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Bunion Op 5 days ago

Posted , 2 users are following.

sorefoot
sorefoot

Had op to remove bunion on left foot last Thurs. Was very sick after general anaesthetic but pain not too bad when left hospital next day. Was injected in stomach with blood thinner at 2 am as I can't take aspirin. Was very heavily padded with soft bandages, and given crutches, but told not to feel I had to use them if I didn't think I needed them. By bed time, having struggled upstairs, I was sobbing with the pain, which is unlike me, but I managed to sleep quite well, with foot raised on three pillows. Have even managed a bath each day with foot in poly bag, balanced on end of bath. Pain had subsided a lot by next day, and I haven't needed to use crutches much at all. Occasionally get stabbing pains which feel as though they are from actual cuts rather than the bone. Most pain has been in stomach (where I have problems anyway) from being in unusual positions, and in knee from lying with it unsupported. Go back after two weeks to have dressing changed, but already getting stir crazy and worrying in case I'm not having it raised enough as doctor insists it's raised above heart level at all times. I've got it raised on several cushions but I'm having to keep top half of body fairly high too to support stomach, and I'm not sure if that's okay. I'm almost in a V-shape!!Generally though, considering how bad it was Friday night, pain is not bad at all, except when I get up to make cuppa, as my husband has now gone back to work, and then it's a sting more than a pain. If anyone has any advice as to whether I should keep top half of body flatter, would be appreciated.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    My operation on both feet was Mon 20th. Your doctor told you to have your feet higher than your heart, mine said just to put them up, not dangling down as they will swell. It must be uncomfortable to have them that high.

    My feet feel slightly stingy too, no pain now at all, no longer taking painkillers. Managed to have baths also, felt much better after.

    It will be a week on Monday after the op and it's not been as bad (boring) or painful as I thought.

    I am so pleased I had them both done at once as it will be out of the way in one go.

    Take Care

    Julie

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Keeping your feet higher than your heart is a counsel of perfection. The aim is to prevent the undue swelling that will occur if your feet are down. You'll notice the difference when you put your feet on the floor to try to stand: the blood pools in your veins and for the first couple of minutes it'll be painful as the circulatory system does its best to compensate for the increased pressure. It's all a matter of hydraulics. If putting your feet above the level of your heart causes you problems, find the level where it's tolerable. I found this problem gradually got better in the first two weeks, then kicked in again, though to a lesser extent, when the bandages came off. Pain that doesn't seem to be from the bones may be due to tension on the stitches, that's all. Tramadol was a great painkiller for me (I write as a doctor, though not an orthopaedic surgeon).
  • sorefoot
    sorefoot

    Posted

    Thanks for the comments. I've found in the last few days that my leg is quite painful; on Monday I had spasms going through my knee and up my leg for most of the day and in fact I have felt that for the past couple of days my walking has been worse than it was when I first had the op. My foot has been more painful in bed - the first week I had no problem lying on my side, but now my foot hurts if it is laid on the side, though that is probably just from the wound. I go back to the hospital for dressing change and out-patients appointment tomorrow so I am hoping that I will then be able to do a small amount of 'pottering around' - though I don't object to not being able to do the housework!!
  • sorefoot
    sorefoot

    Posted

    Now a month since op. Been back to have dressings removed. Have got another month off work and have to build up walking gradually. Still supposed to have foot raised when not walking (ie, not supposed to stand or sit very much). Have got to wear Birkenstocks sandals for five months with toe socks if I need them. Surgeon taught me how to walk properly (putting weight onto heel, then onto ball of foot, then finally onto outside of foot). He said I couldn't do it with my other foot as that one isn't right anyway - which doesn't bode well, though I don't think I dare ask for more time off work to have that done.
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