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Walking after 6 weeks bunionectomy

Posted , 85 users are following.

joyce16553
joyce16553

Hi Friends,

For those of you who had only one foot done, I am wondering how you are feeling at 6 weeks. I have been walking for about 10 days in the aircast, as I had the surgery 6 weeks ago yesterday, but my foot is still sore and hurts, and I have severe sciatica in my good leg from sitting around for so long. My wound is raw and red, though no bleeding or oozing, of course.  I thought I woud be much better by now.  Is anyone else at the 6 week point, and in pain?  I'm very dicouraged as I was told I could drive at 7 weeks, tho I am in this boot until after 8 weeks.  Thanks so much.

7 likes, 875 replies

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  • cynthia5456
    cynthia5456 joyce16553

    Posted

    Also, I already had severe sciatica in my left hip and leg. Walking "crooked " because of boot has exacerbated that pain and now my right hip hurts as well. Thinking about getting a shoe lift for non booted shoe from Amazon...don't know yet. 

  • laticia97999
    laticia97999 joyce16553

    Posted

    Hi, friend it's been 5 weeks for but every bunion surgery is different I have screws in the top of my feet but it had to be done in order to straighten out my foot and fix my toes.I still have like burning sensation in the bottom of my feet only at night but it's very uncomfortable.Do you experience that also.Thanks.

    • cynthia5456
      cynthia5456 laticia97999

      Posted

      Yes, I experience that also, but I too have screws. It's so different for everyone... 

  • elizabeth_86956
    elizabeth_86956 joyce16553

    Posted

    Hi. I live in Australia. Had keyhole surgery October 20. Now onto third week of rest. 2 to go. Foot fat. Cannot fit into any of my shoes. One pair of sneakers fit at the moment. Bunion sleeve went on last Friday. Wear it 12 weeks. Hope my foot is going to settle. Sore on top where I supposed he went under the skin.  3 pins in joint. 
    • kelly62856
      kelly62856 elizabeth_86956

      Posted

      Hi, have you tried air cast , I couldn’t fit any shoes for weeks , Hospital provided air casts they were great , still struggling with swelling during day so occasionally still wear air casts when necessary.
    • elizabeth_86956
      elizabeth_86956 kelly62856

      Posted

      Hi. No I came home from hospital with a soft type boot with Velcro straps. Now bandages are off I have to wear a bunion sleeve except when sleeping. It’s a tight thin bandage that holds big toe in place. I’m wearing my old nike sneakers which are ok. Just need something a bit better for when I m in jeans or back to work in a dress.  Will look at Skechers perhaps. 
    • kelly62856
      kelly62856 elizabeth_86956

      Posted

      Hi try the shoe brand Alegria wide toe lots of styles.. sneakers ,sandal’s ,boots etc , my doctor recommended the brand , good for feet and back due to the design and inner soles, there’s a alegria website if you can’t find shoes in local stores.  A lot of doctors and nurses wear them due too long hours on their feet, 
    • elizabeth_86956
      elizabeth_86956 kelly62856

      Posted

      Don’t like the look of those shoes. I’m going to look at some Skechers and try those. Would like to just wear thongs but can’t with them union sleeve as you must wear socks. Damn. 
  • dana13
    dana13 joyce16553

    Posted

    Hi Friends!

     I am new to the group. I had a bunionectomy done on October 12. It will be four weeks this Thursday. Dr. removed stitches at two weeks told me I could wear shoes when I was ready and sent me on my way. I am miserable. I have been driving and I am doing OK with it, being very cautious and careful because this is my right foot. But I did go back to work, cannot wear any shoes that feel comfortable, I am having excruciating pain and swelling in my foot .  I am feeling I should call my doctor and discuss this. Any suggestions? When I am at work I am keeping my foot elevated as much as possible. I am alternating ice and heat because for me the heat seems to work better for me than the ice. The actual incision is healing very nicely but the inside feels horrible. I have two screws and I am not even sure if  they are what I feel When I actually do feel something in my foot because my foot is so very numb. I know it sounds weird because I said I was in so much pain but there is also numbness.

    • elizabeth_86956
      elizabeth_86956 dana13

      Posted

      Hi. I had mine October 20. It’s usual for any incision to be numb. To get inside your foot nerves are disturbed. Takes months for that to go. I’m not sure why you’d apply heat because it’s ice reduces  swelling. Broken bones take 6 weeks to heal so same with procedures requiring pins. I’ve 3 in my big toe joint. Elevate as much as possible and wear wide fit shoes was my instruction. Not back at work till after 5 weeks. I have to wear a bunion sleeve ( which can be bought online ). It’s a tight thin bandage with a big toe in it. Must wear 12 weeks. My surgery was keyhole which is supposed to make recovery better. But I can’t wear heels nor run for 4 months. So that gives a guide as to what to expect if you’ve had the conventional way. Plus twice a day I have stretches for my big toe. But my foot is quite swollen and only one pair of joggers fit. Less so on the left. When I go out I wear the boot because it’s sturdier and stops too much flex when I walk. 
    • lisa74563
      lisa74563 dana13

      Posted

      Hi Dana,

      I can imagine that you're having pain!

      I was in a pneumatic walking boot for 6 wks.  I had a bunionectomy on my right foot with one screw. That was on Feb 3rd 2017.

