Are there ill consequences for overdoing it?

Foot care
1

Hello,

I had a R Scarf Akin Osteotomy 10 days ago and thought I posted a question for the first time last night, but it hasnt appeared so have no idea what happened to it.

Obviously I am new to all this.

I have found the Forum very helpful, because though you are given some guidelines as to what to expect prior to the operation, you really cannot imagine the reality.

My concerns are mainly how will you know whether you are doing any damage, or can you undo the work of the operation by doing too much.

The notes I was given by the Consultant prior to the op was do rest with foot elevated for the first two day apres operation. Unfortunately I ended up going back to A&E the following morning because I felt the bleeding was more than it should have been. I did take a homeopathic remedy for the bleeding and by the time I saw the Consultant's Registrar, he said the bleeding had stopped and a nice new bandage was issued. However I wasnt able to elevate the foot much that morning, though I hope I made up for it later.

Only needed 1 dose of Ibrufen on day 2 and 3, took Paracetamol the first night, but probably didnt take quite enough, as I had a pretty sleepless night. On the whole I feel I am doing OK, but I am doing the washing up, hanging the washing out, have done a bit of pruning in the garden and have hoovered part of the house, all over the last few days, though not all at once. I do get a bit of a niggle on the top of the foot, but not near the operation site, so I wonder if that could be due to swelling or bone healing?? nerves??? It doesnt persist and am lounging about most of the time, with these occasional flurries of activity.

Do you gauge things by how the foot feels and can you do damage?

I am due to go back for the unveiling on Monday, and can hardly wait, but I was under the impression that the pins would stay in. Some of the people in the Forum seem to have had them removed? I wasnt told to put ice onto the area, will that make a difference to how long it takes for the swelling which I assume must be present?

I can walk on the foot with the wedge shoe, but I tend to alternate that with using the crutches.

Does the foot really have to elevated higher than the heart?

Look forward to some advice please

2

Hello i was much like you in the dark about everything i dont even know 100% what iv had done and no advice on after care. I was on alot of pain killers which i have now stopped. Had bandage changed and stitches looked at 2 weeks and in 4 weeks time i have my pins out. Some people do have the pins left in depends what they have done. I haven't used any ice but just had my foot at waist level rested on a big puffy.

But like you i have done a few jobs like hang washing out and i can feel when iv done too much as it feels like somethings pulling. And to make it worse they haven't put a dressing on my wounds now apart from the pins so the healing area is rubbing on the special shoe which i feel uneasy about.

3

Hi Dot! I had bilateral bunionectomy 8 days ago. I feel that it's just a short time out of a life that if we can be good we will have a successful recovery. But I realise not everyone is able to sit around due to family/commitments etc. I am lucky as I have no children at home & a good husband around some of the time, hence I have  had my feet elevated most of the time - it helps to keep them above the heart or at least above the groin the as it helps your blood circulate evenly reducing the swelling to the feet due to gravity.  I find ice is great at reducing swelling & cooling down my hot feet. I have also reduced the pain killers & today i am just taking paracetamol every 4 hours which just keeps the discomfort at bay. Take care! & rest that foot Karen x

4

So nice to know that I am not the only one. Yes I too am lounging on the sofa with my foot at about waist height and the laptop balanced on the good leg and a cushion!

I did wonder what it will be like once the bandage is removed and whether the wedge shoe would rub on the wound, so shall make a note to ask the consultant about that because I would anticipate that it would rub which cant be good. Must say I have apprecitated having the bandage as it does seem to be protective, though I am so curious to see how my foot is. Everyone does entreat us to be patient.

Thank you so much for your input. Presume we just have to listen to the foot?

5

I was really shocked at my wounds i have 5 wish my phone would let me upload pictures of them. They are very large too. And yes keep catching the scabs and everything but i guess it has to have air to it to heal?

Not good to keep it clean though really. Yeh i keep my shoe on now i have no bandage as it feels secure due to the freedom of the foot it feels unsafe and a strange feeling. 

