grand unveiling

I went today for my grand unveiling....!! I did see the surgeon but only for a few mins the nurse that looked after me was great as I too was very nervous. I got a dressing put on and have to wear a strap on my big toes and yes the shoes have to stay too, I have to do that for the next 4 weeks. As I found it easier to walk in the shoes with no plaster on I over done today so yes I would keep them elevated as much as you can. I gave to go to pysio so maybe you will to but I am sure you have to have some pysio to get you moving again. The nurse did say to me that everybody is different (surgeons) 

Good luck 🍀

I think it varies from surgeon to surgeon as they have different techniques in terms of the surgery and this can impact the way you recover and what you can do afterwards. The amount of realignment can also make a difference.  On top of that each patient is different, for example I had both feet done and one has been much quicker to recover than the other.  My right foot has next to no pain now and feels almost normal, my left is still very painful and needs much more elevation.

I had the dressings removed by a nurse and then spent some time with my consultant, who got me to stand on the floor without shoe and encouraged me to ditch the crutches as soon as i could.  He said it was important to try and walk with correct posture.  He said i needed to wear the shoe until the end of week four and that i should walk as much or as little as i felt compfortable to do.  He said i could put weight on whole foot if it felt compfortable to do so and that the shoe would protect the foot if i did.  I have the flat shoe rather than the one with the funny heal as the physio at the hospital thought the funny heel one was dangerous as it was easier to fall, although she did let me choose.

At the start of week four I am walking without crutches albeit slowly like a snail and put weight on more of my foot.  I find walking is fine, but my feet really feel tired if I stand still for any amount of time.  After walking I need to elevate and still spend much of my time in this position.  I try to make sure I walk a little once an hour and have been doing that since week 2 as I find it actually seems to relieve my foot as long as i elevate it after.

Good luck and hope you are pleased with the look of your feet.  I was as they already look smaller than they did before.

Don't forget to let us know how you got on. I just been to Pysio and been given some massage techniques to do which where very nice I quite enjoyed it

It was lovely to have all of the padding taken off. I could feel the breeze on my feet from the open window.

I wasn't sure what to expect but the length of the wound took me, my husband and the nurse by surprise.

Luckily , it's all looking ok wound wise. The stitches will dissolve so no problem there. It's pretty black and blue (and various other colours) and a bit swollen but the nurse said it looked fine.

It's my own fault that the length of the scars took me by surprise because I didn't want too much detail of what was involved before the op. Given what was being done, needing 2 screws and a staple in each foot there had to be enough access for the surgeon to see what was what.

I took some photos and the main thing is that they did look straight compared to the before pictures.

They no longer hurt, I don't need any pain releif and I know that  the bruising will heal and the swelling will go down over the next few weeks.

I will still wear the lovely shoes and elevate my feet as much as I can.

I'm now going to sit outside in the shade (with my feet up) and watch my husband cut the grass!

Karen - Good luck for tomorrow. Let me know how it goes.

Joanne - I've not been offered any physio, so I will ask about that.

Thanks for all of your replies. They really help! x 

glad all is going well for you I am on my 12th day today after my bunion operation (Bilateral 1st Metatarsal+Osteotomy+internal) Was like you and was worried what my feet would look like. Surprisingly there was no swelling and hardly no bruising. Stitches out then went to put my casts on and of course the sexy new shoes they give you. I have the slipper casts.They told me not to rely on my crutches unless going out cause you get too used to them. I am in my casts for 4 1/2 wks. Funny how some surgeons use casts and others don't. I enjoy reading other people's experiences and so far all good here.