Walking after 6 weeks bunionectomy

Hang in there, Jac! I am 9 weeks post-op, and it slowly gets easier. I also have 2 screws (Lapidus; criss-crossed in top of my foot). I was not allowed to walk on mine for 6 weeks. I am currently wearing a surgical shoe.

This was my second foot, and I had the same procedure on my first one last year. Now that I am walking (3 weeks now), I walk slowly, pressing my entire foot on the floor, heel to toe. This is not as fast, and it is a bit more painful than walking on the side of the foot; however, the foot strength and pain slowly gets better over time. Following are some of my milestones from last time, and a few notes from this time.

- Walking in surgical shoe without cane or severe underside of foot pain: week 8.

- Taking stairs one foot per step: week 8. I am still working on this, this time.

- Bicycle riding with surgical shoe: short distance week 8 (no uphill takeoffs, and painful when stopping); 6 miles week 9 with less pain, except when trying to stand while pedaling. I have not tried this yet, this time, although I am planning to this weekend.

- Hiking: week 8 it took 40 minutes to go 1 mile in surgical shoe. Hiking as usual at week 14. Also planning some of this, this weekend.

- Tingling pain on topside of toe and foot: pretty much gone at 9 weeks.

- Walking to mailbox (500', gravel and hilly): 9 weeks. Not attempted yet, this time.

- Swimming: week 10 (I could have done this sooner, if I'd had access to a pool).

- Wearing my own shoes: tennis shoes with laces loosened all of the way at week 10. Slip on dress shoes with low heel at week 12.

- Walking in my shoes: 1 mile in 23 minutes on flat surface during week 10; 1 mile in 20 minutes at week 12; just a tad faster the following week; 1 mile in 17 minutes without pain at week 14.

- Yard work: week 10.

- Bicycle riding after wearing own shoes: After 12 weeks, rode 12 miles on a mountain bike type trail with virtually no pain; up and down a few mild inclines, stops and starts, and able to stand up while pedaling. 

- Standing on a hard surface with no pain at 13 weeks.

Addition, since I cannot edit my post: The tingling pain in the topside of my foot and toe is not gone at week 9 this time. I have a lot of pressure pain in the top of my foot, and the toe knuckle area, especially after exercising my foot and toe. My progress this time is not going quite as well as it did last time.

Also, we have manual transmission vehicles, and I had pain in my left foot when driving my husband's truck at 14 weeks. I do not recall exactly when that went away, because I do not drive his vehicles any more than I have to. 

I think between 10 and 14 weeks, my foot has improved greatly in the last week, I am 14/15 weeks out of surgery.  Shoes were a problem but after perseverance I have 4  reasonably comfortable shoes to wear. My car is manual and I started driving at 8 or 9 weeks but only locally at first.  I promise it will get better, I remember being at the stage you are at now. its awful. My friend has a saying 'this too will pass' and it is true.

Welcome, Tania ~ Wow, I was not showering the first week after surgery. I think Joyce has long left this discussion she started. A few of the current active members in this thread (correct me where needed, ladies!): Lulu, Ann, and Janet who are all around 15+ weeks post-op; me and Dona who are just 11 weeks; Jac (although I do not think I have heard anything since she joined) about 8 weeks; and Deb most recently joined before you, and I think she is about 4 weeks.  

Yes, welcome Tania; and good job keeping tract Iris. I didn't shower the first week either, just sponge baths. I slipped getting out of the shower this morning. That was scary. Thankfully I didn't fall, and I'm ok. Can't wait till I can start walking using both feet. Have a great day ladies.

hi all

i tried to shower 3 rd day got foot wet and stitches came open spent 5 hours in a and e department never done it again went in bath with foot hanging over the bath not a pretty sight

Ouch Ann. I would use my bathtub, but I have shower doors, so tub not smooth. I bought a shower foot protector on Amazon that works good. I only used it a couple times before Dr said I can get my foot wet. At least when I get my 2nd foot done, I will already be prepared and have everything I need. Does anyone know how long you have to wait to get 2nd foot done with lapidus surgery. I guess I need to first be able to walk on the first one. Lol

Deb, I initially wanted to have my second foot done last fall (7 months after first one), and my doc was fine with that. But then I decided I was not 100% happy with my first foot yet, so I waited until February. We also had some fall bicycle and hiking activities planned last fall, so February ended up being a better time frame in MI.

hi tania

hope you have a speedy recovery

Thanks  Iris and I’m just glad someone is here to have a chat with x I’ve just marked 1 week with my op all going well but very frustrating ! Been walking around but foot swells up quite easily  I’m only taking painkillers when absolutely needed though as I’m not a lover of them anyway ! Quite painful at times I’ve checked the cut out and there’s about 8-10 stitches in there with screws holding bone in place ! How are you going ? It’s a slow process this healing isn’t it !  X

Thankyou Ann how are you dealing with recovery?

