Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Hi VJ

Yes I'msupposed to be heel walking which worked well yesterday except my left foot has now swollen and tightened and I can't get the heel down but I've managed my pain relief better today, thank goodness my right foot isn't giving me the same level of pain.

Devastated to see France lose this evening..........

Hoping to get out of bed and downstairs for an hour or 2 tomorrow but we'll see

The weather , longer evenings and sunset is uplifting thank goodness.

Hoping we all get. Good nights sleep

Sue

Sue

I am sorry to hear you are having so many problems with swelling and pain. I have noticed from this forum that medical advice and directions seem to vary depending on the doctor.

I am now 3 + weeks post surgery and this is what I found:

I was told not to put any weight on my foot for 2 weeks (until the stitches were removed and I got a boot). I moved around using crutches and hopping.

Elevation, ice and pumping my toes helped reduce swelling. Sometimes I used a combination and found if I raised my foot straight into the air and pumped my toes I could make the swelling go down.

Your foot should be raised above the height of your nose or heart depending on how you are lying.

After struggling to keep my foot raised while in bed I got a couple of helpful tips from my sister-in-law who is a nurse: put cushions and/or pillows under the end of your mattress to raise the mattress smoothly (much more comfortable). Stack some pillows around your foot to raise the bed clothes from your foot and reduce aching.

Rotate and move your ankle from time to time to help the circulation.

Pump your toes and do leg raises as often as you can remember.

It may be too soon for you to put your heel down and you may need to just rest, elevate and ice.

If I were to have the surgery again I would rent/borrow a wheel chair to move around. I made do with a wheely office chair which worked fairly well.

I am not a medical professional just a fellow 'footy' but this is what helped me. If the swelling continues and you are still in a lot of pain you might want to phone for advice.

It is hard to keep still and rest but I think it will help in the long run.

Good luck and I hope you feel better.

Beth

Hi Beth,

I'm going to do my best to keep my foot above my heart level and I like the idea of putting cushions under the mattress. and resting as much as possible.

Thanks for your encouraging words and advice

Sue

hope I did not sound too bossy. Worried after posting.

Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Beth

We have a heavy mattress so I use pillows on top of the mattress. A memory foam one at the end of the bed and a softer one in front if it nearer me which gives a gentle slope up the the solid memory foam pillow. Trying to keep the duvet off is a great idea if you can.

Just don't try and rush anything. I'm two weeks in now. I still stay in bed til 12 some days and really take my time getting up. Sleep well everyone. Sitting down to watch a film for the eve! VJ x

Thanks and no Beth not bossy at all :-)

One more thing (2) yes there's a lot of underfoot bruising for the first two weeks as others have mentioned, quite shocked me.

I'm a great believer in natural remedies so as luck would have it I have some Neal's yard calendula (marigold) cream and twice a day I'm gently spreading some on my poor scars which I have to say are swollen, the right foot wasn't cut very prettily :-( it's very soothing and I'm sure will help.

take arnica tablets - still no bruising or swelling and I am 11 days in. Did have an Uncomfortable night though but did too much yesterday so my fault!!

Think you're lucky Jilly and pleased for you. I take arnica but still bruising/swelling. Perhaps would have been worse tho. V

I had the bunion done and a scarf procedure . According to my friend who is a podiatrist there are nearly a different types of ops. I was just lucky though have had to stay in bed today. VJ you were so right, don't try and do too much too early

Hi all

Has anyone else suffered from constipation since their surgery? I have read online that this is normal however my op was on Wednesday noon and I've still not passed anything (UK time is now 21:15 Sunday).

Is this length of time normal after operations?

Advice online included tablets to help the bowels move however I'm worried about being caught short when I can't get to the bathroom easily. I'm walking better than a couple of days ago however I still need things to grab onto like the cabinet and bannister.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Beth

Beth if you are taking any narcotics for pain you will need a laxative. It's important to take it as prescribed. If it is not working try something different.

I was prescribed morphine and it took it's toll on me even though I took it for two days only. Being immobile just adds to it. Post op was virtually painless - it was the constipation that I will forever remember about my osteotomy! LOL.

Hi Jilly sorry to hear you've not been so good today, hope your restful day will put that right. I'm plugging along with the foot up most of the time thing, determined to be good for my six weeks because once I start to do much, I can't go backwards if you see what I mean!

Beth, maybe it's the anaesthesia, maybe it's your painkillers. I'm on codeine, only at night now but it's constipation, even paracetamol does that to me. I'm drinking prune juice which I like more than I thought I would and I also use holland and barretts aloe Vera colon cleanse a few times a week which does help and is gentle. Don't forget, you are not moving round anything like you normally would and that of course affect your system.

Hope all you uk bloggers have enjoyed the beautiful early spring day? We went out for a drive this pm, I just wanted to see the skies and feel the sun, it was beautiful and much as I love our new home, the four walls can become a little enclosing at times.

Sleep well, tomorrow is another day nearer to better feet! VJ👣👣

Ps Sue hope each day brings something a little better for you. If I look back I can see how far I've come in two weeks which is encouraging and I am taking pics so I can look back! Selfies I think you called it Jilly. Never heard the term before and lo it's on the front of the Sunday Times!!

Anyone any idea when normal shoes might become a vague possibility? Is it after six weeks, complete waste of time at the minute and I get anxious that my feet will never shrink! V

Hi All

So grateful to read you experiences and advice , this is day 4 and I have stayed in bed with my legs elevated for most of the time which has proved to be the right thing to do. And with the odd tramadol I am copying so far with paracetamol and ibuprofen ( I can't take Codeine)

Beth I guess the codeine. May be one of the causes of constipation for you thank fully the bananas and plums I am eating are helping me not to be too constipated and I've been avoiding meat and trying to eat fish everyday which seems to help., I wonder if adjusting your diets including drinking more fruit juice might help before you have to go with prescription drugs?

The biggest lesson I am learning is patience because if I spend too much time standing or sitting I pay for it , will try to do a few work e mails today just to ensure that they don't feel that I'm no longer needed as from what I understand I could easily be out of action for between 6 and 8 weeks.

Thanks goodness the weather is at least wonderful to view from the bedroom window.

Sue