Experiences of bunion operation please

nicedream_2

Hi honey06,

Did you end up having your operation? I am a week and a half past having the lapidus procedure. I would 'so far' recommend, although be prepared to not do much for six weeks!

I hope it went well if you did

Your blog is amazing skintchick! Thank you for sharing

honey06

Hi Nicedream,

Yes, I'm day11 post op, I had scarf/akin osteotomy on both feet :cool:
Did you have one or both feet done.?
I'm slightly more human the last couple of days-had a rough few days with pain post op, and then a touch of cabin fever set in with sitting with my feet elevated all day! it's quite challenging isn't it???

How are you finding things?

skintchick

honey06 wrote: »

hi Skintchick,

just wondering how you are progressing now?

I'm asking as I've just been offered a cancellation date for mine :T--next week!! :eek::eek::eek:
belated panic setting in at the reality of actually having an operation

Sorry, I have only just seen this as I don;t come in this bit very often.

Glad your op went well! I am due to post an update on the blog, and some videos, but basically I am pretty much recovered.

I have new orthotics I am getting used to. They make my legs ache at the moment but I'll get used to them. I still wear my spacers but I don't have to.

I can wear ballet flats and sandals, but not pointy shoes and wouldn't want to wear heels although I can walk round the lounge in my three-inch shoes, slowly!

I'm back at yoga but can;t do everything, and still get pain sometimes if I twist my toes while on tiptoe or bash them hard on anything.

The scars are going silver and look really good, especially as I'm just 5 months post-op.

I am so pleased I had it done and really happy with the outcome (although I have lost a toenail cos the cast was too tight on my toes and I'm not sure it's going to grow back properly).

How is everyone else getting on?

nicedream_2

honey06 wrote: »

Hi Nicedream,

Yes, I'm day11 post op, I had scarf/akin osteotomy on both feet :cool:
Did you have one or both feet done.?
I'm slightly more human the last couple of days-had a rough few days with pain post op, and then a touch of cabin fever set in with sitting with my feet elevated all day! it's quite challenging isn't it???

How are you finding things?

I'm day 11 post op as well! I think it's very challenging - I wasn't at all prepared. I had my right foot operated on. I have a bunion on my left foot too but didn't want both operated on at the same time.

How are you finding both feet? I don't know how you managed the first couple of days - I could barely walk!

Do you have crutches and an aircast boot(s)? I have been elevating as well with ice. It's an exciting life!

It's nice to know there's a happy outcome though, Skintchick.

moneylover

Skintchick
So glad you are more or less back to normal! Presume you just wear your insoles in your trainers? If you do want to wear them in flats then Clarkes have (a few) nice styles that have removable insoles.
Am intrigued as to why you are wearing insoles I read all your blog and didn't get the impression that the consultant said you needed them? I have worn insoles for years for metatarsal pain and they haven't stopped me getting bunions twice! Also, they shouldn't make your legs ache, or at least, not after the first couple of weeks.

I am so looking forward to getting my bunions done again and will post when I do.

Good luck and thanks for your wonderful blog, do post on it again!

honey06

@Skintchick, no problem good to hear its still positive news! I'm sooo looking forward to being able to be back in heels in future
You're blog has been comforting at painful/low moments to know it WILL get better

@Nicedream, ooh you had a lapidus? I dont think Bilateral is an option for that procedure cos of the boot and non weightbearing (far too much time looking into options & pros/cons over the last few years before I took the plunge lol) I don't have an aircast boot, my boot looks more like a heavy soled fitfloppy Velcro strapped sandal I do have crutches which have helped enormously. Its hard work trying to get to the loo and back even so and I've had a really bad time with pain plus a migraine one day in the second week. The left foot is much more painful and swollen than the right but its a slow process. They kept me in for a couple of days on morphine for the pain (the physio reduced me to tears several times, having almost passed out with pain the first time she tried to get me mobile! :eek:)
It's the big reveal this afternoon- my 2 week follow up appointment. Can't decide if I'm excited to see what they look like (I'm prepared for the scary scars) or nervous about seeing them (scary scars and puffy feet may not be the prettiest look)

nicedream_2

How did your big reveal go?

