surgery bunion recovery problems

sarahlaw · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

I'm 21 and I had my second bunionectomy about 2 months ago. I had my first one done when I was 12. My doctor was willing to operate then because my foot had stopped growing (apparently feet are one of the first things to stop). I would suggest getting it done while you are young because you heal better. My surgeries were more intense that the typical, i had to have bone broken and realigned, but after a few months of rest I was able to continue with sports. Since the first surgery I have run a marathon and I currently compete on a club team at my university. Now I just have to wait until I can run on two pretty feet.

sarahlaw · Newbie Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

also, it was the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. If you have to have the procedure that requires breaking the bone be prepared for a longer recovery and wishing you were dead for about a week after surgery. Plan to take at least 2-3 weeks off from work and have someone who can take care of you. However, once you are done healing you will be so happy that you will skip everywhere you go, and it won't hurt to do it. It took me 5 months before I could run afterwards.

jude52 · Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

Hi i have just had surgery for bunion removal, and osteotomy,i had this on 6 july, 12 days ago, and am getting on brilliantly.
I had the osteotomy to re-align my big toe as it was way out of line. I had a spinal block which was brilliant also sedation, so knew nothing of the surgery at all. Felt really together when i came round unlike when ia have had general anaesthesia.

The op was successful, have my stitches out tomorrow!,have been on crutches & walker, but last few days have been heel walking, as was put into the large boot for support, and i have had very little problem. The first night was the worst, but after that i only took pain killers when i went to bed, i stopped these after 4 nights as the paind was so mild.

I am now looking forward to getting a proper walking boot from the hospital tomorrow once they remove my stitches. I found the whole experience far better than i anticipated, and will be making arrangements for my other foot as soon as the surgeon thinks it is suitable to be done.

If you are waiting for this op, dont be put of by things people say, All i would stress is that when they say keep your foot elevated, PLEASE do it, this is the key factor in recovery, I kept my foot up as much as possible for the first 5 days and it paid divideneds. Good luck.

Camille · Posted: 08/21/07 - 11:19 Post subject:

I just wanted to remind everyone that there is several different types of bunionectomy surgeries. There is one that most surgeons do for a mild to moderate bunion and you are usually back to full weight bearing in a couple weeks with minimal discomfort.

I had bilateral lapidus bunionectomies for severe bunions. I was in a cast for 6-7 weeks and using crutches the whole time. This is why there is so many different answers to the recovery time. Some do only take a few weeks, others take much longer. It all depends on what the doctor has to do to repair the bunion.

-Cam

Guest · Guest

I have just had my bunions both feet removed I am told I can now wear shoes /trainers can any one please recommend what they wore as I can not find anything soft enough please help

ccovitz · Newbie Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

I had the surgery 2 weeks ago and I am going to try either New Balance or Dansko clogs. I see the doctor on Monday so I am going to ask which shoe is better. We'll be in them for a while! I just hope I can wear decent dress shoes for my hubby's Christmas party!

bbffamom · Newbie Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I am having surgery in 3 days, provided my insurance gets the pre-cert done in time and if not it will be soon. I have a pretty severe bunion and my big toe is turned in as well. My doc mentioned that while doing the bunionectomy and realignment of the toe, he is going to shorten the 2nd metatarsal bone as well. Has anyone else had something similiar to this done? I am just wondering if this is going to make my recovery longer. I am 41 years old and am only going to take off 1 day of work,but I have fall break (I work in a school) the following 2 days and then I will have the weekend. Do you think 4 days will be enough time to be off work before going back. I am a very active person and tolerate pain quite well. At least I think I do, I have really never had much pain in my life other than 2 c-sections to have kids and I recovered fine. I also have varicose veins in the leg that I am having surgery on and wonder if anyone else has had this too. I am pretty nervous about the surgery and what will happen. I am going to take crutches to the hospital with me just incase I feel like I need them even though the receptionist told me I would walk immediately. The surgery is this Wednesday, so if anyone has advice please let me know!!!

Guest · Guest

I had the surgery two weeks ago tomorrow (on a Friday). I put it off for awhile. It was an Austin Bunionectomy. I'm 32 and the doctor said it was very bad for my age. I don't know how bad it was in absolute terms! I have a smaller one on my left foot, but when I get a glimpse of my right foot, though still swelled, that bunion now looks huge.

Anyway, I'm a HUGE wimp. I did okay in terms of pain. My doctor numbed me up pretty good for the first day, and I took the drugs and slept all afternoon. He gave me a walking cast from the start, which was wonderful. I started to feel some pain on Saturday but slept through most of it. I planned to return to work by Monday but actually stayed home two more days, mostly because I was afraid of going off the drugs and I was too drugged to work.

The next few days were great, the doctor took the stitches out at one week (he left in the dissolvable screw). I asked if he could give me a surgical shoe instead of the big boot, and he did, and I wore it from that Saturday through yesterday. This kind of shoe has a rubber, flexible bottom and is velcro. By yesterday afternoon, I was in some pretty bad pain and I started wearing the boot again. When I wear the boot it's not horrible, it's annoying. It's like when I had the bunion, after a long day of walking. I guess I rushed into the shoe thing, and I hope I didn't do any permanent damage!

But my major point is that this really isn't too bad. If I could tolerate the pain, anyone could.

Guest · Guest

I had bunion surgery exactly a week ago. I am pleased that even with a screw I can already move my big toe up and down and bend the middle joint. Ask for the cryo unit pad to be installed in your bandages. The cryo unit is basically a cooler filled with ice that attaches by hose to your bandages that hold a freeze pack that circulates the cold water from the cooler into your bandages. This helped me very much. You rent the cryo unit by the week for $125 per week. Worth every penny. You use it ever few hours to reduce swelling. I will have my bandages and staples removed next Thursday which is exactly 2 weeks from my surgery date.

surgery bunion recovery problems

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