post bunion operation

Foot care
1

Yesterday i had my bunion operation. I had big toe correction and bone set and the same on the little toe. I am hucked up to a drip and a special morphine drip which i can control to a certain stage haha and oxygen. The hospital staff didnt elevate it and i had no sleep last night it started feeling tight and puffy my foot is still numb not sure if that's right. Iv not neen able to stand or walk last night  so thats been fun! Today ill see the doctor and find out how it went and what pins and screws iv got. The bandage is not as big as i thought and is only round the top half of my foot

 Ill be given a heel shoe and im going to ask for at least one crutch hopefully for balance as living on my own most of the time. 

2

Good morning Philippa, ( I'm in Yorkshire UK)

Now let's begin!

So, you had surgery 1 July and you're asking a few questions.

a) You should definitely keep your foot elevated at least for 2 weeks as it will throb like mad and swell up a great deal if you don't. I fail to understand what kind of nursing care hasn't done this for you when you're apparently still in hospital.

I had 2 folded pillows under my foot during my overnight stay in hospital following surgery and continued to use pillows once I was home. The elevation should be at least at a height above groin level.

I also bought a bed cradle to keep the weight of the bedclothes/duvet off my foot when in bed. It has been an invaluable and worthwhile purchase.

Crutches: You should most definitely have TWO elbow crutches ( and not one) and use BOTH for at least 3 weeks as your balance will be a bit dodgy and also you're wearing a heel wedge shoe, as I did,  and so will be putting all your weight on your heel  -  which is exactly what you should do to take the pressure off the forefoot where the surgery was carried out. You have been very let down by the fact that you have not been provided with these. Not good!

You will be surprised how quickly you adapt and get used to wearing the heel wedge shoe and using your crutches.

Your recovery will take many, many weeks and I want to advise you to take it steady and a day at a time. You will be able to walk around A LITTLE BIT but you must concentrate on helping the foot to heal and this will only be achieved if you rest your foot for most of the day at every opportunity you have.

Sit on a stool to do the ironing and other chores.

Don't be tempted to set off for a walk. Indoors you will find that you can move around quite well but, once outside you will probably feel very disorientated and also that walking surfaces which normally are otherwise considered to be level may suddenly make you realise that they are in fact a bit sloping. These tiny slopes will seem like mountains. All this will make you feel quite tired. So, you need to be aware of this.

If you drive a car, unless it's an automatic, you wil need to notify your car nsurer that you have had the surgery and provide specific details.However, do not even attempt to drive for 3 months. 

Also,  Please read The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's 'A Patients Guide to Bunions ( Hallux Valgus) and Lesser Toe Deformities'. It's excellent and gives useful informaton.

I had my surgery on 27 November 2013 and am a very active 64 year old woman, and exactly as my consultant told me, the recovery does take a very long, long time.But I followed all his advice and instruction and am now just about fully recovered apart from stiffness in the big toe and this is likely to continue for the forseeable future. But, I have no pain.

If you require further advice/tips from me please get in touch.

Gillian

 

3

Hi Philippa,

It's perfectly normal for your foot to feel numb.  That foot block lasts quite a while, thank God. Good luck in your recovery.  I still have not been given a heel shoe, after 3 weeks, but I do go to doc today, so I'll ask about that.

4

Hi Joyce, 

Did you have the pain block pump? If so, how long did the numbness last? Did your foot feel like it was on fire?  I'm 8 days in and my only complaint is my heel, (not the actual surgery) feels like it's on fire. Has anyone experienced this?

the knee scooter is a life saver! 

5

Hi Philippa, I agree with Gillian, you should have had your foot up during the night! I can't understand why they didn't do that?

Your leg should be higher than your heart.

I do hope you get some crutches as these will assist your stability. I think Gillian has said it all.. Good luck and take your time with recovery.

6

Thanks for the advice guys! Better than hospital. I was dicharged last night they did asvise another night in but theyve been usless.i managed to put my pillows i was laying on down for my feet whilst was in hospital as the nurse said whilst laying down didnt need to be elevated! But i knew it id. Even though i hadnt got my shoe or crutches the nurse expected me to hop out of bed and hop to use  toilet aids

Im home now and im off the morphine and onto paracetamol, ibuprofen, tramadol and other drugs for them side effects. I see what you mean about the quilt hurting my feet and about been wobbily on the crutches

I go back in 2 weeks for dressing changed then pins out in 5-6weeks

7

Good morning Philippa.

Glad to hear you are now home.

I stayed in bed for the first 2 days as I was drowsy from the anaesthetic and I really wanted to just rest. So, take heed and don't be thinking you should be up and about if you don't want to be. The bed rest will also mean that whilst you're there your foot is getting rest and has no pressure on it.My husband took over the running of the house and all was well.

A word of warning about the TRAMADOL.

It made me really very dizzy and sick and I was actually vomiting.

I was sent home from hospital with a prescription of 30 tablets and if I tell you I returned 27 of them to the pharmacy that tells you all yu need to know really.

I was telling my GP, who rang me at home to check on my progress, how ill the Tramadol made me feel and that I'd taken the initiative and decision to stop taking them. Without any hesitation he told me he doesn't like prescribing them because of the unwanted side effects and that I had done exactly the correct thing in stopping them.

I wasn't in any pain and so I really wasn't in need of them anyway.

I realise each person is different and whilst I reacted badly to the Tramadol the next person may not be affected in this way.

So, just bear all this in mind and if you start to feel sick and dizzy it's probably the Tramadol.

I managed perfectly well with the Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.

Good Luck.

Gillian

P.S. You don't sound to have had very god care in hospital and I think it's a shame for you. I seemed to be surrouned by pillows ( without asking for them )both under my foot and also to lay my head on. So, even in bed, the need to keep the foot elevated is important.

