Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Leah I can relate to the burning sensation. I have it most of the time. I don't have a cast but a surgical shoe.....have you tried a nice pack......I found it helps with the brings and stinging. I am 3 weeks post op. Hope things improve for you.

You are so lucky you dont have a cast!! I try icing my foot and unfortunately I cant even feel it through the cast/bandages  Honestly, up until this point the cast had been the worst part of the surgery..now the stitches have won the most irritating award! 

Glad to know this burning is normal, I was scared that it was the beginning of an infection. 

I had both of mine done in early Sept and had them shaved, broken and pinned. I didn't need any of my other toes corrected. My feet were bandaged and not in plaster casts though. I have experienced the tingling and burning sensations too which is par for the course. I keep my feet up a lot of the time and only potter about in my special shoes for short periods of time. My surgeon told me I didn't have to elevate my feet above my heart, just to keep them level. I think this might help with the sensation of the blood rushing to the feet when standing up. I have been fortunate that I have had little swelling in my feet and I also keep one step ahead of the pain by taking painkillers (I have lowered the dosage now). I hope your recovery is going well.

You shouldn't have a lot of pain if you keep them elevated and stay off them. You have to give your self time to heal. I had surgery 10 years ago, you just ahve to preapre yourself to slow down if if you don't want to. You don't want to be cripple. Don't push yourself into getting into shoes for long periods, if it hurts don't wear them.  My shoes aren't the prettiest, I do have some tennis shoes and they make some cute styles, I even went to a Nursing Uniform shop and got some real cute comfortable ones, theya re better than most other shoes you can buy. I also have some black/or white with silver on the top (Sketchers) rubber sole but theya re comfortable for me. I hate foot pain so you need to get the best most comfortable shoes when you start walking a lot. If it hurts or burns stay off them. I can't say that enough. I put marjoram and layer with lemongrass essential oils, you can get at Sprouts or Whole foods or order online., just rub the oil then layer with the other one. I then put peppermint oil on top of all that, its not greasy and you will love the way it feels.  Please take your time with this healing.

That's totally normal. It will get better.

Heapy, this biggest change for me was to slow down! I am currently 5 weeks post op, and yesterday was the first day I was on my 

feet for alot of the day.....mostly discomfort in that my foot gets a burning sensationwhen not elevated which I am getting used to now.  I have always been one to go at a million miles an hour. You have to let things go...e.g. our house is a tip currently. needs vacuuming, sweeping etc. but you have to lower your standards a bit....just getting others to do a bit of shopping was the big ask!  tomorrow I get an x-ray done then go to my surgeon for the magic 6 week check next week.  This is meant to be when I throw away the surgical boot, But I currently cant even get a croc on the foot.....not sure what shoes I will wear until all the swelling goes down.

The other thing is I had key hole surgery, which from reading from others on this forum, seems to have the had the fastest recovery. I also had a neuroma which was removed so am having physio twice a week.

Good luck with it all....read the other posts on this forum....its nice to have a support group.

Hi Fran, thanks for your advice, I will definitely be climbing the walls!  I guess if I can get my head around that now it may not seem as bad when it comes to it.  I have done nothing but think about having the op all day and night, should I, shouldn't I?!  I think I've decided not to cancel as I know it will only get worse.  I just hope that I get movement back in my toe joint and no pain (of course after I've fully healed).  I don't know of any other runners who have had them done, but I am hoping to get back to doing it.  I've also got young kids 6 and 9, my Hubby is certainly going to have to step up.

Good luck for tomorrow, I hope you get your shoes on very soon.  Thanks again for the advice.

Heapy

Hi Michelle,sorry to hear about infection you had, glad it's healing ok now. What's the advice about ice?

Hiya yes the infection has healed now it is nice to know that other people have had the operation, i must admit there is no advice about excerises or about putting ice on foot so if anyone has any advice it would be helpful. Also i have found wriggling my toes helps weather this is correct or not im unsure, i also sleep with socks on in bed to stop myself gettin leg cramp and last night for the first time since op i slept wiv duvet on 

Michelle...I am 5 weeks post op. Keep wiggling your toes.  My physio has me also doing stars in and out and well as "pretend you are trying to pick up a tea towel off he floor" and rotating yr foor and up and down....the more he merrier.   I also did get cramps but they seem to have gone now.

i have been I icing quite a lot now since I feel more up to getting out and about .......the ice pack is great. And helps with the swelling.

Hi fran,

I seen the towel one this morning on u tube, have u had both feet done

Also are you able to wear trainers

Just one foot Michelle. And can't get any shoes on yet. Woke up this morning to more pain than I have had in a couple of weeks. I over did it yesterday. As it is Sunday I think I will have a quiet one.

Oh dear sorry to hear you are in pain, plenty of rest today if you are like me you wan to do so much least there is this site to keep us entertained

You can't rush into putting shoes on. It will take you a long time to heal. You really need to do what the doctor says and keep your feel elevated with ice on yur instep and stay off your feet as much as possible. I had my surgery 10 years ago. I wear Sketchers sandals/black or white, a slip on that has silver on the top. They are not beautiful but comfortable. I will never be able to wear most shoes that I like, nor will I get to wear heels but there are a lot of cute shoes to choose from now. If you believe in Essential oils for pain, get some Marjoram and rub it all over the foot area and all over the botom including under the foot and toe. Then layer it with lemongrass for pain - you could also put some peppermint oil on top of those, it drives in the oils and helps a lot with the pain. These oils will also help with charley horses - if you get one you can take a tsp of mustard and ake sure you have enough magnesium. You can also rub/massage your legs from your knee down to your foot with almost any oil. Its not greasy and it will help you relax. They say it takes about a year to feel normal, not true, I took good care of myself and it took me three years to be able to stand on my tippey toes and it is still uncomfortable. This surgery is life changing.

Fran 64059 has some good advise for exercise with the towel.