Alternatives to crutches?

you may want to look into renting a knee scooter.

I used one instead of crutches and it was awesome. I highly reccomend it. 

Good luck! 

I can understand exactly your concerns.

I had bunion correction and hammertoe correction on my left foot last November. I also suffer from tennis elbow in my left arm  ( this seems to be recurrent and chose the weeks prior to my surgery to re-emerge) and , like you, was concerned about the impact of using crutches following my surgery. However, I did manage and was surprised and pleased to soon realise that after oinly a few days I was managing very well around the house using just one crutch. When I ventured outdoors I took them both. But these outdoor explorations were not of long duration or indeed too often. At least for the first few weeks. I live in a house with only the one bathroom/lavatory upstairs. So, you will be given help and advice on how to manage the stairs once you've had your surgery. Your hospital physiotherapists will want to make sure that you can manage your crutches before you are considered for discharge. They will have a ' dummy' staircase and will show you how to get along. Like you I was very apprehensive about how I would manage with crutches and the huge strapping and bandage on my foot and the special heel wedge shoe you will be given to wear. But, just take it slowly ( not that you can do otherwise!) and I guarantee that you will be ok.

So, let's fast forward to October 2014. I had the bunion on my right foot removed on 1st October and am home and managing very well. The key is to make sure you sit with your foot elevated above groin level to alleviate swelling. You will soon realise that once your foot is down you will get throbbing. I find that this is worse only when I am standing in one position for any length of time. When moving around the throbbing is hardly noticeable. The general advice is to only be on your feet for no more than 10 minutes in each hour. You'll soon realise that you can't do any more than this without throbbing setting in. Do take care with your recovery as failure to do this will not only cause discomfort for you but cause excess swelling and delay what is already a lengthy recovery following this kind of surgery.

I have had an excellent outcome from my first surgery and am hopeful that this second operation will be likewise.

I followed my surgeon's advice to the letter and I realise that doing this has definitely been worthwhile.

If you look at the website of The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and read ' A Patient's Guide to Bunions ( Hallux Valgus ) and Lesser Toe Deformities' you may find it useful.

If you're a car driver and your car IS NOT an automatic, you MUST notify your car insurer of the type of surgery you've had carried out when you eventually resume driving again. This will not affect your insurance premiums but it is a requirement that the are notified. The reason is that you must be able to perform an emergency stop effectively and operate the vehicle pedals without any problem.

So, for now, I wish you well.

Please get in touch if you require any further assistance.

I feel as though I'm quite an expert now!

Gil;lian.