Bunion op in December

Hi Sue - re the scars - when I had a small mole removed the plastic surgeon advised 'moisturise, moisturise, moisturise'! Once the wound is closed I don't think it matters whether it's cream or oil.

Hi Therese, sorry to hear you are having such problems but I wonder if you are trying to do too much - tackling snowy steps etc. My op was also Dec 27th and I was instructed to keep my leg elevated as much as possible and only move short distances about the house until the stitches come out at 2wks. I am 'heel walking' in the velcro shoe - no crutches - including remembering to put it on to go to the bathroom in the night LOL. Suspect you are right that crutches are too long if they were fitted for outdoor shoes etc. Sue's idea re using them for balance seems good. Take care.

Totally agree that I shouldn't have been out and about, especially since we're having a wicked low windchill going through the last couple of days. We're at -12 at 6:30 a.m. However, my doctor is the one who wanted me to come into his office three days after the surgery. I couldn't make it because I was pretty sick on the pain meds and ended up rescheduling until day yesterday, day 6. He took out the stitches yesterday and lowered the strength of the pain meds, which I'm not so happy about. I have NO intention of moving except for the bathroom until my next doctor's appointment on the 8th!

Oh dear - Therese, so sorry you're having a rough time. Others on the forum have emphasised how important it is to take pain killers regularly - even if its only over the counter paracetamol and ibuprofen. I'm not clear how long to continue this but it seems every person/foot/op is different! Hopefully you will feel better soon.

Hi all im having my bunion surgery on Monday 3rd Febuary have to be at hospital for 7.30am at daycare unit not long now just hope the operation goes well and I don't have to wait long on the day for operation and can go home quick can everyone go through what happens please?

Thanks

Sarah

Hi all,

I'm happy to report that my stride on knee scooter arrived today and I love being able to zip around the house. Just prepared a lovely tuna, chickpea and bean salad with my bad leg rested on the knee rest. This kit is worth a try if you are not allowed to bear weight as it gives all your joints a rest and is very useful with meal preparation. I will still use my crutches just to get a bit of exercise.

If you are going to take ibuprofen, make sure you eat something as this is quite tough on your gut.

Sarah, all ops are different. My story is somewhere in this blog.

Ouch, currently getting a lot of tingling sensation all over my foot especially around the heel and big toe where the stitchings are.

Veronica

Hi Sarah,

Don't let my complaining scare you! No regrets about getting the surgery! However, if you're going to be on crutches I suggest you practice, especially on stairs if you've never had to use crutches. Setting the alarm really helps to keep on top of the meds!

My surgery was performed in Wisconsin, USA so I'm not sure if you will have the same process, but I went in at 6:00 a.m. and was prepped for about an hour - blood pressure taken, change into hospital gown, personal stuff inventoried, meeting with my Dr and anesthesiologist, IV put in and initial sedative. I was asleep before I was even wheeled out of the room. I woke-up back in my room around 10:30 and was wheeled out to my friend's car by 11:30.

I prepped my room before I left with the expectation that I wouldn't be leaving it for 6 weeks - bowl of fruit, stacks of books/magazines, all charging cords plugged in and easy to get to - cell phone, computer, Kindle, etc. I also have three water bottles I make sure my care givers fill-up before they go off to work in the a.m. along with snacks like crackers and bagels that I can easily eat that helps settle my stomach.

Expect to pretty much sleep the first day or so depending on the meds and using a gel pack for 20 to 30 minutes on the hour. You'll probably be sleeping in a boot just to make sure you don't hurt your foot while you're sleeping. Hope this helps!

Hi Sarah - not sure if I can remember all the details but here goes!

NHS Glasgow appt 12.00 noon day surgery unit. Wait for nurse to escort me into ward. Wait for interview to check all details. Taken to locker room to change into hospital gown then back to ward waiting area to wait some more!

At some point during all this a large black arrow is drawn on leg to be operated on. Speak briefly to surgeon. Physio arrives to instruct me and other foot surgery patirnt re. walking and to demonstrate how to manage stairs. Practice stair climbing. Wait some more with other patients and discover I'm first on list because my surgery more comlicated with nerve block and longer recovery. Collected by anaesthetics nurse and wheeled into operating theatre at about 1:30pm. Speak briefly to anaesthetist, discuss x-rays with surgeon.

