It's 6 weeks today since my surgery, Im getting so frustrated and wondering if I will ever be normal again, well as normal as normal can be. My foot is still very swollen across the bridge and around the scar. My scar stings to the extreme, still getting the most weird sensations on the scar like tasering, I'm getting also sorts of twinges in my foot and toes. To be honest I never experienced pain with my bunion, but they insisted that I had it done due to the toe twisting. My toe is still cocked up. Just want it all to feel like it did before the surgery, can't bear the thought of feeling like this forever! When can I drive? Im nervous about driving. How long can I expect it to go on like this, want to be able to have a dance for New Year but right now I feel like hiding away forever
Oh no you poor thing
I know exactly how you feel. Mine isn't worse than before but doesn't look like there's so much of a difference. After all this waiting and resting I know how you feel love. We've got to hang in there and think positive. Keep on at your GP or surgeon. That is why Im going to see mine on Monday to show her my feet and tell her exactly how I feel and see whether she wants to refer me back to the same surgeon or whether she wants me to wait until all the swellings gone down. To tell you the truth there's not much swelling left really. On the positive side bought some uggs today, a size bigger but very comfortable. Hang in there Beanie. We'll get there
Hi Beanie,
I began to drive at 7 weeks. I think we all thought the worst was over by 6 weeks. That's what My doc said. But I'm five months out, and still have swelling, some pain on some days, and stinging of the scar. I'm just beginning to "shove" my foot inot favorite shoes and going out in high heels. Sometimes it hurts the next day, but I don't care anymore. I'm trying to get my life back to what it was before the surgery. I am hoping that after a year of ups and downs, things will be normal again.
Each day gets better, then there's a setback, then a perfect day. I think you will feel pretty well in another 6 weeks.
Hang in there Beanie! There are so many ups and downs with this surgery, its frustrating. I started driving at 6 weeks. I am now 12 weeks and feel loads better than i did at 6 weeks. I am only starting to transition into my everyday shoes now. My foot still swells every day and some days it hurts and others it doesn't. Sometimes I have a day or so of odd feelings (clicking at the site of the pins / sensation of bunching under ball of toe / pins & needles in big toe, etc). It all comes and goes. I agree with Joyce, it gets better then a setback, and so on. Hoping that when I hit the 12 month mark all the niggles are gone. Give it another 6 weeks and fingers crossed you may well feel much better than you do now x
I'm 6 weeks today not a lot of pain last night scar still scabby
Hi . Sorry to hear you are feeling glum.
Do you want the good or bad news?
The good news is you are not alone and I'm sure things will get better. Rest and elevation are the key and a lot of patience!
The bad news that they never tell you pre op is how long it takes. I'm told at 13 weeks things get a lot better, but I am in week 9 and still have an itchy scar on my left foot, can't walk anywhere without massive swelling and can't drive.
I've given up the thought of dancing at New Year
Bother
However it must be all worthwhile? ! ?
Hi I get my pin out Monday I have to get back to work by the 5th Dec I had a really painful night last night it's not usually painful but as you say ups and downs
Hi Beani
know just how you feel. You are definitely not given enough information pre-op.
I am one day short of 7 weeks post op and it does seem like you take two steps forward and one step back most of the time. My wound has just now completely closed and I was scared to move even my toes too much (not that they can move very much at all just now, lol) in case the wound opened up some more. I get quite a bit of sensitivity around the wound area too and must have banged my foot a couple of nights ago while asleep as I woke up to the most horrible pains in the bone. I'm keeping it padded at night time now so that it hopefully won't happen again.
My foot is still swelling up a lot but I am lucky inasmuch as I can elevate it when I need to. I phoned the car insurance company up yesterday and they told me that as long as my doctor is happy for me to drive they are too. I popped into the car and tried, successfully, to do an emergency stop so feel confident once I am more mobile that I will be able to drive so that is something to look forward to.
It is frustrating as it feels it takes ages to be able to do even the simplest thing without pain or swelling but reading the posts here it is encouraging to know that most people seem to be going through the same sort of symptoms and, very slowly but surely, things improve.
I hope you are soon pain free and "normal" soon.
Best wishes, Paula
Sorry you're having a tough time with it and hope you feel a bit better already for the enouragement you've had in response to your message. I'm 6 weeks today and recognise a lot of what you write - you're not on your own; I think this stage can be a particularly frustrating time (mine was last week which seemed like two very long, never-ending weeks).
