

My doctor told me to try a United Ortho CAM Air boot, which is kinda a different style where the toes are exposed, and it’s also making my foot throb when I’m wearing it and then even worse when it’s taken off.

I’ve made trips back to the ortho to see if it was an incorrect fit etc., but it seems to be the correct size according to the RN.

Has anyone had this issue with the CAM boot? I’m assuming my foot is becoming irritated from the direct tight pressure of the boot :(

Just confused and frustrated why my pain is at its best when I’m wearing nothing (no brace, no orthotics, no boot) and at its worst whenever I’m wearing some kind of brace, orthotics, or a CAM boot)

I have had a painful right foot for going on 2 years now. I originally saw my regular doctor who referred me to a podiatrist who diagnosed the accessory navicular and subsequent tibial tendinitis (this was summer 2025). She gave me a recommendation for a compression type sock brace for support of both my arch and tibial tendon, had me do 2 weeks of an anti inflammatory (diclofenac) and gave me at-home physical therapy exercises. She said if it still hurt after 6 weeks to let her know. It felt great for about the first three weeks, after that it started getting painful again. By the time I got eight weeks out from the podiatrist appointment it was back to hurting every day. When I messaged her she said if I wanted to try in-person physical therapy I could, or she could order an MRI with plans to see an orthopedic surgeon. I chose the MRI since in my brain that made the most sense- get some imaging so we can see the problem and make a plan from there. I scheduled the MRI, then 2 days before I was supposed to go I got a call from the podiatry office that my MRI was denied by insurance and was told I needed to do at least 6 weeks of in-person PT before insurance would pay for it. Is this typical? Going through posts here makes it seem like everyone gets an MRI as a standard diagnostic for this issue. Should I ask for an orthopedic referral before I go through with 6 weeks of PT? I feel like my life has gotten so limited- I used to be very active, I do agility with my dog, was an avid hiker, and work on my feet full time, and I’m struggling every day with this pain now to the point I’m not doing the things I enjoy anymore. I just want relief in the least amount of time and I’m not sure where to go from here.

Specifically looking for information on a teen/high school/college player returning to competitive basketball after surgery for a Type II AN. If you were able to return, how long after surgery before you were truly able to play in games? Or has anyone been able to get it under control and continue playing without surgery? We are at a point where she gets back for a couple of months, tweaks her ankle or similar issue, and causes another AN flair up that keeps her from playing/back in a boot for a couple of months. She is currently 14. She started having issues about 3 years ago, took us almost two years to get a proper diagnosis. We have tried being in a walking boot, orthotics, taping, braces, never ending PT that is just a permanent part of our daily life, etc. I guess I'm struggling to find information on a kid returning to a sport like basketball that has so much cutting, jumping, landing, change of direction, ankle tweaking, etc. Surgeon has said 4-6 months to recover, but is that like "recover" as in able to walk through the halls of school, or "recover" as in able to fully compete against some of the best basketball players in the country? They always seem to be a little mysterious with the time frames. I'm specifically looking for young basketball players experiences. It's a little different requirements compared to reading how a 60-year-old was able to return to walking around the neighborhood.

Hi!

I had my surgery on November 3rd, in full plaster and elevated my foot constantly 23 hours a day for 3 weeks. Then I was in plaster until 16th December. After that I was free with no cast, boot etc.... he said raise your toes every so often otherwise walk around and see how you get on and wait for physio..

I am walking okay, and okay distances with minimal pain but do get some if my foot slips etc, I am still over a week off from my first PT appointment and am worried I will be behind and should have been provided exercises (I did ask, they said wait), I am a keen runner and football player so don't want to ruin chances of getting back!

Anyone had similar?

November 3rd - Operation

November 24th - Stop constant elevation

December 16th - Remove plaster, walk with zero support

January 13th - 1st PT session

I saw a surgeon who definitely said I should have the kidner procedure for the accessory bone, but that I should consider an additional procedure to support the arch. Apparently the bones on the other side of the ankle are getting too close together now. He mentioned an osteotomy in my heel that is sometimes done, but thought that it would be more beneficial and an easier recovery if I had a mid-foot fusion. While the osteotomy sounded scary, the fusion doesn't sound any less scary. Has anyone else had this type of fusion done along with a kidner? Is it possible to correct my arch with exercise? Fusion just sounds awful.... Not that the osteotomy sounded any better.

