Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Morning all

My gel toe separators have arrived and are neatly tucked in place. My big toes still tend to incline but I've noticed when I'm standing, they are straighter. Am hoping these will help. They're very soft so I can't think they will do harm despite what my podiatrist said. My toes have inclined since I was about 8/9 so I keep telling myself not to expect miracles. Hard tho when I've dreamed of straight toes all my adult life! I have to say despite the bunion being gone, or a lot of it, my feet are still wide, specially the right one, so I desperately hope I can fit normal shoes eventually. It's all about patience, I know! Never been my strong point which is why I made a conscious effort to be good, rest etc and take my time with this. It is teaching me too!

I'm still in bed, my routine is don't get up til about 12 so as I rest, it's a comfy place to do so, and I'm not tempted to do too much downstairs. Hubbies is out today so can just suit myself all round :-).

I notice each day the bruising is coming out more and the swelling is a bit less. I iced for long periods Saturday while watching the rugby (never mind England, 2nd is good and I'm happy for Brian O'Driscoll!) didn't ice yesterday but the peas will be out again this pm!

The other thing to do re constipation Sue btw, is drink lots of water, not great with immobility but very necessary, I think specially as we are so still, the body needs extra help!

Have a great day foot bloggers, wherever you are and whatever you are doing (just not TOO much) V 👣👣X

Hi everyone.

Jilly, I hope you are feeling better today. I still have days where I wake up and my foot feels painful and another day it feels 'almost normal', if that's possible. I made a mistake of putting one of those socks you get free on a flight and it had stuck to my stitch. it has started bleeding again. I need to leave it open later to dry out.

Beth as the others have said the constipation is probably due to the medication. Fruit juices always works for me. Good luck with that one.

VJ. - on my notes given to me it says that at 6 weeks take a shoe which laces up with you to that appointment.i have decided that as that is the day I have my pin out I am going to decline that and keep the boot until I can practice with all my shoes in the comfort of home. I may not be able to get the shoe I take with me on anyway.

I am going to the cafe today ( we are closed) just for a change of scenery. I will enjoy the fresh air I'm sure.

Speak to you all later.

How do you put emocions on here. I am not a complete technophobe. I can do it on my phone but not the ipad. Help please!

I

Hi Jan

You may need to go into settings to enable the emoticons on your iPad , then to to general. Scroll down to keyboard. Under English I also have emoji but you may not have it downloaded or you may not have it enabled, in which case I'm guessing you click on add new keyboard and emoji should be in that list. Hope that works. Let me know.

My scar on the left foot still isn't knitting properly so I've managed to strap it today and I'm going to keep it dry for a few days if I can. Downside of not walking/driving, cannot get to the GP without a lift from someone! Taxis are a no no here as we are so far from the next town. So it's DIY for a few days! The other foot is doing much better scar wise. I think the main pain now is a) along the scars and b) the big toes bending when I walk. It's interesting it's easier to identify now rather than the first week or ten days when it all hurt!

Now the sun is out too. Signing out for now. V x

Hi All. I've been following you all for the last two weeks or so and just had to join in! I'm a 61 year old who had a bilateral scarf and aitken on 26th February in Perth, Scotland.

I had a spinal block and was aware what was happening all the way through my op-a totally bizarre experience! After, the pain was severe enough to keep me in hospital overnight but since I escaped I've been able to manage with codeine and paracetamol for the first week and then just paracetamol. I was put in plaster with heel walking boots for the first fortnight but since last Thursday have been bandage free with just toe separators and my heel walkers. I have instructions to keep my feet up for the next three weeks. I've had very little bruising and swelling. I realise that I've been very lucky and think that my lovely consultant is a very skilled surgeon.

For those still to have the op and in the early stages of recovery, I think that the most important thing to do is to elevate and to be so patient-hard for all of us who do so much every day!

Thanks to those of you who are chatting on this forum-I look forward to hearing about all that is still to come-especially the shoes! My one wish is to wear a pair of flat strappy sandals again-and with my lovely straight feet this looks as if it may happen this year-too exciting!

E.

Wow Eileen, you are a brave one!

When I had my surgery, I didn't want general anesthesia until after I saw a video of the surgery. As soon as they brought out the little saw I knew a mild sedation was in order. My doctor gave me very light sedation along with pain blocks in the foot which turned out to cause me more discomfort than the surgery incision itself.

It sounds like you are progressing well and quickly considering you had an overnight stay and a plaster cast. I think you are in the minority here.

Angela

Hi VJ

Thank you VJ for the keyboard tip. I have a book to read on the I-pad but haven't yet got around to reading it. I should make better use of this time.😉 as you can see I managed it and it only took 2 secs..

I have been out for a few hours and my foot has swollen. I am now icing it. 😨 But it was worth it. Sorry getting carried away with my little pics.

I am glad that all you Southerners (especially Jill in Devon) had a scorching hot Sunday, it was about 10 degrees colder up North and it is overcast and miserable here now. But we have no snow so I and our garden are grateful for that.

I too have been taking 'selfies' of my foot and the progress and backward steps. Happy to say more progress and hearing everyone talking about putting real shoes on gets me excited!

Jan from 🇬🇧 lol

Hi Jan. Glad to be of help re the iPad, it's fun to use emoji isn't it! 😄!

Does anyone know if the big toes straighten more as we stand on them over time or if this is as good as it gets?

