Bunion surgery -having both feet done at the same time.

Do it, better both at the same time, keep your meds on schedule and keep ice - as they already told you, it's a great help.

Have someone to take care of you for at least three weeks, bring you food and drinks (and ice) - and good luck!!

Hi, my 23 yr old daughter just had her double bunionectomy. I'm thinking of renting her a hospital bed for about 3 weeks. This is the second day, came home after surgery. Follow up Doctor's appt tomorrow. She is scooting on her bottom to bathroom when her boyfriend isn't available to carry her. She is icing and on schedule wit pain meds. Need to know how to help her get to the bathroom.

Walk only on your heels

Thank you! We are day 16 post surgery! My daughter is doing great. The doctor expects to have her slip a soft running shoe on, on Feb 19th (4 weeks post surgery)! First few days were really tough; but, she stayed off her feet and had little to no swelling. She told me she is glad she got both feet done at the same time because she definitely would not have went back.

Hi Diana,

Based on my experience, I would say that whether to have both done at the same time depends on how serious the bunions are.  My surgeon will only do bilaterals on mild bunions, and refused to do mine at the same time as they were both severe.  I have to say with hindsight he was absolutely right.  There was absolutely no way I could have coped with both feet out of action.  Even if you are really adept with crutches, all bathroom related activities are just so, so difficult!  And I just would not have liked to have had my husband 'assisting' me there!

I had both done back in June 2015. The doctor and I agreed to have both done (to schedule around my work) but at surgery time, he wanted to do only one (as he gets paid if he does one at a time).  Bought special (very non glamorous) walking shoes where, as someone else mentioned, you walk on your heels.   Managed to get to the bathroom.  Walk on your heels and if you can ideally hang on to walls, or railing.  I did, however buy (half price) or rent a 4 legged walker.  This really does help with balance as once I thought I was going to pass out.  Not crutches necessary. We did rent a wheelchair for the first month so I wasn't house bound and we did some travelling.   Admittedly I probably did too much (on my feet) during recover, so do take it easy.  It takes time...Took about a year for the swelling to go down, so yes, had to invest in some bigger sized shoes, but I'm still wearing them now.    I too was/am very active so once the casts were off I was able to do stationary bike and when permitted, I did water running.  No impact for almost a year so that was tough.  Also resulted in some weight gain so watch yourself and follow doctors orders and do what you can within your limits.  I have no regrets in getting both done at the same time.   

Thank you for responding. 

Seems like swelling lasts a long time. 

Already 7 months after surgery and still a little swollen and no high heels as today, but worth it!

it's so difficult to predict what the swelling problems will be because everyone is different.  I had no swelling after two months, but then I only had one foot done so was able to give operated foot a complete rest.  Elevation in the first three weeks helps enormously to avoid later swelling.

 

Then again, being the type of person I am, I may have overdone it and that could have perhaps contributed to the long term, but the doctor did tell me it could take up to a year.

Got both done. Did pain pills manage the pain the first couple of day?  Because it is not for me.  One foot way worse than other. 

Ice 24/7 ....