Had Scarf osteotomy to remove bunion on right foot on Friday 2 March. Foot numb for almost 24 hours so not much pain until Saturday morning - then sheer agony! Ibuprofen & codeine alternated with paracetamol & codeine the most effective painkillers but you can only take so many in a day. Have stayed in bed as walking (on heel) has been almost impossible and stairs too terrifying; bathroom visits have been a source of dread as when I stand there is a surge of blood to the foot and it feels as though it might explode. Then for the next 10 minutes or so after returning to bed the pain and throbbing are intense. However, this is now easing a bit so hoping to be gradually more mobile. Any advice anybody?
Hi
I'm in my 5th week (Shoe off next week hopefully!) and I was the same. The first couple of days were painful and then it just subsides. The worst was trying to sleep but other than that its just watching movies to keep your mind off the throbbing, if it is. I kept a basic surgery chart so I could tick off the days and mark pain levels and my pain was at 0 by Friday (surgery on Monday).
Also the exploding foot thing is normal! After the stitches came out, my first shower was ridiculous and I could only manage a couple of minutes before I thought the foot might explode! But with every day everything gets a little better. Just make sure you rest it. I staying in bed with ice to the ankle for the first 4 days then moved to the sofa and I have very little swelling.
Jo
Hi
It's now day 8; dressing changed yesterday during which the consultant tugged a bit too hard and pulled away one of my stitches, resulting in bleeding. Today I have had horrendous burning and stabbing pains in the area of the stitches so still popping the pills every 4 hours. Seem to have taken a step back (forgive the pun). No swelling though, so it's not all bad!
Yeah I had a bit of scar burn around then but nothing too serious. My big toe hardly moves and I can't lift it so I'm more focused on that!
The day I get to ditch the giant surgical shoe will be the best day of my life! I hate it. Good about the swelling - I'm the same and maybe it means we'll be able to get back into more normal shoes quicker...
Hi
My consultant told me yesterday to keep wiggling the big toe every hour to stop it going to sleep! Very difficult I know when it just doesn't want to move but don't give up!
My doctor said I shouldn't bend it up or down for the first few weeks as we wait for the tendon to heal. They had to cut my big toe tendon and stitch it back up tighter. So I've only just started doing mild exercises. Hopefully I will work up to getting more movement in it. Even though they told me it would happen it's still weird trying to move it only twitching a little!
Do you have the other foot to do or just the one?
Each case is, of course, different. No,happily I only have the one problem foot, thank goodness, because I could not do this again! How about you?
Day 9 after buinion surgery and my biggest problem now is cramp and stabbing pains - very difficult to sleep, sit or walk. Anybody else have this problem?
Hi
I had scarf osteotomy 6 day ago nd have been laying down since with awful pain. It is worse if i try to stand up in fact i cant stand up for more than 2 mins. It throbs. How ar you know,any easier and what progress are you making.
Hi there
I am now 3 weeks and 2 days down the line and I can confirm that things do get much, much better as time goes on. I went back to work after 2 weeks off (self-employed so no sick-pay) - took a stool to rest foot on. Hard to find a shoe to fit but found a 7EEE mule online which feels ok. Foots swells quite a bit but I elevate and ice whenever possible - icing is the best treatment of all. Hardly any pain at all now, just the odd twang. Starting physio next week to get the big toe working. Stay positive and do what the doctor says and you will be fine!
Hi
Thanks for that. I seem to be in the same pain now 10 days post op as the second day. It is okay when i am laying down but throbs when i walk to the kitchen on my crutches. Whn you have the stiches out do they put a new cast on, Any advice is appreciated.
Did you get the bandage wet when you put ice on.?
I feel like i am nagging now""""
Regards Paulette
I had dissolving stitches and no cast - just a huge bandage for the first week then a smaller one for the second week; after that just a sterile dressing like a big plaster. Put ice pack in a polythene bag to keep bandage dry. Didn't have crutches either, just heel walking for first couple of weeks. You do seem to have an unusual amount of pain - are you taking anti-inflammatories? Wonder if your bandage is too tight? I'd speak to the doctor if I were you. Never feel you're nagging - post-bunion surgery is a lonely place to be and you need all the support you can get!
I'm out of the shoe now and walking and gymming (but not running or jumping) around. It does seem that the amount of pain you're in still is unusual. Have you been back to your doctor yet?
The first few weeks are boring and a bit depressing and then you start to feel better as you get more mobile and now I'm positively walking on sunshine every day when I'm able to do a spin class or go for a walk!
My only problem now is that I can't lift my big toe. The end doesn't seem to connect. I can move the joint up but the end doesn't lift. It's annoying and I think my Doc wants me to do some electro physiotherapy to try and wake it up... Hopefully we get some movement after that...
I had 2 bunions and 2 hammertoe surgery 8 weeks ago. I have been in a non-weight bearing cast for the
entire time, cannot even use my foot for balance. I am waiting for the bone to fuse then I can go into a boot.
My foot swells the minute I stop elevating it. Will my foot continue to swell after I'm in the walking boot?
Did you have all that done at the same time? Both bunion surgeries done at the same time?
I had my right foor (bunion) done last Tuesday, October 15th. So it's been a week today. Pain has practically gone, but that area of my foot feels extremely weird. And I just re bandaged my foot as I could feel tugging on my stitches and was loosening as the swelling has gone down a bit. My foot looks demented. And l too can't feel or move my big toe 
it's very frustrating. But after reading to above comments I guess I shouldn't worry too much if it's only been a week!!
Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum. I'm going to have bunion surgery on my right foot in early December. I would be grateful to know from people who have had it done if it is worth the pain etc that I have just read about from you folks. Also does anyone have any good ideas for preparations that it would be a good idea to make in the next few weeks before I have it done? I would be very grateful for any thoughts!
Hi there! I had bunion surgery on my right foot 3 weeks ago! Honestly I heard that some people had said its so, so painful. But personally I didn't think it was that bad! like okay it's wasn't painless or a picnic but! it's more the boredom afterwards that got to me! and that I can't walk for very long with my foot hurting and swelling up around my support band 
. But the pain is definitely bearable I think, are you having it done by key-hole?
That's good to know. I'm not having keyhole, and will have 2 metal screws put in, which sounds weird! I wish you a speedy recovery, Charlotte.. 🌞
Thank you! I had two screws put in too, so now I have 4 in my foot! Honestly as it's not been that long after surgery, I don't know if the pain and inflammation has gone from before, but my foot is now straight!! Ha!
Good luck with yours, I hope it goes well!!
My best advise for anyone having bunion surgery came from my doctor. He put 4 screws in my foot and several bone fusions. He told me to stay on my back for one solid week (except for bathroom duties) with my foot elevated even with the top of my head and ice for 20 min. each hour. He told me if I did that I would have very little pain after.
I was 8 weeks no weight bearing at all, waiting for the bones to fuse. Now I'm 4 sessions into therapy and feel great.