Bunion op in December

Hi again all im waiting for my bunion operation to be done on 3rd feb I just want it done and over with, my foot is hurting like hell been taking painkillers and puting gel on but seems not to be working as well now when they do the operation do they put a pain block so you don't feel the pain that much? I know its going to be painfull after just hope they give me general anistic ive had all operations done with this in past wouldn't like being awake im very nervous and scared of the operation. Just want it over and done with.

Thanks

Sarah

Hi sarah281986

I am 5 weeks post op on Monday. The following is my story:

I both both done on 2nd December, arrived at the NHS Hospital at 7.30am, had all the admin/medical checks done by ward nurse and doctor, visits from the Physio Therapist, Anaesthetist and my Surgeon completed by 8.45am. I was advised that I would be staying the night.

Wheeled into the Theatre at 9.30am

I was given a General Anaesthetic and Ankle Blocks. I woke up in the Recovery Room at 11.30am, back to my room at mid day and slept the rest of the day. The evening was a blur, I remember eating supper and having a visit from the Husband and Daughter.

Achy and heavy legs, still no feeling in the feet during the night. I woke up the next morning in excruciating pain and was given painkillers ( Tramadol, Paracetamol and Naxporen ). I then need these every 4 hours and I was discharged that evening.

These Tablets were also given to take home with me as well as the crutches and 2 Darco Boots ( I always wanted a pair of designer boots)

Lucky for me the Husband works from home. I have stayed in bed with both feet elevated on a pillow ( I could so get used to this) and am only making trips to the bathroom with the boots on and using the crutches.

You will need to take your painkillers regularly as there will be pain in the first 3 weeks or so, the pain will then gradually ease off and the need for painkillers will lessen. Feet still elevated as swelling comes back with a vengeance.

I had my dressing changed at 2 weeks (stitches are the dissolving kind) and go back at 6 weeks to remove bandages and get my feet into a soft trainer.

I was advised at the 2 week appointment to wash and re bandage my feet. The incisions have been and still are very tender.

The painkillers do cause constipation, I recommend Prunes

I do want to mention that even though I had to wait 4 months for my op date to come through I was very impressed with the way I was treated. The staff at the Hospital was very caring and courteous. My Surgeon came to see me in the evening after my op to make sure I was ok.

Good Luck with your op and do let us know how you get on

Robina

Hi Sue,

Sorry to hear that you have had a minor set back, just take it easy and elevate your legs as much as possible. get a lot of tingling and sometimes numbness of my whole leg if I stay up too long and often.

I'm looking forward to the 14th of January when my cast will be replaced. I will be reassuring to see what is happening inside my fibreglass cast. Sometimes my second toe also looks so red that it has a purple tnge and my third and big toe are still numb 3 wks on.

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Veronica, thank you for that. My second toe also looks weird, and bent, so perhaps it's normal. Am totally resting today.

And Robina, that's interesting too, it makes me realise it probably takes longer than 3 weeks to be better.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hi All,

I am so glad that I have found this forum! Sue I believe I am just a couple of days ahead of you. I am just over 4 weeks since my op on my right foot and have spent lots of time googling about bunion recovery! Its great to hear everyones experience and to realise that the things that have gone on over the past few weeks are normal!!

I had a chevron osteotomy on 7th December then had my stitches out 10 days later. I have been in a bandage the whole time as I have a K wire sticking out of the side of my foot to keep my toe straight. I can put weight only on my heal in my glamorous velcro shoe I lovingly call my jimmy Choo! I have used crutches and only occasionally heal walk without them as I am so scared of falling over.

I have had some pain but a lot of cramp which I didn't know was cramp as I had never had it before! It went from my foot up the back of my leg to my bottom cheek and it was unbelievable!

The thing I have found the hardest I the boredom! I normally go to the gym and to work obviously and it is hard but it will be so worth it.

When I saw my foot when they took the stitches out it looked like a normal foot and I cannnot remmeber it being normal! (aside from the bit of metal!)

I have found seated workouts on you tube and have used hand weights to do some excersise and loosen my back up.

I would be intersted to hear if anyone has had the same proceedure as me?

I have used a strider my house isn't big but it is handing when standing at surfaces to dust wash up etc.

I hope that everyone is doing well.

Hi all im 3 weeks away from having my bunion surgery can't wait to get rid of nasty looking and very painful bunion on 3rd feb for day care unit surgery got to be there for 7.30am and hopefully don't have to wait long and be home tea time or before hope when I get to hospital I have operation done straight away I know its going to be painful and going to have screws in my foot and stiches and heaverly bandaged and cruches im really fed up of this hate bunions hope the day comes quick.

