Walking after 6 weeks bunionectomy

Hi Marie, I'm 3 weeks and 1 day post op. Are you driving yet. My doctor told me that I can drive on my last 2 week appointment. But I have fear. I don't think I can put my knee scooter in the car while standing on 1 leg. I dont feel like I'm ready.

Hi there! Did you have the right foot done? Several years ago I had it done, and it was about 6 weeks and I could drive myself to work, and put my scooter in the car, get it out, etc. Thinking back now, I’m not sure how I managed to do it, but I did! sometimes it’s amazing thinking about we can do when we need to. I just went slow and steady. I’m not good at balance! 

because I had my right foot done this time, I was told if I HAD to drive at two weeks I could but I should really try not to, because if we suddenly have to brake, i would risk messing my foot up. 

Good luck to you! Do you have a neighbor or someone who can help get you into the car along with the scooter? And someone to help you once out get out? 

Hi Donna, thank you for feedback. I had my left foot done. My sister went with me to the store, and put my scooter in and out of car. She had trouble doing it and told me I probably wouldn't be able to do it bc it's an all terrain scooter so heavier. But maybe if I use my crutches instead. I'm not putting any weight on my foot yet. Doctor said i can put weight on my heal, but it hurts when i try.

When I went to the store, Deb (is that your name?), I used a wheelchair or electric cart before I started walking. Made me feel like an old woman, but it worked. I found that my foot swelled a lot when I walked too long with the crutches. Good luck with everything! 

Hi Iris. Yes, it's Deb. really Debbie, but I like deb. Thanks for the advice. I dont have a wheelchair, but i have seen those elec carts in the store. I'm assuming you can ride them out to your car... looking forward to when I can start walking again. Hope your healing quickly.

Hi Iris. Just had my 1 month post op appointment yesterday. I keep reading alot of people going to pt. I keep asking my doctor about it, but he just shrugs it off. Wondering if it makes a difference. Dr said he wants me to transition off knee scooter to big bulky walking boot and crutches and to start putting weight on my heel. Hurts alot when i try. Going to out for my first time today using my crutches. Driving to my hair appointment. A little nervous.

HI Deb, and all. Trying my reply again. I wrote one earlier from my phone, and then bumped one of the ads on this site and lost it. Grr!

My doc does not think I need PT either. I have just been doing the exercises I found online and what others have shared. I hope your drive went okay, Deb. My foot was more swollen after driving today.

So, my doc took X-rays again today (10 weeks) because my foot is more swollen and sore on top than he says it should be. I have to wear the surgical shoe 3 more weeks, and then go back and see the other doc in the office to see what he thinks. He said the X-ray looks good, but sometimes it does not show everything. I remember reading someone else who was having trouble 8 months later (I cannot remember if it was on this site). She said her X-rays were fine, but when they finally opened her foot back up, it was not fused--scary!

Hi Iris, thanks for feedback. That's crazy. I can't even imagine having to be opened back up, and not fused. My first solo outing went good. Just getting used how to do things on crutches. I will take my knee scooter out when i get a little further along. Maybe. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one not doubt pt. I will use the exercises that I see online also. I'll be glad when I can put full weight on my foot. Hopefully soon.

Hi Deb!  I am having PT for the first time with my right foot after two surgeries on my left foot with no instructions.  Because of the issues I still have with my left foot I truly feel the PT would’ve helped had I been told to do it. I had no idea I needed it and trust the doctor to tell me what I needed. My doctor this time, a different doctor of course, didn’t want to give me PT. either. I asked for it several times and then  at my third visit I just sort of stood there and stared at him and  he finally gave in to me and gave it to me. I really don’t understand what the big deal is about giving it . I have read that some doctors don’t like to give it as they feel it shows they didn’t do their job correctly. I don’t think like that at all! The main goal should be to get the best results possible that we can get. PT has really helped me.  I have done a ton of things this time (I did so much research)  such as constantly touching my foot and rubbing it and I know it’s helped so much. 

This is time I had no boot the entire time, and still occasionally use the scooter when it swells from walking in the boot. I wonder what the difference  is of the big clunky boot verses the Velcro shoe Iris and I have. Though she had the boot as well I believe.  (I had the boot for my left foot after the cast instead of just this Velcro boot the entire time) 

hope you you had a successful drive to your hair appt! I loved finally going to get my hair done, it made me feel more human. For awhile there I was a hot mess! 

did they show you the X-rays Iris? when I had them last visit, I had to ask. I just like seeing things I guess. I think it is neat to see. Did he tell you to stay off of it because of the pain and swelling? I’m glad he said the X-rays looked good! I would think by now we’d really feel if it wasn’t fused. I read about that and stopped because I didn’t want to imagine it not fusing and freak myself out. I also read about neuromas and that’s what made me really make sure I was massaging my foot. 