Iris, such a long recovery huh. I was hoping to have my second one done as soon as possible and just get it over with. But not sure yet. When we're you able to put full weight on your foot after surgery and walk normal without crutches or anything? I been trying to put more weight on my heel with crutches and big bulky boot. Going to ask Dr next visit if I can get a different walking shoe.

Sounds like your pretty active with bicycling and hiking, so this is probably driving you crazy. I can't wait to get back to the gym and cycling. I've already lost a lot of muscle mass in my calf just from the short time of surgery.

Deb, my foot was pretty much normal at 6 months; just not 100%. Last time, I was walking in my own shoes (unlaced, and only some shoes) at about 10 weeks. This time, I guess it will be 13 weeks since the doc is having me wear my surgical shoe another couple weeks. I have been putting full weight on my foot for a few weeks; just in the surgical shoe, and not walking long distances. We did bicycle 7 miles over the weekend all at once, which was nice.

Tania, Did you have lapidus, too - 2 screws in top of your foot? That is the op me, Dona, and Deb all had.

Deb, my foot was pretty much normal at 6 months; just not 100%. Last time, I was walking in my own shoes (unlaced, and only some shoes) at about 10 weeks. This time, I guess it will be 13 weeks since the doc is having me wear my surgical shoe another couple weeks. I have been putting full weight on my foot for a few weeks; just in the surgical shoe, and not walking long distances. We did bicycle 7 miles over the weekend all at once, which was nice.

Tania, Did you have lapidus, too - 2 screws in top of your foot? That is the op me, Dona, and Deb all had.

It’s crazy long. And I’m only at 11 weeks. I get so irritated when it swells so fast. Some days it’s super, I can pretty much work 10 hours now, mostly desk job, but the drive home still does me in. It’s about a 35 minute drive, and pressing on that gas pedal gets harder and my foot gets so sore on the drive home. Remember to factor that in when thinking how long you can last at work, etc. I always forgot to do that and would end up a hot mess. 

I went from the scooter full NWB to walking with no assistance in the Velcro shoe around 9 weeks? I should have kept notes like Iris! But it was a very slow process as it would swell and get so angry. It still does at 11 weeks, but it takes longer. PT is helping so much! I’ve discovered (hubby did while watching me) that my left ankle and foot turn all twisty when I walk! I had noticed it when I try on shoes and look down my left foot looks weird. He took a pic so I can show my surgeon. But my right (surgery foot) is doing good! the PT has had me doing all kinds of stuff. 

Dona, I know. Just having my leg in a vertical position swells. I'm also keeping a journal of how I'm doing for when I have my 2nd foot done. That must have been painful going straight from scooter to walking with no assistant. (Brave) Im trying to ease into it. I saw an exercise on line where you roll up a towl under your heel and pull on the ends and push your heel against it. Hoping this helps. Also, when I scoot on my butt up and down stairs I try to use my heel as much as I can. I hope your ankle is ok with the twisty part. You ladies are power hero's in my mind, being able to work all day. Sounds like toucher. That's one reason why I waited so long to get my bunions fixed. I quit my job to take care of my mother in law who had Alzheimer's. After she passed away, i decided to get my bunions fixed before i go back to work.

Hi Iris, six months seems so far away Lol. Looking forward to that day. But that's great since usually full recovery is 1 year.

I cannot even wrap my mind around putting on a normal shoe. That should definitely be a celebration! I'm hoping to get a cute little surgical shoe when I go back to the Dr at 7 weeks. I have to go back and look at those shoe pictures in a previous post. Trying to remember if that cute small black Velcro shoe was the surgical shoe, and not that big black heavy boot.

Wow. That's great that your bicycling already! I look forward to getting as far along as you ladies. Nice to know that theirs hope around the corner.