I also had my big reveal today. I'm a little sad because it looks like I still have a bunion although it's smaller. Trying to focus on the health benefits now rather than the look! It's certainly a scary scar with puffy feet! My next appointment now is 4th June. When is yours?

Sorry your pain is so bad. I hope it gets better soon! I think I would go crazy if I had a migraine as well! I still have a lot of pain but managing with paracetamol and ibruprofen.

x

honey06

Exhausting and nerve wracking mainly!

Oh noon, am so sorry you're disappointed- did they say they were pleased with the result though?? I think I've spent so long reading other blogs and online info that I was all geared up to be disappointed/underwhelmed-it seems to be quite a common reaction cos we all want perfection my surgeon had explained that a small bend is normal so expect to see that- they try to make sure they don't over correct, and absolutely dead straight toes aren't anatomically ideal (and can be a problem in some shoes) so I was expecting worse than I saw. Maybe that's why you were a little disappointed???
. The scar between my big and second toe was much smaller too :T
The main scar doesn't look too bad, though there were a couple of bits still to heal on the right foot and it was a bonus to find I had dissolvable stitches. They've dressed them again, but I can take this off in a few days and have a bath at last

The bruising is quite impressive too isn't it?

Then the physio came in......... He assessed the movement in my feet and informed me that i'm in the better group for movement in my big toe :A then followed on with a comment about being at the lowest end after the op for pain control- mine was poor. PARDON!!! :mad: ohh the cheek!! that burst my bubble :rotfl: then he showed me exercises to mobilise the toe joint..OUCH!!! :eek::eek::eek: ok ok, he didn't need to prove his point- the hot sweat and ringing in my ears as he pressed my sore toe upwards was doing that well enough for him...
Came home and flaked out on the sofa. Literally
Pass the painkillers lol

I'm allowed to build up walking & mobility, provided I keep the special sandals on at all times. And have a toe brace thing (http://www.bauerfeind.com/en/products/supports-orthoses/foot/valguloc.html) to wear every night to stop any toe drift as the scar heals-- another level of discomfort to deal with over the next few weeks :cool:

My next appt is the 4th as well! Ahh, it's nice to have someone to compare notes with as we progress, though I think we may have different protocols to follow x

nicedream_2

I'm glad you're appointment went well honey06 (apart from the pain comment!). I think you're right about the straight foot. It's also pretty swollen so it's hard to tell at this stage. It's certainly better than it was before anyway!

What exercise do you have? I have to bend my big toe to the point of it being uncomfortable every hour :eek: I haven't quite kept it up every hour as i'm back at work now but I've got more movement already.

Have you had a bath yet? It seems like everyone has a surgical shoe in the waiting room. I'm not quite sure why I have an aircast.

I'm not entirely sure what to do with my wound now I can get it wet. Does anyone have any advice? Should it I bathe it in water? Do Epsom salts work in a bath? Can I just use regular socks to protect it or should I put a dressing over the top?

honey06

i have toe bending exercises to do too :eek: they didnt say every hour- I'm impressed you can see an improvement already! think I may start following you on that then!
you are back at work?! wow!! I've been told to expect 6 weeks min, possibly up to 3 months (depending how active my job is) and I cant drive for at least 6 weeks
first bath is on the agenda for today
i think the aircast is to protect and help with partial weight bearing as your surgery was closer to the ankle?

I've read lots of info about the wound- the main thing at this point seems to be scar massage with Bio Oil , baby oil or something similar, but only when the skin is fully healed with no scabbing (I'm not quite there yet)

Once the dressing is removed, use a moisturising lotion to hydrate the skin around the scar, says Greg Williams, a burns surgeon at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Moisturised skin improves wound-healing and ensures a balanced release of collagen.
Nor do you need an expensive moisturising cream.
‘Nivea, E45 or baby oil are all good, as long as you’re not allergic to them,’ says Mr Williams.
Gently massaging the scar for 30 seconds to a minute several times a day , from the moment the wound has healed over, will ‘break up the scar’, says Branstiter.
‘To keep the collagen from becoming lumpy, you need to make sure the fluid in the skin is moving around. Massage the whole area with lotion in a circular motion.


another thing I've read about is using silicone gel or cream (kelocote or cicacare) to help the scar heal well too.
Have you tried a sock yet? I was cold yesterday and tried a loose slipper sock- :eek: had to take it off again!