I put on a separate discussion the other week about driving. I wouldn't go anywhere near the driver's seat until you've been told you could do an emergency stop safely and comfortably. (And you'll need to inform your insurers first that you've had the op and are driving again). Have you had any physio or got any lined up? My first session is the week after next and the physio reckons it'll be a week or two after that before I can drive, using the benchmark or being able to stand on the ball of my foot.I can't imagine getting to that point so quickly but it sounds as if - and everyone says this - once you get to a certain point, you'll be surprised at how much more mobile you become, even though it's a long time to full recovery. Hang on in there and thank you for being brave and posting what lots of us probably feel.
The bit about informing your insurers was meant to read 'that you've had your op and are ready to drive again'.
Guess what everyone I would just love to be able to put my foot in a basin of water for a while how long after yous got pin out did you have to wait mine is dissolving stitches doctor said healing well but still scabby
Hi Elizabeth
Some really good advice and support on here. I echo the two steps fwd one step back excuse the pun😊 .
My scar opened a bit and I needed ster strips did u u have any oozing? Just rule out an infection as a course if antibiotics may be needed and it will dry up yr wound. My foot very scabby till six weeks had pin out at 5 weeks but because they pulled my nice healing scab off when changing dressing I had steri strips a bit lo get and left it a few days before the absolute bliss of soaking my foot in the bath.i added sea salt to the water rather than bath products as I have irritable dermatitis prone skin. Within days my other scabs fell off and I am now moisturizing my feet. Scar sensitive so have kept a dry dressing in. Boots do very good non stick padded dressing wich u can secure with there adhesive dressing. I find the 16cmx 10 cm secures the padded dressing in place nicely. I cut the ten x ten dry dressing in Half.
At three weeks in shoe felt relatively pain free.came out of hard shoe at 6 weeks and wore Fitflop sandals and now can wear my Fitflop boots.
Overdid walking about and suffered terrible pain in my foot and toes and also my knee and valves as the surgical shoe seems to shorten your calf muscles
I also caught my foot sort of stubbed my foot in my boot yesterday and was in agony for abt 30 mins before it settled down i take naproxen and Paracetamol when needed it if i think I am going to be in my foot a long time.
Any surgery can cause post op depression but it will pass as you get better. Is worse when you have concerns that the surgery was not successful. Would be good to have a support line wouldn't it to have a chat. Can take 12 months to feel fully better. Post op adviceis very poor. I posted a link on here which helped me alot please read it may help u to get things I in perspective.
The Physio process can be laborious and exhausting and in some ways I have had more pain at 6 weeks than at first 3 weeks. Do check yr scar with yr dr but if is scabby is encouraging and do protect yr foot in bed for a while longer.
Hope u feel better soon x
Thanks everyone for the words of support, and for letting me know I'm not alone on this. I am very fortunate that my scar has healed, but the burning is the main problem. I have bought some Aloe Vera Gelly by a company called Forever. Someone told me it would really help. It arrived today so I am hoping it will work. I am resigning myself to the fact that is going to be a long journey and maybe in 3-4 months I will begin to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I job involves me standing for long periods and on occassions having to drive. I do not feel confident to drive yet. I am finding that very frustrating, but I think it is the fear of it hurting or doing more damage that is holding me back. I might try and go out in the car in a bit and see how I get on, even if it's just to reverse on and off the drive. It doesnt bother me that I can't wear heals or such as like, I just wish I had been better informed about the healing process before surgery. My big toe does cause me some concern as it is very floppy, it is still cocked and it doesnt look straight it is also shorter than my other toes which worries me a little too. I think perhaps I will go visit my GP and see what she advises. I am in my late 40's and to feel so restricted is very difficult for me to accept right now. Again thank you all for replying 
Just to add my consultant told me I didn't need physio something about my age 
go figure lol. Think I might ask GP for referral. Also have noticed in mornings my calf muscle really hurts but is fine after walking about for 5 mins. x
Oh dear, I'm very sorry that you are experiencing so much pain and discomfort.
My surgeon told me that the swelling can take 6 to 9 monthis to settle and in some people, it can take longer. Nerves have been disturbed so that causes the swelling and pain, or weird sensations. I had a few nerve jolts which felt like I had had an electric shock - horrible.
