Hi, I'm now 4 weeks post op bilateral bunionectomy & hammer toes straightened. No weight bearing for another 3 weeks. Iv been wiggling my feet & toes but just wandered how much excercise is safe to do, my feet are stiff & still swell when put to the floor but not really painful, I can feel them becoming uncomfortable if I stretch them too much but not sure if it's good to stretch or whether it will harm my recovery. What are others up to at this stage please?
Hi Karen. I am four weeks like you and exactly like you but without the hammer toes. I have casts on both feet until another three weeks. I find in the night when sleeping I stretch my feet. Does not hurt anymore but used to. I often wondered too. The only exercise is wiggling my toes. Are you in casts? The only pain I have is my casts under my feet
Minor flexion exercises, as prescribed by my orthop doc, for your toes to restretch that ligament is what I did post-op at about the 4 week point. Yes it is a little painful hut very important to do so that further out your toes will all touch the ground when your feet are flat on the floor. Good luck.
Hello again Krinny! I had bandages on for two weeks but have nothing on now, I still have to use the surgical shoes when walking. I keep pampering my feet by soaking them, messaging bio oil on them & slightly moving the toes but I'm not sure if I should do this until it feels uncomfortable as I feel this will ease the stiffness but I'm worried about damaging the work inside. How's life for you? It's frustrating all this sitting around but we are getting there. Iv actually become lazy & have to push myself to do anything. I'm still sat in my nightwear at lunch time but I did make myself do some sit ups. & leg stretchers this morning hoping that this goes a little way to cancel out all the food Iv been eating whilst sitting around. It must seem ages for you still having casts on. Funny how we all have different after care. Keep resting karen x
Thanks Pam, it feel like the little pain when stretched would ease the stiffness & be a good thing but then I'm also a little worried about doing any damage. I'm wiggling now as I type.
Ligaments need stretching. 4-6 weeks post-op, your bone is pretty much healed.
Excellent exercise info 'Exercising after Bunion Surgery' found on Internet. Gives pictures to follow and I found very useful- 2 pages and same ones hospital gave me. They are by Kaiser Permanente.
Aww thank you I'll have a look now
Hi Karen and Krinny! We are all at the same stage ie 4 wks post op and I have worried about not exercising my big toes and I am dreading having the plaster off on26th August which will be 7 wks post op with no movement in my toes as I am in plaster until then! You are the same Krinny, what do you think? I don't suppose there is anything we can do but I worry that our big toe joints will be so stiff by then we may not get as much movement back as we would have done if we had been exercising since wk4. Also it might be very painful weight bearing after 7 wks in plaster! I am dying to get bio oil rubbed into my scars and my big toe moving. Is there anyone else out there who has been in plaster for this long? If so what is it like when your feet see the light of day again???
On a more pleasant note, I managed to get to the hairdresser today and feel more human again! You certainly get some funny looks as you clump along in your sexy sandals! I have no pain and no swelling- from what I can see or feel. Hope you are now exercising Karen?! Let us know how you're getting on! Happy healing! X Jinny
Hi Jinny! It must be difficult still having plaster on your feet, but as we have all realised the after care varies amongst us all. As you, krinny & myself are all at the same stage I would imagine that our feet should be at the same recovery time & I can only say that mine are healing very well. The scars have improved Iv had no pain for weeks - I still have the droopy cocktail sausage (aka 2nd left toe) but I have been excersing it regularly & eventually hope for improvement. I like my new pain free new feet & soooo glad I had them done together. I hope you got taken out tonight with your new hair do! X keep going
Karen, It took my a while before I could wiggle my toes. They are much better now. Mine was bunion surgery, so I don't want to give you the wrong advice. It really hurt at first to wiggle my toes. They were still bruised and swollen, so at 7 weeks, I am much better. Guess it's just a process, and like most have said, everyone heals differently.
Hi Krinny! How's it going with you down under?! What do you think about my comments to Karen with regard to being in plaster for 7 wks and not being able to exercise our toes? Or does your plaster give you movement in your big toes? I guess we just have to hope our surgeons know what they're doing and it all turns out ok in the end! Are you resting lots still? X
Hi Karen and Jinny....plus other bunion less people,
Sorry it took awhile to reply. I have been reading your comments but then forgotten to reply. I have my head in a good book atm plus catching up on shows and friends visiting.
This is my fourth week today. Each week I noticed I am improving. I feel the cast as much as I hate it......is helping heaps. I can wiggle my toes a little and do stretching exercises which I find I do without thinking. Plus I noticed does not hurt as much anymore doing those movements. People I know that have had casts....have no issues. I am not worried about the cast and not doing too much exercise with the toes....bones may have healed but feel funny with the ligaments that still take longer to heal it seems.
i rang my surgeon yesterday and right shy of six weeks....I get my casts off. This is good news for me because we have celebrations that weekend and I need to be 'freeeeee'. So the 21st I celebrate 
i have been doing floor exercises and so far no weight been put on and that was my worst fear....hate feeling frumpy and unfit. I did put on a couple of kilos in the beginning.
Today I am going to cook two meals (lasagna and Thai veggie currie) for when friends come up tomorrow night. I have a Thermomix...so less wash up and time on my feet. See how I go.
hope you are all going okay? Will keep up with my progress and I love to know how everyone is going. I am also on a bunion FB site that has interesting reading. Lots of activity with people. Okies off I go cooking....catch ya laters xx
Hi there! What is a Thermomix? You are doing well, up and about cooking and entertaining! Well done you. Don't forget to tell us how you get on on the 21st it will be interesting to hear what it's like to put your feet on the ground for the first time in 6 wks! I have been doing some light exercising and eating normally but have lost about 5 lbs, and that's with the plaster and sandals on! I guess it's loss of muscle thru no real exercise! My husband has lost weight too with all the running around doing everything!! Having a double bunion op isn't a recommended method for weight loss! I remember Nigella Lawson lost weight when she had a double bunion op and she said it was because she didn't like to ask people to get her a second slice of cake!!
i cooked in between visitors. Finding my back hurt more and the rest of my feet through the plaster been uncomfortable but besides that no swelling....that's my worst fear. How are you fairing? Swelling? Soreness? Can't wait to get my feet wet in the shower. Lol
Oh well done with the weight loss. Are you a exercise freak too?
Wk 4 and no pain, no swelling just boredom!
No not a REAL fitness freak but like to be active and in reasonable shape so that's why I am getting bored! We are 'dog sitting' for friends this month and I would dearly love to be out hill walking with her........ Shame!
I know.....I even envy people that say they are going for a walk. Boredom is a shocker. Are you on a FB page where it's called "I survived a Bunionectomy'? Tell me when you are there if you decide too...x
I started to weight bear slowly 2 weeks after the operation - limping to the bus stop which is about 200 yards away and getting to the shops and back.
Maybe I was lucky, but when the bandage and dressing were removed at 6 weeks I was pronounced fine! At 7 weeks I was walking up to half a mile at a time on holiday - a bit uncomfortable and had to use my old ,soft , largish gardening boots as i can't wear trainers yet, but no pain. Downstairs still a bit iffy - upstairs is fine. I was advised to do lunges for the leg/foot to get the back of the leg working properly again.
I am told my foot will remain swollen for another month or so and not to worry. I just rest when I can, and put my foot up - stay in bed a bit longer if I can!