      I iced & elevated my foot for several weeks.  I battled swelling for months & still have occasional swelling if I'm on my feet all day. I found that compression wraps really helped. The compression sleeve they're telling you about is wonderful.  Also,a toe spacer helps. I got both from my surgeon. 

      This is a pretty major surgery. All the fluid naturally goes to the lowest extremities so expect swelling for quite a while. 

      It's a long recovery.  I was told eight weeks.  Ha! That's a joke. The bone may heal in that time but recovery is much longer. 

      I'm not trying to be discouraging, just realistic.  I was so thankful to have found this discussion because I was becoming very disillusioned. 

      I'm 9 months post surgery & doing great. Happy I had it done. But it took at least 6 mos. before I felt completely healed.

      Please don't rush things,you'll damage your foot. 

      Good luck to you.

    • candy25882
      candy25882 dana13

      Posted

      Hello, I am also new to this forum and after reading a few post i feel relieved since I am not alone. I too had bunion surgery very recent on 11/09/17. I too have 2 screws but on my left foot to keep my big toe aligned. My doctor instructed me to go back to work after 6 or 8 weeks. This Thursday will be my 3 week and I am still in a wrap (splint i guess kinda like a soft boot). He said he will put me in a cast when see him in 2 days. He also mention that after a few weeks i wilI be in a boot. I urge you to seek your doctor and let him know how you feel. I truly recommend to rest as much as you can, elevate and ice as well. Dont rush on getting back to your normal routine as this can cause lots of pain. Keep in mind this is not something to recoupe so fast. Its a slow recovery. After reading so many posts I come to find out it's s slow healing process and will take months may be up to 6 months or longer to actually feel better. Every situation is different but dont discourage. Get well soon.

  • tammy91195
    tammy91195 joyce16553

    Posted

    Hi Joyce,

    I had a bunion surgery Sept. 22nd.

    I also had to have a bone shaved down (between the 2nd & 3rd toes).

    Everything healed pretty well. I still have to wear the surgical boot once in awhile. It's still a little swollen & tender. I ice it & elevate it often. My surgeon informed me that it could take up to a year to heal & recover fully.

    I just started doing acuasizes again.

    It felt great!

    Good luck! And all the best 😄

  • karen66055
    karen66055 joyce16553

    Posted

    Dear all,

    so glad I came across this forum as I have head little post op info from my hospital. I had surgery on 3 weeks ago and still cannot walk with any ease. I am wearing the heel boot/shoe any time I need to move and can only remain upright for a few minutes before it starts to throb/hurt. The wound feels sore and I spend most of my days and nights with my foot elevated. I am supposed to take the final wound dressing off today, but have been so traumatised by the pain thus far, that I cant pluck up the courage to do it or even look at it.

    This was definitely not the recovery I expected. I can't imagine putting my foot in water or putting all my weight through it. I have read some posts where people have been up and about, swimming/driving within weeks and had little pain, which makes me wonder if I should be doing more.

    How long generally are people finding it takes? Initially I was planning on returning to work at the beginning of Jan'. But now do not think this will be possible. I pretty much took painkillers constantly the first week then at night for the past 2 weeks. The discomfort of it has woken and kept me up. I had a Scarf and Akin osteotomy.

    What dressings are/ or are not people using? A nurse at my 2 week wound change told me to expose it to the air on the third week post op', but it still feels so vulnerable.

    I would love to hear your experiences/thoughts.

    love and thanks to all

    • michelle06123
      michelle06123 karen66055

      Posted

      Hi Karen

      I too am 3 weeks post surgery. I had all my dressings and remaining stitches out at the end of week 2.  I ice a number of times a day because it’s swollen underneath and at the side where the wound is as well as on top. I can bath with it emmersed  in the water now the dressings are off. It awfully stiff and I should be moving the toes more than I am but it has hurt to do so but I know I need to persevere. The physio wants me in an adjustable shoe next week when I see her but that’s only likely if the swelling has reduced significantly. I keep off it mostly and keep it elevated. I don’t sleep very well because if it and I’ve syopped using crutches as I’ve ached from neck downwards because of them. The pain isn’t as bad week 3 so hopefully this will only improve.  I have 3 weeks before I’m back to work. The hospital haven’t mentioned wearing a bunion sleeve but I will enquire as to whether they help.  Let me know how you get on. Don’t be afraid of removing the bandages as your next phase of healing will begin from that point.

      Michelle x

    • karen66055
      karen66055 michelle06123

      Posted

      Hi Michelle,

      thanks for your reply. I am sorry to hear about your discomfort and pain with your surgery and recovery. I have now removed the last bandage, half way. I sort of keep it half on and half off, so that way it can get some air but it sort of shielded also. I find it very hard to look at still. It will be 4 weeks post op this week I have told my employer I will not be able to return to work in two weeks (as originally expected),as I cannot walk for more than a few minutes at a time before it gets incredibly sore, I do have quite an active job. There is no way I can put it in water or ice on it yet, the wound feels too raw. I haven't seen a physio or had much after care advice (NHS) other than google and friends. I hope it continues to improve for you and you are able to start sleeping well. Let me know if you manage to get back to work as you planned. All the best

      Karenx

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