Bunion op in December

Hi Veronica,

I was at Guys Hospital; London Bridge. From beginning to end I enjoyed my stay! - minus the surgery, best hotel in a long while!

Having two feet done at once has its pros and cons, Pros- get it over and done with and less time off work and study

Cons- I'm a very active person and being stuck in doors is beginning to kill me!

I did however over do it and ended up going to the shops on xmas eve as my mums present wasn't to be found and she's so picky I couldn't leave the job down to my partner (who has been an angel through all this)

Don't think I can sleep anymore.

Also I've found myself just crawling around as strapping on my fetching sandals take too long. I'm waiting for my two week check up which I think over xmas has been delayed. so bandages should have come off yesterday but im geuessin Monday/Tuesday will be the real time!!

Hi Mary, you're up and about so quickly, I'm nearly 3 weeks post op and I've only been out twice. When you get your bandages off, soaking in salt water really helps, I'm hoping it will make the stitches dissolve more quickly too, they are pulling.

When you go for your appointment, do you know Tas Turkish restaurant in Borough High Street? Used to be my favourite when I lived in London, I love their Meze!

Good luck...

Hi all hope you all had a great christmas I had a lovely christmas with family, my bunion is getting worse and very very painfull can't wait till get my foot done counting down the days till 3rd febuary can I ask when you come round from op and back on ward will the foot be upright and wil it be bandged and have a cast and how long wil it be on and how long will it take till my foot is recoverd and better?Is there anything else I need to know about the op? Thanks

Sarah

Hey Sue!

yeah I know mum and boyf keep saying im pushing it, but at 22 I refuse to be locked up over the festive period!

I will deffinately check it out for my lunch ha.. I've got no idea if my stiches are dissolvable.. I was in space when they told me that info!

and Sarah they put cushions under your feet, they'll be in bandages too.. my best advice, try and have everything you need in your room, drink loots the day before your op (I made that mistake and was dehydrated and was throwing up after coming round from the op)

other than that keep up with the meds and you'll be fine!!

GOOD LUCK- keep us posted

Hi Sarah

When I woke up both of my feet were in bandages - I was then fitted with my velcro shoe and away you go.

IMO you are then best to keep your feet up to ease the swelling - within a few days my bandages become loose and I did see my feet much sooner than expected, I soon became quite good at bandaging my own feet. I had then had mine redressed after two weeks. I kept these on for a further two weeks.

Good luck

Hi all just another few questions about bunion op how long is the op?What is the anasteic like. What time will you be able to go home? I have to be at hospital for 7.30am op is being done as day surgery

Thanks all

Sarah

Hi Sarah, the op is between 70 & 90 minutes long, or that is what I was told. My surgeon advised against having a local anaesthetic, because then they have to put a tourniquet round your ankle instead of your knee, but yours will advise you, I'm sure. I went into the hospital at 8.15, and I was ready to go home about 2.30, after a sandwich & a cuppa!

The anaesthetic was fine, and wore off quickly, they put some sort of pain block into your foot that lasts a day or so.

When are you going in? You will be so pleased when it is done.

Hi again, I just realised it's the 3rd Feb you're having yours. Use the time to strengthen your arms and your good leg! And gather together lots of things to do, books, DVD's and so on. I think the waiting and worrying was far worse than the reality!

Hi Sarah,

I had my op on Friday, 13th of December, so I'm just 2 weeks and 2 days post op. I had a more complicated procedure done under BUPA. I was sedated with Propofol and a nerve block on my left foot. I looked at the time before I fell asleep and it was 8pm and came out of sedation at 10pm still in the theatre, so I presume the procedure took 2 hours. To maintain the length of my big toe, the surgeon took bone from my heel and grafted it to my big toe. The X-ray showed 2 screws on my foot. I had a plaster of Paris cast for 4 days, then it was sawn off to see if the stitching looks ok and no infection. The plaster was replaced with a fibreglass cast which will be replaced after 4 weeks, then another fibreglass for 4 more weeks. If things progress properly, then I will get the air cast boot for the next 4 weeks. I was almost kept overnight as my blood pressure was too low at 86/53, but I reassured them that is normal for me as even before the surgery when I was anxious, it was only 120/70, so let me go home at midnight.

I was sent home on extra strength (400mg) ibuprofen taken 3x day for 2 days and C0-codamol up to 8 a day for 5 days. I waited until the pain started before taking the co-codamol. That was a big mistake as it took at least a couple of hours before it relieved the pain. I suggest anticipating the numbness to dissipate early and start the painkillers early. I also need to inject Heparin for the 8 weeks & 4 days that I have the cast to prevent any thrombosis.

I agree with Sue about strengthening your upper body and your good leg. I'm a very fit (used to be a personal trainer, now a dietitian) 52 year old and glad to have very good balance as you will need to get around, wash, dress, prepare meals, etc. on your good leg if you are not allowed to bear weight on your operated leg. I'm non weight bearing until the cast comes off (I hope I could put my foot down once the air boot is on).

I managed to go out for drinks on Christmas day as my first real outing. That was addictive…went to visit relatives on Boxing day, home on Friday as my partner was at work. Managed to go to Richmond town for lunch yesterday, but quite nervous on crutches with too many people around. I just made sure I stopped when the area is too busy to make people aware that I was on crutches. But, when you have someone with you, it won't be too bad and you will get confident. We also visited friends and everyone went go karting, so I watched on the sidelines. Today, my hands are quite tender from hopping around on crutches most of yesterday, so stayed home to watch some movies whilst my boyfriend and the boys played golf. I was very jealous as I'm an avid golfer and hope to be ready to play again in Spring!

My toes are moving apart from the big toe. I don't have feeling on my 3rd toe and I have feelings on the tip of my big toe, but numb on the top below the nail. When I get a tight feeling around my foot, I try to elevate it past the height of my chest.

Anyway, I'm harping on about everything now, so must be boring you guys. Hope you are all progressing well. I wish I could find someone who also had a cast instead of just the 6 week booty….

hi guys!

a quick question.. I had just bandages and the snazzy Velcro shoe on. im supposed to have my 2 week check up, did anybody get an xray with theirs? and what dressing/support are they given after?

thanks xx

Hi Mary, at my 2 week check up they took the bandages off, but the snazzy shoe stays on for 4 more weeks. My X-Ray is scheduled for 6 weeks after the op, and it says it is to check that the bone has mended and is in the right position. I'm hoping if it is they will let me abandon the boot, I'm beginning to walk like a pirate!

Hope this helps.

By the way, when they take the bandages off, you will want some of those soft thick bed sock things, because the stitches catch on things & you feel like you need a bit of padding. I had to ask my husband to go and get me some, and his choice was interesting.......

ok thanks sue

ahaha yeah my partner got me some for Christmas so lucky me!

so I they wont put another dressing on? just send me packing with my fetching shoes(I had both feet done so looks even better!)

Hi all just a few questions about bunion op when discharged will I need to be in wheelchair down to car with cruches or will I be able to walk from hospital to car? Im so fed up really can't wait to have bunion removed its so painfull now.

Thanks

Sarah

Hi Sarah, I was fine on my crutches, using the lift not the stairs., but my husband had pulled the car right up to the door. They did offer me a wheelchair, though.

Don't even think about using stairs for the first couple of days at least - I waited a week before I went upstairs.

I know the feeling, once you've decided, you just want it over with. The waiting is horrible.

Not too long now!