Bunion Operation

Hi all. Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry to hear that some of you are having problems and pain. Sallysmum I agree that you should seek another opinion. It doesn't seem right what you are going through. Hope you get something sorted out.

I am now 6.5 weeks post op. I am actually in more pain now than I was 6 weeks ago. The wounds have healed and are now crusty blood free. The swelling isn't bad but the wounds are tender. I have only just managed into shoes after the post op shoes. I managed into my walking shoes but had to open the laces completely and even then my big toes hurt sliding them into them. The left foot is much better than the right although more swollen.. It is still very painful in and out of my walking shoes. I did away with the crutches a week ago but even walking a short distance is causing pain in my toe but worse is the pain in my right hip. Has anyone else had this? Might it be because I am not walking correctly to protect the toes. I seem to have taken more co-codamol in the last few days than I took just after the operation.

Due back to work in a week but I have a 25 mile drive each way and I haven't driven since the op. I believe your insurance isn't valid if you can't do an emergancy stop. So I better try drive some time next week.

Fabulousfeet enjoy your holiday and I hope you don't have too much trouble with your feet while away.

Take care everyone.

Well today I managed into my trainers. We were travelling down to the Lake District for a week. I walked all round Asda doing a big shop then once down here I walked the dogs. Tonight sitting with my feet up but I have terrible pins and needles in both feet and they are burning. I think I have read on here that some of you have had this. It is not a nice feeling. Feet pretty swollen too. Hope I manage to get around a little on my holiday here.

Karen well done on the shoes! Watch out for trolley wheel - they hurt like murder if you knock your feet.

Also ice! I freaked out when my feet were all hot and prickly.

My surgeon said there is a whole hive of activity going on in your feet. Prickly nerve endings, increased blood flow flushing away old tissue, all repairing. I think of my feet like that SIM City computer game - a whole construction zone!

Lol to Sim City. You have had a good surgeon. I haven't even got my 3 month appointment yet with him. Have only seen my nurse twice for dressing changes but not advice. Have got all my advice on here and from you Fabulousfeet. Will ice feet and see if it reduces swelling, burning and prickly.

Hi Lisajohns, fabulousfeet and Karen Thanks for your encouragement. Picked surgeon for third

opinion. Just waiting for G.P. appointment for referral. ( Over a week!) Think you are all right about

getting it done again. Now it has had time to sink in I am resigned to it.

Nice to hear all the positive comments I realise there is life after a bunion op. if done correctly ..maybe I will get back dancing after all!!. In limbo at the moment.

Love all the good news stories....keep 'em coming!!

Hi all, good to hear all the updates, glad to hear you are making good progress Elaine.

Sallysmum6 like others here I'm sorry to hear you have not had a good outcome from op. Maybe second surgeon won't do just tendons cos that really wouldn't correct problem and would give you worse problems further down the track. I'm glad the encouragement you have had here is giving you the courage to consider getting it done again. I just hope you can find a good, sympathetic surgeon who will do a good job. The first one has a bit of explaining to do !!

Glad to hear pain has settled a bit lisajohns, as you say I was given a pretty strong cocktail! My surgeon prescribed them,don't know if he's had op but maybe it should be a prerequisite for docs dealing with this, after all they are breaking the bones in your foot and that hurts !! Anyway was pretty grateful for tramadol/oxycodone option for first few days as like fabulousfeet codeine upset my stomach unless I took it with a meal, so no good in middle of night. So there I was trippin and sleeping like a baby 😳, did wonder if I'd need to check into rehab when it was over !!! lol

Yep I've had the burning, pins and needles feeling(like the nerves are firing like crazy) and am still elevating foot as much as poss and sometimes icing at the end of the day. Also had to get bigger shoes. Will follow your progress with interest fabulousfeet as I have a wedding to go to in about 8wks(I'm 7wks now). Hoping I can fit something a bit more elegant than the Keds lace ups I'm wearing now!! Have checked out your blog a few times, lots of good info on there :-)

Morning everyone, well what a difference a few days make and the correct analgesia, I really thought I would never be pain free at one point!!. Ive cut out on the codiene now and managing on voltarol only :-) well apart from the last hour my 10 month puppy french bulldog has totally given me the run around in the garden after stripping a big bit of wood off the garden fence and running about with it like a trophy and now my foot is throbbing, but nothing a good old sit down and elevation wont cure now he is safely locked in the kitchen, lol

Well ive got another week yet until i return for my outpatients and hope i continue to progress as i have been, and able to fit into trainers without too much problem

I hope Sallysmum6 you get your review appt soon and good luck ;-)))

Glad to hear things are improving lisajohns. Lol to the puppy. I had the same problem in getting them to come back in from tge garden when I let mine out. Hope things keep improving for you.