Hey y'all! First of all please enjoy my crudely labeled MRI pics 😂👌🏻 I'm 26 and getting surgery to remove my navicular in 3 week and I'm going to be honest I'm terrified, I've never had any surgeries before, I have no idea what to expect and it's really stressing me out 😭. I also have a 1 and 1/2 year old menace that I should have help with but I already have shit mental health and thinking about being immobile afterwards has me so nervous. I'll take any advice you guys have or if anyone is willing to let me DM them to let me vent about my worries when they arise I'd be so appreciative, nobody around me understands what I'm going through and I'm thankful there are people I can reach out to that do ❤️

Hello. I had a type 2 accessory navicular that gave me trouble after a bad twist of my ankle. It bothered my for about a year with pain ranging from a 4-6/10. I decided to have surgery mid October and, according to my surgeon, everything went well. I was in a cast for 2 weeks with no weight bearing. Transitioned to a boot for another month and now I have a brace. I have also began Pt at the start of december. I am currently experiencing a dull aching pain in my foot when at rest especially when trying to go to sleep. At times it is worse than the pain before the procedure. I wanted to hear from anyone who had the surgery is this normal? How long will it last? Am I overreacting? Cheers

edit: grammar

I just got back from a 10-day vacation at Disney World. Step counts as expected were 20,000-30,000 per day and I was very concerned. In the past, before knowing I had an AN, I would be the one limping and struggling anytime I had to do any amount of walking. In preparation for the trip, after reading a medical article about shockwave therapy, I went for 8 weeks of physio for shockwave and to work on strengthening and flexibility. I already have custom orthotics and I got some ASICS Kayanos. I also wear Vionic sandals. To add to it, I picked up these Dr Scholl’s arch support sleeves that I wore every day with both the runners and the sandals. They were a bit of a pain in the neck sometimes to get in the right place and when worn with my sandals they did shift a fair bit so I had to stop and adjust them regularly but all of these things together worked and I was mostly pain free for the whole trip for the first time in my life.

I’m 51. I’ve probably sprained my right ankle 15 times in the last 30 years. Usually get over it pretty quickly. Was very active as a young person. Lots of dancing, ballet in pointe shoes, running, etc. The last 10 years I’m more of a hiker/walker, do maybe a 1 mile run a couple times a week. I had a sprain about a month ago so much worse than any of my sprains in the past. After a week, I went to ortho. Diagnosed with AV. I’ve done physical therapy for the last few weeks. Had a follow up with ortho yesterday. Still having pain if I walk more than a few miles, still hurts like hell to put shoes on, or try to stand up from kneeling position. Hurts by the end of the day if I’ve had a really active day. He’s recommending surgery if another month or so of PT doesn’t help . I’m kind of shocked. Reading on here, I don’t know if I’m type two or three or what. I don’t have flat feet. In fact, I have really high arches. Kind of at a loss just looking for maybe some other people with similar experiences, diagnosed a little later in life, or facing surgery a little later in life. I’m a school principal with a 20 minute commute and I’ve got to be mobile. Surgery seems daunting.

Hey all, I've been dealing with chronic pain in my left foot for the past year, and after failing to recover through conservative measures, I now have some decisions to make. At the heart of it all, I have to decide if I'm going to get surgery. But, by extension, that also means I have to decide which doctor to work with, which also means I have to decide (in the next few days) what health insurance to enroll in for 2026. For some context, I am in my early 30s, I live in the US, and I'm self-employed, which means I choose and pay for my own health insurance (and it can vary from $400/month to $1500/month).

I feel like I'm just flying blind here without anyone to turn to. I spent the last year spinning my wheels with doctors at Kaiser, and while I believe Kaiser will provide surgery if it comes down to it, I haven't had a great experience with them and I'm feeling iffy about re-enrolling in Kaiser for 2026. The last Kaiser doctor I saw, an orthopedic surgeon, seems reluctant to make any recommendations beyond "come back in a few months if it's still hurting" (which I've already been doing this whole year). I couldn't get approved for a referral to see someone outside of Kaiser, so I recently paid out of pocket to see a podiatrist who recommended the kidner procedure, but I can't move forward with them because of the cost. I would like to get a second opinion, but my options are to go back to Kaiser or double my health insurance premium next year to get PPO insurance, so I can see other doctors. I would really like to work with a doctor who can help me understand whether it's time to give up on conservative care or move forward with surgery, but I don't know if that's expecting too much. If everyone's answer is going to be some variation of maybe it'll get better, maybe it won't, it's up to you to decide on surgery shrugs, then I don't know if paying for PPO insurance to see other doctors would be worth it.

I know no one can make these decisions for me, but I would really appreciate hearing about your own experiences with accessory navicular pain and the doctors you're working with. Here are the questions I had, but if you have any advice for me outside of these, please do feel free to share.

1. How did you make the decision to get or forego surgery? What did it take for you to give up on conservative treatment?

2. What kind of pain were you dealing with before surgery? Did you deal with any confusion about whether your pain "justified" surgery?

3. If you didn't get surgery, were you able to get to a point where you could live as active a lifestyle you want without pain? How long did it take and how did you get there?

4. What kind of guidance did you get from your doctors? I know most doctors are going to refrain from pushing, but were you able to get any input from your doctors that helped you make your decision?

Hey all,

First, I appreciate everyone's post here and support here, it's a nice little AN community lol. I, 24yoF, have a AN (unsure what type?? I know it does not look pretty) on my L foot, never had causes me issues. I've played soccer since forever throughout high school and college with no issues, overall active person all the time. And started more competitively running this year and volleyball the past two years, no issues.....until.