You should be able to drive after 6 to 8 weeks, but again that depends on your healing. I've only just started to drive again after 8 weeks because having had 2 operations on my left foot, it was two weeks behind the right foot. My left foot was stiff and painful at first when I pressed the clutch, but it's better now.
I do a lot of massaging with Bio Oil and a scar support oil that an aromatherapist I know made up for me. Because my feet get very pampered, it's paid off because after 1 month I have noticed a significant improvement, not only with the stiffness and mobility of my feet, but the wounds have faded a lot. I can hardly see where the surgeon operated on my right foot and the wound on my left foot has faded quite a bit. For an exercise I was advised to place a rolled up towel or a t-shirt on the floor and to scrunch my toes as if trying to pick it up. It hurt a lot when I first did it, but now I can do it quite easily. It's important not to overdo it though.
Patience is a virtue in any operation. I am not even attempting to try and dance in the New Year because I don't want to risk undoing my good healing work, or somebody carelessly stepping on my feet. There's always next year and your foot will be stronger and less painful so dancing won't be a problem. Your foot healing is more important than dancing.
Look after yourself and your feet and you'll soon see a difference. I wish you well and better soon.
Oh dear, I'm very sorry that you are experiencing so much pain and discomfort.
My surgeon told me that the swelling can take 6 to 9 monthis to settle and in some people, it can take longer. Nerves have been disturbed so that causes the swelling and pain, or weird sensations. I had a few nerve jolts which felt like I had had an electric shock - horrible.
You should be able to drive after 6 to 8 weeks, but again that depends on your healing. I've only just started to drive again after 8 weeks because having had 2 operations on my left foot, it was two weeks behind the right foot. My left foot was stiff and painful at first when I pressed the clutch, but it's better now.
I do a lot of massaging with Bio Oil and a scar support oil that an aromatherapist I know made up for me. Because my feet get very pampered, it's paid off because after 1 month I have noticed a significant improvement, not only with the stiffness and mobility of my feet, but the wounds have faded a lot. I can hardly see where the surgeon operated on my right foot and the wound on my left foot has faded quite a bit. For an exercise I was advised to place a rolled up towel or a t-shirt on the floor and to scrunch my toes as if trying to pick it up. It hurt a lot when I first did it, but now I can do it quite easily. It's important not to overdo it though.
Patience is a virtue in any operation. I am not even attempting to try and dance in the New Year because I don't want to risk undoing my good healing work, or somebody carelessly stepping on my feet. There's always next year and your foot will be stronger and less painful so dancing won't be a problem. Your foot healing is more important than dancing.
Look after yourself and your feet and you'll soon see a difference. I wish you well and better soon.
Hi Beanie,
Last week I went to see GP to see whether she'd refer me for physio because I was discharged at 4 weeks. "you can do it yourself" was the answer I was given. Hope you get a better answer than me. So anyway I've just been watching videos from You Tube and doing it that way. I'm doing okay I think.
Sorry that you are feeling a bit down. It's been good and bad reading these comments. Bad because it is sad that so many people feel frustrated and are having some bad days but, dare, I say, good because it makes you realise that you are not on your own. I am six and a half weeks post MIS and am generally very pleased with my recovery. One foot is much better than the other. One seems to be 'doing all manner of strange things' and has some strange sensations but I am totally convinced that it will all be worth it and that it will improve my quality of life. I had such a problem with my knee and sometimes the opposite hip and also with my lower back before as a result of the way that I walked as well as frequent very sore feet! This will improve that and I will feel so much better as result. Any improvement in visual appearance will be gratefully received but it is not all about that. I have been for a half mile walk this afternoon as part of the process of building things up and so far have no ill effects. I do realise that the procedure that I have have had is less invasive than the one that many of you have gone through and , that as a result , healing and recovery should be quicker. It still can be frustrating though! I have also had down times and , I am sure that there will be more (especially around getting some reasonable footwear for Christmas, I am sure!) but am determined to try to keep focused and to keep hold of why I had this done! Try to keep focused on what the reason behind having this done was! It will be worth it!
Well just drove round the block in the car, it felt fine, don't know what I was so scared off. Pressed the brake sharply on a straight bit of road. Only did a mile in the car but felt fine got home and my foot is aching now and have used the Aloe Vera Gelly and can already feel an improvement in the burning sensation. x
Pin is coming out on Tuesday which is over 6 weeks but it was the first available appointment. Think you have to wait a few days before soaking foot once pin is out. That basin of water will be sooo good.