Walking after 6 weeks bunionectomy

Iris, 

i started PT at 6 weeks. I was shown how to do:

1. Towel scrunches sitting down. Attached paper shows it standing.

2. Sit on chair. With both feet lift feet to bend at toes.

3. Put foot on towel, flat. Hold your knee so it doesn’t move, then move your foot back and forth like at windshield wiper. One rotation is one rep.

4. Continue to pull toe back and forth. 

Note...numbers 1 thru 3 , do 10 times each, 3 reps (so 30 times in total), once a day.

At 8 weeks, they gave me these to do.

Also, at first I couldn’t do the one where you hold the big toe down and just raise the other toes and vice versa. I just couldn’t. So I would hold it down with my finger. After awhile, I started to really work at it and now I can do both without having to physically hold them down. The funny thing is...I can’t do it on my good foot. I guess it’s muscle memory.

I also forgot the marble ones.

THANK you, Lulu! This is very helpful. Much more than I had found. 

Yes thanks SO much!!! So far I’m only doing the toe bends. And not as often as I should. You think, Iris, with our surgery these should be ok, right? I’ll also ask on Monday, when I’m also hard pressing for PT! I won’t let her bully me and say next time... etc! I want it now! and of course from someone good. Oy! 

My doc also was ambivalent about PT, and only showed me the big toe push and pull. I told him everyone I know, which is true, who had it recommended PT. I wanted to do it, I was nice but firm that is like him to write a prescription for me. Remember, I have no screws in my foot permanently with these particular ROM exercises and they are for me. I have to say that I feel they have helped tremendously in getting better faster. 

The PT also massaged my foot a lot those first few weeks because it was so swollen. They used a laser on the incision and surrounding areas, helps with cell renewal, you’ll have to google that.

They used the tight band from my toes all the way to my knees. You really see the fluid when they undo it. Then they massage the fluid up out of the foot, massage up the leg, get the lymphatic system moving and circulating, like all massage it’s not permanent, but it did get me relief for several,days for the discomfort, 

I’d say the first 8 times were the most beneficial, plus I continue my exercises each day. The last few times if I had to pay rather than insurance, I would be mad. They don’t focus on the foot, but exercises for the legs, hips, balance. Yes, all those things are important, but I exercise already. So doing that stuff for 30 minutes for 4 sessions isn’t going to help my foot get better long term. They need to give patients exercises to do at home. I skipped the last 2 sessions, as I felt at that point it was a waste.

Dona, I think I am going to go ahead with the seated toe raises, bends, curls, spreading, etc. based on how doc answered my questions last week. I had asked him if I could put pressure on my toes my pressing against my fingers, and if I could stretch out and point my toes like tip-toes (while seated), and spread them apart. He had said yes to all of those, along with telling me to bend my toes, so I think all the toe stretches and bends are okay.

BTW ~ stretching my toes, pointing and spreading them, gives me quite a bit of pain through my toes and top of my foot, so I am slowly working into those.

I’ll verify with my doctor tomorrow those are good for me too. Yay! 

thanks thanks again Lulu, these are super!!! I can print them out for my forgetful self :-) I will verify tomorrow with my doc that these are acceptable for me. Hooray!!

You are welcome! I have to use them every time I did them. They truly helped, I was surprised how much. I was so proud I could actually keep my big toe on the ground and raise my other toes, finally! Never could do it the other way as well, but did it fairly well.

How did things go with your visit to the doc, Dona? Still wearing your surgical shoe for another week? My 6-week visit is next Tuesday, and I am hoping to start walking after that.

Hi all! The appointment was ok.... unfortunately by the time I got there I had nothing left in me.  I had to get a ride into work that morning from my husband at 3:30 AM. And of course the night before I couldn’t fall asleep. For the most part now I can get comfortable at night but I still have my days when I can’t get my foot just right.  I find that during the day when I’m on the couch I lay it on its side towards the pinky toe and when I go to lay that way at night it is soar on that side. 

 my appointment wasn’t until 3 PM so I worked up until two. That is a really long day. And I didn’t have my ice machine. I didn’t see the doctor just the nurse. I figured it would be that way. She did mention my next appointment on April 12 I would see him. My foot was extremely swollen that day, the most it has been in two weeks!!  So much so that I couldn’t even hardly wiggle my toes. So I really couldn’t show her my range of motion. She seemed satisfied with how my foot looked even being a little bit swollen. She said really all I needed to worry about at this point was moving my big toe back-and-forth and she barely moved it back and forth and said that was acceptable. I disagree LOL! 

