Frustrated with doctors orders plus other issues with post op, would love some insight!

I'm also having a bad time sleeping at night again after being told to put weight on my foot. It's uncomfortable and just has a buzzing feeling around my toes and side of my foot the bone was pushed in... I have been sleeping on the sofa since the surgery since the one time I tried sleeping in bed I couldn't get comfortable at all and kept my husband up all night so I feel bad doing that to him. Any suggestions on what you all have done to sleep better during this? My foot is elevated and icing when I go to sleep but I usually end up waking up in the middle of the night bc of the pain and can't fall back asleep. 

Carly I really feel for you. I started going to physio twice a week for the first 5 weeks and felt he was really mean but in fact really knew what he was doing. He was the one who said to do more weight bearing, after pummeling my foot. Tomorrow I will be 6 weeks post op. I used the crutches from day 2 and still use them when I go outside the house as I am not confident without them. I still have lots of numbness and stiff toes.

I also have 3 screws but I,think they stay in. I can't imagine how,they would come out by themselves...never. 

Do you have a surgical boot?  I still have pain if I overdo it. And reading your PS Imust  say my husband , like a true man, does not do empathy, but he has been sleeping on a mattress on the living room floor since my op. Like if I have to go to the loo at night, I put the light on, strap on my surgical boot, and limp to the bathroom. Imhavent been showering more than twice a week either..it is all too hard . 

So there you go....things will get better.....this forum has been a god send for me...hope you get some support from it too...

Hi Carly, firstly I'm sending healing vibes and hope you start feeling better soon. When I had my left foot done with normal  surgery all that time ago I remember the surgeon saying I could walk on my foot without crutches and I thought he was insane! I can't remember how many weeks that was, but in the end I managed a couple of steps across our small kitchen and felt I had climbed Everest. It was difficult and sore, and felt very weak. But by doing a few steps at a time it very quickly sort of "hardened up" and everything got easier. So don't panic, just take it litte bit at a time and you will be surprised how soon you will be walking. Not sure about the pin though, that sounds a bit weird, I would call them again about it.

Hi Carly,

Soo very sorry that you are experiencing lot of pain and discomfort.  If instruction from the medics are not clear or simly contradicting make sure you get all info on everything from the surgeon and don't be afraid to ask and query he or she is responsible for your care and be assertive if you have to you had a fair bit  bit of work done by the sounds of things I asse you taking some pain relief and  anti inflamatories? I had Judy big toe reset and bunion shaved  by the non- voventional minimally invesibe proccess  and it was fairly pain free untill 10 post op and them the pain started and is still here post 3 weeks today I had the other foot done that  was more complex surgery which I never needed any medication for as I had no pain so there we are. I had one cratch to use special shoes and weight bearing  (well when it hurt I don't)

But try and clarify instruction from the surgeon and ask lots of questions because it your foot and you are the one suffering! Hope thins get better very soon and keep us posted of your progress  best wishes Lilian 

Thanks all of you for your feedback! It is extremely frustrating not being able to talk to people who don't get it. I can complain or speak my concerns to my family and friends all day long, but since they haven't been through this before then they really don't give me the feedback that I am looking for. 

I just honestly didn't expect it to be THIS awful because I was just told it would be a 4-6 week recovery when realisitcally I am starting physical therapy 2 days before my 6 week mark and it seems like it will be quite a long process once that starts too.. 

I just need to force myself to stay positive, even though its hard right now to. I will definitely keep you all updated on how things progress once I start physical therapy. Thanks again!! It means a lot just to have some helpful advice and caring words to cheer up during this frustration period. 

I am right with you Carly.  I am 5 weeks post op of a Lapidus Procedure and the surgeon wants me to to start walking on it next week with my crutches and start PS too.  My foot is so swollen and it hurts still so bad.  I just can not imagine putting pressure on it.  Ugh

Sure will , we can share our physical therapy stories.  

Hi Carly, I had just the same as you: the bunion, pin in second toe, tirth toe straightend. I am now day 7.  I walked on the booth from day 2, first days with crutches and now downstairs without . With the shoe you put only weight on your heel. I use the crutches for the stairs and to go outside. The surgeon told me after the surgery to start moving toes and ankle.So I did, first 3 days toes didn't really moved, but now they are moving.The pin stays in for 6 weeks, after the 6 weeks he throws it out. 3 years ago I had a pin in another toe and the remove of the pin didn't hurt at all, after the six weeks it came loose and he could take it out easily. You can walk with the pin in your foot without any problem, I did so 3 years ago and it healed very well. Don't be afraid, everything comes fine.

I had no pain, thanks to the ibuprfen and paracetamol, and for me it was a scarf-atkin osteotomy. Now I am taking 2 ibuprofen a day, but tomrrow I try without.

It's all about what the doctor told before surgery. He told me before that I could weight bear from day 2 on, so I was confident doing it ok.

I am living in Belgium and weight bearing, soon after the op, depends of the procedure and the surgeon. For me that was a very important argument to choose my surgeon.

About sleeping: i think we are not tired enough for a good sleep. Normaly we have a buzy live and now it's quiet, resting with our foot elevated. Some nights I stand up, reading or watching the tele for an hour and back to my bed for the rest of the night.

Hello there- I had bunion surgery 5 months ago on my left foot and I just had my right foot done 2 days ago.  When I was 6 weeks in on my left foot, I was putting weight on it and by the 8th week I wasn't using crutches anymore. My foot is still healing but now I am just focusing on the one I just did 2 days ago and my advice is to do what the doctor says and it will take some time to fully heal.