I'd like to say I was amazed at how PAINLESS my operation was, my toes were numb for a week or so but now ok, had first visit to doctor at the hospital and all is great, the operation was successful and the stitches look as if they are very neat and healing well. I go back in 4 weeks and until then I can not weight-bare. So I'm on crutches (really don't need them) and my mini post-op black boot. I shopped with a helper yesterday and the foot burned like I had a million ants in the boot, when I got home I elevated it and in no time it was back to normal. I don't know if that was too soon to walk around a shopping centre but I was glad to get home.
In 306 months I have the right foot done and not worried one bit!....next will be a prothesis in my fingers!! Another repair job at 75 yrs of age!
Hi. Did you have any problems getting referred to have this operation? I've been seeing my doctor with bunions for a while now and she just seems to want to put me off the idea of an operation.
I had mine the same day as you Carol and I feel good too. Had stitches out 2 days ago and ditched the crutches the next morning. Still wearing boot and no walking without boot for a few weeks. My biggest pain was last night BC I did walk around, but with boot, probably too much and foot was swollen. I go back in about 4 weeks for more xrays and then hopefully I can drive.
Janine have you gone to podiatrist or regular GP. I had my referral from GP to podiatrist and BC my bunion was large and starting to affect rest of foot she did xrays and scheduled surgery.
I went to my gp a while ago and she said she would refer me to podiatrist, but I haven't heard anything yet. I've had an x ray as well. Since then my bunion has become much more painful Naproxin doesn't seem to work so that's why I had the cortisone injection. Did you ever have an injection prior to your op?
No Janine, I never had any injections. Mine big toe was crossing over too much and making shoes impossible so surgery was scheduled after 1st appt with podiatrist. I kept rescheduling BC it took me so long to find a chunk of time where I could be out of work and have help with kids.
What happened lindleyk? I had my left foot done about 16 years ago but had so many problems healing, including falling down the stairs cause I'm a klutz on crutches, that I put off my right foot for over 10 years. This surgery went a ton better.
I'm a fit and healthy 64 yr old who had successful hallux valgus and hammertoe surgery to myleft foot last November and like you despite all the warnings I ddn't have pain but, like you just the burning and throbbing when on my feet for too long. I thin you're a sensible person (!!) and understand what you should and should not do. So, wel done, you. Just pace yourself and when the foot tells yu i's had enough get it elevated as you are already doing.
I'm due to have hallux valgus surgery on my right foot 1st October. I don't have a hammertoes on my right foot so that's good
The nerve block wore off during surgery, then again while I was in the recovery room. The meds he gave me to take when I got home took the edge off the pain but not enough to allow me to sleep after the trauma of the recovery room so I basically lay awake for the next twelve hours before I gave up and upped they'd dosage on my own. The surgical cast was so heavy I had major knee and hip pain, plus there was severe heel bruising so no matter how I positioned my foot I was in pain. The surgeon asked me to try a regular cast when I went in for post op care and I agreed on the condition I could come in to have it off if it was too painful, which it was so I went in before the weekend and he swapped me into the surgical boot. That evening the crutch broke and I threw myself on my side to avoid hitting my foot, so much bruising there and it put my foot back a couple of days. I did take a muscle relaxant to deal with the foot spasms after trying one from another condition, which allowed me to dial back the hydrocodone. Then I started the ROM exercises and the first day it was like every nerve in the foot lit up like a Christmas tree. 12 out of 10 pain! So back to the codeine with acetaminophen but I kept letting it wear off because I thought it should be a short term problem, which meant each time I was in major pain when I took the next batch of pain meds - so there would be an hour of major pain before it all went numb and I only had the 5mg, so I took a lot of pills. About 9 hours into this I realized I didn't have enough to get me thru til morning (I'd left emails and voice messages already but the doc was insurgery and then off and his nurse didn't let him know and apparently there was no other Podiatrist on call... So off to the ER we go at midnight. Saw a doc at 3:30am, who freaked out when he heard how many of the codein with acetaminophen I had taken. Exam, blood tests, blah blah... No I don't have to be admitted for liver toxicity. Shot of morphine although by then the last 20 mg dose I had taken was wearing off and I was finally coming out of the big pain I had had. Six AM I am at the pharmacy getting a prescription without acetaminophen. Back home to bed and the next day the foot is twingy but okay. Sigh. Since then it's been doing pretty well but the whole pain management roller-coaster sucked pretty badly, along with the constipation / hemorrhoid fun from the big doses of codeine. All in all, it's been a learning experience for me and my surgeon.
So sorry to hear the horrible time you have had lindeyk. Hope you are on the upswing soon. I do know that sleeping on the couch with my head on the sitting area and feet on the arm area with frozen veggie bags and anti- inflammatories helped keep the swelling and pain down. Hope the rest of your healing improves.
Hi Janine, no, I elected to have them done, it's your personal preference not the doctors. I did have to wait though to go to a public hospital. I've got 4 more weeks where I have to NOT drive and still keep off the ball of my foot, no weight bearing until I go back next month, then it will be 6 weeks that I've been off the weight. If you want and feel you NEED to have your bunions off then ask for it to be done. Good luck!
Hi Laura, I am in the same boat too, no driving, it's so hard having to rely of other people, but I've got it all sorted out now. I went shopping with a carer from an agency and when I got home I was so glad to put the foot up, it took a lot out of me and this morning the bunion side 'burned' but that's just the nerves activating and all is good!....Do you have your other foot done in 3-6mths? I haven't had any swelling at all.
Hi Lindleyk, I hope the 'ups and downs' weren't painful? I'm so careful not to mess this operation up by not doing as they tell me, so I elevate most of the day and only walk when I have to. I don't mind sitting around with it up but I do mind the weight I'm apparently putting on!...so with new feet I'll have to start walking again!
OMG!!! Well that answers my earlier question to you Lindleyk!
You have had a very rough time, but I see you had a podatrist do your foot??? Over here in Australia they aren't allowed to do them only surgeons. I trust you are in a pain-free state now!
Hi Gillian, well I'm 75 going on 76 and I will still go to have the right foot done in 3-6mths time. I can put up with the twinges etc. it's the lonliness and no-one here that drives me mad! I find lots to do, and must admit I'm not ready to be dashing around, it tires me just doing what I have to in the house on my own. I wish you luck and success for the 1st October, don't forget to let us know how you go with that one too!...All the best!
Pretty much pain free. A bit of discomfort but overall, nothing to complain of. In the US, Podiatrists are board certified to perform specific surgeries focused on the foot. He's young and conservative, but the problems I've experienced so far are all because somehow I fall outside the norm, or had a freak accident (crutch breaking). We've had several discussions of the current process and protocols for patients to receive emergency follow up care for unusual situations and he is actively working on them. I'm 24 days post-op and aside from not being able to have my foot down for very long, I'm in fair condition. I really need a desk set up that will allow me to elevate while typing.
Laura, are you having vein problems in the thigh? I am. Also the swelling is still there around the ankle and the skin is flaking off when I take the support stocking off!!! so I just put cream on it and hope it all comes back to normal in a few weeks time! How are you going?