surgery bunion recovery problems

Little Shisha · Newbie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

I had bunion surgery Last Friday. I took pain meds for the first three day, now I take Tylenol. I may have to have my cast replaced next week, because this one is getting loose. In two weeks it will be removed and one pin will be removed, one stays in. I am doing much better than I expected. So pleased so far and am glad, at this point, I had it done. I can put weight on it when walking with the cast and boot. I am bruised and swollen, but that is expected. The ex-ray I had today, showed things look good.

Guest · Guest

hi. i am a dancer and will get bunion surgery in december. i have bunions on both of my feet but the left bunion hurts at the joint so much that even if i wear regular shoes, i feel it throbbing. i also have bowed legs and am doing lots to stretch my calf muscles and doing lots of yoga and acupressure massage. all seem to be working, but i believe the joint problem can only be addressed by having surgery to realign the joint and take off the bony projections. if there is any pain in the recovery process, i am sure, after i am healed, there will be less pain than what my bunion is now causing. i am optimistic about this surgery as my podiatrist has been doing the latest techniques and is confident and experienced. he even worked on mikhail baryshnikov, though not for a bunion.

i hope to keep you all up to date since i have been pondering this surgery for a few years. as a dancer, i cannot take off too much time from work. yet, leaving the bunion on is also limiting my enjoyment and ability to balance correctly, thus exacerbating the bunion.

wish me luck!

Little Shisha · Newbie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

I understand your situation. It is painful and gives you balance issues. I am doing fine. I still have a little pain, sometimes it even itches, which is a good thing......I think. My cast comes off this Friday. The doctor says, he isn't sure if he will remove one of the two pins or not. It depends on what the ex-rays say. I sure hope so, I want to get the worst over with. Pulling out the pin doesn't sound good to me. The pain the first four days has to be worse then the pin pulling. I will let you know dancer, don't have any other name to call you. You will do fine, just don't hesitate taking the pain meds. If you wait to long, it is difficult to get relief if you do.
Good Luck
Karen

New Feet Please! · Newbie Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Just wanted to share that I had bunion surgery and hammertoe corrections on my right foot on this Tuesday (11.27.07). I was definitely nervous about the whole thing. It was done under general so I don't recall a thing! I have a pin in my toe where the bone was cut and re-aligned. I went in for my post op appt on yesterday and the most discomfort I had was from removing the dressing. There is very little swelling (thank goodness!) and my doc said it looks great. I do have some throbbing pain if I have my foot down too long. I try to keep it elevated for the most part. Vicodin and rest seem to help the most. He feels that I will be feeling a lot better within a week. I'll keep you posted. So far I feel it has been worth it to do this and I plan to have my left foot done the end of December. My best to everyone that has done this. I would say that it is important to get the best surgeon possible or at least one that you're comfortable with. I am not certain I would have had a good turnout if I had gone with the first surgeon I talked with.

Little Shisha · Newbie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

I had my post-surgical shoe removed this week and am in a regular shoe now. I feel I am doing just okay after 6 weeks. Still swollen and have some nerve issues. Hopefully in time that will heal. Where I had the nerve removed from the bottom of my foot, bothers me more than the Bunionectomy does. I wish now, I hadn't had it removed. I am having a lot of sensitivity to the touch on the bottom of my foot. The doctor says, that will go away as it heals. I sure hope he is right. As far as the bunionectomy, I am pleased.
Karen

Guest · Guest

Oh my! I had my surgery 4 days ago, the pain is just HORRIBLE, no drugs seem to work, I am in tears every other hour and I alwasy considered myself strong in dealing with pain. What a horror. My doctor said it was very rare, he did over 3000 such surgeries and I am the only one with such pain. Hard to believe. My other leg got so scared it ran away.... I did my research very well and did not expect such horror at all. If you have time to wait, don't be in a rush. At this time not having my foot at all seems like a very good idea.....

Little Shisha · Newbie Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 13

I am sorry to hear about your ordeal. Like I said, mine was not that painful, the Vicodin took care of it. I am going into my eighth week now. My big toe isn't aligned correctly. It leans out a little. The doctor said, a shoe should help push it back in alignment. It is still the nerve issue with me, not painful, but annoying. Also the big toe is still a little stiff, but hopefully with walking it will limber up.
I would be asking your doctor to prescribe something stronger for your pain. It is hard for your foot to heal, if you are in stress from the pain. Are you in a cast. I was, and I think that helped stabilize my foot.
Good Luck

Guest · Guest

I'm to have bunion surgery soon on both my big toes at the same time and some bone removed from the top of my left foot. I'd like to ask New Feet Please how she is doing now with the bunion surgery she had on 11-27-07, and has the other foot been done yet? I'm really having a problem deciding to get the surgery or not. I won't have to have any pins at this point I'm told.
Anyone else have any advise? The posts I've read have been helpful and interesting. Thanks.

New Feet Please! · Newbie Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 7

Its been slow going with my right foot but keep in mind I didn't just have a bunionectomy. I also had three hammertoes repaired. To me, that has been the most agitating part (ie toes swell and must be bandaged individually...ugh!). I have very little swelling and no real pain from the bunion. It has been a little achy but maybe because I overdo it sometime (ie taking care of my 6 yr old, typical household stuff, working). My big toe joint has been stiff and was only bending 30 degrees (should be about 60 to function properly while walking). My surgeon started me on PT this past week to get it moving. I think if I had started PT a week sooner, I would have much more movement. I'm still going ahead with the second surgery on this Friday though. I had an osteotomy with 2 permanent screws in my big toe and will have the same done on the left foot (and unfortunately hammertoe repair again!).

Given that you won't be having pins or screws (you should ask to make certain though), I would hope that doing both at the same time wouldn't be too hard on you. I am 38 and also have 50 lbs I need to get rid of fast! If you're younger or in better shape, you will probably have better recovery. As soon as you get the go ahead be sure to start stretching and flexing those toes! If you can't bear to inflict pain/discomfort on yourself, ask your doc to write a scrip for PT.

If you do go ahead with the procedure , try to make it as easy as possible on yourself (ie shower chair, meals prepared, ice packs, pillows, etc.) and take it easy. My thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. I hope this has been in some way helpful.

Saralynn · Newbie Joined: 29 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

I had a bunionectomy one week ago yesterday. I did not need pins or screws and I am 28 years old. I have not had any pain at all. They urged me to take the Percocet right away even if I am not feeling any pain so I started out with 1/4 of a pill and eventually took one whole pill before bed. The Percocet made me nauseas and they then changed it to Vicodin and that has worked fine. As of 5 days post op I haven't taken any pain meds at all. I get my stitches out in two days and I am getting around just fine in a wooden bottom velcro shoe. Can't wait to get rid of that but I am definately glad that I went through with it so far.

surgery bunion recovery problems

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