Hi I'm 4 weeks post op (right foot & the lesser op of of no fusion) and had cast & bandaging removed yesterday. Was looking forward to getting it all off as at 1 week post op my surgeon took it all off to check & it looked amazing. No swelling or bruising to see and totally straight big toe but with a large gap between big & next toe! He said not to worry that as I started to use it the gap would reduce. Cast was put back on & fresh bandaging. Now it's huge, very swollen & looks bigger bunion than ever (was not a bad one in the first place). Also my big toe is bending completely over to the next toe! Can Now drive (although haven't yet) as was only yesterday evening got it removed. I did ask him about the swelling & he said can take a couple of months! Anyone else had the same experience?
I had my first surgery Oct 3, 2016 and was in a cast x4 weeks then had second surgery with pins and coasted over 12 weeks. When I first came out and into the boot I couldn't stand or walk because the bottom of my foot peeled completely open. Am just now getting comfortable walking but still have a lot of swelling. Can't wear a normal shoe. So yeah I understand about the swelling. Dr has me on various meds trying to get it down.
Hi when you say you had second surgery I take it you mean on another foot? and I understand about the peeling cos I have a lot of dry skin but have discovered this morning I have some burst blisters caused by the cast rubbing. Today is the first day I have been out driving. Was fine but only found 1 pair of shoes which I could wear. Think would have been more bearable if I hadnt got the blisters!
No same foot. Apparently while in the cast I pulled tore something in my foot so he had to go in and repair. This time he put pins in to hold everything in place and recasted, had no weight bearing x8+ weeks. Had the blisters too. No fun. I came out of cast before Christmas but didn't start driving until Jan. By then I was down to one crutch. Mid Feb my mom got ill so I had to drive 19 hrs to get to her, walked w/ cane but also started walking without anything but wore out so easy. I felt like a waddling duck😂 Am doing better now but can't wear a normal shoe due to swelling. Dr is working on that through meds. Am walking straighter and slowly adding distance but do tire out quickly.
Gosh sounds terrible! Can't believe you had to go through it again on same foot. Sounds like he should have pinned it first time. I do worry that the shortening of the tendon hasnt worked. My big toe is leaning into the next toe which it didn't do before the op! To be honest my bunion wasn't too bad but it's hereditary & I didn't want to get to the point my mum has. Hers are very bad but she's nervous of having the op performed & being off her feet for so long! Did you originally just have the bone shaved & tendon shortened (as I did). I don't know what it's medical term is as my surgeon just called it 'a lesser op' & not a fusion! I take it from your word 'mom' & 19 hour drive you live in USA? I'm in UK. I've now had my cast & bandaging off 3 days & consultant said to have a good soak & rub baby oil into the scar to get rid of the disposable stitches which were still visible. I did this & opened up the wound! Also yesterday I went out in the car for the first time & did some shopping (foot was sore after I managed to find shoes that fit) & where my shoe was rubbing has opened up the scar even more &
Is bleeding. Surgeons last words to me when I saw him on Wednesday was that everything looks fine & see you in 2 months!!! And that was 4 weeks post op!!! Did your scar bleed at all? i only found this forum a few days ago & am finding it very interesting but most people appear to have the full fusion op.
I am in the US. I guess most folks are from the U.K. I did have some bleeding at first but that stopped. I had a hammertoe repair, fusion and bone shave. My foot was in bad shape because I waited to long. I have to get other foot next year. He won't do it until I'm completely healed. This forum helped me a lot because some of the stuffi was feeling with my foot I thought I was crazy but really was normal.
Hi you had a bigger op than me so I guess you probably expected to have a bit of a long journey to recovery. I think I took it all too lightly & my surgeon did give me that impression & that because it was a lesser op it would be so easy. I accept the swelling and expected it somewhat but am disappointed with the fact my toe is leaning inwards now. It looked the same when he took the cast & bandaging off on Wednesday but he didn't seem bothered! Wondering if I should make an appointment to see him? I know you had a more invasive op but how long do you think until you will be able to use your usual shoes? Sorry for the long post again!
As for getting in the shoe I don't know. I was told to try every day. I can get my foot into a man's shoe two sizes bigger, did that in Feb. it works but I have to wear two different shoes. Friday I had to wear them and I noticed the shoe is starting to get a little big. So that's progress. Right now I'm wearing adjustable Nike slides. Makes it much easier. I tried the other morning to put regular flats on, no go so..I'll just keep trying. My biggest thing was walking because if all the swelling. It was making it hard. Yesterday I actually walked through a Dept store and was ok. It was sore last night when I relaxed though so it's a work in process. You'll be fine just have pacience. Your toe may straighten out once you're really walking on it. Mine looked like it was leaning as well but has since straightened since it loosened up.
