Bunion Operation

Hi Olivia86. You are right in what you are saying. I have found myself walking on the outside of my right foot and sometimes the same on my left and I know this is causing the back and hip pain. I did use a walking stick after stopping the crutches but have stopped that now. I can only walk a short distance without suffering pain. Sadly I got no advice from hospital or doctor and don't even see consultant till late October so no one told me what to do. I must consciously try to walk correctly as I agree it can become a bad habit.

Today my right toe is really sore. Left is aching a little. Must have been the drive and being on them more being back at work. Didn't expect that at 10 weeks. Does anyone still get pins and needles in their feet. It is really annoying. Sitting here ready for work and it is happening again.

Apart from that I am fine and I understand that it will just take time to recover.

Morning all, 4 weeks today and appears I'm pretty much on track with most of you reading your posts. My scar is heeling beautifully but I've religiously been applying bio-oil twice daily. Ive been living in my Uggs as on occasions I've tried my trainer type shoes and they irritate the scar still at present. Like Olivia86 & Karen351 I find myself walking on the outside of my left foot and do consciously try and rotate my foot inwards as my ankle is beginning to ache quite a bit. I think i will probably see if i can get some kind of insert for my shoe to help as i don't want to adopt a strange gait :-/ Unless i have a problem there is now no further follow up with my consultant. I have another 3 weeks before i return to work - boo I'm quite enjoying a stress free life at the mo! Lol

I have found though the last couple of days my foot swells quickly i presume because I'm doing slightly more but make a habit of putting up when resting. Definitely need to 'listen to your foot'

Ps providing my foot is pretty pain free and I'm moving my big toe ok is 4 week period ok to start driving again??

Hi Elaine 140, Laura 1981, fabulousfeet and all,

Thankyou all so much for your help and for your own experiences. When I said I removed my dressing, I didn't just leave the foot bare which I forgot to mention. I'd found a foot tube bandage in the first aid box and put that over my foot after placing a dressing over the wound. It wouldn't be for long though, although one very warm night (I live in the south east of England) I slept in it until the next morning when I bound it up again. When I went to the hospital yesterday the surgeon didn't bind it up again. He placed a small piece of lint over the wound then used the tube bandage which goes up to my knee. Tomorrow, post op 14 days I have my stitches out. I'd like to add that I suffer with swollen feet and ankles, especially in the summer and I take water tablets. Because of this I'm wondering if that's why I haven't had much swelling in my ex-bunion foot. I'm a little disappointed though as I thought my big toe would be straight but it still leans over a bit towards the other toes.

Thanks fabulousfeet. I logged onto your site after I read the emails on this site. I was hoping to read about your experiences from the time you was operated on so wondered if I was missing something. It was very informative anyway.

Best wishes to everyone. Hope things will soon go well for you if you are having trouble.

Hi pamela I also am a little disappointed that my big toe still isnt totally straight but when I put all my weight on my foot it does do im hoping because of swelling still this is why. I finally got s pair of ugg boots on today and it feels amazing yippee x

Hi Laura, I hope this is the reason why my toe isn't straight as well. Its still a little swollen round the big toe. Well done that you can get into your Ugg boots. Just as well we're into Autumn. Hope you continue to improve x

Hi Pamela and Laura. My right toe is nice and straight and no lumps but my left toe is still bent in and a lump on the side although a much smaller lump. Its 10 weeks now and I hope it's still swelling that will go down. Somehow I get the feeling it isn't.

Hi there, just back from seeing a surgeon on Harley Street as both feet not great. I have bunions on both and my left foot is very sore as I have capsulitis in my second biggest toe. This afternoon he administered a cortisone injection into the area and hopefully it will bring the swelling down and i'll be more mobile again.

My question is, should I have both bunions done in one operation, or a few months apart? I have two children aged 5 and 7, so will need to get cover for them while it's done. Having it done together could keep costs down a bit. But that's not my first priority if it's totally impracticable.The nurse said 60/40 of all patients have them done together versus separately, but I'd be interested to hear what you think?