 I asked her about the compression socks and she said because I have Reynards it might not be the best idea. Again I’m still thinking it may help me because of course I googled compression socks and rain eyes and some people seem to really like them. So I will decide myself if I’m going to get some or not. I got pooh-poohed on the PT. She said we would talk about it if I needed help in my gait at the April 12 appointment.  I also asked about the overuse of ibuprofen and she didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. I also had my husband there who doesn’t like confrontation and he agreed with everything she said so I kind of felt like I was on my own. I had also asked about K tape and she said it wasn’t necessary. 

 I had printed out the exercises that Lulu gave and I didn’t even bother to show her them. Also when I asked the name of the procedure I had she said she would write it down so I was super excited. But all she wrote down was Lapidus! duh! 

 I had worn my Saucony  shoes and had noticed on my left foot that I had major pain in the ball of my foot. She recommended some felt pads so I ordered some online. I really hope they work. It doesn’t seem to matter what shoes I wear for that foot eventually the ball of my foot hurts. Though it took much longer in those shoes.  She said those shoes were fine. She really didn’t give me any specific recommendations on shoes other than to give me a sheet of stores around here that Carey orthopedic shoes. And from my research and this group I already know all about those. I am still in my Velcro shoe and I still have the spacer  between my toes. She said at my next appointment that would be gone for good. The spacer I mean. I didn’t even bother to ask her what the next step would be. I’ll assume the only step left is to go into a regular shoe. But there is no way right now I can put any weight on it.  She did tell me I was cleared for soaking my foot! I was very relieved to hear that. That night I soaked it in Epson salt‘s and vitamin E oil and it was wonderful. As I was soaking I massaged the scars and I noticed the one between my toes that is thick after I massaged it and helps a lot. She said in her opinion the best thing for scars was the Mederma. 

I had a few other questions to ask her before we left and she went to go check to see if they had any felt pads to give me and she wasn’t the one that came back telling me they didn’t have any it was someone else. So I didn’t bother.

is it 5 weeks today?? 

 it really does get confusing and sometimes disappointing when you read of others doing so many different things at this stage, but I am happy with my progression for the most part. I will continue with my toe exercises and I need to do them more often . I really look forward to soaking it as it feels so much better after that and then I apply my essential oils on the bottom of my feet, arnica around the rest of it and it feels pretty good :-) 

 thanks for asking. I will be curious as to what your doctor says Iris :-) when is your next appointment? 

Good to hear from you, Dona. Your doc sounds kinda like mine - not much info, and no PT. I have been doing a lot of toe bends and exercises on my own. I am pretty disciplined, though. When I started working at home years ago, I had a friend tell she could not do that, because she would sit around in her PJs all ay!

My next appointment is April 3rd, 6 weeks post-op. I am hoping I can start walking after that visit. I did not have an appointment this week, so I sent the doc a note to ask if I could start placing my foot flat on the floor with my knee bent when I am laying down doing leg raises. He told me no.   I am afraid, if I cannot put more pressure on my foot before next week, I will not be able to stand on it then. Last time, the bottom of my foot was super painful when I put weight on it after 6 weeks, and I was hoping to get ahead of that this time.  

You do not go back again util the 12th? Does that mean still no weight bearing until then? I am hoping to be 10 days walking by then! If I remember correctly, my surgery was the day before yours.

Yes I was shocked the nurse acted like I was accomplishing so much by simply bending my toe, and because it was so swollen yesterday, that wasn’t far!! 

I have been able to work from home except to go in for 2 days a week, but I still try to limit to nothing over 6 hours. Otherwise it’s just too much. And I’ll admit since this surgery I’m in my pjs most of the time ;-) but if I don’t get my work done it doesn’t get done, so I have to be disciplined as well. I’ve always been for the most part. If I couldn’t work from home I’d be in trouble.  So glad not to have that stress! 

