Bunion Operation

Hello everyone, glad to hear improvement on most of you! Im also improving daily. Il be 3 weeks this wednesday, had my 'clubfoot' bandage as i called it off last wednesday and managed to slip into my trainers. I must admit my Uggs are the most comfortable. My scabby scar is healing well spesh with the aid of Bio Oil ;-)

Ive been slowly walking/hobbling and increasing my distance - can prob manage 20-30 mins but on a very slow pace for me, i do tend to 'sprint' off normally.

Oh i did go to a birthday do on Sat evening and after sitting with my foot up for nearly 3 hrs and steady flow of vodka I found myself hopping on the dance floor, LOL Actually i think it helped ;-D

Boredom just setting in.

Ive also gained a couple of pounds so id been preparing and reading up and set myself a challenge and have embarked on Jason Vales Juice challenge - 7lbs in 7days. If nothing else I'm taking in more fruit n veg than i probably have in my whole life, lol

So only being on day 2 I'm waiting for my 'craves' to go away and my new energised thinner self to emerge!!!!!

Afternoon everyone,

Just been reading the posts as i'm going in for my operation tomorrow. It has been intresting reading your posts. I'm currently in the Military and have just been to the military doctor to get signed off as the doctor here isn't around at weekends. They have signed me off for 2 weeks telling me to come back to be re-assessed, the only problem is I will be at home in Milton Keynes and I work in Ipswich and they want me to get back here.

How bad has your foot been after 2 weeks? Will there be a chance of me driving in that time?

Hi Sharon im 7 and half weeks post op and I drove for first time yesterday it was still sore and I still cant get my shoes on to sore I know everyone on here is different depending on how much u have done I had tendons cut and shortened in second and third toe and bunion off with pins in all 3 of them. Im only struggling getting a shoe on due to toes being so stiff still big toe is fine. I had to keep going back after every milestone for new sick notes. Hope this helps little

laura1981x,

cheers. I'm having my big toe pinned and the cartilage removed and the bone drilled to generate new cartilage. The only pain for me is to get a new sick note I have to travel 2 hours and they think I will be able to drive. Makes me laugh.

Cheers it gives me some idea.

Hi Sharon, I drove after my 6 week check but would not have been happy to try it ant earlier when in the special shoe. My surgeon said it would be possible to drive after 2 weeks but only if the op was to the left foot and you had an automatic car.

Also you may find it difficult to travel for 2 hours on public transport as you can't elevate your foot enough. I tried it after 3 weeks and found that the foot became very swollen and painful. It sounds as if your Doc has no idea what is involved in this operation which is a bit worrying. Perhaps your surgeon can give you a sick note or call your Doctor

Good luck with the op.

I'm back from my holiday to Hong Kong!

Am now 17.5 weeks post op on both feet.

Tops of my feet swelled in the heat and so I alternated shoes, swam in the pool a lot, slept with feet elevated and have rediscovered The Body Shop: peppermint foot soak, cooling foot/leg spray and also the foot lotion. Devine and relaxing.

Walking around was generally fine but I'll be honest, I did take ibrophrofen every day which I gave not had to do for a while and have not taken since back from holiday.

Sharon317 you will be mobile faster having only one foot done not two. But fyi....

My feet started hurting FROM two weeks onwards not before as this was first bandage change. I wss allowed to drive crom about 5 weeks; I think you should not be driving at two weeks.

To quote my surgeon:

-listen to your foot- it will tell you what is too much

-don't forget you've had major surgery so take things slowly

-although you will feel 100% it will take your feet 12 months to fully heal

I think you need to have a chat to your surgeon!

Thanks for you replies. I'm trying to see if the military unit closer to me will see me. Had my op yesterday but had problems with the anesthesia and only got out today. Foot is a little sore so just got some painkillers.

The army are a nightmare when it comes to getting sick leave it feel like they don't believe you.

