Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Are you young? You will do fine. I waited too long. Don't do that. Get it done ASAP.rent or borrow an ice machine and a knee walker. I can't even imagine this recovery without both. Do you live alone, or is there someone who can keep your ice going and bring you meals? That is helpful. I have a friend who was told by her dr. To just walk on her heels tto bathroom----not a good idea! He obviously hadn't had the surgery himself. About a dr--- you mighty go to podiatrist's offices and ask for names and numbers of patients. They may not be able to give those out , but yo u might be able to visit with those in waiting rooms. From this site, I am learning some options I wish I had known. There a definitely questions I"ll ask before another foot surgery. I went with family friend this time. Tho't I had to, but he"ll be retired before I do this again. Good luck. You'll do find, but do get all your questions answered first. I just wish I had listened to my kids and done this many years ago. Carol178187

Lena, I had a double osteotomy. My doctor employs the Ludloff plate. He developed his procedure for quick recovery and little downtime so your muscles do not atrophy. I had minimal discomfort (the meds were worst than the surgery). In the future, I will know what NOT to take for pain.

You're right; recovery times will differ for everyone but most important to healing is the actual procedure performed. I am surprised when I read these forums and learn most posters have had the traditional surgery with recovery times (non-weight bearing for 6 to 8 weeks or longer).

You can send me a private message for specific information as I cannot post it here.

Angela, I read your reply to Lena. I had heard there were new procedures available, but my dr. Is an old friend, and I thought I had no other options. I want to know about the new procedures before I schedule my other foot for sure. How can I send you a private message? Thanks so much. I am concerned about the downtime a lot due to my osteoporosis. Carol178187

Carol, you should be able to see an orange block under my name - it says message. Click on it and you will get a separate window to e-mail me.

Thank you Carol and Angela for sharing with me. Angela, I will send you a private message.

Hello, I am on day 7 after surgery, I was provided with an ice machine and pain killers after surgery all I did was sleep for the entire week basically. There was a lot of pain so I couldn't image doing both feet at the same time, but like everyone has said it does get better after a little while. Everyone I've talked to that has had this surgery after the first week fits into the boot and can start walking around. I had my one week appointment with my doctor, he bandaged me up gave me a boot and he told me to stay off my foot for another two weeks! This is unreal especially since I got crutches and gimp around and up and down those stairs all day.

But overall when re-bandaging my foot I do notice a huge improvement so I'm very happy with going through with his surgery.

Friends who began walking around too soon are the ones who are having the surgery redone years later. My dr told me in our first conversation that his patients who do the best are the ones who keep their foot elevated for a full two weeks for sure, and preferably longer. I do NOT want to do this again, so I am following orders. I am impressed you can do stairs with crutches, but do spend some part of each day with your foot elevated for awhile. I don't get my stitches out and my boot for walking until Day 15. I hope you take care and heal well. . I began today doing leg lifts to not lose all my strength. I will beef up bed exercises tomorrow. Good luck.

Thanks Carol, that's actually very relieving to hear! I'm in my mid 20s so I have a hard time sitting around. I've been off pain killers but my foot is healing and very painful. Boredom is the worst though.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

I am reading I AM MALALA right now & have a stack of books waiting. My dr. Did refill my tramadol & told me to not be afraid to use it, I don't go more than 6-8 hrs before I need a 1/2 dose, even with the ice machine, but then, the surgery I should have had years ago was put off until age 68! Good luck. Carol

I have found everyone's stories/experiences very helpful! I had both feet done this morning. My block is wearing off and having some pain. It seems like everyone pretty much agrees that the first few days are pretty uncomfortable. I have cast boots on both legs and can walk in them for short distances, like to the bathroom. Thanks for everyone's different suggestions on ways to get through this recovery a little smoother. Did anyone that had both feet done take blood thinners after surgery?

You must be really tough! At least you shouldn't have to go through this recovery again. That is good. I don't think those walking boots are to give you license to walk anywhere but the bathroom, however. Good luck managing the post op pain. No fun, but hopefully worth it. Tomorrow is Day 10 for me, & I am still using ice and tramadol. We had planned a trip to Gym tomorrow so my trainer, who has been trying to save my osteoporotic bones, can work me some, but I am about to back out. We'll see in the morning. Bet you will do fine. God bless.

Thanks Carol. Just for an update, today is post op day 1 and the pain is awful! It hurts all the time even with the pain meds. I am hoping this only last for a couple days...we will see..

Ouch! I know what you mean. It was really awful my first 3 nights, but we called dr. Who said to remove the outer bandage, which gave a LOT of relief immediately.he told us it is really hard for a dr. To know how tight to wrap a bandage,because everyone swells differently. Do not hesitate to call & ask that question. The pain I have now & that began right after that is a normal awful post op pain, but what I had first was a screaming, burning pain that the tramadol wouldn't touch. I hope that is not what is going onfor you if you are already in a boot. Oh, my. Please call dr. Painmed should help. Good luck. C

I wish I had found this page a week or more ago. I had both of mine done a week ago today. The first two days were terrible. By day 4 I wasn't hurting much and I now am realizing I should have taken it easy. I have been walking around in my boots, on my heels mostly. Around the house to get something from the kitchen or something quick. I will now be sure to use my walker rather than just walking around.

I went to my checkup 2 days ago, he said all looks good and to wear the boots for 10 more days. I did both because I didn't want to take the time or money to do them separate and they weren't too bad yet. They were painful when I walked but not big yet and not reshaping other bones yet.

After reading everyone's stories I think I will be happy when this is over. I think I need to be more diligent at staying still with my feet up. All of my toes are swollen, they and my feet are bruised. My big toes do ache, I can wiggle them, unlike some people on here saying they can't lift theirs.

I've been lucky enough to be able to work from home during my recovery. So, I sit on the couch all day with a laptop.

I had my bunion surgery a week ago and am worried because the pain is getting worse. I came across this string because I am getting very worried about my post-surgery pain. But reading these entries and seeing that I'm not alone does give me reassurance. I hope you are all improving steadily, and I thank you for the hints about the shower chair and a better foot wrap.

Right now I use a wastebasket liner to protect the foot from water and in fact don't even put that foot in the shower. Very awkward. As to washing my hair, I do that in the kitchen sink. We have a new faucet with a removable end that can be used as a hose. Very helpful for those who have hair-washing issues.

If I set my right foot down, I sometimes gasp with pain. I'm usually a good patient, and in the past haven't even used medication post-surgery, but now I do and am actually worried that I'll have to get the Percoset prescription renewed. That isn't "me".

I visited the surgeon yesterday, and she said my foot appears to be coming along fine, with the swelling going down, I too can see improvement but it doesn't help the pain. She suggested wearing the walking boot around the house and put my orthotic in the walking boot as well. It is very painful to do that because the walking boot hits me on the exact wrong spot on my foot, so I can't even bend the foot. So forget that idea.

Like others on this string, I try to "bundle" my walking trips in this apartment to minimize the number of times I have to get up.

I note there is a 16-year-old in this string who is contemplating getting bunion surgery on both feet at the same time I hope he or she will reconsider unless it is an emergency and the doctor insists it be done now. You don't know what the pain is like. I have one "good" foot now and it's hard even to get around with that!

Because I'm doped up a lot of the time, I find it difficult to concentrate on tasks such as reading -- and even reading for pleasure!

But my main purpose in writing this blog entry is to thank you all for sharing your experiences and your advice. It is so helpful to me, particularly to let me know that I'm not alone with things including drawn-out pain and medication concerns. I wish each of you a speedy recovery.