Scheduled for bunionplasty

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello!  I am scheduled to have a bunionplasty procedure done on my first foot next week.  Two weeks after, I will have the second foot done.  I'm super nervous!  I have a mild bunion on both feet.  I have no idea what to expect.  Does anyone have any experience with this procedure? 

Thank you!

0 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

Next
  • Posted

    HI Stacey,

    I just went through Lapidus surgery on April 10th. I am 5 days post op. The surgery itself was fairly painless because they administered a nerve block before my procedure. My nerve block lasted almost 48 hours. When I awoke from surgery I had a huge cast all the way up to my knee.  The main issue I have found is using the restroom with the  knee scooter and the crutches because I am non weight bearing for several weeks. The most important thing that I have found is keeping my leg elevated. I have found if I keep my leg elevated this tends to keep the swelling down. I am also icing my leg every hour for about 15 minutes each time. I hope this helps and good luck on your upcoming surgery.

    • Posted

      Hi, Vanessa! So glad to hear that your surgery went well. I will definitely take your advice and make sure I elevate and ice. I saw a product on Amazon called the iWalk. Have you heard of it? It looks a bit like a pirate leg, but from what I read it seems very functional!
    • Posted

      Hi Stacey, Thank you... When is your surgery date? I have seen the Iwalk on Amazon. I have the knee scooter and it has been a God send. I found I absolutely hated using the crutches way to much pressure on my foot. 
    • Posted

      I've heard really good things about the knee scooter. My surgery is this Friday, the 21st. Sooooo nervous!

  • Posted

    I felt exactly the same way you are feeling right now. I was extremely apprehensive and heard so many horror stories that I had myself scared silly the day of the surgery.  Is your doctor going to use a nerve block and general anesthesia? I have to say I have not actually had severe pain at all. I have just been uncomfortable because of the huge cast on my leg. Sleeping is difficult because you have to sleep with your foot elevated. I also have found that I cannot stand covers on my foot with my cast. I forgot to mention in my previous post that I also have a shower chair and a cast protector both have been life savers.  I hope all these little tidbits help. 
    • Posted

      Your tidbits definitely help! I am adding the shower protector to my list of must haves. My surgeon mentioned general anesthesia and local so I won't feel the pain. At this point, I need to stop googling and reading the horror stories!

  • Posted

    If it's mild it's likely to be an Austin procedure (podiatric) or a chevron or akin scharf (orthopaedic) - the first 2 let you weight bear early on, the others a bit later. They'll most likely use a nerve block so be aware when it is wearing off and load up on painkillers. I'm 2 weeks 2 days post bilat Austin bunionectomies and doing well. Just take paracetamol now intermittently when I'm overdoing it and elevate my legs when I can. I can drive but. Ot walk too far (I can but I've been told not to!) and back at work later this week and into shoes in a week! Have nearly full range movement already (which I should have by 6 week mark so doing well) and very little swelling, which I attribute to my excellent surgeon and the fact I kept my feet elevated with regular ice during the first few days post op

    Good luck!

    • Posted

      Hi there. They are mild, so I will be in a surgical shoe right after surgery. That is so great that you are recovering so well! Are you doing physical therapy?
    • Posted

      I have been doing some passive and active movement of the foot from 5 days post op and already have the range of movement they expect at 6 weeks. I'm also in shoes (trainers) for the first time today at 2 weeks and 6 days post op! Need to take the insoles out to be able to fit my foot in though. Haven't needed painkillers at all this week.

      Am allowed to start walking for exercise for 40 mins a day from Monday.

      Overall so happy!

    • Posted

      That's amazing that you're getting your range of motion back!  I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow and I hope mine is just as successful smile

    • Posted

      Good luck!

      You'll be fine. Just keep them

      Elevate as much as possible for the first few days and ice them

      Ps I was told I could drive when I saw the surgeon at a week but waited till 10

      days when I was sure I'd be able to do an emergency stop

  • Posted

    Hi

    Are you having minimally invasive or open surgery?

    Gillian

    • Posted

      What I've learnt from this site is that it seems lots of people have lots of different recoveries to their surgery pain wise.