Id like to do leg raises... did you explain them before? I’ll have to try and look, though this site is not user friendly! I certainly do remember the pain from walking with the last surgery! pins and needles! When I’m soaking, and before I could do that, I really try to push and slightly massage the bottom of my foot. In the Epsom water it’s much easier to do, and I can tolerate more. I also put my foot down flush in the bucket, in no way putting weight on it, but I do press down a tad ;-) 

i go back April 12. So the Velcro shoe, scooter, etc are with me still... ugh!! I actually looked online today to see about getting some kind of cold foot wrap to keep at work. I found a  few that you can either have hot or cold. The ones with the gel seem like they would be the best because they don’t freeze all the way and like my ice machine I can really wrap it around my foot to form it.. At work right now when I can’t bring the ice machine I have one of those old rubber bags ( I know there’s a word for it, but I can’t think of it!!)for ice pack that you fill with ice but when I put my foot on that the ice cubes don’t feel so wonderful. It feels  like rocks and I don’t want cold rocks on my sore foot. I think I will utilize that ice machine for a long time still, and I can’t lug the ice machine to work every time. 

She Also said that I really shouldn’t risk driving because it’s only a few more weeks and if something were to happen and I had to slam on the brakes it would not be good. I still have that bruising on the bottom of my feet. Though it has disappeared pretty much everywhere else. I will try and post a picture. I really hate asking others for favors especially rides to work. If I absolutely had to I would drive myself at this point but we will see how it goes.Yes we are SOLE mates :-) surgery same time. It has certainly been interesting this time with no cast from the very beginning.  So again, I imagine the only step left is to actually walk. I don’t think they would put me in a boot or anything at this point. But I was so overwhelmed and trying to think of all my questions that I didn’t ask. Now I’m going to wonder :-) I can’t wait till you go to your appointment! Be sure to update me :-) hope you’re doing well.

Here are a few pics from today. My ice machine, trusty scooter and my foot at 5 weeks post op today :-) 

Nice! How do you add pics to thread.

Well, I just wrote an entire reply about the leg raises and everything else, and now I do not see my post. I also included my 5 week picture.

Yes, this site is definitely NOT user friendly. 

Double bubble :-( that’s happened to me twice, and you all know how I type SO much, lol! so frustrating! that’s why I end up using the microphone and sounding like I have no grammar most of the time. 

My cat also stepped on my iPad the other day after I had typed as well. Grr! 

 

wow your scars look super! Mine are still crunchy looking! have you been applying anything to them? 

Hello everyone ~ I took a computer break to see if my post would magically reappear, and alas, it did not.  So, here goes again. 

Yes, Dona, I have been applying Aquaphor on my incisions. Rubbing it in in a circular motion (I think Ann, or Lulu, or someone mentioned massaging that way). As for the leg exercises I have been doing, I have basically just been doing leg lifts while laying on my side, back, and hands and knees. Along with the toe, ankle, and knee bends. I take my shoe off and do them about 5 times a day. My doc told me to do them with the huge boot on that I had been wearing first; however, that is impossible. I think he is over cautious, since he initially wanted me to wear a cast (and, I had to last time). I think the leg lifts and knee bends help with the blood and oxygen flow. It definitely helps with the tingling feeling in my foot.

Dona, After you said you have another 2 weeks NWB, I remembered that when I had my first foot done, my doc had said 6 to 8 weeks NWB. I had been able to start walking in the surgical shoe after 6 weeks that time, so I am HOPING for the same next week. I know I will have that pins and needles feeling you described (I can feel it when I press the bottom of my foot too hard), which is why I wanted to start placing the bottom of my foot lightly on the floor, and work up to it. Doc says no, although he said it is okay for me to rub it, so I have been doing that. I am also using a dry exfoliator on the bottom of my foot. I am hoping that will help prepare my foot for weight again. Yikes, about the cat on the iPad!