Thanks

Sarah

Hello again. Just to emphasise what others have said here and elsewhere, if you can stand, using a Limbo over the bandage is great for having a shower. Week one hubby put plastic patio chair in the shower with a towel over and I sat on that with my foot out the door and he spray washed me like he would wash the car LOL. OK but not much room to manoeuvre!

Better yet, we had been planning a celebration meal for a while and decided to go ahead at the weekend: overnight in 5 star hotel with dinner and breakfast via room service, stool and cushion provided. Took the Limbo with us and I was able to shower myself in the large walk-in shower in the Italian marble bathroom. Not the celebration we had envisaged but brilliant all the same!

PS Thanks Veronica for your advice - have decided not to go with scooter - phoned train company assistance line and they have booked an extra seat for us on outward and return journey. Didn't know they could do that :-)

PPS For all those in freezing USA or flooded UK - keep safe.

Hi Tina, your op sounds complicated, I wonder if you will find anyone who had the same as you? And Polly, your celebration sounds lovely.

I'm into my fifth week, and have gone from feeling fantastic, the only pain being from the scar, to being in terrible pain any time I try to walk - and I am still wearing the special wedge shoe. I phoned the 24hr patient helpline number I had, and a doctor phoned me back 11 hours later - I just got a clerk on the original call. The doctor had got my notes out, but her English was so poor I struggled to understand her, & I'm used to lots of different accents & nationalities. She said I mustn't weight bear until my appointment on the 17th. I hope she's right, because my gut feeling was to go back where I had it done. Feel a bit discouraged. The pain is in the joint of my big toe. Would be grateful for any advice about how to make it better!

PS I'm not at all wimpy about pain, but I don't want to do any damage!

Hi Again Sue45678, I wouldn't be surprised if the next x-ray shows that the pin(s) have shifted slightly and are causing you all this pain. I AM surprised however that you are not being given any sort of emergency apt ahead of your regular review on the 17th. Weren't you hoping to get back to work this week? I guess we both got brought back to earth with a Bump on that one.

I am still healing well, the wound is getting better every day and I am very comfortable in the DARCO boot. My first Fitnote expires this week (Surgery was 4 weeks ago today) so I went to the GP to enquire about returning to work on light duties. (I work for the fire service in a support role). The job is very physical and presents some hazards so the GP wanted to be satisfied that my tasks were curtailed to only sedentary ones NOT posing a risk to the foot. This has proven difficult, and even my manager agrees it is better to stay off work until I can start wearing my Boots again. (6 weeks from surgery)

Trouble is, I feel such a fraud, as I have very little pain, and feel like I should be earning my paycheck rather than hanging around my house. Plus everyone else has gone back to work/college this week, so I am Billy-No-Mates here! I should be grateful , really, lots of time for rest, reading, and to sort thru boxes and music collection that have never been organised since I last moved house.

My Consultant is not going to see me until the 28th of January, which will be 7 weeks exactly since the surgery. Everything I have heard or read states a recovery time of 6-8 weeks, so I am hoping he will sign me off completely at that check up.

Sue, I hope your pain eases and that all is going to plan and the sensation in your toe is just healing pain!

Tina, I have been doing some floor excercises that don't involve the feet, also found on Youtube

Polly, good idea about the plastic chair in the shower, I used a kitchen stool and prop my leg on the side of the bath, and fortunately was able to wash myself to avoid the indignity of being Sprayed Down :-)

Hi Sue

I have put another post on here about me ringing up my surgeons secretary about something and she said they would only make me another appointment if I had said I was in bad pain - sounds like you are in bad pain therefore following her reasoning you would have thought you would get an appointment.

Did you speak to your surgeon / surgeons secretary? or your GP? Just that people use differant terms.

Pain wise ibruprofen and paracetomols are all I can sugest.

Not sure I have been much help but if you are still worried I would ring again you are fully entitled to and we do tend worry about make a fuss (I know I do!)

Take care

Hi Sue, I would like to supprt what Tina says - part of the written instructions I received when leaving the ward were to phone the ward, the orthopaedic dept. or go to A&E if there was change of toe colour, haemorrhage, persistent numbness, coldness or severe pain (I.e. not controlled by usual painkillers). Hope you get help soon.

Thank you for that, it helps to moan and have a bit of sympathy! I felt despair this morning because it was just as painful, but tonight I think it is easing. Its true what you said about not wanting to make a fuss. So, I'm going to see how it is tomorrow.

Take care everyone. 😕

Hi all im 3 weeks or so away from having my bunion operation on 3rd febuary can't wait to have it done and get my foot back to normal just want it over and done with now don't think I need to know anything about op and recovery but if anyone wants to let me know would be gratefull

Hope everyones ok

Thanks

Sarah