      I had my left foot done minimally invasive with ankle block and sedation in June last year. Woke up with zero pain. The block lasted about 24 hours and even when it wore off I was taking some medication thinking I don't even need this I just just expecting lots of pain after reading comments on here. I got a few little pains below my big toe nail a couple of weeks after but wasn't anything bad and didn't need tablets for it. Got my right foot done 2 weeks yesterday. I woke with a bit of pain at bunion site but within 20 minster of giving me anti inflamatories thru my canola I was fine and had no pain at all after.

      Please dont let anyone's story scare you. I was really scared but I worried over nothing. I don't feel like I've had this foot operated on at all. I just had some soreness where I had been cut into but I was walking about too much too soon so my own fault.

      I was walking after 4 days but I should have tried it sooner but was scared I'd damage it but I just wear my wedge shoe when I walk about.

      You'll be fine seriously. Minimally invasive is a piece of cake well was for me anyway.

      I had no cast just some bandages across my foot that got removed after 2 weeks. I had a little splint on until my 6 weeks xray check.

      Let us know how you get on and any questions just ask. That's what we are all here for to support each other going thru this op together. X

    • Posted

      Your response was so helpful, Gillian!  It is good to know what you had a positive experience and that you are recovering VERY well. 

      Were you able to drive? 

    • Posted

      Hi there

      I have my 6 week x-ray appointment 3 weeks today. If the x-ray shows my bones have fused back then I can drive straight away.

      So 3 weeks tomorrow I pray I'm driving. When I got my left foot done it took 3 more weeks on top of the 6 weeks of having my wedge shoe on as the bones still hadn't fused back properly at my 6 week check. I didn't mind as I was able to drive from week 2 with having an automatic. I drove my hubby's manual car after 9 weeks and I managed fine with the clutch.

      I'm here if you have any more questions x

    • Posted

      What day this week is your op? Are you nervous? I was so nervous but wish I'd not been as it was all absolutely fine. I'm such a wuss with things but I actually looked forward to getting my other one done as I knew it was all OK. Good luck. You'll be fine 😊

    • Posted

      My surgery was on Friday.  It was a painful weekend, but I am getting around well today smile  Thank you sooo much for asking.  I am scheduled to get my other foot done in the next couple of weeks.  Now I know what to expect!
    • Posted

      Oh wow so it's done 😀 I'd not have liked fitting my other one done so soon but to be honest it's the best thing to do because they are both over and done with quickly and they can both recover together. Congrats on your new foot.

      Sorry it's been painful. That's a real shame. Think I was extremely lucky. My surgeon is amazing and I'm so over the moon with my new feet. So much of a difference.

      Keep us posted. Happy healing. X

    • Posted

      It's done.  Thank God!  Everyone warned me that days 1-3 were the worst.  But, it certainly gets better.  I woke up this morning feeling like a totally different woman!  Ran two errands and still feel alright. 

      Thanks for being so encouraging. 

    • Posted

      Hi

      Wow well sounds like you're doing great!! Are you enjoying wearing your sexy wedge shoe 😂 get used to it....for 6 weeks 🙈.

      I'm glad you're feeling better. I hated reading all the scare stories on here and it was really off putting. I'm sure some people do gets lots of pain but I suppose it depends where you get it done, by who you get it done, and the technique used. Everyone deals differently with pain too. I feel so blessed I didn't have the pain people described.

      Just hope they don't come back one day 😯. X

    • Posted

      Ahh the very seductive and alluring surgical shoe. The fun part will be the 4 weeks that I have on not one, but two sexy surgical shoes! But hey... I guess they are more attractive than bunions. Haha! My mom said she will bring her hot glue gun to bedazzle my shoes. Lol.

      You're right. The horror stories were so discouraging! I thought, there can't be this many botched surgeries. I was starting to rethink everything. I guess the ones with bad experiences are the ones most likely to speak about it.

    • Posted

      Oh wow I'm so jealous.....2 surgical shoes at once lol. Good luck with that then.

      You are indeed correct. Anyone with a bad experience will want to write about it and those who had a good experience probably wouldn't even bother mentioning it....except me ha.

      Best of luck with your next op. After that means you're bunion free 😀 x

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.