Bunion surgery - much more painful than I ever imagined

Dear vjl56--I want to report that I had a peek at my foot at my 1 week appointment when the doctor changed my dressing. I could not believe how great my foot looked--toe straight, no 6th toe I have been lucky to have little to no swelling so that peek was a good indicator of how good my foot will look if I continue to heal properly. very motivating!

Sounding so good Laura, I have my op tomorrow and love all this positives!!

I had my stitches removed this morning (day 16). It all looks good - very little swelling and bruising. Keeping your foot elevated and iced really does help. I now have an aircast boot which is wonderful. I can now walk around on my heel using the crutches for support. I feel like a different person.

One note: make sure your crutches are adjusted properly before you go home after the surgery. I found out today that mine were too short for me and the arm length was not correct. The adjustment has made a big difference. It probably explains why I felt so unstable.

Good luck, Beth

Hi. after reading your posts the last couple of weeks, I thought I would join in. I am 3 weeks post op, having bunion, hammer toe, lump off. 3 rd toe and Morton's neuroma, all on the right foot.

I have another 3 weeks before pin removed. Anyone suffer any pain with this? I should be enjoying the rest, but I'm just bored now.

Like Jillyco have 2 flights of stairs in our house, so tend to gather everything needed for the day and stay upstairs. We also own a cafe so my husband only had 2 days off with me. All I seem to do is eat (didn't get time to do this before op)read and sleep, which has made my sciatica worse, especially at night. I need to start doing some excercises. My foot lets me know when I have done too much as it starts to swell and feel tight. That's when i put ice pack on and elevate.

Everything that my consultant/surgeon told me has been correct so far and they have been excellent. I have had problems with the fibreglass cast and had to have it changed. it makes the bottom of my foot hurt.

I am interested to hear Jillyco next post as she had her op today.

Best wishes all - Jan

Hi Jan. Welcome to the forum. I think it's right that we listen to our feet and know when to stop. It is much harder when we are on our own during the day isn't it? I went out just for an hour and a half this morning to the local business club which has done me a lot of good psychologically, to get back into seeing people. I'm guessing it's more painful with a pin, I'm not pinned but I've had both my feet done at the same time.

Were you happy with your foot - I'm supposing you saw it when your stitches were taken out, but perhaps not? I'm trying to keep my state positive and enjoy the rest as it's back to work when I'm walking again!

Jilly - let us know how you are when you are back on line? Anyone else reading- share your experiences!

best to everyone, VJ

Day one and easy peasy so far, but then I am drugged up!!

Great to hear you are doing well Jillyco. Be prepared to feel less great once the drugs wear off. I did find I felt a little better everyday after that. I am now getting up and down the stairs without too much trouble using my boot. I am feeling pretty good and definitely feeling more like my normal self. Good luck. Beth

Hi Jilly. Well done you. Enjoy the first bit and do not come off the drugs too soon. I'm a week on now. I can manage my stairs without crutches and can walk but crutches help the stability. Remember ice and arnica and rest rest rest! Keep us posted. VJ

Hi Jilly. glad you are Ok. Take it easy. My pain was worse first 4 days, once block had worn off. Just take it easy and ice and elevate. It's all uphill from here. Take care.

Jan

Can anyone advise. I'm 7 days on from surgery and today the dressings are really rubbing on my scars or that's what it feels like. I wondered if it's ok to remove the post surgery dressings and just use some mepore type dressings where sore til the stitches are out on Friday? Can I walk in the Velcro shoes without bandages? I don't want to put anything at risk but am trying to stay comfortable as I can. Thanks. VJ

I would say ask the hospital if rubbing and they will sort. I am in a plaster cast so couldn't say more, but the info the hospital gave me said to go back to A&E if any problems like that. Good luck

Hi VJ. I had my dressing changed after 7 days and another put on. You don't mention a cast. I had a plaster cast which they removed at the same time and a fibreglass cast put on. my stitches were done at 2 weeks. it could be where there is swelling. My fibreglass cast is rubbing and I am tempted to 'ditch' it! You could try very carefully undoing the bandages, being careful not to disturb any stitches if they are stuck and putting it back on looser. It would be best to get advice if you are really uncomfortable. I was given an out of hours number to call.have you got a contact number? bio oil is very good once stitches removed or dissolved. it softens the skin and helps with the tightness.

Let's know how you get on.

Jan

Hi thanks to you both for your feedback. I did re do the bandages on both feet today as they were flapping around a bit. I haven't had a cast, just Velcro shoes. Everything looks very clean and dry just swollen and bruised. My daughter is buying the bio oil today for me to use when the wounds are ok. I will carry on thru today and may call the hospital tmrw for,advice. We are an hours drive from where I had it done and about 30 minutes from A&E and I don't fancy sitting there for hours at the weekend! Interesting there are so many differences, casts, bandages etc! VJ

Hi, bunionectomy friends. Yes, it is so interesting how each doctor treats sp differently. Mine told my husband before the surgery that it was hard to know how tightly to bandage & to clip the outer Ace if need be, he did, when the first two nights' pain was awful, even with drug, but we called him on night 3 for permission to remove it completely. That gave me immediate relief. It wasn't until after he took out the stitches and told me I could bathe that we really saw the damage that too tight inner bandage had done, however. The skin is off the Opposite side of my foot and skin folded over under my foot formed a ridge even! Those two areas give me as much discomfort now as my three incisions. All is good, however, but keeping foot elevated is still important, I am learning. I get to thinking I can cook, sweep, or do laundry; then I pay for it at night. So, please, all of you, don't rush the healing, & do tke care. I have a Velcro hard shoe & a knee walker to get around. We just did something serendipitous----rode SW Air from KS to Seattle fr my sister's 80th birthday party, and I managed fine..SW is so accommodating. I am tired & in motel with foot on three pillows now, but it is all worth it. Just think, one day we will all be back to walking!! God bless. Carol

Hi all

Wow Carol you flew that was brave! Glad it was worth it. We do go thru the wars with this don't we?

I called the hospital tonight and asked if I could remove the blue dressings which are next to the incisions. They had dried hard as stone from bleeding post surgery and were like a solid rough skin round the scars and it felt as if they were rubbing really badly. Great relief to have them off and I've re bandaged after putting on some temp dressings, just had enough in the first aid box to manage it! Obviously my feet are not so protected with less dressings on, but I'm hoping they will feel better after a nights sleep up on the pillows - feels like they've been sand papered but this may of course be in part post op pain where the nerves were affected, who knows not I that's for sure! Sleep well foot friends. VJ