I think with the exercises you already do and the ones you hear about you probably are getting the majority of the benefits, so that’s good! I’ll keep sharing my PT experiences if you’d like. 

Good morning!

Doc did not show me the X-rays, and I did not ask. I cannot really tell anything in the ones they gave me before, so I figured it would not make any difference to see them. This visit was a super disappointment for me. I had hoped he was going to tell me the pain and swelling is typical, and that I just needed to work through it. I got the impression he is concerned it may not be healed as well as he had thought. He did make a comment to me about the X-rays not showing everything.

The pressure scratchy pain in my big toe knuckle did not seem to be a concern, and when doc first asked about my pain and felt my foot, he asked about the side of my foot. I think he initially thought maybe I was having side foot pain from not walking correctly (like some of us have discussed). After feeling my foot and seeing exactly where the pain is, looking at the swelling and X-rays, he said he wants me to stay in the shoe--all the time, except when sleeping! He did not clearly tell me to stay off my foot, although he did say bicycling is better than walking (we talked about the activities I have been doing). He said the yoga and stretches I have been doing are okay, he just does not want me to walk at all without the shoe. The other doc that I am going to see in 3 weeks is more experienced. He is the one who said I could have a boot this time instead of a cast (so yes, I had a huge bulky boot, Deb; on crutches though, not walking). Now though, I am wondering if I hindered my healing by doing too many exercises too soon since I could take the boot off, and I could not move my foot at all in the cast last time...

Thank you for the Tawas info, Dona!

Iris, what kind of doctor are you seeing in 3 weeks? My Dr keeps stressing that I wear my boot, but it's so uncomfortable and heavy. I don't know why, but I'm afraid to put full weight on my heal. Oh, I know why, because it hurts. 😰? im going to try and work on that today. When I asked my Dr if I should be exercising, he said no. Just trying to walk is enough, and to try and wiggle my toes a little, because big toe is stiff. Hope your healing is ok. I will be praying that all of us have a quick and pain free healing.

Hi Dona, i like how you just stared at Dr until he gave in to pt. I gave up asking after the 3rd time. I dont see why its a big deal either. I was afraid their was going to be damage to my foot at my 1 mo post op appt. Because at 2 weeks I was doing donkey kicks on my knee scooter (I know. Stupid) alternating knees on my seat while kicking my leg behind me up in the air. I lost balance and my scooter started to tip over. I slammed my whole bad foot on the ground to catch myself from falling. But thankfully Dr said nothing in my foot shifted. Now i do my donkey kicks on the floor. Lol Im going to try rubbing my foot more when dressing is off.

I also have the little Velcro shoe the Dr gave me to sleep in. Not sure if it's the same one you guys have. Wish their was a way to show pictures of them on this site. I only slept with it on a couple times. More comfy to sleep without shoe. I usually use that shoe when I'm out and about on scooter. You mentioned you had a cast. Curious why you had a cast. I was hoping Dr was going to transition me into that snow boot you guys were talking about, but I guess not yet. Going to try another solo outing today to the bank.

Deb, both my docs are podiatry surgeons, and they both did my surgery. The guy I see mainly though, is less experienced than the other one, who happens to only be in my office location once a week. I saw him first time after both my surgeries, and then after that all my appointments have been with the second guy.

Yes, that boot is soooo heavy! It was miserable trying to walk in crutches with something on my foot that weighed 2 lbs. That is what my doc gave me to wear instead of a cast this time. I thought a boot sounded more comfortable than a cast; however, it was not. After that, I was given a surgical shoe to start walking in at 6 weeks. I attached a picture of my shoe and the boot to this post. The red under my shoe is a compression bandage the doc put on my foot yesterday. You can post pics if you are on a computer. I am not sure how it works from a mobile device.  

I think you are smart to just wiggle your toes, and do things like knee bends and leg lifts. I think my healing is slower this time because I did a lot of stretches and exercises sooner than I did last time. I thought I was helping prepare my foot; however, that does not seem to be the case. Thank you for the prayers! 