We all seem to have been told so many different things and have such different aftercare and while it's great to chat here I was starting to be confused and wonder if I were doing something wrong. Anyway having spoken to physio it appears I can weight bear as much as is manageable.

I did manage to fit my toms on today (canvas shoes) but no way can I walk in them yet or keep them on even but at least it's a start! I think that will be the same for quite a while with footwear as they rub in all the wrong places!!

Hope you've had a good day despite less sunshine wherever you may be. V

Hi, All. It's Carol here again on Day 34 after bunionectomy, hammertoe correction, and tendons cut, all 3 incisions on right foot only. ( My dr. woukdn't do both feet at once, & I still cannot imagine how some of you did that and got back & forth to bathroom! We even just paid for 2nd month rent on this knee walker/scooter as it is such a help for long distances, even though I am putting fot down to walk short distances now. I am feeling way less pain and want to move around, do dishes, laundry, etc, but it seems the more my foot is down, the more swollen it gets at end of day. My 6-week appt. is Ap. 3. I am wondering if I will even be out of this velcro shoe by then. Good luck all, and do not rush things. Foot hanging down time slows progress!!!!

Hello everyone. As there are now two Beths on this forum. I am now close to 4 weeks post op so I shall refer to myself as Older Beth from now on (shall not mention age!).

re: constipation - I was told to take a stool softener/laxative which did work for me. I did also realise that I was probably quite dehydrated.

I watched a you tube video of the surgery (after) and I am glad I had a general. Not sure how I would have managed with the noises of the procedure.

I was reflecting earlier about our feelings of needing to be up and about and doing things and general impatience with 'resting' I remembered that when I had my daughter (now 32) by an elective caesarian section I was in hospital after for at least 10 days afterwards. I also had to go in the day before to be ready for the surgery. I am sure this would never happen now and I wonder what the hospital inpatient time would have been then for bunion surgery? I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been a day patient surgery. I think because of this there is a false perception created that the surgery is not really a big deal and that we should be up and about sooner. My mother, a nurse from the Call the Midwife generation, told me after my surgery that I needed to remember the shock my body would be feeling simply due to having the surgery and the need to take the time to recuperate from that. I think she is right and we all need to relax more in general and take the time we need just to get better.

I am now half lying on the sofa with my feet up and my gel toe separaters in place as I type. I had a busy morning as I had a dentist appointment. Fortunately it was only a cleaning and I got to lie down. The funny thing is that my dentist had bunion surgery in November so we had a good chat comparing surgeries. He had a foot injury and had the bunionectomy as part of the corrective surgery. He mentioned that he was looking forward to going to beach this summer and showing off his new less ugly feet. Clearly this isn't just a female concern!

Best Wishes all.

Older Beth

Well done Carol, wish I was day 34 - I am only day11! Went out today and was pushed in a wheelchair

. Had to go to a trade fair. I was amazed how differently people treated me from being ignored to downright rude. Next time I am going to take a bottle of water with me spill it slowly out of the back of the chair and then dribble and at least I will get a reaction then!!

That's hilarious, but sad too. We have a granddaughter with cerebral palsy, so we are well aware of stares and lack of understanding & compassion. I was treated like a princess bt SWAirlines last week, however. There were some who looked at me like they thought I had faked it with the surgical shoe just to get pre-boarding, though. People are interesting.

Eek Jilly you are experiencing what we often hear disabled people speak of. Even in my chair here at home I realise how frustrating lack of permanent mobility might be and I can stand up if I need to. You paint a funny pic tho there's obviously a darker side to it all.

The dog next door I used to walk til my op has been crying on and off all pm. He is now in his crate all day. It breaks my heart hearing him. Hopefully someone will be home for him soon.

Older Beth how long is it ok to wear the gels, do you know? I imagine not too long to start with. You are so right this is quite major surgery and should be taken seriously by us. You only have to see the amount if bruising that comes out to see how intrusive it was 😥.

Take care all 👣👣

I have realised that there are two discussions lists going and the other Beth is on the other one as it were. I am clearly getting confused as messages just come into my email inbox.

vj I am not sure how long to wear the gels either. I am putting them in when I am resting my foot. I am wondering whether to try to keep them in at night. My doctor didn't suggest them but my big toe is definitely leaning in again and I want to try to stop that. They are very soft so I am hoping it will be ok. Any one else know?

Older Beth

Hi Carol

I too am 33 days post op and getting around is much easier now. I know instantly when I have overdone it. You say you had hammertoe correction as well. Me too but I can't find anyone who has had pins in that need to be removed at 6 weeks. I have mine removed a week tomorrow and hopefully shoes at the ready.

I had mine done with blocks in my ankle and foot and even though I had my I-pod playing I could still hear the drilling and sawing - lovely. And the nurse who was 'comforting me' kept talking to me, so I had to take my earphones out all the time. They did suggest that I take a book to read - could you imagine that. Like you could concentrate.

My husband reminded me yesterday that the surgeon told me to 'write' the alphabet with my foot raised in air. It does get the ankle and the whole foot moving. it's good everyone should try it.

Well, I am waiting now for My chef (husband) to cook dinner. Bless him, he will be pleased when this is all over.

Jan 😆

I have the gel separators as part of my recovery and will wear them for at least the next three weeks so that probably gives some guide. Surely they can't do harm?

E