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Bunion Surgery is it really worth it???

Posted , 10 users are following.

sharon39182
sharon39182

I am now awaiting a appt with my specialist re my bunion, but reading all of the FORUMS I am beginning to change my mind as everyone seems to be in pain and it doesnt look good, so is it best to put up with the pain now or is it really worth it ??????

0 likes, 45 replies

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  • chazaim922
    chazaim922 sharon39182

    Posted

    I had mines done a week ago I'm still unable to walk yet or bear weight. My check up appointment is this Wednesday where they remove the bandage and stitches and will do an x ray.

    • sharon39182
      sharon39182 chazaim922

      Posted

      Hey

      Keep me posted please, what was your issue with yours ?? 

      Cheers 

      Shar

    • sharon39182
      sharon39182 chazaim922

      Posted

      That sounds very painful ouch, I have had a infection in mine since November and after 4 lots of antibiotics constantly taking Diclofenic and changing all of my shoes, it is now kind of back to normal, I am just very warey of shoes now.

       

    • chazaim922
      chazaim922 sharon39182

      Posted

      Oh no sorry to hear that. What shoes do you go for now if you don't mind me asking?

    • sharon39182
      sharon39182 chazaim922

      Posted

      Well I am mostly in trainers , along with Mary Janes but a size bigger I also have bought sandals from the fifty plus brochure but I so so miss my 5 inch heels
    • chazaim922
      chazaim922 sharon39182

      Posted

      Hello. I'm okay thanks for asking. Still unable to walk in my heel bearing shoe for 2 weeks now, will have my stitches removed tomorrow, where meant to be taken out on my first visit. How are you?

    • sharon39182
      sharon39182 chazaim922

      Posted

      Hey 

      Well I have at long last got my appt through to see a Specialist I think here in Bristol it is going to a long process, I have had problems with my back and knee now from where i walk trying to protect the Bunion and the funny thing is my Bunion is not hurting at present, but I dont want to tell them this just in case I have to start all over again in the winter when it hurts more 

       

  • theresa_22006
    theresa_22006 sharon39182

    Posted

    I had mine done on 24 March 2017 and have been in trainers and walking since week three. The foot looks amazing, maybe not perfect but that may come in time but a foot I will be proud to show off as it is still very pretty (if a foot is ever pretty!).  I did NOT however have fusion and I don't know whether that makes a difference to the pain, it certainly seems to affect the time that weight bearing is prohibited. I had virtually no pain, no significant sweling, nearly all gone now and it is 8 weeks today. I did, however, follow instructions to the letter, difficult as they were. The only hiccup is that one of the screws has slipped slightly giving me a bit of discomfort in the ball of my foot, as a result all of the screws are being taken out on 30 June but since 20% of people need the screws removed at some point in time I am seeing this as a plus as I will have all the disruption over a 3/4 month period (recuperation for screw removal is 2 weeks). Remember these sites are normally used by people who are a bit worried so most the posts will be about problems and not always the success stories. I would say from my experience that it is definitely worth it but I have been lucky with the outcome (so far) and the end result. I had a severe bunion that I have had since I was 14 and have spent all my adult life hiding my foot, even more frustrating was the fact that my other foot was not only perfect but was a nice shape, now both are a nice shape.  The bunion surgery appears to have sorted other issues with my foot as well but only time will tell if this is the case. I would say it is worth it but each person will have a different end result and as such a different view on that. My procedure was scarf with akin osteotomy and shortening of my second toe which had started to hammer anyway, I belive the shortening of the second toe was partly due to the hammer toe and partly due to the fact that the big toe was shortened as a result of the procedure. Hope this helps a bit.window.post_1495197011471_3 = function(win,msg){

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    • pamela68350
      pamela68350 theresa_22006

      Posted

      Hi Theresa, You are so lucky to have such a wonderful outcome from your bunion surgery. I have quite a large bunion on my right foot but don't have any pain, it is just feels a bit numb. My main problem is getting shoes to fit and it is not at all easy. It does not hinder me at all in any way and I walk everyday.   I keep hoping that one day they will come up with a simple solution to fix bunions.   I have been looking into having it operated for literally years but am afraid to have it done in case it's not a success and it would be awful to end up worse off than before.   Which country do you live in and who did your operation?  Not very often do you hear from people who are really happy with the outcome. Please let us know where you had the operation.  

