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3 weeks of bunion surgery and not sure what to expect once I get into cast.

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candy25882
candy25882

Hello all,

Glad to have ran into this forum. Its such a relieve to know I am not alone. I had bunion surgery done 11/09/17 and in 2 days it will be my 3rd week. I have 2 screws put in to aligned my toe and these were put on the right side aligned with toe. I am in a wrap/splint ( kinda like a soft shoe wrapped close to knee). My first week was very painful. I can tolerate pain but this this type of pain i could not tolerate so I followed doctors instructions with taking meds, of course elevate and ice. I heard 1st week is very normal to be in pain but never did think it would be this painful. 2nd week my wrap was changed. Same day when got home I felt some burning/sunburn not to bad, thinking well it's probably healing inside. This burning/sunburn feeling was on my left side of the foot along the edge of my pinkytoe. Next day the burning was even more intense. I always made sure to always elevate, ice and meds, thinking is this normal. The burning/sunburm sensation was persistance but got worst. It lasted for hours off and on. I was in lots of pain, excruciating pain. Come around Monday morning I call the doctor they see me right away what happened was they put the wrapping so tight it broke my skin ( kinda like when you wear new tennis shoes and causes a blister and brakes the skin while rubbing). I thought that this was due to doctor damaging my nerves on the left side. After they changed my wrapping it was much looser and I felt a lot of pressure lifted. No nerve damage it was just that it was too tight (wrap). My concern is once I am in a cast will I be able to move more around on my foot, like light pressure ? Can I now start to exercise my toes by moving them back and forth. I am just so concern. Since for 2 weeks I was in lots of pain, this 3rd week seems better but afraid of what the next few weeks hold. Any advice is welcome.

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • syl03043
    syl03043 candy25882

    Posted

    Hi Candy,  I had my surgery done a day before you.  I think as each day goes by you can do a little more each day on your feet.  I just spent half the day out with my mum today and where ever I go I take my ice packs with me and ice my feet and elevate feet on a chair.   Though at home I tend to stick to 10mins walking around then ice for 10-15 mins and elevate for 35 mins.  What I also found to help was supplaments to help with the healing process.   I also started stretching exercises on my toe and l looked these up on you tube.  
    • candy25882
      candy25882 syl03043

      Posted

      Oh wow.... can't believe your already walking. Like I can't even imagine that. That's great, i am excited for you. I am wondering why I can't or perhaps I am just afraid to try since 1st and 2nd week were miserable with so much pain. Could be also that i am still in a splint. Tomorrow I see the doctor and hoping to get a cast because I am assuming on that's what he mentioned. Thank you for the advice on the ice pack that's a great idea to carry around once i start walking. Plus the advice for small walk and elevate 30 minutes or so. Yes, i agree with you on the supplement to strengthen the bones. My doctor recommended that I take Oscal (calcium supplements for bones) i have notice a difference on this 3rd week even though i am not walking, I am feeling better and hoping to stay keep continuing to improve.

    • syl03043
      syl03043 candy25882

      Posted

      It's a slow recovery, so don't get to overwhelmed if your not walking yet.  I only had my big toes done.  

      Regarding supplaments I am taking also things for muscle recovery, let me know if you need any recommendations for these.  

      Though my feet are not likely this hot weather, they are ballooning up.

    • candy25882
      candy25882 syl03043

      Posted

      Hi Syl03043, yes me too I only had my left toe bunion done. For sure not getting my right done. My appnt was yesterday and little disppointed because I will be in cast for 5 weeks and no bearing on weight on it. Please let me know what you take for muscle recovery and I will check with my doc as well.
    • carol32817
      carol32817 syl03043

      Posted

      Hi

      8 weeks in , still uncomfortable some burning around big toe

      I like to know what are the supplements your take and muscle recovery

      I have osteopenia, my doctor and I decided not to do my left foot.

    • syl03043
      syl03043 carol32817

      Posted

      Hi candy,

      Sorry been very busy due to this time of year.  I have been taking magnisum, calcium, Vit D&C, zinc and MSM joint food.  Found that when I don't take these I have more pain.  Sometimes I forget to take them.  Overall healing has been going well.  I am a little over not being able to do as much as I would like, still need to rest up a lot.  Hope your recovery is going well.

