Comments on: I Had a Bunionectomy

By: carissa

carissa — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:24:27 +0000

Oye that looks so painful! Thank god I don’t have bunyons, though I do have a lot of corns. What’s the removal process like for them?
.-= carissa´s last blog ..A letter to an old friend after 10 years-A little something for everyone =-.

By: JD

JD — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 14:26:59 +0000

Hi, Teri!

I can only share my own experience. My doctor told me DEFINITELY to wear the shoe at ALL TIMES. Your foot needs that support. Also, I felt pain in my toe for months after the procedure. I’m not trying to scare you — it wasn’t bad pain, but it took quite a while for it to feel normal. Again, just my experience. A little pain or discomfort is, I think, OK, but you should see your doctor if you feel a lot of pain or your toe/foot is numb.

Also, another piece of advice: Nearly a year after my procedure, I took a Pilates class, and the instructor told me I was favoring my de-bunioned foot. I realized I hadn’t been walking on it naturally, so I really had to think about it and consciously put equal weight on both feet when I walked. I wouldn’t worry about that yet; you’re still recovering. But six months from now, start thinking about how you’re walking.

Good luck!

By: Teri

Teri — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:25:11 +0000

Hi, I enjoyed your blog. I had my left bunion done on June 1, 2010. I have been walking around my house barefoot, is that a total no no? My doc said to wear an athletic shoe and rotate with the surgical shoe. The athletic shoe still hurts though it seems most of the swelling is down. I guess I thought he meant to go out in, I am paranoid and worry that I may have messed something up. My big toe hurts mostly and it is off and on. It sounds like you guys still have pain after 3 weeks so that is still normal I guess. My toe feels numb when I touch it but it feels pain so it is not totally numb. Percoset pretty much did the trick for me. And…it was so weird when the skin peeled. I had tried a large bandaid instead of the huge bandage and when I took it off, it took skin with it. My incision is pretty much healed. So…I guess my main question is…should I be wearing the sugical shoe all the time in the house and would not wearing it cause damage? I dont see my doc till the 28th but have been tempted to call him this week to check things out. I have 2 screws in my foot. Thanks!

By: JD

JD — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:18:21 +0000

Mannie: Check out the link in the comment above yours (from Andrea). She had a double bunionectomy recently. I personally don’t know how long you’d need a wheelchair, but she may have some good information in that post. Good luck!

By: Mannie

Mannie — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:52:02 +0000

Hi, I am preparing for a double bunionectomy but am trying to figure out how long I will need to be off work. Working as a teacher means that I am usually on my feet most of the day. My plan is to hire a wheelchair – but for how long?

By: JD

JD — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:57:33 +0000

Andrea: Wow! Thanks for the link. You really had quite an ordeal, getting both feet done (plus corns). Hope you’re recovered and enjoying your new feet!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:05:56 +0000

http://andrea72-post-opbilateralbunionectomy.blogspot.com

Check out before and after pictures…..

By: JD at I Do Things

JD at I Do Things — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:23:47 +0000

Wow, I hope you had strong arm muscles!

I am now over a year post-op, and my toe still hurts. But it's getting better. I recently took some Pilates classes, and the instructor informed me I was favoring my “de-bunioned” foot. I hadn't even realized it. So I really have to think about walking evenly on both feet.

Congrats on surviving a double bunionectomy — and thanks for sharing your story!

By: andrea72

andrea72 — Wed, 12 May 2010 12:28:32 +0000

I am 10 days post op. I had a double-bunionectomy, way harder to deal with than a single. I had hardly any pain just discomfort and swelling which with all the bandages felt like the circulation was stopping the bloodflow to my feet but my doctor said it was fine. Even with my husband being home for the first 5 days was extremely difficult. He tried helping me to the bathroom but i was better off doing it myself. I sleep on an air matress in the living room. I'd roll off and roll myself in front of the couch turn backwards and use my arm muscle to slide onto couch backwards. I'd have th wheelchair close enough to sit up using my arm muscles again and slide into wheel chair and rolling myself to the bathroom.Make sure the the wheelchair WHEELS ARE ALWAYS LOCKED!! I get close as i can to the entrance of the bathroom take 2 steps on my HEELS and plop onto toilet,what a relief. Getting up was more challenging. To take a bath was somewhat difficult. I'd wheel myself to the bottom of the stairs and sit on the bottom step backwards. I'd pull myself up the stairs once again using my arms and pushing gently with my heels to go up 2 flights. Took me 10 minutes the 1st 3 times now i make it in half the time.Once on top of the stairs, I scoot myself on my bottom into the bathroom scooting backwards. I scoot close to the bathtub, and once again using my arms pulled myself up and over into the bathtub hanging my feet out. It helps to have a removable showerhead so you can give yourself your own . bath. Going down the stairs is way easier. Gotta tell you, I'm 38, out of shape, and weigh 190lbs. But i did it. My arm, stomach, and leg muscles feel stronger. At 5 days post-op i went to my appt. I was extremely nervous. This was my first surgery. I was sweating and wanted to faint. It felt good to have the bandages off. But when they took the tape off my stitches to clean the area I freaked. You might feel a little pulling on the stitches but NO pain. He rewrapped the foot and it's very tight again. My advice, the ELEVATE AND ICE!!!! I'm 10 days post op and I am still elevating and icing. I go back in 5 days which would be 2 weeks and 1 day to get my stitches removed.He said i can then purchase a good running shoe that he recommended but will still need bedrest for another week or two. I can wear the running shoe or the boot whichever feels more comfortable. I will continue wearing the boot because I don't think i feel comfortable enough right now to fit my foot in a shoe.Also for you women out there, try and schedule your sugery a couple of days after your menstral period…

By: JD

JD — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:49:42 +0000

Susan: HI! Thanks for checking back in. I’m sorry to hear you’re still having problems. Our bunion recoveries sound pretty different. I had to wear the “sandal” for about 3 weeks, I think, and then I had to wear a sneaker all the time for support. I had some swelling by that point, but not that much. Yeah, my arch hurt a little, but mostly it was my toes and just below them—the top of my foot. I bet the swelling was responsible for the arch pain. No, I didn’t have therapy, unless you count the doctor telling me to wiggle my big toe! Good luck and keep updating!