I am now 7 weeks today post op. I can get my trainers on but cant wear them for too long as they rub on the wounds which although healed are tender. Maybe its the friction between sock and trainer causing it. Left big toe isn't bad but right big toe is still painful. You know the natural rolling movement when you walk from heel through to push off with toes well my right won't do that. The push off part hurts and I end up still walking on the side of my foot as in pre op days giving me sore hip. Seeing my doctor next Mon as due back to work Tues

Hi Karen, sorry to hear you've been having some trouble. How did you get on at the docs? I've had my wires removed and go back next Friday to start my physio. Nearly six weeks since my op now. Just trying to work out what shoes I can get into. No joy yet but got some on order. Fingers crossed. Looking forward to loosinf these velcro shoes!

Hi Elaine. There has been an improvement in the last week. I can walk further now without a stick and keep my trainers on longer. I tried other shoes but am a bit scared to wear them as only 8.5 weeks post op and as toes still sore I decided to leave it for a while. I go back to work a week on Tuesday and have nice Paver sandals I can wear. After nearly 9 weeks of inactivity I have gained a fair bit of weight. I admit I just sat and ate my way through the boring days.

I am glad to hear you have the wires out. You will feel much better. It is fab when you can lose the velcro shoes.

Glad to hear things are improving Karen. Hope everything goes well when you get back to work. Would be good to hear how ot goes. It's Pavers I've ordered trainers and boots from. Should be comfy. I know what you mean about the inactivity. I've got a sick note for another 6 weeks so trying my best to be good. Doesn't always work though! I'm sure you'll lose your bit of extra weight in jiffy time once you're out and about again.

Hi Elaine. How are you? How long will that be that you will have been off? 12 weeks?. My line will take me up to 10 weeks. Yesterday I drove a distance for the first time in 9 weeks. I walked around some shops but by last night my toes were aching. As I also have arthritis in my knees they were also aching. I think weeks of ungainly shuffling has had a bad effect on them. So today I am in considerable pain and close to tears several times.

This is so frustrating. I really hoped to be back out running by now. I will be 9 weeks post op on Tuesday. Had anyone on here started back to exercise like running at this stage?

Elaine I am going to go to the Clarks shoe shop and see what they have but think I will order another pair of Pavers. What ones did you order?

I'm doing good thanks. Feet still a bit swollen but not too bad with aches and pains. I will have been off work for 11 weeks by the time I go back. By then it will be a progressive return building up my hours/days.

I totally understand your frustration at not being as far on as you would like but it will be worth it in the end. It might not seem like it but you'll be getting better every day. I've been using SBC Arnica gel from QVC to help with any aches and swelling. My mum swears by it to help her arthritis she has on her toes. It's great all round product, love it, and in really drys in quickly.

I have bought two pairs of trainers from Pavers, navy and navy and grey, black waterproof ankle boots (planning ahead) and Sketchers calf length tone up boots (on sale!). Before my op I also bought the knitted looking shoes. Not exactly trendy but knew I could wear them with swollen feet. They are the only footwear that fits and they are sooo comfortable. Bought them as slippers but will have to wear them outside too if the trainers don't fit.

Hi. I will go back to work on what we call rehab hours which will be like yours. Will start with just a few hours building up to full hours. It's the 25 mile drive each way that I don't look forward to after yesterday's driving.

My right foot was the worst of the two as it had a bunion on side and top of toe and it is lovely and straight and bump free but the left foot still has a bump on it although not as bad as before. I took before and after photos. My son-in-law jokes and says the surgeon ran out of time doing left foot. Lets hope I am pain free once back in shoes as I doubt my work would appreciate or put up with another 10 weeks off if I need the left re-done at any point.

Hey guys, thanks for everything that you wrote. My uncle is going to have a bunion operation as well - in about three and a half weeks. He's really worried mainly not because of pain or something but rather because he doesn't know anything about the time afterwards at all. Just the things the doctor told him. So I'm going to tell him a bit of your experiences, he'll appreciate it.