Bunion op in December

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Is anyone else having a bunion op in December? I'm having one tomorrow, I thought it might feel good to share day to day experiences & advice with other people, especially in the lead-up to Christmas. I'm feeling very nervous today!

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  • Posted

    Hi everyone I got a bunion on my right foot have had it for years its now so very painfull and Im having my op on 3rd Febuary early morning on day surgery have to be there for 7.30 am so hopefully I'll. have it done sometime in the morning then home in afternoon im not nervous well maybe a bit but have had other ops in the past so im used to it can't wait to have it done and wear normal shoes again counting down the days till it comes and be in nopain anymore.

    Will let you know when ive had it done, but would like to know if the screws stay in foot forever and wil my foot be bangaged of paster cast.

    Thanks

  • Posted

    Hi Sarah 281986

    I'm just over 5 weeks post Op - In my experience no two ops are the same. I I am a forty something' female living in the UK. have both bunions done in November, I have two screws in one foot and one in the other. Yes these stay in for life, and both feet were bandaged. I have two velcro shoes to get around in - these allow you to heel walk, I left with a walking frame and given two crutches. I never used the frame apart from leaving the hospital to get in the car.

    Generally two weeks after surgery stitches will be removed and bandages changed - My stitches were the non removable type - dissolvable.

    Prior to my op I purchased a shower stool and purchased limbo covers to cover over my feet so I could shower - these were a great purchase. Get everything ready before your Op.

    I was lucky I could manage the stairs straight away, manage your pain relief - its so important to keep on top of this,

    I worked from home almost straight away, and started back work after 5 weeks, I'm thinking of driving my car this week. I started wearing UGG boots at 5 weeks also.

    Good luck with your Op - I have no regrets

  • Posted

    Hi again all just a further few questions regarding having my bunion surgery in febuary 2014. How painfull is it afterwards and what painkillers do you have to have? Do you have antibiotics and how long is the op?

    Thanks

  • Posted

    Hi Sarah,

    I had my op two weeks ago tomorrow. Pain levels have been low, apart from the first night after day surgery the leg was twitchy and the twitching set off the foot pain. But I survived. I also went in to the hospital at 730am, and came home at 5pm

    The actual time I was in the anaesthetist's area, the operating theatre and recovery with only 2 hours. The rest of the afternoon was spent getting over the nausea from the anaesthetic and awaiting discharge from the ward. I DID ask for crutches and was given them but it is considered possible to walk immediately, you will be in heavy bandages but can just about bend at the ankle and a stiff open-toed shoe will be provided to let you walk on your heal..

    I was offered some codeine-based painkillers to take home with me but declined as I can't tolerate strong pain meds. I managed fine with alternating doses of paracetomol and ibuprofen. Obviously depends on your pain tolerance, but the main thing is to rest and keep the foot elevated, don't try to do too much, and plan your limited excursions within the home well- ie - when you need the loo, also grab a drink or any other small item you need while you're up to avoid too much activity. This causes swelling which makes the bandage feel too tight and is very uncomfortable.

    I haven't needed to take any antibiotics, and not had the dressings changed either. They seem to prefer to leave it all covered up and undisturbed for quick healing. I go tomorrow for my first post-op visit with the consultant and hope to have smaller bandages or even just plasters for Christmas, although I know I won't be back in a shoe right away.

    Having never had ANY surgical procedure I have no complaints or regrets that I had this done, and am hoping to get the other foot taken care of in the Spring. YAY, normal SHOES!

    Good Luck In February,

    A

    .

  • Posted

    Hi Sarah, Alice & Debbie's advice are spot on! I also found paracetamol & Ibropofen to be best, 2 of each at a time, but I didn't need them for long. I'm two weeks post op, yesterday I had the dressings off, and my foot looks so neat and nice! Very little swelling, I just have to get the toe mobile now, the surgeon said to bathe it it warm salt water, & manipulate the toe while it's in it. A nice feeling!

    A very happy Christmas to everyone in this discussion! :-)

  • Posted

    I seem to be the only one (unless I missed a posting) to have had a more complicated bunion surgery. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago today on my left foot which required straightening my big toe and a bone graft from my heel to maintain the length of my big toe. I also needed excision of 2 neuromas under the balls of my foot. This means that I'm non-weight bearing for 8 weeks, then hopefully be allowed to put my foot down when given the air boot.

    I wanted to know if anyone has had the same procedure and if they have the some problems such as tightness and pins and needles when they get up on their good leg. I guess the blood suddenly rushes to my operated foot after being elevated. I also worry about compartment syndrome, so always keeping an eye out for the colour of my toes and if there's feeling. My 3rd toe which had a neuroma take underneath still feels quite numb.

    Any ideas? Would appreciate any comments.

  • Posted

    Hi Veronica, that sounds quite extreme. But the tightness and pins and needles are normal I hope, that's what I get a lot. I'm into my 3rd week, and yesterday I went to the park, and made a cake when I got back. I'm paying for it today with pain and swelling, so I'm back to being a Victorian lady on the couch!

    Are you still bandaged? And what is compartment syndrome?

    I hope you start to feel better soon, but your surgery does sound pretty complex.