Tania, I don't like taking the painkillers they prescribe either, and stopped taking them as soon as I could. Dr told me to take Motrin instead of the tylenol i was taking bc it helps with the swelling. The last 2 nights, I have not had to have anything for pain. Hope it continues.

Hope everyone else's recovery is going well.

Welcome Tania! Wow, super you are able to get up and around after a week! 

i think poor Joyce has unfollowed her post after so many responses. Lol. We should have started our own discussion, but who knew we’d all gab so much :-) this group has been my saving grace! 

youve got this! :-) 

it was a slow process, the transition. And I still at 11 weeks? (Whatever Iris is, lol) get to the point if on my foot too much start to get the stabbing pain in my toe letting me know to get it elevated above my heart and ice it ASAP. Then when I finally look at it, it’s swollen like a blowfish! I’ve noticed it’s got to be above my heart to make the elevating count. At work I have a box of ream paper, but I sure can’t be having my foot above my heart there! Unless I’m totally alone, then I plop it on my desk, but it’s hard to work that way. Haha. When I was working with the scooter, I’d get SO HOT!!! from getting up and down and scooting around my office, and it’s small! I wore short sleeves in the winter. My boss would be be freezing and I’d give him a death glare if he complained. Just wait until I go thru menopause... yikes! 

i havent been upstairs since the surgery. We live in  A bungslow house with a big bedroom upstairs where most of my clothes are. But no bathroom. I got sick a few years ago with gastroparesis and we ended up changing bedrooms to one down here. I don’t even think I would trust myself to scoot up on my bum. I am pretty clutzy!. So I basically have been wearing the same thing over and over. I just didn’t care. I also stopped blow drying and straightening my hair. I get so many compliments on my now curly hair! I do NOTHING to it! all these years I’ve been spending so much time on it and everyone likes it curly! I don’t even brush it!! oy!  A lot of yoga pants.  I do need to get up there and see what’s going on. Our cat Frankie has been dragging down some shirts of mine for whatever reason. And I have no idea where she’s getting them from LOL. I had a bag of get rid of things but every time she drags something down I look at it and think if I had that and they get rid of bag I want it now LOL. 

 I am so sorry about your mother-in-law. I am now dealing with my mom who has dementia. I have started going over to my parents house to give my mom a shower once I realized she wasn’t really doing it. It is very difficult both mentally and physically. Especially during the surgery. You are a hero for sure sweetie!! 

Good morning ladies!

Dona, sometimes I forget to elevate above my heart. Thanks for reminder. I'm 5 weeks today. Every week I take a picture of my foot so I can see improvements. It always looks so nice in the morning, and by the end of the day it looks like a blowfish also. Lol

How cool to live in a bungalow house!

Dona, I couldn't help but laugh when i read you wear the same thing over and over and your prescious Frankie is dragging you down some new shirts to wear. I think Frankie wants to see you in something different. Lol That was cute. Made my day.

I know what you mean about the curly hair. I hate trying to straighten my curly thick hair. It takes soo long. Your lucky curly looks good on you. My front is straight and back is curly. Thought about perming all of it so I won't have to fuss with it.

Thank you for your condolences. I'm sorry that your mother has dementia. It's such a horrible desease, and so hard watching somebody you love go through that. Must be so difficult trying to help your mom while your trying to recover from surgery. What a sweetheart you are. Prayers to you. Praying for all of us to recover quickly.

My foot screams at me when I don’t elevate it above my heart after awhile. Everyone is different , and you are doing super if at 5 weeks you don’t feel that need. 

I have SO many pics of my foot. In the beginning I did it daily. Now it’s every few days cuz I slack off with work, and life! I just got back from PT and it’s a swollen mess from him working on my big toe! I also noticed the past few days the incision between the two toes has a little something also most sticking out of it!!!  My PT has been using a tool to rub that every time I go to him because the scar tissue was pretty thick in there. In the beginning it was right up in the crack of my toes but it has moved down quite a bit now. He’s thinking maybe a suture is still in there and said it will come out on it’s own. That thought freaks me out. It was totally closed! I also have a very small black dot on my side incision that I keep staring at LOL.  But I can’t bend enough to get a good look at it and I’m trying to ignore both of them. I have been very good amazingly at not picking. I am usually a picker :-) the bruise on the bottom of my foot is finally gone. I can still see a shadow of it if I look for it but man that was crazy how long that lasted and how tender it was. I’m either at 11 or 12 weeks I can’t remember. Whatever Iris is LOL. 