Hi Iris, Your lucky to have 2 foot doctors.  Nice to have a second opinion.  I was so excited to see your shoe pictures.  I was able to take pictures of the two shoes I have using my laptop.  My small shoe is similar to yours except mine only has 2 velcro strips on top. I do like your boot.  It looks much more comfortable than the hard plastic boot.  Some how I was picturing it to be shorter and firmer, but still looks comfty.  So, is the small shoe the one he gave you to walk in?  That one looks much better.  I was told to walk in the hard plastic boot, and sleep in the cute little sexy shoe.  lol  I hope my shoe picture is visible.

hi deb

wow that looks like some boot how long did you wear that for.What procedure dud you on yoyr bunion i just wore the the shoe with a wedge heal for 4 to 5 weeks then my trainer did not walk properly until 12 weeks

Deb, It sounds like you had the same procedure as me and Dona - lapidus. Do you have 2 screws in your foot too? Where are you located? Dona and I are both in MI, USA. From what I recall, we have a few here from UK, and a couple in south US states.

Yes, the small shoe is what I am waking in. I had to wear it to bed the first 6 weeks. I will have to take a side photo of my boot. It is not comfortable because it is so heavy. The one you have looks less cushioned, but probably much lighter. I actually weighed mine after trying to walk in crutches with it! I guess the reason I have 2 docs, is because they said they needed 2 there to perform the operation. Yes, it is nice to have 2 when they need to discuss something like my current situation. Your pictures are clear and look great!

Good to hear from you again, Ann! How are you doing?

hi iris

doing ok back at work full time next week but my ankle is still a little swollen as well as foot think its just fluid but getting there no heels tho lol

Hi Ann, I like your way of recovery much better. What procedure did you have done. I had the lapidus bunion fusion done where they cut the bone on top of your foot and fuse the bones together. Dr also cut some tendons or ligaments not sure which one from my second toe bc they were overlapping. Dr gave me the boot shortly after surgery. I'm supposed to wear it whenever I'm walking around and also to bed the first couple weeks. But their is no way. I only wear it on my solo outings when using my crutches.

Hi Iris. Yes, I had the lapidus done with 2 screws. I am from central Ca. USA. I really like your small shoe. I'm hoping after my 6 weeks are up that I only have to wear my small black shoe. I don't want your type of boot if it's heavy ; ) My big boot is super heavy too. It takes both hands to lift it out of the car. Lol I'm supposed to walk on my heel in it, but my heel doesn't even touch the bottom of the boot. It comes in 2 pieces, so it's hard to get the Velcro just right without the top piece moving around. Makes me just want to mail it back to the dr. Wow. Nice to have 2 dr's doing your surgery!

Hi Deb, Iris and Donna, I have just read a short interesting article about your surgery,(lapidus) by a surgeon called Neal Blitz in New York. He says he has revolutionised the surgery because his method allows weight bearing without the need for the boot by using a stiff soled surgical shoe.He also says recovery 6 to 12 weeks unless ill health, age (me!) smoking etc interfere with recovery. I will try to send the link in another post, if it doesn't get through and you cant find it by googling it I can send it through to you on email. I am 68 still working 2 jobs, have 1 screw in my big toe, and a plate and six screws in my bunion area. I was weight bearing from six hours after surgery in one of those shoes, got rid of the crutches in the house on week 2, and outside on week 4. Like Ann I am back working, for 3 weeks now, my foot swells a bit, and the plate area aches but doing ok . I had a period of time when I thought I would never wear a proper pair of shoes again, but slowly its coming. My op was Akin Osteomy.

Hope you are all well and enjoying the better weather, Janet

Lapidus Bunionectomy Surgery - Dr. Neal Blitz

This is the link.

J

Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) as it is broken. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.

The link post is waiting to be moderated!

Lol, donkey kicks... a rookie mistake ;-) did that the first surgery in the kitchen and slammed my head on our granite counter tops, but my foot was ok, lol! 

I have a cup holder and important items (aka snacks at this point) bag as well on my scooter. I’ll have to find a pic. I know I posted one before but there are a LOT of my rambles on here especially in the beginning, I was a mess and don’t dare go back to read, id be so embarrassed, oy.

for sure try the massaging when you can tolerate it. I promise it will help the pins and needles to go away faster if you have that. Also my left foot that I had done has odd sensations cuz I did nothing to it. My first doc didn’t tell me I should. I only had cast with left foot. This new doc is sooo much better and I was told updated on his procedures. He rarely uses casts. It was weird at first cuz the only thing I had proctecting my foot was the Velcro shoe. But I got used to it. Had to wear it to bed the first week only I think. After that I wore a loose slipper over foot cuz I felt it needed protection. My shoe has 3 straps. 