    • theresa_22006
      theresa_22006 pamela68350

      Posted

      I am in the UK and had the operation in North London.  I am seeing the surgeon mid/late June and will check if it is OK to say who did the operation, I wouldn't want to comporomise him by giving his name without checking with him first.  

      I have of course got to get through the screws coming out but at week 8 I am very happy with the result, i am mindful though that the screw removal may result in other issues so will repost once that is done!

    • sandalz
      sandalz theresa_22006

      Posted

      The screws and staple from my scarf and akin are still in a year and a half later. They do not cause me any problems at all. Did your surgeon say they had to be removed, perhaps your procedure was different.
    • theresa_22006
      theresa_22006 sandalz

      Posted

      No, I think it was the same surgery as you, I read somewhere that sometimes the screws move while the bone is reforming and this happened in my case. Everytime the physiotherapist pressed my foot I had terrible discomfort, the x-ray confirmed that one screw had moved down and was causing the problem.  The surgeon decided the best course of action was to remove them and whilst doing the one take them all out.  I am one of the 20% that needs them to come out.  Recuperation is only two weeks so I am not too worried about it.
    • pamela68350
      pamela68350 theresa_22006

      Posted

      Thank you Theresa, did you have minimally invasive surgery (i.e. Keyhole or similar) if not, what was your procedure called.   I live in Australia but do come to the UK to see my relatives quite often. I was wondering if you could private message me with your email address so you could give me more info on your operation. 
    • theresa_22006
      theresa_22006 pamela68350

      Posted

      No I had full surgery.  The important thing to know that full recovery takes a long time.  I am not allowed to drive for 4 months, although the operation was on 24 March I had to postpone the holiday I had booked on 5 June even though it was a cruise from the UK back to the UK so no flying, under my surgeons instructions.  Would you be able to stay in the UK for months to recuperate?  Flying is out for quite a while after surgery as well due to DVT?

      I am happy to tell you anything about the operation you want but remember everyone experiences different levels of pain, swelling etc. and unfortunately outcomes.

      I know it sounds odd but I really prepared myself leading up to the surgery taking immune boosting tablets to speed up healing, eating healthily up to it and during recuperation (still am), cut out alcohol up to and during and took the vitamin D as suggested by the surgeon (we do live in the UK!) I have no idea whether it all helped but at 59 and post menopausal my bones are going to be thinner than the youngsters having it done making the operation trickier and recovery slower. All I know is that the surgeon is pleased with my progress and he is normally surprised at how slow people progress!

      My surgery (I believe)  was Scarf osteotomy and akin with shortening of my second toe which is full surgery.

    • theresa_22006
      theresa_22006 sharon39182

      Posted

      Thank you, I am doing well.  Looking forward to having the hardware out later this month as I am not walking quite right to avoid putting pressure on the sensitive area. I am walking about 3 miles a day and have worn sandals once but my foot did swell a bit so I have gone back to trainers, the swelling wasn't terrible but I thought that I wouldn't push it. My hobby is ballroom and Latin dancing and actually shuffled flat footed round the floor last week which was a real treat. Everyone said that they wouldn't have known that I had had surgery by my gait but I know that I am walking very slightly on the side of my foot.

      The foot is getting better and better though.

      All well your end I hope? Have you decided to go ahead.  For all the trials and tribulations I would do it again.  My only reservation would be the boredem which is made worse by not being to drive even after you feel better and having to rely on other people.

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