Mimi ~ Did you figure out how to add pictures? I posted a photo of the icon about 5 days ago in this thread. The photo upload button is in the right hand corner when you are typing a reply; the last one on the right.

iris your scars look good how long between ops did you wait to have it done again

Dona your scars are good also have you had the other foot done also how long did you wait

bruising looks quite bad still

Ann, I had my ops done a year apart. The recent scar on my left foot is from when they took the screws out at the same time that they did the right foot (5 weeks ago).

Dona, I forgot my bruising comment when I re-wrote my other reply. Wow, I am surprised the bottom of your foot is so bruised. I did not have any bruising there. Just on top of my foot and around the toe, which is gone now.

Jumping on quickly to ask... what should I do??? Worked today so I’m toast.. but at work this a.m. I noticed my scar on top of foot felt like it was bleeding... I looked, and it wasnt oozing, but felt like it may start. I haven’t had that at all! Is it because I softened it up by soaking it? I only do it once a day, but just started applying aquafor (thanks Iris!) and since I got the go ahead to apply Mederma, etc to it, I did the aquafor pretty thick! I think it’s softened up and putting my sock on and off rubbed at it too much! What should I do? I had only been massaging the scars with arnica cream, etc, around them before. Do I let it dry out?? Cover it? I draped 2 bandaids over it from work. But now Im wondering if it needs to dry out, or my husband said to cover it with neosporin and band aid it, I Dunno! 

Did id yours do this Iris? I’ll reply more when I can to what else you said. Ugh! This stinks! And stings! 

Any advice is appreciated! 

Ouch, that does look tender and fragile. I had the incisions around my toe start bleeding a couple of weeks ago. I think mine happened because I had been exercising/bending my toes too much. In my situation, I washed it with soap (Dial, for me), dried it well, put Neosporin and a bandaid on, and quit exercising my toes for a few days.

I think soaking the area in water everyday is too much. I am surprised nurse said this is okay. Most info I have been given says to keep the area dry. When I had a cast on my foot last time, it stayed completely dry and wrapped for the entire 6 weeks. Since they let me have a boot this time, I have only been washing mine every 2 or 3 days (no soaking at all), and then applying the Aquaphor. I just use a dab, and massage it in gently. I then keep my foot covered with a wrap (soft and compression bandage) before putting it back in my boot/shoe. Also, have you been wearing a sock on your foot before this? I am only asking, because I had problems when I tried this week. I tried to wear a sock without the wrap on my foot, and the entire top of my foot got red and kind of itchy/sore. So, I went back to the wrap in the shoe with no sock, and the redness went away an hour or two later.

I would say, yes, let it dry, and then what hubby said to begin with. I would probably call or write the doc/nurse though, too, if it does not feel and look better before they close today. Good luck ~ hope it heals up. 

 

dona it looks infected a bit leave it dry and out for air then maybe ask nurse ir doc to look

The first thing I would do is call the nurse and tell her everything you told us. It looks infected, and if it is they might want to start you on antibiotics. I would quit soaking it. All I do was hand wash and dry. For now, I would just put some neosporin on it and do nothing else but talk to your doc or nurse.

this healing process is crazy. I was doing well until last week and the top of my foot was hurting quite a bit. It’s better now as I’ve quit walking on  the treadmill and doing ROM exercises, icing, elevating, etc.

i called the doc yesterday and nurse told me today he wants me to wear my aircast boot for 5 days. Blah!! And here I went out last night in a cute black bootie!! My maiden regular shoe voyage! 

lulu you sound like you have took a step back on recovery

hope it gets better soon are you back to work yet .Dona let us know how you get on about your foot

Quickly on again.. someday I will catch up!! It's much better today. Thanks all!! That was yesterday.. it was moderated for whatever reason. I'm in car now so don't want to say much cuz I may lose it... It's not infected. Iris is right imo!! I should not soak it even though Nutse said it's fine. I was told I could let shower water run on it after stiefxhss came out which I've done and that's been fine. But suddenly soaking it AND applying major lotion softened it too much and I always weae a sock. Also as directed and it'snevdr been an issue until then. So I'm drying it out asuch I can during day, putting Neosporin and now Mederma at night, and covering it again to sleep. So my sock can't get it and pull and bother it. I'll still cover it if I need to when I wear sock. I hope to catch up soon! Getting dog groomed and picking up groceries. Well, my hubby is.. I'm just a passenger. Lol. Didn't even bring the scooter so I'm glued to this seat!!

