Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Hi Beth,

Good grief your pain sounds excruciating! I never had severe pain and on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst), I rated mine a 3 - very minimal and usually just a sharp pain once in a while. Which bunionectomy procedure did you have?

Besides elevating your foot be sure to ice 20-30 minutes every hour. This will help with the swelling and healing. I used an Aircast IC which delivered slight compression every 30 seconds, but I did not have a cast either, just gauge wrapping.

Hang in there, it can only get better from here on....

Angela

Hi, Ladies. I have been too tired to contribute lately. I wake up and my toe is in a lot of pain, I try to avoid medications but then feel I need to take a Percoset and an Ibuprofen, and that does it for me for the day. I'm zonked and can't contribute anything. Jan, one of your entries on this page could have been written by me -- 4 weeks out (today is 4 weeks for me), sometimes sharp pain in toe, tanning on foot heaven knows why. VJ, I'm sure you'll be asking your doctor but my very own thought is that you use your walking cast for your father's birthday party (and congratulations to him on reaching that milestone)! People will certainly understand, and if the walking boot gives you some support, I'd use that or whatever's more comfortable. If it's a thick sock over your bandages only, with a bedroom slipper, so what.

Jillyco, again you are so funny -- giving you a fetching purple (cast, was it? -- if I try to move back up this page, I lose this post and have to rewrite). And taking a selfie of your foot? I laughed out loud and actually am laughing as I write this. Thank you! I know you already have a job, but I wonder if you could have a sideline doing some writing, say even being a columnist for a newspaper. It's really fun to read what you write. Glad we settled the hokey/kokey/pokey issue. Live and learn. I'd no idea it was called kokey in the UK. And yes, we call them bunions here in the US (ha ha) but on this website you'll be referred to hallux valgus. I'm sure we all walk around referring to the pain from our hallux valgus. I am not even going to attempt to fiind the plural.

Beth, the pain will ease but it may take longer than you think, although I see you're in your 20s, so hopefully that will have you healing faster than someone like me who is in her 50s. Getting toward late 50s as I'll be 58 next month. No, no, no! Suggest you ask your doctor about how much medication you can take.

Thank you for the trainers/sneakers explanation (I forget who provided that translation, and I can't look up on the page! But there's something I've never quite gotten and that is, what do you UK ladies mean by "jumper"? Is it what we'd call a "sweater" here in the US? If you don't know what a sweater is, I guess we're all in trouble.

Oh, and someone earlier had mentioned waking up during the night. I'd had that problem too, but some wise person pointed out to me that since I was taking naps during the afternoon, it made sense that I wouldn't need as much sleep at night, so waking up wasn't unexpected.

Hang in there, all, and we should try to take it easy!

--Susan

Hi everyone.

Welcome Beth 2 and so sorry you're having that much pain. I certainly did for a few days, it took a week before I managed no pain killers during the day. Now I just take codeine at night to encourage pain free sleep, and yes if I wake I read or listen to a play on the radio but generally I can still get back to sleep. I also get dizzy spells, either when I first get up or if I stand too long. I'm amazed what a difference the bandages were making, even tho I thought I didn't need them any more.

I'm icing as I write this. Having the stitches out was a milestone and I'm not sure if I expected a massive step forward, forgive the pun. No such thing, but it was great to have a bath this evening, to scrub off the suntan and all the skin that has been under the bandages these last two weeks.

I have no cast or walking boot, only these Velcro shoe things that aren't a left or right shoe and look very weird. Tonight my husband took me for a curry and I managed with a great deal of squashing to get into my ugg boots. This tells me my feet are still very swollen and I won't rush to do it again. Slippers are fine in the house and socks or slipper socks. It's going out! I still have a week to go so I must continue to rest. I can see with even a small amount of walking how my feet swell and become stiff. So the six weeks I was told to rest is surely right. I am able to do more now, like manage the laundry but standing up is really too much for more than a few minutes.

Yes I'm 57 this year and I'm sure age plays a part in the healing process.

Yes sweater and jumper are used here in a fairly interchangeable way, jumpers are mainly knitted, sweaters can be knitted and of course we have sweat shirts/hoodies. It's interesting isn't it, the little differences, like pants and trousers, and purse and handbag and pocketbook.

I'm sorry it's been so hard for you Susan, and so hope it improves soon.

Going out for dinner was great, but be warned after about five minutes I had to ask for a chair to put my feet up, just sitting with them on the floor was too painful about blood flow I guess, and my husband kicking me a couple of times, ouch! the restaurant were very helpful. This immobility has given me quite an insight into life as a disabled person, especially from the level of a wheelchair.

Re taking pictures, sounds a bit gruesome, but I'm taking them as I go along, before, during and after as it were and to plot my progress. Also to send to my podiatrist for her info.

So sleep well all of you, pain free I hope. And no leaps and bounds, just tiny steps that's the way forward, I'm telling myself and you! Best, VJ

Hey everyone! I've been reading all your posts and it's so helpful! I'm 3 weeks post op after a bilateral bunionectomy. I just have a couple questions to see if you have/are experiencing something similar. I asked my podiatrist about physical therapy, but he said there is no need. Although my great toe is stiff and difficult to move. I've been doing range of motions exercises that I found online but just curious how long this lasts? Has anyone else ran into this? Hope you are all doing well!!

Hello ladies, I haven't written or read much in a while either. I am 4 weeks post op today. I'm sick of being home all the time. But, one great thing is that I've been able to work from home. So, I've actually only had to use one vacation day for the day of the surgery. I'm hoping to get back to the office next week. I'm going to try to drive over the weekend, but if I can't I will get a ride as needed.

