Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Hi all, more later after my 6-week appt. Thursday, when I hope to be released to wear shoes instead if this Velcro boot and to drive again too. Fir tonight, I just thought I'd mention that Clark's have several styles of attractive and even dressy, as well as casual, Velcro fastening shoes. I found them at a mall in Arkansas last week and was thrilled I could get my still fatter-than-normal right foot into the same size shoe as my left one, due to the Velcro fasteners. These Clark's do have arch support and feel pretty comfortable. I only wore them two hours Sunday to church and went back to what the doc gave me until after Thursday, however. I still can't move my big toe or the next one that was the hammertoe yet. I feel so blessed as I have not had the pains many of you spoke about. I wonder if my wearing a magnetic insole under my foot and a magnet on top, as well as a magnetic bracelet on my ankle, has helped me. I like to think so. If the rest if your know a Nikken consultant anne can get some of their awesome insoles, maybe you woukd find them beneficial too. Take care, everyone. God only gave us each two feet. We must not take them for granted. Rest and elevate, but, oh, I wish I coukd stay out of the chocolate!

Hi K

Don't get discouraged. It is early days for you yet. As Jill and others have said, all these sharp twinges, pain, soreness is all normal. You will find it will go on for some time yet, but lessen over time.

VJ and Carol, I can only wear my trainers, but they are tight and rub my painful spots. Think they are making my feet too warm.

Carol - good luck at your appointment. I will be interested to see what they tell you re driving. What foot did you have done. I still don't feel confident driving as my right foot done. I think I can drive. It it is the emergency stop I'm not sure I could do. I will hang on for another week. I'm 7 weeks today.

Bet you can't wait to get out of that plaster Jill. It's been a long time on.

VJ, I don't know what a trainer is. I am trying to imagine. My surgery was on my right foot also, so I am a bit concerned still. I did, however, try driving yesterday from the garage to the barn to feed the horses. I was surprised it didn't hurt. I don't feel confident yet, but I hate to depend on my husband every time I need to go somewhere. I help out at schools with children with visual challenges, and there are meetings in the spring I need to attend, etc. we'll see what Doc says tomorrow. I do know it is really hard for me to not walk funny with a pronounced limp, and I hear that is not good for our bodies. I am trying to walk more normally. Another huge scab came off yesterday, so I know healing is happening. It just takes time, more than I planned. to the rest of you in the early days, hang in there. It will get better.

Carol: a trainer is another name for sneaker. I kind of like the idea of it being a person training your foot but it is actually a shoe worn for exercise.

Thanks for the Clarks shoe tip. My local Clarks store does not stock wide fittings which makes trying them on tricky. You have to order a wide fitting. I will try to check them out as I am also worried about anything pressing on my foot.

I am feeling pretty low today as although my foot is healing well and I hopefully get the boot off tomorrow (Thurs) I have an infection in the root of a tooth. I am on antibiotics but it is painful. It is my second 'funny' little infection since the surgery and I wonder if it somehow connected. I am usually very healthy and don't get these sorts of things so I am wondering if my immune system is low at the moment.

I am wondering if there is some kind of vitamin/mineral I can take to give my immune system a boost?

I really want to be more active now and get out and about.

Older Beth

Hi Carol, as Beth has said trainer=sneaker! Amazing how the Atlantic can switch understanding with one word!

Older Beth sorry to hear you've not been well. I've had days of not feeling great, I'm sure being so sedentary isn't good for our system! Maybe speak to someone at your local health food shop, even pro biotics to look after your stomach following the anti biotics might be a good idea. It begs the question what does anaesthetic do our system too doesn't it? Good luck with your boot Beth! 👣👣

Hiya K. I use crutches because I've had both feet done. I don't need them indoors now but I still use them outside because they get me that extra stability if I need it. Also people are more considerate of you generally and if you're going to work at a busy time that may be important! And if my feet are particularly sore, they take some of the weight which you may need at the end of your work day for getting home. A stick might do you just as well. Do you have a hiking stick? Just ideas, hope it helps, but I think there's a huge difference between getting round at home and going outside! Good luck, let us know how you get on 👣👣V

Hi. I use my crutches when I am out, they just give me a bit more confidence, and also awareness from other people that are around me, if anyone come near my foot, I can place my crutch strategically in front of it, if I am out

I'm week 3 and walking about quite well, at home only 1 foot done, now tend to forget I have not to walk about so much my foot starts throbbing, telling me to sit and elevate it.

Hello K, I have a special boot for my foot called a camwalker (controlled ankle movement). I got it at my 2 week appointment. It means I can move about very well using my heel and it has lots of protection for my toes. I felt much safer going out when I got it as well as just moving around at home. I would definitely recommend it to anyone having this surgery.