 I am still struggling trying to find a pair of wedge type shoes. I just want a pair of sandals. What the heck am I going to wear otherwise? and I want to feel taller!!   I have never been able to wear anything with an arch and some of the ones that I found only have a slight arch but I am getting obsessed with trying to find a pair. It’s really hard when I can’t go into the stores especially for shoes. But I sure am putting a valiant effort into it. OCD hello! :-) I just want to know that someday I will be able to wear shoes with a teenie tiny arch even! I’d settle for that!!  I wouldn’t even know what to do if I had a pair of heels at this point in my life. I have never been able to wear them and I’m fine with that. But just give me some tallness!  I always feel so short around everyone in their cool shoes.

Franki sure is crazy.  A few times she has run out in front of me as I was walking and I’ve almost fallen. When I had my scooter she loved to lay right in front of it to the point where I would be touching her yet she refused to move LOL. I haven’t use my scooter at all in several days so I’m going to wait just a few more days and then I think I can return it. I think I may miss it at times.

I still walk like a robot but not as bad. I still have it in my head that I can somehow damage that joint that he took the pie piece of bone out of. Iris, do you feel that way? 

lately at PT I’ve been doing toe stands in three reps of 10. Where i stand on my ball of foot of both feet and then back down. The crazy thing is by the time I’m done the calf of my LEFT foot is on fire!!! I had surgery on the right one!  I thought for sure that would be all buff from scooting my body around on the scooter. I also do an elliptical type machine but it’s standing on it, not sitting. I LOVE it!  It feels like I’m walking or even jogging depending on how fast I go and my feet don’t hurt! It takes the pressure off the actual feet. I would love to have one of those! It is called the Octane. I’m sure it’s a bazillion dollars. I’d have nowhere to put it in my tiny house anyway. My hubby would say no way anyway. I had an  exercise bike about 10 years ago that just ended up being a place to put my ironing. I envy all of you that exercise. I wish I had that motivation. Maybe when my foot finally feels better and I can actually walk I will take walks. I do have a bike and that would be nice too. 

Hello Dona and all ~

I still have a suture left in my incision, and I think Janet said she has one, too. Mine is in my left foot where the screws were taken out. My doc also says it will dissolve eventually. It is driving me nuts! And yes, Dona, I feel like I could damage my foot where the bone was taken out. I did not feel that way last time, so I think this time it is because doc is making me where my shoe still. I want to do some toe stands, like you mentioned; however, I am reluctant because of my shoe issue. Even though doc told me to wear my shoe, I have been taking a few steps on the carpet and doing some standing yoga without my shoe on. I am walking gently, and I have not been pressing my weight down hard on my foot without the shoe.

I walked yesterday in the shoe - took me 23 minutes to walk a mile. My pace is a week behind my recovery last time, although I was wearing my own walking shoes last year! I hope the rain holds off this weekend, because we are planning to bike again. Funny Dona ~ I thought I would be all buff too, from the exercises I have been doing (leg lifts and bends, etc.), but I am still the same. I guess all it did was keep me from gaining weight. 

I think my big toe has moved. It is hard to tell if the swelling has just come down or it is actually moving. What do you think from the pictures?

Oh, it does kind of look like your big toe is closer to your other toes. How soon before you see doc again?

I am not sure how the big toe could actually move though...The two incisions by your big toe were just to shave some bone off, right? That is what mine was, with the bone removal and screws on top of the foot being the more severe part, it seems.

Hi ladies,  Iris That's good that your suture will at least dissolve on it's own, but that would still bug me also.  You guys are lucky to be doing all these exercises.  I hope when the time comes that my dr will give me some exercises to do since I'm not going to pt.  If not, I will use your guys pt exercises. I saw one lady from that fb bunion group you ladies were talking about that was picking up marbles with her toes.  lol I tried to do it but couldn't.  I thought I was picking them up, but when I looked down their was nothing there.  lol  I think my toe is still too numb for that.  When I touch the top of my toe, I can't feel my touch.  Hopefully the feeling comes back.  

