Scalf Akin osteotomy

Hi there,

I did not have Scarf/Akin osteotomy but rather I had Wilson/Akin and am now 10 weeks since my surgery on March 4th. I am entirely mobile now and can full weight bear on my foot and actually walked two full subway stops today, most I've walked in one stretch so far. Feeling the urge to walk and push it and stretch it now - feels stiff and feels good to stretch and walk!

I would say by 6 weeks when I had my surgical shoe removed I was walking quite well also but it was definitely an adjustment once I got the shoe off... Definitely had throbbing (more so late in the day) and got tired bec I was using it so much more than I had been for previous 6 weeks.

It still feels stiff in my toe joint and mobility there is slower to return than I expected but I have to keep working it and bending it every day. Only wearing a variety of running shoes (I fit my shoe pre-surgery) and a couple of generously sized flats. Still a little swollen and so right foot does not match left foot right now! Could probably wear lower/chunky heel of the toe box allowed for the swelling but can't bend enough yet for a "steeper" heel.

It's a patience/waiting game! I can see how nice my foot is and will only get better once swelling continues to reduce. The whole experience hasn't really been so bad at all, I took the anti-inflammatory/painkiller pills only at night for first week but also iced every hour for first week. Slept with feet elevated (outside of covers) for first two weeks. Used a cane to help with walking at 2 week mark when out in public. Stayed elevated as much as possible in early days! But by three week mark I was up and about in the house a lot more, less lain, even the occasional dinner out. Be patient and take care in the early days!! It is and will be worth it!

Best,

Susan

Hi

i had the same operation as you on my left foot in Southend hospital in December.  Initially I wondered what all the fuss was about because I only needed pain killers for a couple of days & had always heard that it was very painful.  However, my problems started when the plaster came off at 6 weeks. I have pins and needles in my big toe and a lot of pain underneath my foot which I never had prior to the operation plus although when the first plaster was changed my foot where th bunion had been was very flat now the bunion is growing again.  Sorry don't want to scare you, just being honest, I wish I'd never had the op!  Hope you have a much better experience, good luck.

Gill

Hello.  I had a scarf and akin osteotomy to both feet early December last year.  It was difficult to recover as you do not have a good foot to stand on!  My recovery went as follows but everyone seems to have different recovery times.   Hope you are well prepared now, in my first week I managed to get up the stairs with help and didn't come down for a week.  The second week I found it easier to get up and down the stairs on my bum.  I had a downstairs toilet so once down didn't go up again until ready for bed.  My husband did everything as the instructions from the consultant was to only mobilise for five minutes in each hour as you have to keep you feet elevated above heart level as this hellps with healing.  I found that when my legs were down they throbbed, I had to sit down when cleaning my teeth and even then they throbbed.  The pain wasn't too bad, the throbbing when standing or mobilising was not good though

At seven weeks I was allowed to wear nornal shoes but the swelling meant that I had to buy cheap ugg boots 3 sizes bigger.  At 12 weeks I could wear some GoWalk memory foam trainers just one size larger. 

I am just above five and a half months now and my feet are almost back to normal.  I am now back to the gym and the instructor is quite impressed with recovery and thinks that by having both feet done at the same time may have 'saved' my hips and knees as there was no walking lopsided.

Although it is difficult I never once regretted having both feet done at the same time.  

One thing the consultant did recommend was wiggling my toes.  When the big bandages were taken off at two weeks I was impressed with my straight toes but they were slightly cocked up.  The consultant, much to my horror, immediately flicked them to release, surprisingly enough it didn't hurt.  He said I should try to move them more.

Just wanted to add, that my feet were not in plaster but encased in big fat bandages for the first two weeks.  The bones that were cut were kept together with two screws for scarf and a staple for the akin procedure.

So far my feet look very good and no sign of the bunions returning.

tPatience is the answer...rest feet as much as you can - can take 8 months before all is normal. I had one foot done 18 months ago and the