  • jksaunders
    jksaunders candy25882

    Posted

    Hello yes it will get better. April 14th 2016 I had a bunionectomy and a second toe shortened surgery the wasn't bad if you stay head of the pain I'm getting ready to have my left done going to my doctor Friday

    • candy25882
      candy25882 jksaunders

      Posted

      Glad to hear your doing great and good luck to you this coming Friday. I'll keep you in my prayer.

  • candy25882
    candy25882

    Posted

    This is an update so far on my 3rd week. Had doc appnt, he took my splint off, foot still swollen, which he mention still normal, took off stiches and felt like a sting. I know have a cast for the next 5 weeks. He said i will be off work close to a total of 12 weeks. He said its normal to feel shooting pain. Doc advice was for me to continue to elevate foot, not to put no weight, no baby steps just elevate so that it will continue to heal and swelling to go down. I feel better However once in a while a shooting pain on where the stiches were as well as where my bunion but not miserable as I was for straight 2 weeks.
  • martin79089
    martin79089 candy25882

    Posted

    Oh my!  I have been in terrible pain. Today is 11th day of recovery.  I got my bandage changed yesterday and am wearing the same thing, burning is intense!  Elavating doesn’t seem to help.  I’m in as much pain as day 3 of recovery.  I go back in 2 more days to get stitches out and they might put me in a cast.  One plate and 7 screws.  When nurse cleaned the top of my foot on normal skin, I about levated off of the table!   Nurse told me to that it was nerve pain and to ask doctor in 2 days when I get stitches out about nerve medicine.   This is way worse than I expected.  I hoping cast is better which is week 3.   Wishing you well candy25882.
  • michelle06123
    michelle06123 candy25882

    Posted

    Hello, I am 3 weeks into my recovery of a bunion removal and the toe straightened with a pin. I had the cast removed after 1 week, the wound hadn’t healed so souters were applied and then the pain got excruciating. I put up with it for about 3 days then rang the hospital in dispair. The souters and new dressing were put on too tight and it was that causing the unbearable pain. 3 weeks in and it’s just as swollen on top, to the side where the wound is and underneath.  I’m icing often and the physio expects me to be in a trainer by next Wednesday. I’m not sure that will happen unless this swelling goes down. I don’t want to use the crutches any more as I literally ache from the neck down from using them. My big toe and other toes are stiff and I’m trying to move them  and they feel really tight and it’s weird feeling I have when they move. . I have 3 more weeks before I go back to work and feel abit under pressure to get on my feet but mindful that I need to rest it and keep it up for this swelling to go down.  I ve had 2 physio appointments both I feel were wasted as not much can be done due to the swelling. She wants to see the swelling down and a trainer on next week ready to do some walking..😞 I will let you know how that goes. The consultant said it’s 6 week recovery but could take up to 12 months to be fully recovered so I wondered if you were informed of the same.  I see some people have casts on for far longer than a week also. Thanks for listening. X

    • candy25882
      candy25882 michelle06123

      Posted

      Hi Michelle, sorry for not replying sooner. Hope your doing well and that the swelling has gone down. I am on week 9. This Monday 01/08/18 my cast was removed and put in a walking black boot. I wore the cast for 5 weeks and was told not to put no weight on it and to elevate and put Ice as needed. Now that cast is off i am still swollen and doc said it's normal. He prescribed meds to bring swelling down and to only walk 25% on crutches. As you can imagine I had not used me left for 2 months and to walk 25% i asked what is 25% he said as if you were carrying a 30 lbs turkey. He said do this for one week which is week 9. Next week I start therapy and he said by them I'll should be walking 50%. As of today week 9 I am ok. Still have some swelling. He said i should return to work in 12 weeks . Hang In there don't rush it. Listen to your pain and do whatever is necessary even if it means to stay out of work for 2 more weeks or so. Sometimes we try to rush it because of work or doc feels you need to be up and going however it's about how you feel and it's it's painful ask your doc to give you meds for pain. Or swelling. I'll keep you in prayer.

  • ryle52
    ryle52 candy25882

    Posted

    Same but pain rn for me is likely no foot exercises or movement other than spasms or tention

    Pain right now is tight shooting pain on the side of my foot under large toe and it wraps around in an elliptical between big toe and second toe and its agonizing and is in my joints and muscles

    Great first large bunion osteotomy and general surgery experience at 15

    How do i make it stop?

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