12hour Flight after Bunion Surgery

Hi, I had my surgery on 12th December on one foot only, in the UK, I live in Spain for most of the time (my private health doesn't cover me here, hence the UK op). I had three permanent pins and bunion removal under local anaesthetic. My surgeon was quite concerned that he didn't want me flying for 4 weeks even though it's only a 2.5 hour flight due to the DVT risk, however, we drove for 3 hours to relatives the day after the op with foot on the dashboard and surgical boot plus strong painkillers and flew back to Spain on 27th so 15 days later.

We did fly extra leg room and I used a stick rather than crutches, of course, still wearing my boot, a flight sock and plenty of padding just in case I got kicked or trodden on. It may be that keyhole surgery is less invasive and you will be okay but you need to explain when you check in that you need priority boarding, I was allowed to board with wheelchair users, however, you need to elevate as much as possible, you need to have very comfortable shoes that you can easily put on after the flight because of course your feet will have swollen anyway and also some cooling, soothing foot cream to massage in at the end of the flight. Good luck and make sure you do some ankle exercises whilst you are up there! 

Forgot to say, my surgeon did say 'your foot will tell you when you have done too much' and boy does it, even now. This is such invasive surgery as your feet take a daily battering so respect the surgeons advice, I will when I have the other one done in September! 

You're very brave to consider a long flight after so short a time, but, if you could leave the maximum 5 weeks after surgery, you might get away with it.

sitches come out at 14 days, and if, like me you get put in splints, you'll have to learn to walk again. The scabs will pain your feet until they fall (picked) off, and you'll need to massage your feet a lot. At five weeks I was wobbling everywhere on the Darco's like a drunk penguin, without the crutches and had tried walking from bathroom to bedroom barefoot.

Make sure you exercise to stop muscle wastage in your legs, so walking around won't tire you out.

contact the airline/airport for assisted boarding as soon as you book your tickets, and you and your travelling companions will get wheeled through as a priority. Also let them know about leg space, the need to keep them raised.

take your crutches - esp for the sympathy vote and you'll probably need them.

take some plastic bags so you can nick the ice, to hold at the back of you knees to cool everything down. And of course, raise a glass or 2 for us on the board.

take care, also the first 2 weeks are so limiting that you'll feel that you're going to stay that way for ever.

carolinexxx

 

I did a 8 hours trip just a week after surgery on one foot. I did not have keyhole surgery, and had both a local block and a general anesthetic. I traveled coach but got priority boarding. I just took paracetamol and nothing more. Doctor was a bit resultant, but in the end cleared me for flying.