Good to hear it is improving and not infected, Dona.

I do not remember how far along you are, Lulu. I cannot wait for my maiden shoe voyage! 

Happy Easter, all!

Glad all is well wit your foot

Happy easter all

I’m glad things are better, Dona! I agree that the soaking was probably too much. It would be nice if the doctors provided more after care instructions!

i wore another pair of booties last night. I was given the green light at 11 weeks, you would have thought it had been a year I was so happy and excited. It’s amazing how cute footwear really makes an outfit. I have felt like my great grandmother for the last several weeks,

i went and bout arnica gel today. I just don’t feel like my stitch bruises are fading well enough. I hope those are scars left behind from the stitches. I’m supposed to apply 3 times a day. I wish I had started sooner, but I really did think they would fade quickly. I hope it works!

Thanks Iris! I wish that big bruise on the bottom of My foot would disappear already! Almost all of the other bruises are gone now. Just a little bit about around the ankle but still pretty bad on the bottom. I asked the doctor if they had me in a clamp and they said no. But it sure looks like clamp marks to me! I did apply more arnica to the rest of my foot, not thinking of the bottom, so maybe the arnica really does work good! I’m sure applying it now! 

yes, I have been wearing a sock since the first week when they took the dressing off. It hasn’t bothered Me at all as long as they are big enough. That has been my concern was getting a compression sock because unless it does something differently, putting my tighter socks and that I used to have make it pretty painful. The hardest part is opening the sock wide enough to get my foot in it. I usually have my husband help me stretch it wide out.

totslly agree with you all and the soaking. I took her word for it and soaked thinking I was going to do so much better and I have stopped for sure on that! Though since week too when I am in the shower I have done like she said and just let the water run on it and she said any soap and shampoo running over it would be fine. That wasn’t an issue until I started soaking it. So no more of that!!!  I’m letting it dry out good when I can and then putting my derma and a little Neosporin on it at night and it looks much better and has gotten smaller and smaller. 

Thanks for the advice you all! I as panicked when I saw blood after all these weeks! 

oy..

Iris you’re adorable! 

happy Easter all! 

I had my right foot done, twice, over a period of 2 years, about 10 years ago, if that makes sense :-) and it still hurts. I went to the wrong doctor for that foot, and hope this one can correct it, yikes a third surgery possibly?? someday. But no time soon!! 

LEFT FOOT done twice, not right one! eek, the right one is this surgery. 

Aircast again!! ugh!! 

Yes this  recovery is quite a story! 

I hooe you you all are doing well! 

All, my suggestion is to not overdo those PT exercises I gave you. I actually think that is part of the problem with the top of my foot. I think it’s tendonitis and why thevdoc wants me to stabilize my foot wearing the aircast boot for 5 days. I spent a week on ibuprofen, icing and off mynfedtvalot and the weekend in my boot. I’m off the otc meds. It’s better but still aches.

i truly think that the exercises that might have caused it were the ones where you are raising all your toes up. There are several exercises like that where you are stretching those toes up and you can feel the tendons flexing. I think 30 times once a day is way too much and is what caused it.

if I had to do it over again. I would do those exercises twice a week only, not every day. I would stop them when you start walking a lot, especially when you get the green light to begin walking on a treadmill 15 minutes and keep increasing. 

It was just too much for my foot to be walking, and then stretching those muscles each day. Hope this helps.