Hello, I'm a first timer on this forum and just wanted to tell you about my experience today. I had a bunion removed on my right foot 12 days ago which went well. Four days after the op. the bandages came off so my partner wrapped it up again. I must admit after that I took the bandages off quite regularly, about every other day just for a few hours as it was feeling so hot and itchy. Ten days after the op. I removed the dressing again as the wound was feeling very sore and tender around it. I put on some Germolene and today it felt a little better. I decided to phone the Podiatric dept and explained I'd been removing the dressing and asked it that was ok. They gave me an appointment for this afternoon and the surgeon wasn't too pleased with me!! I thought the thick dressing was to protect the foot from knocks (I always wear my special sandal when walking) He said the dressing should be on and not removed until I had my appointment for the stitches to be removed this Thursday. Nobody told me this. What I'd like to know is will I still have my foot bandaged after stitches are removed and have I still got to sit around all day with my foot elevated? Would be glad of some help. Thankyou

Hi Pamela152

I still had a light dressing of my feet after the stitches were taken out and wasn't allowed to get them wet. My Consultant was able to tell each time I visited that I had been elevating my feet as there wasn't much swelling and he was really pleased with that. I find that if I don't have my feet elevated, they swell up, and at week 7 I am still having to do this. Even though they don't look swollen, I still can't fit into any shoes, trainers, boots. Sorry! You might be different though. It is a very slow process but you should feel an improvement every day. I just remind myself that I need to get this right now and be patient as it could affect my feet for the rest of my days. Good luck!

Hi pamela im also the same as Elaine although foot doesn't appear swollen it is compared to other and I still cant fit in any footwear 8 weeks post off this is very annoying especially as im due back in work a week today but dont want any mire time off due to having other foot done in a months time. Ice packs and elevation on a evening helps.

Hi Pamela152!

Oops - probably no harm done but I recommend from now you don't do or not anything without talking to your surgeon first. My recovery has gone textbook well because I was good and did exactly as I was told, I can only hope your surgeon is giving you the guidance you need to do so.

At two weeks my big bandages were removed and I had dressings over the wounds, tubular bandages for the swelling and splints to keep the feet in the new shape and provide support.

I then moved to sticky strips on the wounds (plus the tubular and splints) which I had to remove each day and take the scabs off to assist the healing process.

Then no splints and tubular bandages and shoes

Then just shoes - which was very weird after so much time!

I've sent you a link to my blog which has photos of all the bandages and scars etc.

Hi all. I am 10 weeks post op and went back to work today. I only did a half day but between the long drive both ways and the amount of walking around I did my feet have swollen up tonight and are a bit sore. I can't get shoes on so wore sandals but they were causing friction on the scars and that was sore.

Re dressings - I only got one nurse appointment for a week after op to get large dressings changed. Nurse cleaned the wounds and put small dressings on. Went back 3 days later for another change and that was it. Told I could now shower and keep reapplying dressings till wounds healed. I have not been seen again and don't have follow up appointment till 23 October. I have only found out what to do by coming on here.

Only real downside is the ungainly shuffling has played havoc with the arthritis in my knees.

I guess every hospital/doctor does things differently and we just have to go with what we are told - or not told in my case.

one thing I am glad I got both feet done at same time as I don't think work would be happy with another 10 weeks off.

Hi all,

I've been reading through these with great interest. i am more than 10 weeks post double osteotomy, i've got a plate and two very impressive scars on my left foot. (all details of my surgery https://patient.info/forums/discuss/they-re-not-all-awful-40264)

I've been to physio and surgeon on a number of occassions and, at age 27, i'm starting to get back into some exercise.

The main thing is you have to listen to your foot. If it swells up a lot or aches, then you have done too much on it.

My surgeon said the swelling will probably be with me for 5-6 months, so try not to be disappointed when 2.5 months out you still can't fit shoes. It will go down, but you have to give it time.

One last thing I would say, and i gues Karen351, this probably refers to you, if other parts of your body start to ache, knees, hips, back, then it means you've changed your gait. You're walking differently. You should go to a physio and make sure that how you're now walking isn't incorrect.

I was favouring the outside of my foot and my physio said that it's best to stay on the crutches and do small walks really concentrating on the propoer gait than to walk distances incorrectly.

After a few weeks the incorrect walk will feel normal and it becomes very difficult to undo.