Failed bunion surgery? 😭
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi all
I had bunion surgery on 21/10/18 in the UK and am five weeks post op today. I had my bandages removed at two weeks post op and immediately saw that there was still a bump on the side where the bunion was but the big toe was straight. I had very little swelling as I was really good with keeping my foot elevated. As of today my toe has drifted right back to where it was and my foot looks exactly as it did pre op.
I have tried my very best to remain positive about the success of my surgery but endless googling of before and after pictures have done me in and I'm now convinced that my surgery has failed and I have shed some tears. The bump on the side is quite big now and I know some of that will be due to swelling but to say I am disheartened is an understatement.
I now also realise that my surgeon didn't tell me exactly what procedure he would do just that the bone would be cut and pinned. I didn't see him until an hour or so before surgery and was just so nervous about going under GA I didn't ask. My pre op letter stated I had a Bunionectomy and Capsulorrhaphy which I had never heard of and had to google. I fear that perhaps the wrong procedure was chosen.
Anybody have any thoughts or similar experiences?
0 likes, 20 replies
mistymorales MrsLewis73
Posted
Hi i had my surgery almost 2 years ago and the same has happened to me. I just assumed it was supposed to be that way but i've started wondering if it was done right??
MrsLewis73 mistymorales
Posted
Hi mistymorales
Thanks so much for your response. Well I think it is fair to say that there may not be a completely straight toe resulting from surgery and the aim is to remove the bunion. However, looking at how most surgeries seem to turn out its a reasonable expectation I think, or to at least see a difference. So how long did it take for you to feel your op had not gone well? Were you unhappy straight away?
I have my six week check on Wednesday coming and im interested to see what my xrays look like and to hear what the surgeon has to say. I have two young children 10 and 6 and am a single parent. For this not to be successful after the time off and the help I have needed to manage it will be very painful for me to take 😦
audrey86540 mistymorales
Posted
Hi I am 8 months post op, double bunionectomy. He explained that bony bump would be cut off and pins inserted. Straight after I woke up, I could see both toes looked almost 100% straighter than before, even with swelling and bandages. Surgeon had advised me toes would not be completely straight. What I did notice was all my other toes were still leaning towards the small toe due to the crookedness of my bunions, and there was a huge gap between big toes and second toes , which has now closed, and I am thrilled with my new feet! Before op, I had suffered from plantar fasciitis for 6 years, and tried many treatments. Last few months, as my feet adjusted to their new shape, I find heel pain has diminished almost 100% ; a welcome side effect. Toes should look straight immediately after surgery, in my opinion.
vallan MrsLewis73
Posted
Hi. I had my bunion surgery done over 2 years ago and at my final check up, when asked how I thought it had gone, I said I was very disappointed because nothing looked any different and the op seemed to have pushed my little toe outwards so I was even worse off than before. I was then told that I could have a bunion op on my little toe, or even more drastically, I could have my little toe amputated. I was given 6 months to think about this and after that time, I would have to go through my GP.
Because I had my bunion op with a podiatrist, I went for a second opinion to an orthopaedic surgeon and he could see that my foot was worse than before the surgery. He was loth to do another op, so has been trying me out with specially made shoes and if these don't work he will do another operation. I can't walk very far before my little toe becomes very sore, red and swollen, whereas I could walk a fair way before the operation, so I am very depressed about the fact I went through all that pain to be worse off and will probably have to have it done again, or even think about them amputating my little toe. I would be interested to know if a podiatrist did your operation or has anyone else suffered like me.
MrsLewis73 vallan
Posted
Hi Vallan, thanks for your response. I'm really sorry to hear how your surgery went. To end up with a possible toe amputation is awful and just not right!! I've been trying to figure out how bunion surgery has resulted in affecting your little toe! When do you think surgery might be likely? My surgery was carried out under the NHS by an orthopaedic surgeon with many years experience apparently. I need to get my left foot done also but am definitely wary about it now..it will depend on how my right foot turns out.
vallan MrsLewis73
Posted
Hi. I think because of the swelling and my big toe not being any straighter than before, this is why my other toes were pushed out of position and in turn pushed my little toe further out. I now have 2 bumps in my shoes, one at each side, when I just had one at one side before. My feet swell in Summer and because my shoe fittings were taken in Winter, the second pair they made me had to go back to be widened again and then the first pair had to go back. They hadn't told me that there were different styles of shoes at my first fitting so I got 2 pairs the same, but different colours. Because they haven't been comfortable at all, they are now making me a different style. These shoes cost the Health Service £600 a pair, and my operation may be to do again so no wonder they are short of money. I am sorry that your operation has not been successful either. We were both willing to put up with the pain of the operation, thinking it would be worth it to have nice feet and able to buy from a bigger choice of shoes. I have been lucky in the fact that my other foot hasn't got a bunion.
MrsLewis73 vallan
Posted
Hi. Are the shoes the only ones you can wear? And are they just made to measure or is there something particularly special about them?
You at least sound like you have a surgeon who knows what they are doing and will do what is best for you.
vallan MrsLewis73
Posted
The shoes don't look very nice and are similar in style to Hotter Leap with the two velcro straps across, more of a winter style of shoe. They are made from leather with the sides of the front made of the same material as wet suits. That is the best way I can describe them and when my daughter saw them she said it had made up her mind that she was having her bunion done and she is having the operation in January with the same surgeon that I have now seen. I will be able to see the results of her surgery before I decide whether to have another operation. I have been managing with Hotter Nirvana wide fitting shoes that have been stretched on the left foot. I think, because of the holes in the front, they stretch a bit in the toe area anyway. I have worn a "toe sock/cover" on the left foot to try and prevent the rubbing. After walking for a while though my toe really hurts. I would have definitely been better off not having the operation, but that is with the benefit of hindsight.
