Bunion op in December

Hi sarah281986

Its good that you have a positive attitude about the op, and wanting to have your foot back to normal. I'm 5 weeks post op now and feels loads better, I still have a little pain and the major pain has now been replaced with pins and needles, shooting pains in the toes and periods of numbness, where my feet feel like blocks of wood

The Nurse has assured me that this is neuropathic pain and is part of the healing process. I'm still wearing my Darco Boots has both feet still have swelling. I won't be able to wear a soft shoe/trainer until the swelling goes down and looking at my feet I'm wondering when that's going to happen.

get on

Good Luck with the op and do let us know how you.

Robina

Hi

Had double bunion op on Tuesday am now home with two throbbing feet. Agree with everyone about not liking to put foot on ground in am keeping them up as much as possible but pain isn't too bad.

Hi Lindsay, don't do what I did & start doing everything the minute it's not painful! I've set myself back...

Robina, thank you for the comment about neuropathic pain, it makes me feel like maybe it ok to be in pain again, it was just weird to go from practically pain free, to not being able to walk! Plus my foot has gone purple! I'm going back for my 6 week X-Ray in just over a week, so my fingers are crossed....can't cross my toes!

Hi sue45768 and lindsay35394

Sue,

I'm sorry to hear that you have had a minor set back. I'm 5 weeks post op, the Nurse advised me to just take it easy and elevate my legs as much as possible and take pain killers if the pain became unbearable. Is the foot becoming purple a new thing as my feet are purple from the bruising that occurred after the surgery. Good luck with the x ray and do let us know how you get on.

Lindsay

Keeping the feet elevated will help with the swelling and pain. I remember the trips to the bathroom were agony.

Robina

Hi Sue and Robina

Thank you so much for your support . I have discovered that using the crutches to get to the loo makes it less painful but must admit am dreading it when the need to 'go' arises!

How long does it take for this fist bit to ease in your experience?

Hello Lindsay, I think you'll find after 3 days or so you won't dread going to the loo! You just won't want to be on your feet for very long. After a week it will be fine. Someone on this forum suggested the rule of thumb is to be on your feet for 5 minutes in every hour the first week, 10 minutes in every hour the second week, and so on, which I think was good advice.

My husband just bought me a foot spa, which I'm going to try soon......

Take care.

Thanks Sue this is really helpful - enjoy the foot spa x

Sue did your feet itch in theorist couple of days? My left foot is very itchy but of course I can't get anywhere near the skin to scratch it over the big bandage!

Hope you don't mind me bombarding you with questions?

Hi Lindsay, no, I was dreading itching under the bandage, but it didn't happen. I got my bandage off after two weeks instead of three, because of Christmas, so probably I was lucky. I really sympathise, I can't bear itchy skin, it's worse than pain.

Thanks Sue!

Also, I think heat might make itching worse. Is there any way to cool your foot down? Maybe wrap it in plastic, then put a pack of frozen peas around it? It's supposed to help the swelling too, but I don't want to give you any 'quack doctor' advice. Good luck, hope it improves.

Hello All,

Well - the stitches came out yesterday and all seems well. No real pain when the stitches were removed (8 in the long wound and 2 between big toe and the next toe) but pressure over the bone made me feel faint and very peculiar (I am not normally squeamish and have fainted only 2 or 3 times in my life). The nurse had asked me to say if anything was wrong so she was able to stop and wait for me to recover while I had a drink of water. Anyway, all stitches out, foot a bit red and puffy around the bigger wound but very little bruising. Discovered that what I thought was a plastic splint rubbing on my smaller toes was actually a big 'plate' of congealed blood! LOL Glad that's gone!

So now wound has been washed, a new padded dressing applied and I am back in my 'designer' velcro shoe for another 4 weeks. Due to have x-ray at the next appointment which will be with one of the surgical team. If all is well at that time I may be able to wear 'normal' wide trainers.

Made a mistake this morning pulling the velcro straps too tight so coming down the stairs was excruciating. Am now resting and feeling better after taking some ibuprofen. Lesson - Take it slowly!

BTW Nurse commented 'we used to use plaster casts for these but the padded dressing is a lot more comfortable for patients and is just as good re. healing & recovery'!

Hi Polly, I hope the pain went away? I think these setbacks must be normal, I was so scared I'd done something wrong, but yesterday it started to feel better, after a whole week of pain.

I recommend the foot spa! It bubbles, keeps the water warm and massages, it really helps!

Hi all

Glad the foot spa is a hit Sue - I am looking forward to 10 days time when I get my big dressing off.

The one thing I have learned in the relatively short period of time since my op is that rest is the key so if you can Polly keep your feet up as much as possible to let them recover from all of the additional exertion of getting to hospital having the stitches out, coming home etc...

As you said Sue the pain on standing is much less now but still woes than I was expecting. I am just hoping it will all be worth it in the end!

Hi all not long now till I have my bunion operation 3rd feb have to be at hospital for 7.30 in the morning I think im ok with whats gonna happen im not so sure now just hope im not in agony just hope im not wating all day for it to happen I hate the waiting. Can you all go through it again please would really appreciate it.

Thanks again all

Sarah