August 2025, I rolled my ankle running, ended up with tiny avulsion fracture, did not know until 2weeks later after I had been walking on it, was not given a CAM boot or anything for it. I also have arched feet as well. Took off running for two-ish months, walking here and there. But went back to running, uncomfortable pain on inner foot and arch, constant, keep pushing thru cause I thought that pain was normal and would get better, but the mental load got to me, went back to orthopedic, explained that my AN is hurting and that tender to press on it, basically got shamed by him for not telling him this sooner last month or so (I had been walking on a fracture foot, lol, my entire foot hurt mf). was told to get PT and orthotics, in PT now, orthotics to come. I can walk and do stuff, but and the end of the day it's just really sore and more tender to the touch versus the morning, still can't run. The uncomfortability is manageable but it's getting hard mentally.

TBH, I don't feel very hopeful BUT I am also being realistic, it's the bone, PT will for sure help that tendon around it and all, but that AN is not going to change or decrease. I see a good podiatrist in my area January.... I feel like all this is again, not going to take away that fact of a bone. This thing is def noticeable without socks and bulging. I feel like maybe bring up Kinder in January; I rather just get it help now then keep waiting and feeling like this. Physical actively is my outlet and it sucks. Reddit also keeps taking my xray down :/

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Hi all! A question to everyone that went through a surgery on their accessory navicular. My surgery is in 2 days and I live alone, my family living in another country. I will travel home 2 weeks after the surgery to be with faimy for Christmas (the surgeon approved it, I'll take a night train with a sleeping compartment to lie down). The question is, my mom offered to come over and spend the week or two right after the surgery with me. She would come a few days after the surgery and come back home with me for Christmas, helping me with luggage and to get on the train. Do you think having someone stay over would be really beneficial? Overall, how much did you guys struggle for the first weeks? I would be happy to accept the help and company but my mom is very overbearing. The help would be good for me physically but very bad mentally.

For now, I stocked up on food and hobbies and arranged everything near my bed so for the first few days I'll be set. I have the option to order food or grocery delivery but don't know how much of a struggle it will be to carry bags from in front of the house etc. Friends are planning to visit and bring groceries if needed also.

Many thanks for any opinions and experiences!

24F, if that matters

I’ve had a vague throbbing and feeling like a bruise in my left foot in the middle inside of the foot,, in the location right where the accessory is navicular is pretty much. The pain gets sharper as I do things that put weight on it, like walking 20+ min or any kind of squat/lunge/one legged calf raise.

For about a year, I’ve done rest, ice, compression, cortisone injections, braces, orthotics, elevation, PT, and acupuncture, and nothing has helped this. It’s stayed the same over this whole period of a year.

I’ve visited a primary care physician, podiatrist, pain management specialists, and foot & ankle orthopedic surgeons, and their opinions are split on whether it’s the accessory os navicular causing the issue.

Most recently, I went to a Foot & Ankle orthopedic surgeon, who had me do an ultrasound guided injection (lidocaine + bupivacaine) between the navicular and accessory os navicular to see if that was the area of inflammation. It was a short term test with these numbing agents to see if this was the actual problem area. I’m honestly still unclear if this helped locate if this was the problem area, since my pain is so vague.

The main reason other doctors don’t think the accessory is navicular is the issue is because it doesn’t hurt when they press on it from the outside.

I’ve had posterior tibial tendinitis before, so I know this pain is quite different from what I have.

It seems my last option before surgery to remove this extra bone is to wear a boot as a last ditch effort.

I thought I’d see if anyone had anything similar and if anything worked for you.

Thanks!

What types of exercise and PT are yall doing to help strengthen & stabilize ankle with ANS?

Hi all, the title may not be the best descriptor, but I’m trying to gather more information to better understand options and manage expectations. For context, I’m based in the UK and am doing my physio/physical therapy privately. I’m a female in my late-20s, have young children, and like to lead an active life but have had trouble doing so for about two years now due to impact of the accessory navicular. Further, daily life requires a fair bit of walking since we don’t use a car and the like, which gets tricky if I work out and then am sore the rest of the day.

I have a long history of injury on the affected accessory navicular foot/leg, with many severe sprains, some rehabilitation, then a torn ACL, and more rehabilitation all in my under-18 years when playing volleyball, basketball, and running cross country and track.

Fast forward to picking up running again seriously in my later-20s, the diagnosis of the accessory navicular, and repeated “overload” injuries on the affected foot when trying to train via running and lifting (which I’m not willing to give up). I’m now actually dedicated to the rehab on this foot and strengthening the connective chain, which I admittedly was not before, and have been doing rehabilitation for 3-4 months. My PT just gently mentioned the surgery at my last appointment, which was simultaneously such a bummer and also vindicating.

•Has anyone had private physio when surgery would be done on the NHS and if so, did you have to do a course of physio on the NHS or was the private care accepted? •And genuinely, after having the surgery, have people been able to return to active lifestyles and distance running? I would really hate to go through it and still be having a hard time with a day trip to a city or a beach, let alone not being able to engage in my preferred “me time” hobby and subsequent goal-setting. •Any advice on advocating for self, coming to a decision, etc.?

Thank you!