Dona, I take pictures of my foot once a week to see the process.  I have them on my phone in their own little album.  I'm looking forward to getting where you ladies are at.  I like to look taller too since I'm only 5' 2".  I like standing next to short people. Makes me feel so tall.  : )

Deb, my doc did not give me any exercises. He only told me to bend my knees right after the surgery (to prevent blood clots, although he did not tell me why), and then to wiggle and bend my toes. I mostly just did what I thought felt right. I even asked if they had some kind of printout with exercises on it. Other than those two exercises, I probably would not worry much until you are 6 weeks. I am 5’2” also! All kinds of short jokes all my life. 

Dona, be sure and update us after your next doc visit. 

Iris, thats about all my dr told me too. I go back to the Dr in 2 weeks which will be 7 weeks for me. Maybe he'll give me an exercise print out, and tell me I can wear regular shoes and run, and jump, skip and dance. Lol

Those darn short jokes. Wait till we get our heals on. 😁

I see him on the 24th. And will try not to panic in the meantime. He took a pie piece of bone out and then fused it I guess. The only thing that I know is non union and I don’t think I have that. He looked at the X-rays. Ok, I’m going to forget that non union word, lol

Wow I’m the tall one here at 5 ft. 3 inches ;-) 

yesterday I felt like a rock star! worked all day and didn’t constantly think about my foot for the first time ! I had to remind myself to put my foot up on the ream of paper under my desk! Usually my foot reminds me! I started to wear a compression ankle sleeve, and it’s really helping the swelling!!! It’s crazy! Where does the swelling go? lol. I still have issues on the drive home with that darn pressing of the gas pedal. I still ice as soon as I get home and throughout the day every day. And I still have days where it just hurts sometimes. I still feel Like my big toe is super stiff, despite the PT working on it a lot!  Next week is my visit back to the doctor and I will have a report from my physical therapist to him so he can look at it. He wants to make sure If I am on task. As far as movement. And if I can achieve more then (if doc says that’s possible) then he will go more hard core. I’ll take the pain if I know it will improve my ROM. 

 he has had me doing a heel raises, now in sets of 315 times each. He always starts out by working and my scar between my toe which has improved a lot! I will be curious to see if there really is a suture or something under there because by now it should be pretty darn smooth from him using his tool. It has definitely moved further down my toe though, and is not in between so that’s good!  He has also been putting a foam block underneath me when I stand for 30 seconds trying not to touch on each foot. I’m getting better and better. The foam is weird and makes you move different muscles that I haven’t moved in a while! 

And after looking at old pics and talking to the PT, I don’t think my toe has moved. If it has I think (of course I’ll be asking!) it’s from the swelling going down and making it appear that way. 

Still cant arch myself into any fashionable sandals that give me height , though I did go back to DSW and found what really fit verses what I thought may fit by looking online. No Clark’s for me! I really tried! Too narrow, all of them. I fell in love with a pair of Teva wedges, and they were comfy, but I can find them cheaper elsewhere, so I need to do that. And Bzees are awesome!! All of them! 

hope you all are well! how are you doing Iris? I’m still not walking with my toe bending much, I’m too scared still! Some days it just hurts too much! I wear the boot most of the time. 

And FINALLY!!! that bottom bruise is gone!!! Wow! My ankle has also been sore, and the top of my foot sometimes, but it’s from the stretches the PT does. 

I think I can finally return the scooter, I haven’t been on it once in several days. Yahoo! 

Some pics :-) let’s see yours! 

Hello everyone! Good the pt is going well it sounds like, Dona. Ann, I am fortunate I do not have to stand all day. I am in the airport today, and that is uncomfortable enough. I have been walking quite a bit; just having to wear the surgical shoe when I do. 

Wow the airport!! No way could I walk that! Thats super Iris!! I still have only gone to one store, DSW and that was for maybe an hour, mostly trying on shoes that didn't fit. And I sat and my sweet hubby brought most to me. It was mother's day so he was nice ;-) I have some returns to do but I can't walk that far I think. My foot would be a blowfish!

Well, Dona, my foot is huge and sore now! My connecting flight was delayed twice, so I was in the airport for over 3 hours - miserable. That made me arrive at my destination 2 hours late, so I then had to drive for 3 hours in work traffic (in 2 segments 1½ hours at a time). Now I know why your foot is so sore after driving home from work. The traffic here is horrendous. It was gas, brake, gas, brake... all the way - 1½ hours to go 30 miles--ridiculous! I live in a very rural area, and I do not understand how people can just think that is a normal, everyday thing.

