Bunion surgery

Hi I am about the same as you. I am now 4 days post op and had a similar operation on my right foot. Do not have too much pain now and only taking the occasional pain killer. Do you have a heel weight bearing shoe to get around in?

Hi, I ha bunion removed and four hammer toe surgery on the 20th Jan.  I took painkillers for the first day and didnt need them after that  much to my surprise!  I could wiggle my toes a bit with no pain.. The last couple of days I have had what i can only describe as between a sharpe itch sounds weird but it makes me  jump i have been told this is normal and is a sign everythng is getting back to normal. going to get the dressing changed tomorrow and looking forward to seeing my new foot, I feel I could go back to work but will look at my foot tomorrow and listen to it before I commit myself to going back.  I walked on my heel on day two so have been very lucky so far, i also have been taking arnica and extra calcium, good luck !

Hello Beth.

Everything you describe is absolutely normal.

The days of patients being left in total agony following this type of surgery are now very much a rarity.

The excrutiating pain we were previously led to expect are kept very much under control with modern pain relief.

I had my left foot bunion ( aka Hallux Valgus) in November 2013 and was pleasantly surprised that I had none of the pain I was expecting. I also had a hammer toe correction of the 2nd toe done at the same time on the same foot. I had my other foot operated for bunion correction in October 2014. Both have been very successful and relatively pain free.

Like you I experienced tightness and throbbing if my foot was lowered for too long but this soon eased when the foot was elevated above groin level.

The main thing to remember is that you need to keep off your feet for 50 minutes out of each hour for the first couple of weeks. After this time you still need to be very careful as the least bit of extra stress will make the throbbing and tightness recur.

The surgery does  carry with it a very long recovery period of up to 12 months in total and it's vitally important that you do not  overdo things once you begin to feel that you are on the road to recovery. Your feet take an awful lot of 'hammer' as they are the final point of load bearing for your body and as soonb as you stand up all the body weight is taken by the feet.

Keep on being careful, resting for as much as you possibly can and don't be too eager to get your feet back into your ordinary shoes because the foot will very likely be reluctant to bedn and be quite stiff with some discomfort for many, many weeks.

I was almost 4 months before I felt totally comfortable in my shoes. I always wear flats.

You may also experience a balance problem as you re-adapt to your previous walking gait. You may also get pain and twinges as the ligaments and tendons realign and heal.

Rest, care  and patience are key elements to successful recovery following this type of surgery.

Good luck.

Gillian

I had scarfe osteotomies on both feet done last week and a left foot hammertoe correction and to be honest I was expecting lots of pain but like yourself, its been more discomfort than anything -  throbbing and aching - than real pain. I withdrew medication last Saturday thinking all was great but  I've had to have some tonight as sharp pains across the joints have been happening for last 2 hours and its wearing.  Other than that its been quite OK considering I dont 'have any leg to stand on".  There is a mild throb when I hobble upstairs on to the bathroom but nothing that usually can't be managed.  I have been told that recovery is  a minimum of 6 weeks non weight bearing.  The pin for the hammertoe won't be removed until week 6 also.  It could take longer. After which you can return to work either,  progressively phased if your role is particularily standing and moving in nature or perhaps BAU if more desk based.

Hope this helps !