Hi melly moo I have a 2 year old 8 and 15 and there is no way I could of have both done together husband wirks long hours and even with my mum coming taking 2 year old everyday for first 2 weeks I found it extremely hard school runs food shopping washing not being able to drive etc it was hard and thats why im having other one done in 4 weeks 14weeks after first one hope this help x

Hello,

Had my stitches out this afternoon by the nurse. I honestly didn't feel a thing. I was very nervous as I thought it would really hurt. She then put a dressing over the scar followed by a small tube bandage over the foot .I have to keep that on for two days as well as the special shoe.... then I can discard both and start wearing trainers. I think I'll be able to get them on as my foot isn't swollen now. I've been shown some exercises to start doing. I only had the procedure 2 weeks ago today so I'm really happy. It will be the end of October before I can drive so I'll be looking forward to that. All the best ladies!!!

Sounds like all going well Pamela. It took me six weeks to get trainers on. Most other shoes irritate the scars.

Second day back at work and feet really hurt. So glad I am off till Tuesday now as my feet need it.

I really thought after 10 weeks my toes wouldn't hurt. How wrong was I. Nothing that needs pain killers just an annoying pain. Left foot is fine its the right that hurts.

So glad that I got both feet done at same time though as my work wouldn't accept another 10 weeks off. I have already had a warning about the length of time I have had off.

Hi everyone. I've been reading your posts with interest and wondered if you can all give me a thumbs up or down, based on what I've been told.

I was born with both feet folded flat up against my shins and had physiotherapy till I was 8, along with specially adapted footwear. I have had 7 ingrown toenail ops & am very careful with my footwear. I cannot remember NOT having bunions, as did my mother and grandmother. I saw my GP a few weeks ago and, amazingly, saw the consultant today. When I first arrived, I was s ent for x-ray. The consultant viewed the film before examining me then said they would do the right foot first, up to 6 weeks off with a couple of screws permanently in the foot. Then he said he wanted to check something.

He went to speak with his boss, came back and checked my feet, went back to his boss again, then he came back with him. He checked my feet and said they could definitely do them with a "minimally invasive procedure" but, due to the birth problem (and he asked who had told me it was talipes - that would be my parents, my consultant and my physio), they would also need to fuse the metatarsal. He said he would never have bunion surgery but, if I want it done, he will do it. If I decide not to have it done now, but change my mind later, he will do it. He laso said I should "buy shoes that fit, don't be tempted to buy a size larger". I don't buy larger, but do buy wide fitting so that there is no pressure on the bunions.

Now I don't know what to do. They are not absolute agony, but can be very uncomfortable, although saying that, I do seem to have a high pain threshold. Do I get it over with now (I'm 55) or hold out for a while with the risk that, as I get older, I may not want to put myself through the surgery. Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome.

DrenWD the older you are the more possible complications such as arthritis and circulation. I had both feet done aged 32 and am not regretting it at all.

Don't forget that this is a patient forum so you should always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions :-)

Thank you fabulousfeet. My GP thought I was suitable for referral but although the first consultant seemed to agree, the second, who was more senior, seemed to be trying to dissuade me. I think there are more reasons to go for it than to put it off. I even mentioned that I have osteoarthritis in my knees (not bad) and that having this done might help. The consultant said they would normally do the knees first but I know they aren't severe enough. I'm also a Sports Therapist and the first thing we would do would be to look at an individual's posture which would show the stance/foot position which then puts the body out of alignment as you go up the skeletal structure, so we would get people to work on feet and ankles first, and consider different footwear. All things considered, I think I will go for it and get it done now whilst otherwise well enough to cope with the surgery instead of 5, wo or 15 years hence. Thank you again! :-D

I had bunion surgery on both feet yesterday. I am on sofa with feet up on pillows and codeine pain killers and anti inflamteries. Reassuring to hear from people on this forum that pain does get easier. I have 4 kids ages 2,4, 6 and 8 and am partially sighted so don't have to worry about driving. Would a wheelchair be a good idea for first few weeks? I do have a network of friends to help.