 

I agree with Lulu, less is more, the exercises should be moderated, and there should be a day in between for the foot to recuperate. Having said that, I have done few exercises apart from walking and seem to be experiencing similar sensations in my foot to all of you. I saw my consultant last Thursday with the black dot (in tow - 'scuse the pun) he sent me to have the foot xrayed. Then said it wasn't a suture because he uses white sutures, and, he had never seen anything like it before!! that was it!! I have tried to research it but have drawn a blank, it is getting bigger as it works its way out through the skin, feels sharp and is uncomfortable. I keep trying to ease it out with a skin probe

?but its not out yet. I have had baths since 3 weeks and different to other contributors feel that soaking in water (not too hot) is beneficial, I apply creams occasionally and cover the scar with a cushioned pad and tape when wearing my scruffy old shoes to walk the dog. It is important to dry the skin round the scar properly and no cream should be applied to damp skin as the cream will form a barrier and hold the moisture on the scar, which is how your scar looked to me Donna. I have found that my feet sweat a lot in my slippers and that isn't good for the healing process as excessive sweating can cause fungal infections, not what any of us need at this point. Also the skin needs to be able to breathe to keep it healthy, so I do walk around the house barefoot at times. Apart from the black dot my scar is almost gone, I  don't seem to have the symbols one of you showed to Ann and me a few days ago to upload pictures but will try. As you said Lulu, its difficult when you live alone, the endless hours alone especially when the pain is bad, my son does what he can but his job takes him away a lot, and friends have been kind. My puppy has been my salvation as, no matter what else happens, he needs exercise and although he exasperates me by digging my plants up in the garden and bringing them into the house!! complete with as much soil as he can manage, and then he smiles at me as if to say see Mum, I am helping you.  He is the only dog I have ever had which actually smiles. Hope Easter is good for all of you and the weather a lot better than here, its grey, miserable raining and cold. Keep smiling. x

 

Good point about making sure the incision area is fully dry before applying any cream or ointment, Janet. I noticed the moisture barrier happening once when mine was not fully dry, although I forgot to mention it. I am glad my next doc appointment is tomorrow, because I am also having some top-of-foot issues recently, similar to what you and Lulu described. The last few days, the top of my foot has had more of the rough scratchy feeling than usual. I then cut back on exercising my toes so much, and now today, my toes feel stiff and not as flexible. Not sure if I need to find a happy medium, or what.

Dona, Glad to hear your incisions are looking better! I am trying a sock again today without any wrapping (just the surgical shoe over it) to see how that goes.

Iris, please let us know what your doc says. Mine doesn’t feel scratchy, just sore now. 

My pain may be different then. I have had rough scratchy pain on top of my foot since the surgery (like a rough scratchy brick or board pressing down on top of my entire foot). The pain got worse when I first started exercising my toes and ankle. After a few days, it started to feel like it was going away, and then it got worse again a couple of days ago. I thought maybe it was from too much exercise/movement. I will see what my doc says tomorrow, and yes, let everyone know. I am hoping he will tell me I can start walking tomorrow! Getting around on one leg/foot is driving me crazy.

Mine feels sore too Lulu, and a bit dead, my only consolation is I watched 3 episodes of Columbo back to back this afternoon/evening! gosh I wish I was that smart. ;-) . Remember what Vivien Leigh said in 'Gone with the Wind' 'tomorrow is another day!' night all! x 

Yes I’m not soaking my foot ever again!! It was looking much better! Healed a bit, but after work today I noticed it’s pretty red at the top of the scar. That’s the only part that is still “scabby”. And it’s sore. Maybe it’s red because I keep touching it, lol. But I’m taking a pic and sending it to the nurse. And no lotions or anything! I may not even get it wet in the shower! I was doing so well with the scars! I do have to cover it when I go out, and to work. I put a hole in my sock today when I got home where the top scar is, so it can get air but I don’t freeze my toes! 

I cant wait until you go to the doc, Iris!!! 

still gross bruising on bottom of foot. So odd! And it’s very tender still. I haven’t put any weight on it at all since the surgery! Just light pressing when I was soaking it. Grr at the nurse! She even said I could go into hot tub, I hadn’t planned on it, but that would have been bad! 

I’m still only really massaging my foot, and only doing the toe exercises. No worries here on doing too many! 

Ive been noticing an off feeling on the top of my foot, but it’s toward the middle of my foot, not the incision, but further to my pinky toe. It almost feels like my bones or muscles are trying to stretch and they are too short. Hard to describe but an odd, uncomfortable feeling. I thought maybe it was because of lack of stretches. I do point my foot upward quite a bit. 