  • Posted

    Hi Sue, I have bandaging inside the fibreglass cast. I had a plaster of Paris one for 4 days, this was cut open so the surgeon could look at the stitches, then it was replaced by the fibreglass cast. This would stay on for 4 weeks, then replaced again as my leg gets emaciated and also to check the wound for healing or infection. So another 4 weeks in a fibreglass cast, then hopefully an air boot for the next 4 weeks.

    Compartment syndrome is where you don't get enough blood supply to the muscles and nerves because of increased pressure within those muscles as they are encased in a sheath called fascia which does not stretch. This lack of blood supply causes injury or damage to the muscles if the pressure is not relieved. I have tried to research the chances of compartment syndrome in bunion surgery and have not found one, so don't worry.

    One good thing about having to rely on crutches to get around in is I will banish any bingo wings for good!

    I had a bad night sleep in the last couple of night because of tightness in the hip muscles and I could only think that it is due to me sitting down at the table to eat Christmas dinner and playing card games last night for a few hours sitting at the table with my left leg rested in an angle on a stool….quite uncomfortable. I've also had a couple of outings in the last couple of days. It's great to get out of the house, but today I'm back to resting on the bed whilst my partner is at work.

    Hope you are doing better.

  • Posted

    Hi All,

    Bandages came off Tuesday, two weeks after the op. Lots of bruising and a jagged scar, but all is healing well and I have a nice chunky walking shoe compliments of the NHS. My big toe points upward when I put my foot flat on the floor and I am carefully stretching all my toes to get them working in unison again.

    My initial impression of the foot is that it still appears to have a slight bunion. The surgeon said he was trying to be careful not to overcorrect the toe and that the swelling was still such that the final result is not yet apparent. SO, fingers crossed that things will look a bit better in a couple weeks, but honestly I did not have the surgery for cosmetic reasons, and the pain levels are already lower than the usual foot pain I had become accustomed to before surgery.

    So, Success, and rather than let the surgeon discharge me when he sees me again in 4 weeks, he has said he will put me back on his list for the other foot to be done in 6 months or so. THis will save me having to start from square one with the GP again, and also the xrays taken prior to my treatment were of both feet. I wish now, after reading that some of you had both feet done at once, I had asked if that was possible in my case!

    As you all advised me, I will not be cleared to drive until 6 weeks post op, and we will have to see how I go in the time left until my first fit note expires on Jann9th. The nurses suggested that I need to be really sure I can manage on and off my feet during a long day at work before I go back, and that it would be a better Idea to request a two week fit note from my GP to cover the gap until my 6 week appointment. Apparently it is better for your work-sickness record not to go back to work and then have to go off again if it's too soon.

    I hope you have all managed to find a good balance this Christmas and Boxing day between all the hard work the festivities entail and still resting your feet and letting others work. I pushed my luck on Christmas Eve and was told off. But guest were due and the dips and veggies weren't going to prepare themselves. I should have been a bit more patient with myself and my partner and daughter though, because silly arguments ensued. I realise how lucky I am to have people to care for me who are not yet expecting me to do nearly as much as I was expecting of myself!

    This forum has been so helpful during the past two weeks, Thanks to all for sharing your own experiences! I am glad most of them have been tolerable!

  • Posted

    Hi all,

    Just a quick question…it's been 2 weeks since my surgery and my 3rd toe is still completely numb. The took a neuroma out under this toe. Also, My big toe is numb at the top, but I have feelings on the tip. I also have feeling on the whole big toe when I have a sudden twitch in the middle of the night as it wakes me up?

    Is this normal?

    BTW, glad to hear you are on the mend Alice.

  • Posted

    Hi Alice, mine also still looks like there is a slight bunion, I think it might just be swelling, because that's where the pain is centred at the moment. I think you should take as much time as you're given, in my experience once you go back they say they'll ease you in gently, and then make no allowances at all!

    Veronica - I have amazing twitches during the night, it reminds me of the very old Frankinstein films!! My leg has a life of its own, seems to be just when I'm falling asleep.

    Let's hope it all improves, I feel like I've taken a step backwards, it's harder at this time of year because you want to do things when visitors are coming. My husband has been wonderful but he just doesn't see things that need cleaning! Like they're not there!

  • Posted

    Ps the other thing that is bothering me is that my big toe feels like it is moving, but it isn't. Is this normal? It seems to have lost it's joint....
  • Posted

    Hi guys

    im two weeks post opo today.. had both done on the same day on NHS - cant compliment them enough..#

    ive been very fortunate enough to to experience hardly any pain whatsoever!!

    just wondering how long after i can start to wear normal shoes.. starting to feel really sill with my space shes on!

  • Posted

    Ps.. read through alot of comments.. I found that having my feet elevated too much caused my feet to get tingly and numb for a while.

    I was taking paracetamol and ibuprofen, also a stronger painkiller (can't spell is but pronounced dyhydrocodien) this one would knock me out and left me feeling drunk so I quickly lessened and stopped taking it.

  • Posted

    Hi RiMarv,

    Could I ask which NHS hospital you went to?

    Last night I decided to take co-codamol to help me sleep and not feel the tingling so much. I did sleep better and did not notice any spasms or pins and needles.

    I'm glad you're doing well. It must feel good to have both feet done. Unfortunately, that was not an option for me as I have to have a cast and be non-weight bearing. I'll see how I go with this foot. I agree with you regarding elevation. My pins and needles are terrible when I have my leg hanging down. It takes a little while before blood flow seem to normalise.

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