Bunion op in December

Hi Tina, well, I just got back from a long weekend away, I had to walk quite a lot, and in very boggy ground. Although I enjoyed it I'm in serious pain now, I feel the need to retreat to bed, which seems like a backward step. I am still limping, and it has hurt my back as week, I guess through walking with a sideways gait. I feel a bit glum! But reading through other advice people have been given, it probably is normal. The thing is, my surgeon was so clear about the need for exercise to get the foot mobile, that I feel I have failed a bit.

Hello all - just to say how helpful it is to hear how everyone is getting on. My foot looks better without the scaly skin although a little bit of scab seems quite persistent and it all gets quite red later in the day, across the base of all the toes, not just the op site.

I'm back sitting at my desk, working from home, not getting much exercise (as usual) but tried a swim yesterday and that went well. It is hard to remember this is a long slow process!

Keep smiling everyone!

Hi all,

I finally had my fibreglass cast taken out on Tuesday, 60 days post op. Now finished taking my Heparin injections and wearing a fashionable Darth Vader soft cast boot. I was so excited to be told that my cast was coming off. They took another X-ray, but he did not discuss this with me. I was given a copy of the X-ray and it looks almost the same as the one I was given after surgery. I could not rest my big toe flat on the plate, so the X-ray is a little skewed, but he told me everything is looking great.

It was so nice to finally be allowed to bath instead of sitting in the shower once a week. I stayed in the bath until the water got cold. I can't believe the amount of skin coming off my leg especially my foot. The stitching are starting to scab and fall off.

I'm only allowed to put 50% of my weight on my operated leg, but can't wait until I could walk without crutches. My foot still looks quite dark red when not elevated. Not sure how long you should elevate your legs for, but I've send my surgeon a barrage of questions that I forgot to ask due to my excitement.

Hope everyone is going well.

Hi all im nearly two weeks post op, got no pain in my foot which is great im so happy, got my first check up at hospital next tuesday 18th febuary at 10am for dressing changed and xray.

Hope your all doing well

Takecare

Sarah

Hello all

So I had my 6 week check yesterday. Foot healing perfectly. Looks great. Physio starts Tuesday. She showed me a new way to walk rolling onto the front of my foot more, and said I should start walking more now and if I wanted to could practise at home without the crutches. That sounded a terrifying thought but I just walked to and round the playground with my kids and back and it felt so good I had a go at lifting up the crutches and felt fine and I JUST WALKED AROUND THE KITCHEN 5 TIMES WITH NO CRUTCHES!!!! Now back on the sofa as keen not to overdo it but am very excited!! The site where the Neuroma was removed feels weird and tingly when I put weight on it but the bones all feel fine and actually it all feels better for some more normal usage.

I am totally amazed and feeling really relieved.

Hope this brings hope to anyone a few weeks behind or considering this surgery. I had a pretty painful time for the first 4-5 weeks but think I've really turned a corner now.

Busymummy wow, well done! Funnily enough, same here, it seems like yesterday I was despairing of ever walking normally again, and today I just did! A fantastic feeling, and no pain at all except when I put absolutely all my weight on my toes. Even the scar hurts very little, and is starting to look much flatter.

Feeling soooo happy! Hope everyone else is

And Sarah, do you remember how worried you were about having it done? You sound so cheerful now, that's wonderful....

Hi Busymummy- Wow thats fantastic! I am going for my 6 week check up on Tuesday so keeping everything crossed that all is okay. I am having more discomfort from wearing these Darco shoes as I feel as if I need to put more weight onto my toes now than these shoes allow. I can walk around indoors fine with no crutches but do take 1 or 2 with me when I go outside, depending on the situation I am going to be in. I have managed to "help" my husband with supermarket shopping if its a small supermarket, so use both crutches then, as well as to help me, as to let everyone know I am a bit vulnerable especially when there are lots of little children rushing about!

Both feet are looking a lot better and the wounds are healing well. Have a slightly sore 2nd toe on the right foot, and it still looks a bit swollen and bruised. I can't really believe almost 6 weeks have passed by since the op, and when I think back to the early days post-op it almost feels unreal now!

Hope everyone is having a good day today

Hi Anne,

I really hope it goes well for you Tuesday. It sounds like you are doing so well, already being brave enough to manage without crutches - I need to hear the doctor say I could try it before I plucked up the courage!

Thanks for your message Sue, and so glad to hear things going better for you as well now. I forget exactly when your surgery was, but I think you were around the new year like myself and Anne.

I'm mad keen to get going on physio now to improve flexibility in my big toe joint. I can walk, but I know I'm not doing it normally yet, and getting into a trainer (size big minus insole) is quite sore as it requires the big toe to bend, but once on feels ok. Consultant suggested wearing it mornings only and trying bare feet in the afternoons!

x

Hello everyone - it sounds as if all is going well. Can anyone, who is at the same stage as me (7wks post op) or further on, please tell me if you still have a bony lump where the bunion used to be? I have a lump below the front of the scar and got a blister over it after walking a little the other day. Do you think this is normal bone healing? It makes my foot thicker from top to bottom as well as sticking out to the side a little. There is a similar lump on the 'normal' foot but quite a bit smaller. Hoping someone can tell me you have had the same and it gradually goes away.

Hi Polly, I have a little bony lump, but it is level with where my toenail starts on the big toe, not where the bunion used to be. Yours sounds like it should be checked if it is causing blistering. Hope it's fine, but just in case..mind you, if you've got one the other side, it's possible that you just hadn't noticed it. The more I look at my feet, the stranger I think they are!

Polly, this may just be swelling, event though it feels hard and bony. Sue45678 is right on both counts, - you may just be noticing little things about your feet now that the BIG thing is gone. . But any concerns it is worth asking your doctor. especially if you are getting blisters.

At nearly 10 weeks I have a lump where the bunion used to be, and the foot is still wide at the front, but the lack of Bunion pain tells me it was all worth it. I just KNOW there's a beautiful foot under the swelling, waiting to appear this spring. :-)

Thanks Sue and Alice, you are definitely right that I am noticing things about my feet that I haven't seen before! The walking is definitely better too, despite the pain from the op site it feels more comfortable than before. I think I will just keep an eye on things for another week or so and not panic just yet - it would be too soon to do much about correcting it anyway, even if it is wrong! Thanks both. Keep up the good work.

Polly

Hi all,

Glad to hear that everyone is doing well.

Polly, I think it is normal to notice every detail of our foot. I've noticed that although I don't have a bump where the bunion was, I think my big toe is leaning towards my second toe. My partner told me that it might improve once my big toe could touch the ground. Currently, I still have a lot of swelling on the ball of my foot as the surgeon took out a couple of neuromas from there. I'm trying to do plenty of stretching to tolerance, but none of my toes could currently touch the ground.

Today, I think I may have overdone it. I had to attend an all day course at Kings College in London and despite taking a cab there and back, the mere fact that I did not elevate my leg all day and had my air boot on all day meant my foot is quite swollen tonight. Anyway you live and learn!

Until next time, take care one and all.

Hi all ive got my first check up at hospital tommorrow at 10am for dressing changed and xray, I have no pain in my foot now which is great if anything it aches really, hope I can be downstairs for a bit from now on tommorrow been upstairs in my room for two weeks now and im really bored. Hope everyones ok. I was just thinking 3 weeks last monday I had my foot done waited all day at hospital was last on the list. Glad its over and done with now.

Takecare all, chat soon

Sarah