Bunion Operation

If you are about to have a bunion op. Best tip, I think, is to start taking painkillers as soon as you can after the op BEFORE it starts to hurt. Makes a huge difference to the first 24 hours.

I had my first bunion operation almost 14 years ago. The op was not successful , the surgeon left me with a worse deformity than I started with, I then went on to have three further ops, two which were to remove metal work. I was left struggling to walk. I asked to see another consultant . When I saw him I just asked him can you fix this he said yes I can, what a relief. I underwent a five hour foot reconstruction operation needing bone to be taken from my hip for grafting. I was left with a great result , this surgeon gave me my life back.

Now five years on , I have just gone back to that surgeon who I have great faith in and had the second foot done and I am now recovering three weeks post op, and the early indications are looking very good.

Anyone considering surgery do your homework and find out who is the best.

I am in NZ. Next week I am meeting with a surgeon recommended by my GP to discuss having my bunions operated on.

I am at a bit of a loss to know how to research the best surgeon available in my area. Is it preferable to use a surgeon who is older, had more experience but has a very abrupt manner, (the one I have the appointment with) or a younger surgeon who may be more up to date with new methods but had less experience? I live in a small city and there seem to be "affiliations" in the medical fraternity!

Has anyone had this operation done at the beginning of winter? This would suit my workplace better buy as I get very cold feet, I wonder whether it would be better to wait until spring so my feet won't be so exposed? However I may not have this choice, dependent on the surgeon's availability.

This forum has been a great help with forming a list of questions I should be asking. Thank you for your help.

Hi all,

I am in the U.S. having surgery on Monday. I am really nervous about this. Normally I am not a baby, and my pain tolerance is very high. My Doctor shared with me some advice....he said, "I know you have heard horror stories about bunion surgery, but do EXACTLY what I tell you to do and you will breeze right through this"! He told me to take the meds for pain (hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10-325) , only get up to pee, ice it, and keep moving my knee. I am going to just that!

I have been reading some horrible stories and I pray for all of you. I will try to keep a log on here and let all know how I am progressing. I may be out of it on Monday night, but I will try to update asap. Wish me luck all!

Hi everyone I'm now 2 days post op on second foot after five months after my first in slight discomfort but that's me not being able to take anything with codeine in and only on normal paracetamol and 500mg ibuprofen plaster is a lot bigger than last time so finding it difficult to walk on this time hoping over next couple of days this becomes easier says the swelling goes down and I gain confidence again.

Hi Kuckler, Yes take painkillers before you need them, and keep your foot above your head - that keeps the pain down. Before Monday think about how you are going to sleep/rest with you foot up high (pillows), but have your knee supported too. As you are only going to get up to pee for the first few days (literally!) make sure you have things to eat ready, and only sit up for the time it takes to eat them. A chair in the bathroom is useful for using when washing teeth etc.

Ask your surgeon what you can supplement your painkillers with - I was able to use paracetamol as well as my painkillers, and after stopping the hospital prescribed painkillers I found a cold remedy for night time, which helped me sleep (in the UK it's called Night Nurse), which really helped.

Good luck - it is worth it.

Hi sbj, I had my bunion op done at the beginning of winter (7 weeks ago). The problem I found was that when wearing the open topped special sandal for 4 weeks I had to also wear a plastic bag (between 2 socks) if it was snowing or raining. Also starting to walk again when it was icy was not good. I would certainly have walked around outside earlier if the ground had not been icy and uneven.

Here you can buy a special "shoe sock" (from the hospital or specialist medical supplier), but I just used 2 socks on the ex-bunion foot to keep it warm.

Best of luck.

Hey!

I am 18 year old and 3 weeks ago I was operated for Hallux Valgus Sinister with a Chevron correcting osteotomy and my foot was put in plaster cast. I am on crutches for at least 6 weeks with a few days of non-bearing, 4 weeks of heel walking and 2 weeks of full weight bearing.

My best tips is to stay on top of the pain with the painkillers, when it starts to hurt it is too late to take the painkillers. I was able to stop taking painkillers after just a few days, but the first 3 days I was prescripted 2 Tramadol pills up to 3 times a day, 2 500mg Paracets with Ibuprofen every 4 hours.

Now 3 weeks post-op I have no pain and my only problem is the inconvenience of being on crutches and having to get around.

My operation was done in Norway, but my post operative appointments will be split between Norway and the UK

Hi Kuckler1,

I'm in Canada. Had my surgery Dec 10 so I'm a month post-op today. Like you, I have a high threshold for pain and I'm stubborn as all hell and was determined not to behave like a big baby.

The first couple of days were very uncomfortable, I couldn't put any weight at all on the foot. Thank goodness I had a pair of crutches. By day 3 I could gingerly get around if I balanced on my heel.

My biggest mistake was not taking the meds immediately - when I got home after surgery I wasn't feeling any pain whatsoever and bravely (naïvely) thought "nah, I can do this without narcotics". WRONG. As I posted previously (and as I see others have advised as well), it is better to stay ahead of the pain than to try and catch up to it. I was given Oxycodone and only took it for 3-4 days, then switched to Advil. Plus anti-inflammatories and antibiotics.

On Dec 23 I went and got the stitches out, dressing changed, and fitted for an airboot. I have been completely mobile ever since (driving, shopping, etc) and am now back at work. I can walk around the house in socks, and only use the airboot for outdoors. There is still some swelling and minor pain but totally bearable without drug assistance.

I am hoping to get my other foot done this summer.

Good luck to you on Monday. I'm certain that afterwards you'll think "wow, that wasn't as big a deal as I was imagining". The anticipation is almost always the worst part.

sbj, I had a similar choice between surgeons. An older "retirement age" man or a young pup. The older surgeon seemed confused and disinterested in my case, whereas the young surgeon took time to explain exactly what he was going to do, and in general made me feel extremely comfortable in his care.

I am confident I made the right decision in going with the young surgeon - he was much more up-to-date on latest procedures and used technology to his advantage; the older surgeon didn't even know how to work a computer.

Hi all. I am 3 days post op from having scarf osteotomy, akin osteotomy and tendon release on my left foot. My right foot was done in March 2013. All is going well. Did have a lot of bleeding the day after surgery and had to have plaster and dressings changed and steri strips put on as well. The stitches are internal and steristrips externally. Second day the pain was bad and also yesterday but now on day 3 I have only had 4 paracetamol all day. I m getting around well on crutches, heel walking. Just hope the end result is as good as it was on my right foot.

Thank-you to everyone who posts here. I've been wanting this surgery on both feet for years but was reluctant due to the 'downtime' and the horrific stories of horrendous pain. I'm in sunny Australia 24 hours before my op and was actually looking forward to it but just having a few last minute doubts. You have all helped put my mind at rest and I'm looking forward to it again. Will let you all know how it goes. Thanks again.

Good luck Julie! You'll be so happy you had it done!

Hi Jaqgayle, my understanding is that bunions don't get better by themselves, and will probably get worse, deforming your foot. At your age, by the time it gets really bad, they probably won't be doing the op on the Health Service any more, so I'd have it done now if I were you! I was nearly a year from GP appointment to op anyway, so you have plenty of time yo think about it! Good luck!

Thanks so much sue45768!