Bunion help

[james'mommy]

Does anyone have any experience that they can share? My foot is killing me. It hurts just sitting here. I finally made a dr appointment to have it looked at. I read about it on the internet but now I am paranoid that I will need surgery. Some of the sites say you are awake and they do an ankle block. No way could I be awake and listening to them grind my bone.

 

[newholidayx2]

It will be 8wks tomorrow that I had my bunionectomy/osteootomy (arthritis taken out of the joint and a screw put in).
I couldnt shower for the first 3wks (well I did use a shower chair but couldnt stand up). That was the worst part of the surgery for me.
was on crutches first 5 days - at that doc appt he put me into a boot.
I was in the boot for 6wks
2wks ago told to wear a sneaker inside the house
Last wk finally able to wear a sneaker all the time but had to get a full size larger for the operated foot due to swelling.
At first I went to see him every week for 3wks, then skipped 3 wks, then skipped 4.
At the beginning he was changing my bandage, etc. Once I was able to shower I was doing the betadine myself. Tomorrow I can stop that and start the scar cream.
Im an active person and couldnt return to the gym till 2wks ago. Was given restrictions of no lower body (I do squats instead of lunges). I dont do step classes. I do Group Power. Recently started walking on the treadmill - 10mins at 3mph which is .5mile. I do walk outside on our "gerbil track" .2 circle. Im up to 2 sets of 10xs around.

 

[james'mommy]

How bad did it (does it?) hurt? My mom said that bone pain is the worst kind. Mom also said that grandma's hurt so bad she never went back to get the other foot done.

 

[monkeyboy]

I misread it as Onion...sorry cant offer help

 

[newholidayx2]

it hurt but wasnt excruitating (sp?)
The worst part for me was not being able to take a real shower!
I had vicodin at night (didnt take it all)
and 600mg Ibuprofen 3x per day which after a while I did cut back to twice/day - this was mostly for inflamation.

I had my left foot done - was able to drive after 8days
It does look better now than my right foot

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I had both feet done and a toe straightened on each foot...all at the same time.

I was only out of work about a week but my boss picked me up each day.

I never used crutches but had a cane.

Like the PP, no showers for a while. Mom had to wash my hair and I was able to take a sponge bath.

I also had to stay with my parents for 2 weeks since I could not care for my son on my own. (I was going through a divorce)

There was pain but the pain killers were pretty good...It's better than dealing with the pain of bunions. You have to be careful not to bang any pins that they put it but they are well bandaged.

Therapy after was pretty painful I remember. They bend your toes back and forth to get the mobility back.

It takes a long time to fully heal. My feet only felt better after a year or two...

I hope I did not scare you. If you are having that much pain, the surgery will be worth it in the long run.

Please let me know if you have any other questions...

 

[merekc]

OK - first I have to say, Monkeyboy is on a roll tonight. Every thread I look at he's commented on. (By the way, the ribs looked great)

Here's my two cents (that I've been told) on bunions, for what it is worth. My feet are starting to look like my mom and grandma's. My podiatrist says that it is basically a progressive disorder that will continue to get worse. If you catch bunions before they get really bad, you have the surgery and she said it is not as big a deal. You leave the office with only a boot. If you wait too long, it becomes a more difficult surgery and requires you to stay completely of your foot for weeks and therefore on crutches.

So basically, make an appointment and don't wait. In my situation, I have not progressed enough to have surgery, but at least now we have a baseline for as my feet change.

 

[goofinoff]

I had bunion surgery 14 years ago and have NEVER had any problems since. I wasn't awake for the surgery. I did have a block but had drugs to relax me (which totally knock me out)! I wore headphones so I couldn't hear anything if I did happen to wake up. I agree with the previous posts that the shower thing was tough. I lived at home with my parents at the time so my mom put a plastic outdoor chair in the shower for me to sit on. I had a plastic rubbery thing with velcro that went over my foot so no water would get in. The biggest thing to remember is the first couple of days, stay ahead of your pain. Don't wait for the pain to overwhelm you before you take the pain pills. The pain wasn't bad a few days into it. I'm so glad I had it done. I work retail so I need happy feet!!
Good luck!!

 

[Jeannie]

I had bunionectomies on both feet this past December. The dr. told me to take a Vicodin when I went to bed for when the numbness wore off. I did, but didn't really have any pain. I walked out of the surgical center with just these 'lovely' shoes http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015TKKCS?smid=A2I5DA0K14Z5W0&tag=nextag-hpc-20&linkCode=asn no crutches, canes or anything needed. I needed to have the bandages changed a couple days later and then was able to shower once I put these covers on http://www.medcareproducts.com/castcovers/ I'm a teacher so am on my feet a lot. I was out of work for 4 weeks. Due to a snow day and our winter break I only missed 12 days. When I went back to school I wore sneakers and crocs for a couple of weeks. I was back in high heels within 4 mos. I have wide feet and still have some swelling - mostly when I'm on my feet for too long - so that is the only thing that is keeping me from wearing all of the shoes that I would like to.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Good luck!

 

[LindaG4458]

I've had three bunionectomies on my left foot and two on my right. The first two were performed around 1983, the second two in 1984, and the last in 1986. They are both recurring and will need additional surgery sometime in the future (waiting until I can't stand it any more). I tend to develop lots of scar tissue, didn't know it at first, and didn't keep my foot elevated as much as I should have for the first surgeries. I don't mind the surgery that much as long as it is under general anesthesia. One carpal tunnel surgery under a local was enough for me.

