Austin Bunion Procedure

Hello all, new to the forum and writing from cold Alberta, Canada. Had surgery on my right foot and my podiatrist used the Austin Bunionectomy procedure.  I was under conscious sedation, which basically means sedation with an IV drip. Don't remember a thing, it felt like the best sleep of my life! Don't remember anything, did not hear anything. Woke up feeling refreshed, not groggy at all and was in post-op recovery for about 30 minutes and then was sent home.  I had a mild/moderate bunion that was not huge, but somehow caused a lot of nerve pain when I was running. I am 53 years old and I chose to deal with the issue through surgery now while still in great health and good shape.I had the right foot done and my left foot will be done a year later (we have nationalized healthcare in Canada so I chose to have the surgery done at a surgical center so there was no cost, but the time from for the next surgery is longer than if I had it done in my docs office and paid)  If any of you are going to have surgery here are my suggestions:

-Have some meals prepared in the freezer

-ensure you have some water, all your medication, some healthy snacks, your glasses, reading material, remote control, laptop...whatever you will need, handy near the spot where you will esconce yourself for a few weeks.

-a knee scooter is ever so handy if crutches are not your thing

-a cryo pack cooling system rather than ice is the most awesome thing ever

-have someone with you at home that first day

-have one of those plastic thingies to go over your leg for when you want to take a bath or shower and a stool in the shower helps

I am at two weeks after surgery. My doctor shaved/cut the bunion, performed one or two cuts on my toe (not sure yet how many as I have not had a post op visit), placed a permanent screw in my toe which is being held in place by a pin. He casted my foot in a cast that separates my toe from the rest of my toes and goes up to my ankle. I have been told I am not to bear any weight on my foot AT ALL until the pin is removed - that will be anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks after surgery depending on healing. I have my first post-op visit next week at the 20 day point.

I was lucky to have zero pain after surgery, I only took my Tylenol 3 for the first couple of days because I was told by many people "to stay ahead of the pain". However, got a huge rash (hives) from the codeine in the tylenol so I stopped taking it after day 2 - still had no pain! Cool! I did get prescribed some heavy duty anti-inflammatories and I took those for the first five days.

For some reason at day 10 I started experiencing this weird, tingly, burning feeling (almost like the cast is rubbing on the incision) feeling. But reading some posts on this forum, I realize that it's probably normal.I cool my foot with my cryopac religiously even though it is hard to feel the cold through my cast.  I cannot believe all the people on this forum who are allowed to walk on their surgaried foot right after their surgery....I was told no walking on it at all until that pin comes out.

I will report on how my appointment goes next week with my doctor. If anyone had any questions regarding anything about my surgery feel free to ask.

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