Bunion Surgery Question, Judy Anyone

[windwalker]

Erica had double bunion surgery 5 weeks ago and she still can't wear shoes without discomfort, except sandals.

It appears that she has arches. I told the Dr. that she was a marathon racewalker and I wonder if he fixed her flat feet as well as the bunions, is that possible?

Could this be why she is healing slower? Anyone who has had this done:

How long was it before you could wear shoes?

Did you have flat feet before and arches after?

How long was it before you could start training again?

We are wondering, she has the best Foot Dr in the area, actually in Nashville.

Any insight would be welcomed.

Thanks

Nurse Panda

 

[dsnyfan21]

HI Panda,
I had a procedure done very similar to a bunionectomy on my Right foot (chilectomy)s. Was in the flat shoe thing for 3week and then was allowed into a sandal type thing. I wore burkenstocks that covered the toes for awhile. I had arches before the surgery. I had a hard time getting into sneakers I had to open the laces all the way, because bending and pushing the toe joint into a shoes was very painful, but once it was in there I was ok until I had to take it back out of the shoe.
I had arches before surgery and that didn't change, however my Plantar Facititus got much better. (I think from resting it.)

I don't think she is healing any slower than normal.

I was alittle silly and started doing some very slow walking for about 15-20min on the third week with my stupid flat surgery shoe, just a few times a week. Once I got into a shoe I started slowy again, but was having trouble with the push off with just regular everday walking and was getting a burning feeling at the joint and down the inside of the arch and I was walking with a bit of a limp. My podiatrist sent me for PT. PT for your toes, yep and it did wonders. I had to do scrunches, picking up marbles with my toes, walking backwards, sideways and such, using a bench with stretching ropes to push off using the balls of my feet and toes, heel stretches, rolling on a tennis ball, balancing on that foot with the other leg off the floor, standing on that foot on a trampaline with the other leg up with the PT threw a weighted ball at me and I threw it back trying to keep my balance. I had electric stem and massage therapy. Again, you say, all for a toe and I say yeah!!! Your big toe plays a very important roll in many things. I did PT for about 2 months 2-3 days a week. I started training for the WDW Half while in PT.

So, let me see I had my surgery in June and started officially training for the WDW half in early Sept. I started doing some 2-3 day a week 1-2 miles around August.

Hope any of this can help.

I also made the mistake of really trying not to move my toe at the beginning and then made it very stiff and got alot of scar tissue in the joint and it had to be worked out and I still work with it about 1-2 times a week. SInce the cause of my issue is degenerative osteoarthitis in the joint, this was just a fix for now. The podiatrist told me that at some point I may need a joint replacement. So that is what has encouraged me to get out there and WALK!!

Hang in there Erica, you'll get there. I can't imagine having surgery on both big toes at once. Much PD to you.

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

My mom had bunion surgery on both feet early last year and I know it took her awhile to recover. It took her a long time to get into shoes (maybe 6 months) and afterwards her foot size had changed so none of her old shoes fit.

That being said, she had the surgery probably in February/March, she completed the Go For Red 5K in May that same year (wearing velcro sandal type shoes) and successfully completed TOT later that year.

Best of luck with the recovery Erica!

 

[Kristi1357]

No advice, just lots of & for Erica!

 

[Steffwalks]

Ditto

 

[Honeibee]

Panda - I know how frustrated she must feel right about now, so I'm sorry to tell you, I think she's right on schedule. That was what I hated most about all my foot surgeries, which always seemed to occur at the nicest times of the year. Recovery took SO damn long! Had she been keeping it elevated alot? I didn't heed my pods advice the first time, and leaned that lesson the hard way!

I feel so badly for Erica, but eventually, she will be so glad she did it! BTW, has she been back to the doctor for follow-ups?

Panda, you're a good husband.

 

[windwalker]

Thank you for the responses and the Pixey Dust.

I think if she could wear shoes without pain it wouldn't seem as bad. Of course this is Kentucky and shoes are considered a necessary evil.

Nurse Panda