Bunion Operation

Hey, do anyone know what the name of the hallux valgus operation when you make a cut in the bone and them move it to the correct position?

Also wondered if it would be possible time wise to have a operation in my home country Norway during my 3 week Christmas holiday before returning to my boarding school in UK after those 3 weeks?

I think I would make my 1st post op meeting which are 2 weeks after the operation and the plaster is taken off after around 6 weeks which means that more or less I would be back in to get it off at the correct time. Would I need other appointments between those? If so, would I be able to pay to have these at a private practice in UK?

Last thing, would it be impossible to go back to school after 2-3 weeks? I live at school and nothing is further away than 5 minutes walk and we have a health center with a doctor with hallux valgus experience coming in once a week.

Frimag I think you need to be somewhere where you do not have to do much for yourself for at least 4 weeks. You will find even the walk to the toilet during this time difficult as I said in previous post I just bum shuffled. Remember you will have broken bones healing as well as scars and I am hoping that if you take good care at the beginning you will have a faster recovery. I have not been able to get my feet wet for 4 weeks. I have just taken the dressings off the wire hole site at end of big toes this morning and they have scabbed over nicely so I can have a bath tomorrow yipeeeee!!! Does anyone experience pain in the morning in big toe left foot hurting this morning more than past few weeks. Also anyone have any idea how much walking I will be able to do. 9 weeks in outside? The operation I have just had where the bone is cut an pins are put in and k wires is a new minimally invasive procedure called moderate chevron procedure meant to be faster recovery time so fingers crossed!!

Hi everyone im now 13 weeks post op I went back to work after 9 and was able to drive after 8 I can now get most things on my feet other than heels, im awaiting my second foot done which is due before xmas and im hoping the heeling process will be as good as my first although 9 week's felt like a life time I can run and jump just not got much movement in second and third toe still and this does ache on an evening after my shift and being in trainers or flats my uggs have been brill especially at the start when foot was very swollen, there is light at end of tunnel x I find walking bare foot a relief after being in footwear all day.

Hi Laura1981x

Very encouraging to read your post. Can you remember what you could do at 9 weeks. Is it likely I will be able to walk for half an hour - really important that I have some idea as my guide dog training may start 1st dec but only if I can walk obviously. I have been on the list for. 9 months and the dog sounds perfect for me so don't want to miss this chance. I have had both feet done together. I had my first bath today as the wire holes have scabbed over nicely. Great to wash my feet!!! They look odd especially the right foot as there is a big gap between big toe and other toes. Nurse said the surgeon does tend to over correct. I am hoping the splints will push it back in place! Did my toe exercises not sure how helpful they are at mo just over 4 weeks in!

Hi. I am interested in people's experience post operative. I had a a scarf/akin ostetomy on both feet. 3 months down the track the wounds have healed well, but my toes are still very stiff ands I still don't have full feeling in toes of one foot. Does this just right itself as a matter of course or do I need to go to a specialist and get specific exercises/treatment? Lise

Well I am exactly 5 weeks in post op - washed up standing up today! Walking with no stick or holding on. Swelling minimal. What a difference a week makes! Shoes next weekend. Once the wires come out recovery really speeds up! Hope it continues.

Lisa I found it took a long time - around 5-6 months for feeling to come back on the top of my toes and it took longer to get mobility back. I was warned I might not get the feeling back as the nerve might have been too badly damaged so it was great when I did, it does take a lot of time.

Hi

I keep reading that some people talk about wires ! My op is next week - Wires haven't been mentioned to me- just wondering what these wires are?

I'm having both feet done - consultant mentioned screws but no wires.

Thanks ..

Hi debbie1806, I had both feet done just over 3 months ago and had wires to straighten the bit toes. The only reason I had wires because I have an allergy to nickel. The wires stick right out of your big toes, not great. The most modern way is screws and it sounds like that it was you're getting. Best of luck with your op.

Lise40167, my toes are still very stiff too although they are easing off slowly but surely. I've been advised by the physio to do lunges every so often throughout the day to get them moving and to make sure I'm walking properly i.e. heel to two, keeping the ball joint moving.

Laura1981X, After 3 months I still can't wear shoes with a hee,l although I've recently managed to wear boots with a wedge for a while throughout the day which the physio is ok with. Progress. Like you, the most comfortable boots are my Uggs, bliss. I can actually walk normally in them and forget that I've had an op. I also find it a relief to walk around the house with no shoes on. I think it helps ensure I'm getting the joints moving.

Frimag, personally, I think 2-3 weeks is not enough time. You will need to go back to get dressings changed after about 4 weeks and then a few more times after that. As Jules23 mentioned, after the op, even the short walk to the toilet is a serious consideration. I got both feet done at the same time and was off work for 11 weeks.

lisajohns, hard going when you're on your feet a lot. I was telling my consultant that my feet were sore when I drive and he said the more I do it, the easier it will become. Sounds like you are well on track, you go girl!

Thank you Elaine140 and Jules23, I understand what you mean but doing the op during Christmas might be the only option if I want to have it done in the next 1.5 to 2 years. If I do the operation in the beginning of the holliday, I would have 3.5 week at home where I have assistance before going away. Aha are the rules sour flying? Both 2-3 hours and around 6-7 hours? I would have TIVA during the operation.

Also, is there anyone els that have problems with standing or walking for extended periods of time (1hr+) or driving a car less than 30 min (although, with quite a bit of changing the gear), when they have a moderate bunion? I haven't basically done any running or exercise that put any pressure on my foot the past months.

Hi Elaine140

Thankyou for the explanation. My heads buzzing at the moment, I will post an update after my op next week for anyone else following this forum.

Thanks guys … Usually I'm on Tripadvisor forum … Now I'm addicted to this forum :-)

Hi Elaine140. I had a very modern procedure - modified chevron procedure which involves titanium wires to straighten the big toe and pins to hold new bone position. It is usual to use both for full correction and is meant to be less invasive because you cut less tissue plus it was done keyhole. Pins may be removed after a year if the come to the surface - minor op and no recovery needed. Does anyone experience pain in early hours of morning. This is the second morning post wires out that big toe and ball of foot really hurt. Just beginning to ease now but I was woken by the aches? Yesterday I really began to wonder if I removed the splints I could walk normally! Well just taking it easy today!

True that! Some people avoid having bunion surgery because they may have heard some misnomers that guide their decision. I have also experienced bunion pain on and off for about a year but after having my surgery done from, my pain was gone and so was the bunion but that does not mean that I have recovered in a day or two. It took me about 8 weeks to recover from it. With good pain management it was only mildly uncomfortable and slightly inconvenient for a few weeks but I would highly recommend it.

Thanks jcarlos for encouraging words I totally agree with you but only. 5 weeks in. Looking forward to wearing shoes this weekend - swelling has massively reduced since wires out and hardly painful now - but not confidently putting foot down. Still walking with splints on heels although increasingly able to roll foot forwards.