I hope the sock sock is good to you today Iris! I will now have to figure out how to dry cover my scab when I need to wear socks with my Velcro shoe outside. 

 

Im starting to love my scooter, lol. I’m really fast on it! But the one foot and no driving is really awful. 

sounds exactly right Janet on my scar! I’m going to start blow drying it! 

Your dog is a hoot. 

Dona, I have that same feeling of my muscles trying to stretch and they are too short across the top of my foot! Although my foot is not bruised on the underside, my big toe feels very odd underneath. Tight, tingly, a bit swollen.

Find out what’s wrong with us tomorrow! :-) I’d say my big toe feels similar to yours, but what’s worse for me is the ball of the foot ends of toes when I massage them to try and get past the pins and needles point (not yet!) trying to massage that area makes the top of my foot feel too short! 

Im going to shower and lightly hibicleans my foot. No scrubbing it ever with just enough water to get the soap off. Then blow dry it! Arnica only on bruised bottom. 

I do hope you can start to walk tomorrow, and no pins and needles! Fingers and toes, haha, crossed. 

Hi Hun

how long until we can walk with like a thong or open shoe of some sort and no Bootie thing..

I am only 2 half weeks post op but feeling like I'll never walk again

I guess the being house bound is getting to me I think ...

I'll be happy to just walk like a normal human again ..

 

My doc told me 11 weeks is when I could wear any type of footwear.

Hi Jac! 

Between 2 and 4 weeks were the worst for me, as you can see from my many ramblings during that time. But it does get better!! Much better! And I went through so many emotions during this! from being lonely cooped up at home, from stressed about doing all of my work, feeling sorry for myself, guilty for not being able to do a thing. Few nights up all night doing doing too much research on other people’s  surgeries and then comparing them to my own and being disappointed. It is a roller coaster ride for sure! You will get through it I assure you. If I can do it anyone can. We are lucky to have this group to lean on. It is very difficult to explain to others what it’s like. My friends that I don’t see that often when they see me  now since the surgery always ask, wow you still not walking? They soon forget about it being so restrictive until they see me weeks later and I’m still sitting here most of the time not being able to do anything. You take care :-) your foot looks good. 

My time frame for wearing shoes is probably the same, Lulu. I am wearing the surgical shoe until my next visit, which will be 10 weeks.

Dona, even my DH thinks that I must not be a good healer. I told him that is not the case. Everything I’ve read from others and articles say it is a slow, slow process. I am not sure he believes me, but oh well.  Also, friends don’t get it. They think bunion surgery, no big deal, I have a friend who has to have it the end of May, and she thinks she going to be feeling well enough after just a few weeks to get out on her crutches and meet up,with people.

Maybe she will, but I didn’t feel well, and needed my foot elevated almost all the time. Even seeing me go through it, it still doesn’t register. 

Even st weeks 7 through 9, I only wanted to be out a couple hours at a time because my foot would swell. It’s hard to describe how uncomfortable that is to someone, also. Today is week 12 for me. 

I agree, Lulu. People just do not understand what it is like. My husband and a couple of close friends are quite understanding and often tell me to slow down. The rest of my family (siblings) and friends though, seem to think it is no big deal. I also always want my foot elevated, because it swells and throbs when down for too long. 

Exactly. I can still only work for no more than five hours, and I sit down a lot. But not having my foot elevated like I do at home, really takes a toll fast. I’m  6 weeks PO. Today! 

Today was the first day at work where I wasn’t almost in tears by the time I got home wanting to elevate my foot and immediacy use ice. And lately it’s been that muscle pulling pain that’s really bothering me towards the end of the work day. 

 We have carpet and wood floors in our house. So it’s hard to “scooter “ over the speed bumps I call them. I heard my hubby tell a friend when they suggested he put something over them to make it easier for me to scoot over, that he was trying to get me to have incentive to get better sooner. For real??? He said he was only joking, and I’m sure he was. But what did the friend think? I’m a lazy bum!? I have to lift the scooter up and over the transitions, and sometimes when I’m really tired I almost fall if I miss.