I think my boot (again only with left foot years ago) looked a tad different but I remember how heavy it was! I have more to say ( I tend to say a lot, lol) but I have to work, blah! at least it’s from home so I can wear my jams and put foot up. 

Good on you for driving at a month out! I hated asking ppl to take me to work, which was about the only place I went, it really got to me this time. I still can’t walk long places, I have yet to take a walk. My foot still swells and he works me good at PT. I do like the massages and leg rubs he does. Those I couldn’t do myself for sure so for me that alone is worth the PT. 

Iris....Yesterday he had me doing new things like lifting off on my toes as far as I could in sets of 10 three times with the massage table in front of me for balance if I needed. I also did the standing on one foot and trying to balance for 30 seconds without touching the table. I still failed miserably. Lol. He said my toe rom is a 40, it was 20 in the beginning.  At my first appointment he took all kinds of measurements. I’m going to go right before my doctors appointment on the 24th and he will print out all the information for the doctor to look at. I will be excited to see that. I go again today at 2. Two days I a row will be a lot for me. 

Hope you are all doing good! 

Janet, I’ve seen info on that doctor when I was searching for info. Interesting! 

Iris, 

sorry  your appointment was disappointing, I’m sorry. :-(  remember to focus on that he really didn’t say anything negative, it’s just your

 impression that you got. I  imagine he would’ve said to absolutely stay off of it if he thought there was a non-union or any other drastic issue. Try and focus on the good. I know it’s the exact opposite of what I do and it’s very difficult to do especially when we can look up stuff and read the worst case scenario. 

I am so sick of having issues especially at night and during from me sleeping.  I am so sick of having issues especially at night and hindering  from me sleeping! 

Time for me to work

Good morning, all!

Ann, I remember thinking about heels after ?I had my first foot done last year. At 6 months, I had a soft pair of sketchers with only about an inch heel and I could not wear them yet. I walked just a bit in them a few days a week at home and got my foot used to moving in that position again. Before I had my current [second] surgery, I was able to wear heels again. I do not remember at exactly what point - some time between 6 months and a year, for me.

Deb, what a difference between our docs for the same surgery - mine and Dona's in MI did not want us putting any weight on ours for 6 weeks, and your doc in CA wants you to start right away. I did some searching last year online, like the link info you tried to share Janet, and found the same thing about walking right away. I specifically asked my doc about it before this second surgery, and he was adamant about no weight. He said that in some surgeries, putting weight on the foot actually pushes the bones together in a good way, but that was not the case for me.

Thank you for the encouragement, Dona and everyone! I do think my doc is overcautious, although I also know I have pain inside my foot that I did not experience last time. After he compression-wrapped my foot yesterday it has been feeling super itchy and odd. I thought maybe the bandage was bothering me, but my foot is not red. Time will tell. Have a good weekend, all. 

Hi Ladies, hope your day is going well. Dona, ouch! I bet we won't make that rookie move again. Lol I started doing the massages this morning on my foot. Dr said the pins and needles are the nerves trying to heal. And thank you ladies so much for posting the exercises from your PT. Also, can you all post the weeks or months P.O. that you are at.

Iris, I think that's why I'm afraid of putting weight on my foot so soon, because I've read alot about people waiting 6 weeks to start walking.

Janet, I also read about that Dr in N.Y. when I read about him, I so wanted him to do my surgery! Wow, for having so much metal in your foot, that's such a fast recovery. At first when I read your recovery time, I thought you went to that dr in N.Y.

I agree, seems like the pain is worst in the evenings. I started taking Motrin before bed. It helps some. Not as good as Norco, but it does the job.

It's nice to talk to others that are going through the same thing. I appreciate you ladies. Have a great painless weekend.

t was quick, back to full time in 3 weeks?  My Occy health nurse  put me on 3 hours for week 1, 4 hours week 2, 5 hours for week 3, 6 hours week 4 7 hours week 5 thwn full time.. I have 2 more weeks on phased return, and unlike you I sit down for more than half my day. Hope that swelling goes down soon for you.  I bought some fly flots from Pavers and they ade so comfortable. Janet

Hi ladies

hope everyone is doing ok im 17 weeks p o now and feel nearly back to normal now still have not wore heels yet might try in a few weeks janet how lovely is this weather we are in the garden basking in the hot sunshine

Hi Ann, I am 4 weeks po. Your nearly back to normal at 17 weeks gives me hope. Whoo hoo. 90 degrees here in California today. Have a great day everyone!