6

Thank you, Karen, I am sure you are right. I dont have any children and my husband is pretty good, though I do have to ask, as he doesnt anticipate. In the almost 48 years we have been married, I dont think I have ever been 'laid up', apart form a bout of Chicken Pox when we were hitch hiking in the '70's, so I guess he hasnt had much practice at being a carer! Being as you correctly picked up, of an impatient nature, its hard to ask and its hard to wait...but as you say, it is all about a successful outcome.

Wouldnt you just know it, that when you are laid up, summer is in full throttle.

Happily I havent got any pain, though I fear that comes later when you start to walk properly on the foot? Guess I am only slightly ahead of you, and I dont really know what a bilateral bunionectomy is, so going to look that up.

You go well, too.

Dot

7

Oh poor you, it does sound rather distressing. Perhaps you could see your practice nurse, because if you keep walking I imagine its is just going to continue to rub. I am obviously not medically qualified, and getting air onto the wound is good but the rubbing issue is to my way of thinking counterproductive. Maybe loosening the part that surrounds the wound might work?

Good luck with that.

8

Sorry Dot! It means I have had both feet operated on - bunions removed & hammer toes straightened. I think we all suffer with lack of patience, I can understand your  frustration when you want something done it's easier to do it yourself. I'm the same but I try & make a joke of bossing him about haha!! & making him feel good.

PIE - patience, ice & elevation - is the only way for us, it will be worth it, just dream of when your buying a new wardrobe of shoes haha!!! X

9

Hi Dot, jinny here, I am in a similar situation and stage ( day 9 post op) to Karen, no chn at home and a husband who is good at looking after me. I am normally house proud and do most of the cooking but it's amazing what can be done by partners! I am not prepared to hinder my recovery for the sake of a bit of dust around and even tho the washing may be hung out upside down, who cares!  Be careful and don't do too much, give your feet the best chance of making a good recovery! Take care x

10

Great advice Jinny, as in my case what's a bit of dust when Iv not had a shower for 8 days. It's to big of a thing to hinder such a delicate operation & successful recovery.  

Love from my usual vertical position with feet up but outside for a change with nice glass of vino - cheers all!!! X

11

Hi. I had a bilateral scarf and akin 7 days ago. I was back home after 12 hours and didn't really have the opportunity to ask questions. I've tried to keep feet elevated and I'm hobbling around with special shoes and crutches when necessary. I'm not overdoing it but I've got awful pain in my knees, calves and thighs. It's worse than the pain in my feet. Is this normal. It's still painful to walk. What am I doing wrong?

12

Hi Jinny,

Well of course you are right, and my expectations are probably too high, because my husband does do all the cooking anyway. I am so glad 'we' got that arranged when he retired. I do need to get over feeling he wont wash up as well as me and I am certainly am not bothering with the dusting but I have to remind myself of your sage words, 'who cares'? I suppose the answer to that is 'me'!

I had a shower again today and managed to get the plastic foot protector on unassisted, so I am very pleased.

Thank you for your common sense.

Have a good day, as our painter who is with us as I write, says, every day, a little more progress.

Be well, too.

13

Hi Angela,

I do hope you have had some replies from those who have had the same operation as you. I am afraid I cant help since I am able to get about on my crutches or without, admittedly hardly speedy Gonzales. If you have stairs I would suggest going up and down on your bottom, I do think you feel stronger every day, I am now 4 days ahead of you, but I imagine having both feet done is much more difficult to cope with.

Perhaps you need to use the crutches more and have those legs elevated as well. I am quite fit so that probably helps. Maybe the only way we know we are overdoing things is when we do get pain.

Hope you get some good advice from others.

14

Hi Karen,

Yes Jinny did put things into the right perspective. I bought a Plastic Foot Protector which I have now used twice in the shower and I am so thrilled with it. Cost about £12 from Amazon. The first time I couldnt get it over my foot or off, but had another go today and could manage to get it on and off, so what a difference a shower makes...Have a plastic stool to sit on in the shower.

Glad you could get out into the garden and enjoy the weather too.

We are getting there.XX

15

Ah me, you do sound like the sort of woman/wife I would love to be like.