8

Iv had 3 tramadol since yesterday when i took the first step and touch wood have been fine. Only just stopped itching from the morphine drip. Im finding it impossible to walk in that heel theres no flex in my foot to just put my heel down. Im now sat with my foot very high relaxing. 

9

Hi philippa

if you made this post bunion in london hospital, please i like to make this for my daohgter in london, sho is 14 years old, some times she got pain in bothe toes (hallux valgus) doctor in our country advised to do operation for both toes.

if you could mind i need to know wich hospital you have made this operation, name of the doctor, how much did cost you for one toe operaton, how many days did your stay in hospital.

your reply will be haily appreciated,

thanks and best regds.

   

 

10

I had a scarf/Akin Osteotomy operation on my left foot June 24 and will be having the stitches removed July 9 2014. I live on my own and haven't kept it elevated which has caused numbness and pain but all seems to be fine. Will find out when stitches are removed on Wednesday. Very hard when there's washing to be hung out to dry and shopping to be done with no help at all. Medication has caused constipation which again is painful not beig able to empty bowel motion. My large toe was broken in two and pinned. A bone on the top of my foot has been cut in two with two screws holding it together.

11

Sorry, Yvette, that this is so late.  Somehow, I couldn't find the post and you're probably progressing fine without this info, and I hope you are.  I never had the pain pump, but I did have a block.   I agree with you that the knee scooter is fantastic.  I'm just now trying to walk on my walker.  Granddaughters arrive next week, and I must be able to walk!!  Next week being July 13.  Happy healing.  Just know we're meant to walk.  That's what I keep telling myself.

 

12

It wasnt in london it was at grimsby princess diana hospital. Didnt cost anything as it was on the NHS and i was admitted for 1day although they advised a second night stay.

13

Hi. I am eight days out from a scarf, akin and soft tissue release in Yorkshire. I was discharged on the Saturday with Ibuprofen and Panasonic. When the blocker wore off the pain was immense. I am an outdoor person who thought I had a high tolerance to pain. I hill walk, road and mountain bike and trail run. Yet I couldn't take the pain. My GP prescribed co-codomal and then I had terrible constipation. They really should prescribe movicol or something as constipation is a common symptom of codein. I spent two days feeling terrible ill and up on my foot to and from the bathroom. I find this all embarrassing to admit but hope it may help people. In the future. My foot is burning and throbbing. I am back on paracetamol and ibuprofen now. I don't understand why the hospital did not prescribe something stronger I the first place and then I would not have spent two days in agony after the blocker wore off. Is it addiction dashes or money? I have found this forum so useful and helpful. Good luck to you all. I worry so much about my foot and about hurting it! Does anyone else have these worries?

14

Hey i am now 9days post op. Monday i am at hospital for sturtures out im guessing this means stitches? I have to say the pain has been pretty bad. And the tramadol and other meds have made me constipated and feeling rather illsad. Im using my crutches around and about but trying to walk on heel like around the kitchen but get tierd very easily. Hoping they dont take my crutches off me there great for balance! 

Then in 3 weeks i have my two pins out. 

15

Hi Phillipa

i hope you are ok? I was only given ibruprofen and paracetamol and found it was not enough to deal with the pain. It was horrendous. I was then given codein so I can say paise with the constipation. It was almost worse than my op! I do not know why the doctor did not prescribe movicol in conjunction with the tablets. 

I have my crutches for 6 weeks. I reckon you will be able to keep yours. Just tell them you need the. I hope you are progressing alright?

 

16

Im getting there thankyou. Yeh i agree the constipation pain has caused me just as much as

the opp. Just thinking the stitches and pins out is gonna be like back to the beginning of healing and resting again. 

17

Hello Philippa.

10 days ago I sent a message to you and warned you about Tramadol.

Sorry to hear that you have not found it good for you.

Chuck them down the loo!!

If you're constipated  ( a common effect from taking large and/or prolonged doses of paracetamol, ibuprofen and other pain relief I'm afraid) get some dried or fresh apricots or some dates. Plums are als good for sorting out one's internal plumbing blockages.

Much better ad certainly more enjoyable than taking senakot or one oheother widely available constipation remedies.

Also, if you increase your fluid/water intake, and also, Ribena ( as this is blackcurrent) you may find your bowels become a bit more normal. In this hot weather the need to drink more anyway shouldn't be a problem. And, also, as it is very warm and humid at the moment our bodies are drying out more quickly so, the need to increase the fluids to compensate for what's lost through sweating is extremely important.

Lots of greens, tomatoes also will help.

Good Luck!

Gillian

 

18

Yesterday i had the big bandages taken off i was rather shocked there is 5 wounds on my foot altogether two very large ones. It had been bleeding whilst iv been walking. And the pin heads had been digging into my foot causing pain.

 They cut off the stitches knots as the rest is dissolvable. And only put  big gauge plasters over all the cuts, Which im aloud to take off all of the cuts apart from the pins. Which i dont feel comfotrable about with huge healing areas rubbing on that surgical shoesad also with no bandage it doesn't feel secure any body else have this?

 Back in 4 weeks time for the pins out. Does anybody elses big toe gap now look huge? 

19

Hi Phillipa

its all a learning curve isn't it and its hard to know what to do. I had a 

District Nurse take mine off last week and she rebandaged it. I just took mine off and was told to protect the actual wound put another Mepore covering on it. I am now wearing a thickish sock over it to protect that as I am the same as you - don't fancy the rubbing on the surgical shoe. I hope this helps! 

20

Hi Phillipa you should have woken up in recovery from your operation wearing a surgical boot. WOW!! I was surprised the nursing staff didn't help you to the toilet which is their job. Please don't put weight bearing on your foot. Use your crutches when out of the house and hold on to your furniture inside. Best of luck!!!