MrsLewis73 vallan
Posted
Hi Vallan. The shoes don't sound great 😦 I hope your daughters surgery goes well so that it will give you the courage to have surgery again. You may then eventually get a better quality of life with how your feet look and feel. I really hope it all works out for you.
vallan MrsLewis73
Posted
Thank you Mrs Lewis and I wish you well too. Let me know how your foot is when you have had your final appointment, when everything has healed up. Wishing you well
vallan MrsLewis73
Posted
Hi. I think because of the swelling and my big toe not being any straighter than before, this is why my other toes were pushed out of position and in turn pushed my little toe further out. I now have 2 bumps in my shoes, one at each side, when I just had one at one side before. My feet swell in Summer and because my shoe fittings were taken in Winter, the second pair they made me had to go back to be widened again and then the first pair had to go back. They hadn't told me that there were different styles of shoes at my first fitting so I got 2 pairs the same, but different colours. Because they haven't been comfortable at all, they are now making me a different style. These shoes cost the Health Service £600 a pair, and my operation may be to do again so no wonder they are short of money. I am sorry that your operation has not been successful either. We were both willing to put up with the pain of the operation, thinking it would be worth it to have nice feet and able to buy from a bigger choice of shoes. I have been lucky in the fact that my other foot hasn't got a bunion.
MrsLewis73
Posted
Hi all
Had my six week check today and I understand why I didn't get the results I expected. The surgeon changed his mind once he had opened my foot and decided to shave my bunion instead of doing the osteotomy he had said he would do. He said the bones looked straight and so felt that what he had planned wasn't necessary. I told him it still looked like I had a bunion (I would post a pic if I knew how, only have my phone at mo so not sure I can) and he said there is still alot of soft tissue swelling which will reduce and the foot will look better. I could see from the x-ray that it was still quite swollen compared to post op and could also see that the bunion is gone. However I am disappointed, as I suspect this will only be a short term fix and it will probably come back. Have a follow up appt for six months time and so if I'm really not happy with it then I will look at the options for revision. I have also been put on the waiting list for my left foot.
On the upside I am in normal shoes and walking with a slight limp but not much pain. Of course that makes sense as the surgery was not as invasive as expected. I am disappointed as I feel I will need more surgery but I am just getting on with it now. Back to work next week and two children to take care of, this is life! Thanks again to those who responded.
Raeshell MrsLewis73
Posted
HI. im also in the uk and im 3 weeks post op.
i think my surgery will also not have been very effective as i can see that even in my light dressing that the gap between my big toe and next toe that was created by the surgery has already more or less closed. i cant see if there is still a lump on the side of my foot until i remove my dressing in a week but am dreading it. my surgeon did advise that this may happen and that the younger a patient is the more likely the toe is to 'drift back'. he told me of an18 year old he operated on who's toe was back to where it started with 6 weeks!
Have you seen your surgeon since your post and if so what did he/she say?
Raeshell
Posted
MrsLewis73 Raeshell
Posted
Hi Raeshell
Coincidentally I just replied to your post I hadn't received a notification of a new msg on mine for some reason! I feel disappointed with my surgery. My foot still has a bump on the side, but it's not the bony bump of a bunion. But it just looks like I have a bunion still. And I'm finding it difficult to reconcile the appearance with the fact that according to my xray it's gone. So I do feel disappointed and not really sure what to make of it. But to answer your question I haven't spoken to my surgeon again since my six week check. I have follow up appt in April 2019 that's when I will see him next.
Your two week pic looks good though nice and straight.
Raeshell MrsLewis73
Posted
my heart really goes out to you! its so tough and when you go to the doctors they say the surgery is to relieve pain but i think if we are honest we are all secretly hoping for 'nice' feet at the end of it all too.
im 33 now and have had bunions since about 10 years old and always wished for 'normal' feet that i wouldnt feel embarrassed by. looking at my week 2 to week 3 pics i dont feel that will be the case and wouldnt go through it all again on my left foot unless i have a good result with the right.
please keep me updated with your progress-its nice to know im not the only one feeling a little down about my results. i will post a pic again next week once i take my dressing off.
MrsLewis73 Raeshell
Posted
Hi Raeshell
Yes of course, why wouldnt we want our feet to look normal its only natural and I dont think its an unreasonable expectation either. Yes surgery is primarily for the pain, but still! In your week 3 picture your foot looks more swollen but I wasnt sure if it was due to a change in dressing? Also, my dressing was removed after two weeks so I was able to see the progression and even then there was still a bump although straighter. But if you read all of my posts the surgeon carried out a procedure which was not what he agreed with me and accounted more for why my toe was not straight and drifted right back after 3 /4 weeks. He just shaved the bone which I would NOT have agreed to had he told me before hand as by all accounts it's not successful. I am just trying to be patient but I will complain officially about that if no improvement at next check and depending on xray will seek revision surgery.
MrsLewis73 Raeshell
Posted
And yes pic would be great.
Raeshell MrsLewis73
Posted
the dressing in week 2 and 3 is the same dressing which had just been done in the first pic after the big bandages came off. i can remove this myself in another week and need to keep the shoe on until my next appointment in jan which will be 8 weeks post op.
Thats rather naughty that your surgeon didnt do what was discussed! I think i would also feel very upset by that-especially of you do end up needing further surgery.
there seems to be so many different ways to do this surgery-every persons experience i have read about has been so different!
Raeshell
Posted
I think the dressing i have on now is to cover the scars until they heal properly. in addition to the small one ontop of my foot i also have one that is about 5 inches that runs down the side of my foot that you cant see in the pics. my friend had bunion surgery a few years ago and only has a scar about 1-2 inches long. i can only assume it was a different type of bunion surgery.