Hi thanks for the reply. Yes I agree it's the swelling which is the problem. Sorry to hear you're not in your own shoes yet. Ive just been out to lunch and put a dressing on to stop it rubbing on my shoes. But on taking it off I find the wound has opened slightly and is now bleeding a little. I also cant believe how dry the skin is on this foot. Did you suffer with dry cracking skin too?
Yes, I did, I got some really good foot cream and drenched my foot in it. That helped a lot. I can only do it on the bottom now because I'm putting prescription meds on top where scares are.
Don't be alarmed. Same thing happened to me. 5 days after surgery I saw my Dr & he removed wrap & bandages. I was so happy to see my slim straight foot. Stitches looked yucky but were healing nicely.
He redressed my stitches,wrapped it & I was told activity as tolerated while wearing cam walker.
If I was on my feet too much my foot would swell but elevation & ice helped.
I had stitches removed at 10 days. But my foot was more swollen than at 5 days.
But it's so normal. Fluid naturally gravitates to lowest extremity. Continue to elevate foot above heart level whenever possible. Ask Dr about toe separator to keep big toe in alignment.
I am 8 wks post surgery & still experiencing alot of swelling. Can only fit into stretchy lace-up shoes.
Expect swelling for a few months. Healing is a long process so don't rush it.
Good luck!
Hi i didn't have any stitches removed. They are dissolvable. Have you had a fusion? There seems to be so many different medical terms for different procedures! Surgeon didn't mention exercise or toe separators or anything & I think I was so in shock at how it looked I didn't think to ask him!!! He left the room saying I will see you in 2 months and left me with the nurse! The skin peeling is horrible but I can put up with that its the toe bending inwards which seems the problem. I understand healing takes time but I don't see how it can move back straight! I think because my Bunion wasn't very bad in the first place it actually looks much worse now (I'm hoping that's the swelling but it feels like bone!) I think I will need to make an appointment to see him a lot earlier than 2 months. Strangely I've not come across anyone on here who has had the simple op like me (no fusion and/or no pins) so it's hard to compare. I am 3 weeks behind you as at 5 weeks today. Out of cast & bandaging 5 days! Am I expecting too much maybe. But am only going by what the surgeon said. He was so optimistic saying I would be driving & back in my usual shoes! Good job I took 3 pairs with me. I could just about get one pair on after the cast & bandages removal. Was so nice to get rid of the ugly darco shoe tho! 😂
I know what you mean about so many medical terms. My procedure was called a head ostemy where part of the bony bump was shaved off & pin inserted to align toe.
I would definitely call the doctor & not wait two months. I can't understand why your toe would be turning inward.
There are many good YouTube videos on what to expect after bunionectomy. They've been helpful to me.
I hope you get some answers.
Good luck.
You really need to check out post op toe exercises on YouTube. You have to work on flexing your toes down & up. Especially the big toe. My surgeon said it helps to prevent scar tissue from forming which can cause your toe joint to freeze up. Don't neglect this. My toe joint was extremely sore at first from exercising but now it's much better. My surgeon said he's very pleased with range of motion
Correction on that procedure : it's called a head osteotomy
Hi glad to hear your recovery is going well now. I actually have very good movement in my toe. Not much different to pre surgery except a little stiffer but as I said surgeon didn't mention exercises. Maybe as my toe wasn't broken & no pins it's less invasive. I have called hospital this morning & am awaiting a call!
Keep us uodated. Hope you achieve the results you want.
Hi! Do you still have the blisters?
I have noticed i have developed some water like blisters on my toes!! I don't really understand what it means!?
Am am 3wks post-op today! My foot seams fine and also healing seams well, apart from when am on my feet too long my foot starts to look more awoke and the cast makes it look worse when I take it Of! I've been applying hydrocortisone cream on my foot for the dry skin, seams to be working 🙂
But these blisters are worrying me, there not painful YET! But am wondering if you found out if it means infection or anything else??
Hi my blisters were down the scar area & caused by the cast rubbing I think! Still very dry skin but not as bad as it was & still I have a small section at the end where the last stitch was which has a scab on it! I am using bio oil on the scar area. Now out of the darco shoe I am wearing open toe shoe boots with block heal from Kurt Geiger as they are lovely soft leather. But after a short time can't wait to get them off and my foot looks very swollen and red. Bought some gorgeous stilettos from top shop just after op and tried to put it on today but my foot is way too wide! Because my bunion wasn't bad beforehand my foot is much wider than pre op at moment. There's me thinking I would treat myself to a pair of louboutins post op & be able to wear them!!!! Getting worried as now 6 1/2 weeks post op & not looking any different (well worse actually). Good luck to you
Ps was so worried got emergency appointment with consultant last week but he said not to worry & everything looked ok to him!