I am so grateful for all the people that brought me meals and came to visit, and do my dishes the first few weeks. On day 4 or 5, I realized that I was getting up too much and my feet were very swollen. I realized that it is very important to stay off your feet as much as possible. Also, when you have to get up to use a walker or crutches to keep weight off of your feet.

I'm not looking forward to trying to put a shoe on. I have been wearing slippers that have a hard sole for support. But they are open with a soft top. I had wore the Velcro boots for about 3 weeks,

My scars are healing pretty well. I had both bunions removed. They weren't bad enough to start affecting other toes. So, thankfully no pins or other reconstruction.

Hi Kriss

My doctor advised PT even though I felt I didn't need it but boy was I wrong. My therapist uses Toe-ga. You can google it and find lots of information and videos about it. It really helps regain mobility in the toes, foot and ankle.

I had to retrain my brain to get my toes to follow the instructions, and just like yoga, you are exercising muscles you didn't know were there! I highly recommend it even if you just do them at home.

All the best for a successful recovery.

Angela

Hi All, how lovely to find this forum, I am on day 2 following Scarf osteotomy surgery on both of my feet, and having trouble with managing the pain, especially on the left foot which refuses to let me place my heel down ,

It's good to read that the pain subsides as time goes on , my right foot isn't quite so bad at the moment, but when the hospital heel block pain wore off I thought someone must be cutting my feet off it was so rotten, I'm on on paracetamol and Tramadol ( from one extreme to the other) but I'm allergic to Codeine.

I'd love to hear any tip on how to get through theses first 2 weeks, both getting to the loo and managing pain

Sue

Thanks so much Angela!! I appreciate the info. I will check it out. Take care,Krissi

Krissi I'm at day 15. My big toes are stuff and painful. I'm just flexing them gently and obviously walkng a bit.

Physio hasn't been mentioned to me at all.

Sue pain wise use frozen peas as much as you can tolerate. I hired a wheelchair which helps me get round downstairs. Don't let your pain relief wear off either. You could try Ibuprofen in the short term if you can tolerate it.

Take care VJ x

Hi Sue

You will experience pain for at least the first 4 days, it does get easier from then. shooting pains, aches, tightness are all common. I had quite severe bruising on the bottom of my foot and around the ankle. You need to elevate your feet and ice them, by whatever means you have. I have some gel packs that I freeze and put in their cover and wrap around my feet. Others have mentioned ice machines but I'm not sure how much they are.

As for getting to the loo, tricky one. I did not have both feet done, but made good use of crutches and used my heel only and even hopped, but you won't be able to do that.

it will get easier, honest!

Jan

Hi Krissi

It's strange that no-one has been given exercises to do. I have just been told to wiggle my toes. I don't think I would be able to physically do more due to the pin in my 2nd toe. Only 10 days to go before that comes out. I will find out from my surgeon what exercises I can do then and pass any info on.

Like Angela I have googled "exercises post bunion op" and it's interesting what they come up with.

You could ring your hospital and ask them what you can do.

Let us know how you get on.

Jan

No exercises given here either! Just come back at the end of the 6 weeks for the cast to come off. No pain killers now except ibrufen at night to sleep. I will defiantly stay clear of the codeine sort in future. I think the surgeon had an excess of plaster of paris for my cast and I know where he stored it!! Still it kept my mind off the foot!! Went down to the harbour last night (by taxi) to a friends birthday which was my first venture out and sitting with feet down. Managed 2 hours but definatley enough ! VJ was right not too much too soon but I am stubborn so shall go to the Italian tonight too give my husband a break from cooking. Bless him he does it all day every day and then has to run it upstairs to me too!! He says it is making him fit.

It is lovely and sunny here so I hope good where all my Footy friends are too. We can enjoy seeing it out of the window. HAve a good weekend

Regards Jill

Ho ho! Footy friends - I am on the sofa and the 'footy' (soccer) is on the TV!

The gel toe separators arrived yesterday and they are great so thanks for that tip Angela.

Other than wiggling the toes I was also not given exercises but the more I move my toes the easier it gets. They still look quite swollen.

I managed dinner out on Tuesday and I was able to rest my leg on the seat beside me as the restaurant was not busy. I think people can be quite sympathetic to someone limping along with a boot and crutches.

I have decided to be a bit pushy and ask for physio when I am six weeks post op.I mentioned it when I had the stitches out and I want to get some exercises to strengthen my feet and ankles as well as improve mobility etc. I think it is a case of doing some research and then being assertive. This is not something I am always very good at I might add. This time I am going to write down my questions and concerns in advance. I didn't do that when I had the stitches out and then got home thinking of questions I hadn't thought to ask.

I do so enjoy reading everyone's posts and tips. This forum is so helpful.

Best, Beth

Thank you for the advice, I feel a little less out of control having read your responses, I had both feet done at once as everyone told me that I wouldn't ever go back to have the other one done, and also in today's environment it's hard to take more than one big block of sickness off in a year period, luckily I will be able to work from home for some of the time. And if I can avoid too many Tramadol I'll be able to think clearly.

At least the weather is bright and sunny which I can at least see from my bedroom window

Bless you guys

Sue having been offered both at once I jumped at the chance (!) because I figured it would be shorter time out of action overall. And I couldn't bear the thought of being laid up all spring/summer if I did them separately. I love my gardening too much and I've just taken an allotment. I work from home which is fine but am on sabbatical at present.

I assume you got crutches from the hospital to help you so try and use them and heel walk when you need the bathroom.

Jill glad you enjoyed your trip out, enjoy tonight too. Also be a great for your hubbie who's cooking like mine!

Well I watched England beat Italy at rugby, slept thru the Wales game apart from when my cat kept jumping on my feet, she's determined to aid my recovery, now I'm watching Ireland and France!

Have a good restful and painfree evening folks. It was a beaut sunset here tonight I crutched up to watch it at the village windmill :-)) VJ