Scarf & Akin operation December 12th

I'm due to  have this operation and am wondering whether its worth it after reading lots of comments.  My foot is very painful at times and won't ever get better without surgery but I don't want to go through this only to make things worse.  I know the recovery time is lengthy but if it succeeds it would be worth it. My consultant has told me that as my bunion has got so bad, it will only have a 60% success rate.  Will you keep me informed as to how you progress.  I do hope things improve for you soon.

Hi Gill,

I had a bunionectomy December 2014, the bunion was still there after my two month review so a further bunionectomy was needed along with realignment and fusion, this left me with a gap between my toes and unable to wear shoes, that surgery was July 2015.

More surgery was needed to correct the gap which took place 12 January'16, but an infection was found and screws and plate were removed, further surgery is needed!

I haven't had the best outcome as yet!

Hearing your worry, I would suggest a second opinion by a more recently graduated Dr as there are newer types of surgery that you may benefit by having. Don't know your exact circumstances, but mine was that the long bone under my big toe turned inwards at the ankle end of the long bone. The surgery done was cutting the long bone into at the ankle end of the long bone. The upper part of the long bone was then twisted into the correct position under the big toe, making the bunion part of the bone disappear. Then the cut in the long bone received a tissue graph and was plated together with screw's.

I was lucky that my older pod. dr. referred me to this more recently graduated Dr. that trained in this newer surgery. Had my older dr performed the surgery, he would have done surgery at the bunion end of the bone, who has does not correctthelongbonecorrectionneedfurtherdownthemet. long one. Wish you well with your recovery!

Omg!!!!!!!!

that is so awful, I really hope You get better.

my big toe is a little.numb too but I am 2 weeks out.

i find it worse when the foot swells.

hope you get some relief soon

 

Even though I disagree with the method you had done, your foot is still healing. The swelling can take a long time, as that is individual and depends on your body alone. It can be helped by having lymphadic massages. The pins and needles can be a sign of healing. It does take the bone a year to fully recover, but you should not have pain. Keep an eye on it. Bunion to return, might be the swelling. You should go and have a check up in another 2 month and try to be positiv. We forget, that an operation on our feet is not as simple, as be put our body weight on it straight away. So recovery can take a bit longer. Give it a bit more time, 10 weeks is not enough to make a decision on whether the operation was successful or not.

Hi Gill,

How long (distance and time) can you walk comfortably? I had my operation on 16 December, just  four days after you, chevron and akin on both feet. Three weeks ago I was allowed to switch from wedge (partial weight bearing) shoes to regular shows. Now I walk about 1.5-2 km (or about a mile) at about 70-80% of my usual speed. This is about a quarter of my usual pre-op walking routine. Today I had a 10-week check-up with the surgeon, and he told me that I can increase load but very gradually, as long as it does not cause discomfort, and it is likely to take about 6 months to get to full level of activity.

You poor thing, we all expect a little too much I think, this is such invasive surgery, I am now 14 months post op and like you, feel that my foot should look better than it does and I still have problems with back pain and other aches in my hips that I never experienced pre surgery, in fact I have opted not to have the other foot operated on in the UK, I might consider it here in Spain as they appear to be far more advanced with keyhole surgery and no pins but I will wait and see if it starts to hurt before I think that far.

I would recommend a wine cooler, the ones that you freeze and wrap around a wine bottle over the end of your foot and around your ankle to reduce the swelling, it does help and have a sock on your foot to prevent it causing ice burn. I have also had 5 sessions of physiotherapy as we all change our 'gait' following this operation without realising how much we have compensated for our bunions prior to having the op. 

I am pleased I had this one removed as it was at a 45 degree angle and almost about to fold over my second toe but the recovery time takes far longer than we allow ourselves, be more gentle on yourself, it's major surgery you've had there.

Good luck with your recovery.

Hello, I had bilateral scarf and akin osteotomy and am now 12 weeks post op. I still have swelling but it is a lot less than two weeks ago. Recovery does seem to be longer than I anticipated but every day is getting better. I too still have occasional pins and needles and when swollen my toes feel like they have elastic bands around them. I can say though that they hurt less than before the op and the bunions have gone. I am still elevating and just gradually increasing the amount of walking.