Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Jill - make it a really large bottle of water!!!!!

Hi all, newer Beth here.

Just coming to the end of day 5... walking without pain (just a dull ache) and finally got to see the downstairs of my house today. Friends came over up keep me company but my brain is slowly wilting away with the daytime telly.

Weaned off codeine now and just on paras every 4hrs, on top of pain now!

Hope you're all well

Beth 2

Glad to hear that the pain has subsided Beth. A dull ache is pretty much it for me too-except when I trip over my own feet!

The little bag my separators came in said don't wear for more than 8 hours in 24. They release mineral oil? I did a lot if reading on amazon before trying to decide which to buy. My podiatrist isn't happy I've bought some off the shelf so is trying to find someone local who can make me some for my own feet. I will keep you informed. She says that the swelling will distort the look of the foot at present and the separators will help them look better.

Tomorrow I shall post on my laptop it's hard doing on the iPhone. And the pad is upstairs. Need I say more!!

My "chef" is coming down shortly to cook :-). Have a good eve all. V👣👣

Hi older ' Beth ' seems mean to call you that.

I guess the reason they usually try to get us up and about after any kind of surgery is to prevent DVT and to be mobilised where as in my mums day they wanted us to lay down all the time , however with these daily stomach injections and with both feet having been operated on I am now doing better with less pain by basically laying down with my feet up although I am only on day 4 and I do feel a little guilty but my husband is happy to care for me which is great,, and I plan to use the next few weeks as a reading and reflective time so we'll see how that goes.

Wishing you all a good nights sleep

Sue

Thanks for the info vj. It seems as though I am doing the right thing with my gel toe things so I will continue as I am.

Know the feeling re things in the wrong place.

Sue, don't worry I don't think of myself as older at all. Couldn't think how else to refer to myself. I never came across another Beth until I moved to the USA. Liz was the accepted short version of Elizabeth when I was a child. My mum was a fan of Little Women...

It is important to get up and move around as you say. I just think with day surgeries we have a tendency not to accept the 'seriousness' of the procedure and think we can just get back to 'normal' after an unrealistic time span.

Older Beth

I'm also very impressed to see that the newer Beth is almost pain free on day 5 and managed to go downstairs in her home, I'm hoping to get up tomorrow, befor being allowed to leave the hospital I had to show that I could get up and down stairs using crutches leading with the better of my feet and only heel walking so I hope that'll work out, the most exciting thought is getting dressed properly, and all to see one of our daughters :-) . Who's popping over.

It's also interesting to see that we are all based across the country ( and in the US I think?) so as time goes on it'll be good to compare how we feel our treatment has been, although I guess recovery will be a combination of our body and mind as well as the medical teams.

I live down in the south and had my surgery done in QA - Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth, it's the first time I've been treated there and so far so good.

Hoping to leave the tramadol off tomorrow and just use Ibruprofen and paracetamol - fingers crossed!

Sue

Thank you Sue, that's lovely.

I hope you feel well enough to get up and moving tomorrow. How many days has it been since your surgery? Day 5 was the turning point for me. Before now I've been in excruciating pain. Honestly, it dies get much better!

Beth

I'm on day 4 Beth - did you have both done at the same time as well?

Been following this group for a few weeks now and decided to jump in. I had bunion surgery, hammertoe, plantar fasciitis and tarsal tunnel release, all on the right foot on Feb 26. Have done really well except for falling twice and putting a lot of pressure on my foot trying to keep from falling. I am approaching week three and actually have more pain now than I did at first. Sutures are out, thank goodness and I am still no-weight bearing. I see the surgeon Friday and will probably go into a post surgical boot. I keep thinking I should be further along but I have to consider I had four procedures on one little foot! I am 63 years old and it is not easy getting around. Hubby rented me a knee walker and that really has been a big help. Happy healing to all!

Hi Jenny

You had surgery the same day as me. That was a lot of work on one poor wee foot-it's bound to be complaining! I had both feet done but most of the work was on my left foot where I too had a hammertoe corrected plus some soft tissue work. I have found that some days are better than others-especially if I can avoid awkward kovements early in the day. Tripping over your own feet is not a good thing to do.

E

Hello all. I've been lurking the past few months after my own bunion surgery from the United States (California).

I had a severe bunion removal on December 23, with the ligament's severed and realigned. While I had some pain in the few days immediately after the procedure, it's been fairly easy. At least until recently.

I was confined to crutches and bed/chair rest the first six weeks, and was on leave from work. After that time I was released to walk, but no physical therapy. The only 'suggestion' I received from the doctor was to wiggle my big toe. It was also (strongly) suggested that I ice my foot every day, continue to keep it elevated, wear a rubber toe seperator, and get orthotic shoe inserts (she was trying to get me to buy one's upward of $200 a pair).

I've been walking every few days, up to three miles (an hour's worth). I also tried very small bits of running, but frustratingly, I'm starting to get some pain on the bottom of my foot.

This is the reason I wanted to post my experience. My largest concern was when I would be able to play sports again. Prior to the surgery I was playing soccer 4 times a week, and find this time extremely frustrating. Not only for the lack of social interaction, as most my friends play in the same games, but from a weight control angle. I'm 46, and have gained upwards of 15 pounds since the surgery.

While I've been good about not overtaxing my foot, and following directions, I've developed daily pain on the underside of my foot. It's almost as though I never had surgery! It makes walking difficult, and is far from what I was expecting. The doctor stated it was normal to have pain, and that orthotics would help. But I can't imagine this is normal, especially three full months after the surgery.

Anyone else having this issue? Thoughts and comments most appreciated.

Charles

Charles, I would consult with another orthopedic surgeon if I were you. Some surgery is not successful and results in permanent nerve damage or the bunion returns sometimes because the incorrect procedure was used. Whatever your situation, you will not know unless you follow up with someone unbiased with your case.

My surgery was last November and although I was getting around on day 3, my foot is still healing and I was told it will take 6 months to one year for the soft tissue and nerves to completely heal.

I've heard stories about joggers able to resume running after 12 weeks but I think they are in the minority.

Angela

Hi All,

I 'm now onto day 9 and have managed to reduce to paracetamol and Ibruprofen , and whilst I am more comfortable and more mobile It seems rather static over the last 2 days and I don't seem to be able to sit for any time at all with my feet lowered ( when in the wheelchair rather than on crutches , I can only cope with short periods of time, which lowers the spirits somewhat .

I wondered if anyone else had had both feet done and could give any kind of time frame on a dramatic change in mobility,

Thanks

Sue

Hi Sue

I'm three weeks in. Even a week ago I couldn't bear my feet being down on the floor for more than a few minutes. We had dinner out at two weeks and I had to have my feet up on a chair.

I can walk better now but it's still painful. I'm without painkillers but that's really cos they messed up my stomach too much and I miss them at night.

We've just done a two hour car journey to a family do. My feet are aching as they've been down and it's good to have them up again. I've probably walked too much the last couple of days - only round the house but it still takes it's toll. Have been unwell so not posted for a while and this may have hampered my recovery too. But I would say as an overview - it keeps getting better AS LONG AS YOU REST and be very very patient, there is no quick fix. Yes btw I've had both feet done as I didn't want two periods of being off my feet!

Don't forget being in a wheelchair is still having your feet down and not up like we are supposed to! I suddenly worked that one out so it's great to get around the house but it's not the same as resting!

I hope this helps. I felt a bit down around the time you are and that's normal too. We are quite disabled and despite visitors etc it's hard when you can't get out and about. You will get there, we all will. 😄👣👣 best. v x