We do have a laugh when I tell himself, he isnt helping me as much as I would like. You may be too young to have ever watched 'Sargent Bilko', but guess what role I am given...

I did look up the bilateral bunionosteotomy and certainly would think you would need PIE in spades. I hope it will be worth it, cant say I am too bothered about buying new shoes actually, because I have some now that I would so love to be able to wear in COMFORT, but its the goal..

Go well and thank you.

16

Hi Angela, I am only a few days ahead of you but my only pain has been in my feet. I can't see why you are experiencing pain in other parts of your legs unless you're not resting, with legs elevated, enough?! I was told to rest with my feet up for 55 mins in any 60mins. Is this what you have been doing? I hope you are feeling better now. I wonder if anyone else has suffered this leg pain?  Have a restful day! X

17

Hello Dot.

Have just read your message but as I'm a bit busy cannot reply as fully as I wish right now.

If you care to read through some of my postings to this forum which I began contributing to in January I think that your many questions will be answered.

I will try and reply fully later today.

The pins you refer to in my case were for hammertoe correction and I had a K-wire. This was removed 6 weeks post op. The screws in my bunion correction are still insitu and will remain so. They cause me no problems and as far as I know there is no need or intention for them to be removed.

My surgery has been a revelation and huge success and I'm so glad I had it done. Almost 8 months down the line I am now back to normal but the recovery is very long and cannot be rushed.

Take care.

Gillian

18

Hi there Gillian,

I think I did come across your posts when I initially checked out this Forum, but now I have been trawling through the pages and cannot find you there.

If you have time, would appreciate if you could comment further, but no haste, I am not going anywhere fast, let alone anywhere!

One thing I havent asked is, with these metal pins being left in the foot, when you go through the security checks at the airport do they set off the alarm, and do you need to have a letter from the Dr to say you have these pins?

Hope you are enjoying this lovely Med summer...

Go well,

Dot

19

Hi Angela! Sorry to hear you have these extra problems I can't imagine why that is perhaps you need to rest more & when you are resting try to exercise your legs by lifting up & down, rotating your ankles & wiggle your toes. I am 9 days post op for bunion removal & hammer toe correction on both feet, like you I was only in hospital 4 hours after & can't remember any instruction given it me resulting in this site being very helpful & making a bit up myself. I have had some tough days but today  I feel great not needed any pain killers & getting about the house on my trendy shoes. I have kept my feet elevated most of the time & used ice to cool them down & reduce swelling. Rest is the key, I hope you soon feel better best of luck! PixPix

20

Hi Dot, first of all you shouldn't have had any bleeding. The bandage should have stayed on for two weeks undisturbed but mine was changed within a week because it got wet. During that time your foot should be elevated as high as possible provided you're comfortable. Best sitting on the lounge resting your foot on a high cusion placed on a chair. Best not overdoing things because the foot needs to heal. Please see the following video which shows scarf/akin osteotomies. http://www.tucsonortho.com/specialties/foot-ankle/bunion-correction-scarf-akin-osteotomy/ I hope this will help with some of the questions you have. I'm surprised you were only given Ibrufen and Paracetamol medication for pain relief. (I was in hospital for two days on antibiotics, Endone, Oxicontin and one Morphine injection in the stomach. On discharge I was given two days medication and had to see my GP for a prescription. I asked my surgeon if the two screws and staple need removing with him saying they are there to stay. I'm not sure if you are sleeping wearing your surgical boot but you should do so. Some people in the forum don't agree but this is what the nurses and orthopaedic surgeon told me to do keeping my foot aligned plus there is less chnace of bumping it. Ice helps but I prefer not doing so. It will take eight months or a bit longer for the swelling to disappear. During that time its best you wear thongs or a very soft comfotable flat shoe allowing your foot to fully heal. I had this operation because the bunionectomy op eight years ago left me with nerve damage and deformity. Oh! I had 12 stitches removed which all but one didn't hurt coming out. Nine were along the side of the large toe and three on top of my foot allowing movement of the large toe. Best of luck!!!!!!