Hi Ladies,  Yes Ann it is lovely.  I spent all day power washing my patio and getting garden furniture out of the shed. Today looks lovely too so its weeding and getting washing dry. Boy have we waited a long time for this lovely weather. Enjoy this lovely weather ladies, sunshine is good for healing.

Hi Deb,

I am 16 weeks post op and like Ann back at work.  I had Akin Osteotomy and have as you said a lot of metal in my foot. I don't know if this information will help any of you but it might. I haven't (apart from walking} done any P.O. exercises, physio or massaging to my offending foot [] .  That is because I always intended to but.......didn't!  My scar is almost invisible and the swelling is now minimal, it is worse when I get home from work and walking my dog, but not too bad considering my lack of attention. I won't have the problem about wearing heels as at 68 I have given them up except for very special occasions. I am still not back in my 'normal shoes' but have bought 4 pairs of cheaper shoes which are comfortable and look quite nice, I am a shoeaholic and my favourite ones are K&S (Kennel and Schmenger)  they are £150 to in excess of £300  normally (I need a rich man to keep me in the style I would like to become accustomed to) . I only ever buy them in the sales, but they are lovely and normally so comfortable, plus they last for years and years!  check them out on line. I hope this lovely weather lasts through the summer now, we all deserve it after that dreadful winter. Enjoy ladies.

Thanks for the great tips Janet. I'll have to check out those shoes. Maybe I can sell all my heels to get a pair. 😁

Ok ladies, I have a question. Has anyone had their screws from foot removed. If so at what month? Also, did it hurt? I was talking to someone yesterday who had the same lapidus surgery and dame doctor as me. She said Dr took a pair of pliers went in grabed her screws and pulled them out with no pain meds. I asked if Dr made an incision on top of her foot to remove them, and she said no. She said it didn't hurt. This sounds bizarre to me.

What?! Pliers, no way! I do not think I believe that. I had my screws removed, Deb. I asked doc to take them out when they did my second foot, so it was a year later. I have a metal allergy, and my foot was always red and itchy. He said, if I had not been going in for my second foot, we would have to schedule a surgery to remove the screws. He made an incision on top of my foot, just like the initial surgery to remove them. 

BTW, if I did not already mention, I am 11 weeks post-op. Dona is the same time frame. I think we had our procedures one day apart. 

Something I just thought of Deb. Some people have had different procedures with a screw in the side of the foot, sticking out. I do not understand it, but the doc removed that screw easily when it was time. Maybe that is the procedure she was talking about. 

Oh, thank goodness! If that was the case, I would just leave mine in. Lol And that's a great idea to have them take out the screws when they do your 2nd foot.

Iris, that could be the case; because she said they came out easy. She said she watched Dr do it and wanted to take a picture. Still...i don't think I could handle that. 🤤

I had no clue about that either until I joined that FB group about bunions, there is also a lapidus bunion one too! then I saw the pics of screws sticking out of the foot. Made me a little nauseous... I don’t think I could handle a part sticking outta my foot! And I’d for sure need to be put out to get it removed... I’d pass out. Can’t imagine sleeping either! 

Dona, I don't think I would be able to handle screws sticking out of my foot either! I'm going to have to try and find pictures. Sounds painful.

Here are a few pics of this and that. Frankie and Moose lounging on my leg with my ice machine on my foot sticking out. Haha. They love to do that!! me not so much! and some shoes I keep looking at but wondering if those will be comfortable. I don’t know that feeling! 

Can anyone else wear wedge type shoes? I am hoping that I am just too impatient and in time I will be able to. But I still can’t bend my foot enough to get into most shoes. 

hi dona

you foot looks like it has healed well mine has too yea also like the sandles it might be a couple of weeks yet before you get into those but they look nice

also love the cat

Wow Dona, your foot looks great! If my foot looked that good, I'd be wearing stilettos. 😃 👡👠 Hardly any swelling, and incision looks really good. Did you have 2 incisions? Top and side of big toe? Those are really cute wedges. I think I'm a long ways from normal shoes. What is that thing on your foot with a red circle around it? Is that the ice machine you were talking about? Is it the same thing as an ice pack that you put in freezer?

Frankie is a beautiful cat.

I had three incisions. The red circle is my foot covered in the ice machine wrap. It’s amazing!