Glad you got your wound looked at Jen! My sutures were snipped at 2 weeks too, but then my foot remained wrapped and dry. Hope it heals up soon.

Hi everyone. Dona, your feet look amazing. I will post mine tomorrow. I take pictures once a week, and tomorrow I will be 6 weeks. I don't see a shoe fitting on my foot anytime soon in the near future. I'm excited. I took my first few steps yesterday without scooter or crutches. Today I was walking around the house quite a bit with no assistance with big boot on. After a couple hours, I had to ice and elevate.

Iris, walking around a big airport sounds so painful, and for so long. Ouch! Glad to hear it's going well for you guys.

That is great, Deb! The shoes I wore first were my athletic shoes unlaced at 10 weeks (first foot). After that, I was able to wear shoes that did not cover the top of my foot. I know others bought some new shoes to wear to work after starting to walk without a boot or shoe. I guess it depends what your needs are when you get rid of the boot. Lucky me, I do not need something to wear to work everyday, and I do not need to stand up all day. I work from home, and then occasionally travel for work, like this week.

I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Hi Iris, I'm not in a big hurry to put a normal shoe on my foot since I still have my other foot to do anyways. I know I will probably feel different once I get my other foot done. Sounds so painful. I think I would rather start out with a shoe that doesn't cover the top of my foot. But it's so exciting to start seeing progress. My next appointment is at 7 weeks. I'm hoping I will get a different shoe to walk in. Must be hard traveling right now.

Oh yikes Iris! I hope it’s settled down for you by now! Yep, it’s the constant braking and pressing down on the gas that gets me every time. No way could I have driven any earlier! you’d have found me on the side of the road  sobbing. With my foot in the air, lol. 

I have found what works best for me at work, is having an ice bag that I’ve frozen in a flat form, set atop my box of paper under my desk. And yesterday I found that I could take one of the frozen gel packs I have that goes into a slip and I usually wrap around my foot and don’t walk on it.  But I  found that if i put that gel pack  on top of my foot inside and strap it in the Velcro shoe,  it works beyond amazing and I’m still able to walk around. My foot didn’t hurt the entire day. And it was pretty much frozen on the drive home LOL. So that didn’t hurt either. It’s probably not necessarily a good thing but boy did it feel good. Also that compression arch sleeve is seriously the best at controlling swelling. 

you are doing super for 7 weeks! go you! 

I love the frozen ice pack on top of your foot inside the shoe idea! I would have loved that on my foot driving these last two days. At least I am on my way back to my rural home town today, so now all I have to contend with is the airport travel. I am anxious to see what your doc says after your next visit, Dona.

Boy I am too!!! next Thursday! I can’t wait to show him the report my PT will give me that a.m.  I probably mentioned this but he’s going to put something in there asking how much more my big toe should be moving. If it should be moving more than he will know it’s OK to go hard-core on it. I certainly agree with him that all three of us should be on board with the same thing. The doctor knows what he did obviously so he will know if It should go further or not. I sure hope so! I’m still not walking directly on it. The pain when I try scares me too much. Yet I’m able to do the toe stands fine. It’s probably a mind thing for me as well though. 

City driving is the worst! and that’s all I do. Stop and go. Stop and go. 

We are all getting closer! what a super feeling! I almost got on my scooter last night after I came home and took the compression sleeve off. But I didn’t. I guess I might as well keep it another week until after the appointment. 

The frozen gel pack allows me to bend it around my foot too. Ahhh, the relief!!! wish I had thought of that before. 

 I cannot stress again how important it is to be touching your foot. I did not do that when I had my left one done years ago and although I don’t think that’s the major issue by far I still get a weird feeling when I touch it. I do not get that feeling from this foot at all. I had my hands on it a lot LOL. People probably thought I was odd but I was certain I couldnt handle two feet that felt bad! It’s probably the cleanest thing on me LOL. My boss loves to look at my foot when I take my sock off to assess the damage when I can feel it starting to act up LOL. He always comes and looks. Usually I just slip my Velcro shoe off and massage it through my sock.