Wake up at about 3:00pm - with my glasses back on - brilliant. Asked if I can feel anything in my foot and given two lots of pain-killers when I say yes.

Wheeled back to ward and given tea and toast - tasted great but difficult to eat cos no saliva! Speak to surgeon who is very pleased and says all went very well. At about 4pm physio asks if I feel well enough to get up but I feel light-headed (maybe the drugs?) so stay put for a bit longer. Velcro shoe fitted and up at about 5.00pm into recliner chair to keep foot elevated.

Collected by hubby at 6:00pm - he had to sign for me - shuffle to car parked just outside and home without crutches. Take painkillers regularly!

So far - so good!

Hi Veronica, glad to hear the scooter is working for you -I've been worrying about a train journey I'm due to make and wonder if a scooter might be the answer getting around the stations and resting my leg during the journey.

Hi Sarah, mine was pretty identical to Polly's, except that they spent a good half hour going through all the health checks again, the ones they did on my first appointment to check that the anaesthetic would be ok. I think that was because there had been a couple of months in between, and they had to make sure it was all still the same. They were very thorough. The minute you go on the trolley and through for the anaesthetic they give you a happy drug, so you don't have time to panic. I remember them asking me what kind of dog I had, & next thing I knew I was awake and it was all done!

Other than that it was just like Polly describes. I was totally paranoid and terrified in the weeks leading up to the op, but honestly, if I had known what it would be really like I wouldn't have worried for a minute. And Polly's advice about getting things ready is spot on, and also what Therese said about chargers if you're technically minded like me! Take heart!

hello everyone

happy new year!

just an update.. went to the hospital on 30th for my two week check up (which was a few days delayed due to the festive period).. nurse said i'm healing well. I saw them for the first time and they were much much better than before.

I washed them for the first time today, was supposed to wait until Monday but figured as i'm a few days ahead of the timing due to waiting for my appointment it would be ok! and it was!

Sarah - I had two feet done at once, so I went into hospital at 7:30, by 9 I had all my checks, discussions and important bits done. all that was missing was my consultant! literally- he called in sick.. buuut luckily I had someone come in straight away (a doctor who had operated on me before so I felt very confident and safe).. by 10am I was being put to sleep.. due to both operation being done and the amount of General Anni I was brought round about 1pm... from then I was very sick due to dehydration and was on anti-nausea.. so I would say top tip.. keep very hydrated the couple days before surgery..

although my ordeal sounds like it was a hiccup.. as I said before.. the best accommodation I've had in a long while.. minus going in for surgery.. I had a jolly good time.

I had was keptt over night (as planned) and left hospital the following day around 6pm..

im exactly 3 weeks post op today (op on 13th December) couldn't have gone better.

just try to do as little as possible, crawl around the house to disturb less and keep up with the meds for the first few days. I have been painless all throughout so I feel very grateful for that!!

hope it helps--- sorry for the essay!

Hi Polly,

The scooter is good, but not sure about taking it for a train journey as you would have to lift it up over any steps and sometimes the gap between train and platform are huge. It is useful when you get tired of kneeling, you could put the breaks on and sit on it.

Veronica

Any ideas or comments gratefully received: it's Saturday & the hospital I went to is closed, so I can't ask them.

Do you think it is normal to go back to being in bad pain, and not being able to weight bear? Can hardly walk today, I feel worried and miserable. I slept really we'll for the first time, and when I woke up my good foot was on top of my operated foot. Could I have done something bad? I did overdo it yesterday, shopping and housework, so that could be it. Any ideas?

Sorry to moan.....

:-(

Oh that is a worry. Did you try calling your GP's out of hours service? it really does sound serious enough to at least get some professional advice.

Is it possible that you have an infection in the area in spite of it appearing to be healing well? Another possibility is that you simply DID overdo things yesterday, and the position you slept in contributed to swelling and pain?

Let's hope it's nothing more than a hiccup, and I look forward to hearing good news that the problem went away on its own. :-)

Thank you Alice, I've been really sensible today despite having guests for the weekend, I still can't put any weight on it, & it's really painful, so if it's not better on Monday I'll ring them and ask. It doesn't look infected. Fingers crossed.