I think it would really help you with your commute on the tram and people can really see they need to mind your foot too. I used crutches with it to begin with but found I didn't really need them after a few days.

I am feeling a little better today vj so thanks for the sympathy I needed it yesterday.

I see the doctor later today and am hoping it means I can begin putting more weight on my foot and wearing some more regular shoes. While I loved the boot I feel it has served its time now!

Older Beth

HI Beth, Joan, and VJ

thanks for the helpful ideas! I think you are right, crutches are not just useful for getting around but for calling attention to the fact that people around should stay clear. Beth, i'm jealous of your boot! I have a sandal-like thing, it is much less obvious than the boot, and based on Google images i've seen, looks much less protective. I guess i'd also have a better chance of people surrendering a seat on the tram if i've got crutches or a walking stick... I'll get something for the commute. I'm going to try to get a hold of crutches from a friend; i'm 39 and somehow feel funny about getting a cane.

BTW, i wanted to mention to BR, i'm only 16 days post-opp so i can't answer most of your questions, but i'm actually doing OK, the whole experience was much more painful than expected, but i am still glad i did it.

I don't have hip or knee trouble, but one of the reasons i did the surgery now is because my mom has TERRIBLE feel and she ignored them all her life and now at 71can barely fit into any shoes and has knee and hip problems too, possibly related.

My relatives (i come from a medical family) all recommend the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. My Uncle is head Radiologist at Mt Sinai and he swears by HSS. My mom just had hip replacement surgery and one week post opp she is more mobile than i am!

i hope this helps

Hi K - I though the same about surgery, that it will just get harder as you get older, my surgeon confirmed to me that it is now or maybe never, as my bunions we getting increasing worse, I'm glad I done it, also getting other foot done when surgeon thinks it is the right time, although painful I would do it again and get it all behind me.

Day 29 for me - going for my first bath, no dressing on at all, don't know if my foot will feel a bit vunerable without a dressing.

No shoes, not even a thought of sticking my foot in a shoe, I will just wear a big wooly sock and my surgical shoe.

Morning

Beth - good luck with your appointment. Don't be too disappointed if you can't get into any shoes. I am a few days ahead of you post op and have just been able to get into lace up trainers. But they are tight. I had other toes done as well and they are still swollen, also swelling on top of foot, so trying to push into shoes is a no go. I still wear a thin sock in bed to stop ribbing on the sheet, duvet.

Be careful too if in ordinary shoes, you have no crutches or ' surgical shoe' to alert people that you have a problem.

Carol, the Clarks shoes sound good. I live in a very small town and therefore have to order online, but I don't want to keep sending them back. I am trying to be patient here!!!!

K - you are early days still. When were you told you could go back to work?

I am sitting with my feet in salt water. Very soothing. Will put bio oil on after. I am making the most of today as tomorrow and Sunday I am back at the cafe and working both days. Not looking forward to it, it hubby can't manage with the staff we have and we can't lose custom.

Have a good day everyone.

Jan

Oh I'm a week ahead of myself only day 22, not 29. Jan - how far along are you post op.

I'm just over 7 weeks now. It is slow progress, but still progressing.

I am going to ring my podiatrist Monday (they are closed today) to try to get more info about exercising.

I have been given 1 exercise only and I can't do that properly. So many are being given physio. I will ask if it would be beneficial. Don't mind if I have to pay for it if it helps.

My foot is still stiff and with the hammertoe fused, I know this will never bend, but nothing seems to move far at the moment. Frustrating!

You are early days yet. You need to rest while you can, it wiggle as much as possible.

Hello everyone,

I'm on day 16 following a scarf osteotomy on my left foot in a NHS foot clinic rather than a hospital.I had local anaesthetic injections to numb my foot and needed extra ones as they didn't fully work at first. I had my music turned up really loudly during the op. and tried to read a magazine, and although I didn't feel any pain, I had to try not to imagine what was happening when I heard the electric saw etc.

I did have pain for the first few days, though kept it fairly well under control by rotating paracetamol ibuprofen and codeine.

Two days ago I had two stitches out (the rest are dissolvable) which stung a lot. Then the consultant moved my toe a bit which hurt a lot too , and coupled with a hot stuffy room, I became a bit faint and didn't take in much of his advice.

I think the gist was that I can get the foot wet from about 3 days time, and I need to move the toe a little each day to stop it becoming stiff. Also to put on a trainer in the morning to start walking properly. At the moment though I'm sticking with the velcro shoe and crutches for a few more days!