One of the remedies, after surgery, is wearing orthotics in shoes to adjust weight shift when walking. They are fine in closed shoes and I am happy to wear them. They don't stay put, and look terrible, in open shoes. Wish someone would invent some that can be worn in sandals.

Good luck with your surgery. There is nothing as bad as trying to walk around WDW with sore feet.

 

[mickeyboat]

I had bunionectomies on each foot when I was 18 and 19. I haad general anesthesia and morphine. I was in a cast for 6 weeks, and in a boot for several more. I had a ton of pain, too. I have huge scars on both feet.

I have been pain free for many years, but the bunions have come back, and I suspect more surgeries are in my future.

DD7 has them, too!

Denae

 

[cajunpeach]

I too have a bunion. I was told to have surgery b/c I was in LOTS of pain. My surgery was scheduled for this past December. I had to postpone it b/c my husband lost his job and I couldn't afford to take the time off work or pay my deductible.

That being said, I followed the docs advise and wore Croc shoes constantly, after a while, I grew tired of the rubber look and bought a couple of pairs of comfy flats. After a few months, my pain has vanished. It's amazing and maybe temporary but I'm thrilled. I never wear a heal and I guess taking that extra pressure off has helped. The only time I have any pain is if I stand for long periods of time, walking long periods rarely hurts it, just standing. Even then, it's not near the amount of pain I was in previously.

If you are unsure about proceeding with surgery, try the comfy shoe route for a while, maybe it will ease your pain too. If not, you could re-evalute and have the surgery.

Good luck

 

[mdrob214]

One of the remedies, after surgery, is wearing orthotics in shoes to adjust weight shift when walking. They are fine in closed shoes and I am happy to wear them. They don't stay put, and look terrible, in open shoes. Wish someone would invent some that can be worn in sandals.

Good luck with your surgery. There is nothing as bad as trying to walk around WDW with sore feet.

My DD is due to have surgery this fall on one of her feet. It will require she use crutches for 6 weeks. The second foot will require only a boot, thankfully. She does already have the orthotic inserts and they have alleviated so much of her pain. She wears them with her crocs flip-flops by using a strip of velcro, per the Dr's instructions. I got the sticky back velcro strips that you can cut to any length and we have them in several of her shoes. They don't look that bad at all. Not dressy by any means, but you'd have to really be looking to see them, I think.

 

[KAMLEM]

I have had several bunion surgeries, and I'm glad I did it. I was on crutches for a couple of weeks each time, then the little blue shoe. I don't understand why people say they couldn't shower. I bought a plastic bag type thing that is made for people who can't get their leg or foot wet and it worked great. I just had to take a really quick one because the throbbing in my foot got really bad if I didn't have it elevated for the first week or so. I can't remember a day in my life that I didn't shower since junior high school. Even after my 2 C-sections I was up and in the shower the next day. I just don't feel "right" until I have my morning shower!

 

[ckay87]

Ugh, I really need to get this done, too, so thanks everyone for the advice.

Summertime is great for me because I can wear flip flops and shoes that don't put pressure on the thing. But any shoes that put pressure on my ugly crooked toe.....especially sneakers....just kills.

Mine is on my right foot, so I wouldn't be able to drive. I would hate the physical inactivity. My house is a split-level (friggin steps EVERYWHERE), so I anticipate this to be a pretty miserable experience.

Had seen a doctor about it when my boys were little and his advice was not to do it at that time because I wouldn't be able to properly rest it (having young kids) and it wouldn't do me any good if it didn't heal properly. But now it's time.

 

[mickeyboat]

Mine is on my right foot, so I wouldn't be able to drive. I would hate the physical inactivity. My house is a split-level (friggin steps EVERYWHERE), so I anticipate this to be a pretty miserable experience.

I did mine in college - because I was done playing sports and it needed to be done before I went off my parents' insurance. I lived on the third floor of a dorm with no elevator, and had to hobble to classes way over on the other side of campus. It was an ordeal, to say the least.

Denae

 

[james'mommy]

Thank everyone for the replies. It makes me feel a little bit better knowing some real life stories. The web md type sites make it sound soooo simple.

 

[james'mommy]

Thanks for the help. The doctor confirmed that I need surgery. My new concern is the twilight sleep. I'm afraid I will be able to feel and hear things during the procedure. Also does it hurt to have the pins removed?

 

[Green Tea]

I am a runner and having a lot of trouble lately with this on both feet. I am hesitant to consider. I can run with pain now, but could I work through the pain after and be a better runner. Not sure what I will ultimately decide.

 

[Mommy2three]

Thanks for the help. The doctor confirmed that I need surgery. My new concern is the twilight sleep. I'm afraid I will be able to feel and hear things during the procedure. Also does it hurt to have the pins removed?

i just had this done on my left foot on may 21st. I also had the twilight sleep which i was very nervous about. The doctor gave me a shot in my IV to help calm my nerves and then when i got into the operating room they completely put me out until they gave me the injection in my foot to numb it up, and then after that he brought me out of the complete anesthesia and put me into a twilight sleep. I can tell you I dont remember anything, It felt just like surgery without the twilight sleep, i didnt wake up at all until i was being wheeled back to my room. I didnt have any pins that were sticking out of my foot, they only ended up having to put pins inside of my foot so i dont know about the pins being removed. I was in very bad pain afterwards though for about the first week. I was fine the night i went home because my foot was completely numbed but when I woke up the next morning and got up to the go to the bathroom I ended up having to crawl because i was in so much pain. but my mom had the surgery many moons ago and never had any pain so i guess everyone is different. but as far as the twilight sleep goes, dont even worry about it, more than likely you will be asleep the whole time!