Nail surgery - warning foot picture included

[ToeTroubles]

Not AIBU but posting for traffic.

Has anyone had nail surgery and if so how did you recover from it?

The bandages are so big in proportion of my toes and I'm unable to wear trainers.

I'm back in work on Thursday and need to find some footwear I can wear and walk in and also drive.

Does anyone have any suggestions or links to what I can possibly wear? I work in an office environment, but will need to be able to walk there and back.

I'm due to get my dressing changed on Friday where I'm hoping the bandages will be smaller and I'll be able to wear trainers.

Feeling very sorry for myself at the moment. Can't get comfy as the numbness has fully worn off now so toes are painful and throbbing along with where the needles went in.

Large slippers

Haha!!! My grandfather did the same once, @TheDarkPassenger.

I’d suggest getting a pair of trainers that are two sizes too big from somewhere cheap, but make sure they’re comfy. Tesco aren’t too bad as their insoles tend to be quite squishy.

Be careful wearing any oversized shoes when driving.
Please don't wear wellies! The tops can get caught on the seat.
If you drive with the sandals be careful the top flap part doesn't get caught 'under' the pedal.
I've learnt to drive in all sorts but it can be dangerous. Especially if you're in pain and tender.

I'm size 5.5 but would these in a size 7 do okay do you think? Just for walking and driving. I can Potter about at work in just my socks. I know that's frowned upon but I don't have smelly feet and would ensure they are very clean socks!

I had ingrowing toenail treated in the summer a couple of years ago - I had slip on birkenstock type shoes, but just a mule style, nothing between the toes.
I used to buy my Dad really cheap trainer type things, but very soft with a velcro fastener when his feet were very swollen; slipper like, but more robust and for outdoor wear. A mans shoe would probably be wider fitting than a womans - £7, two for £10.
www.shoezone.com/Products/Hobos-Mens-Canvas-Shoe-in-Blue-59320

DD's toe took about 2 and a half months from surgery to no dressing at the end of last year.

Have you had the OK from the doctors to go back to work? And to walk on them? It seems very soon if the dressings are still so big and pain so bad!

Are you able to remote into you work computer and work from home or do you physically need to be in the office?

I need to physically be in the office.

The person who did the procedure said I'd be fine to return to work Thursday and I'd be fine to drive from tomorrow.

The aftercare instructions are pretty rubbish. Just says don't take aspirin, don't drink alcohol, don't touch or remove dressings.

It then tells you signs to look out for yet they are signs you'd only really notice by looking under the dressing lol.

I'm now in bed after 2 nurofen and the pain doesn't feel so bad now. I'm hoping earlier was just the initial shock of the numbness wearing off?

Hopefully tomorrow will feel much easier. I'm off work tomorrow so not going to do much of anything. Will see if I can find anything to binge watch on Netflix.

I'm dying to just remove the big bandage although I know I can't.

My son had his done in October.
I used duct tape and a food bag over the bandages for him to shower, worked v well.
A normal sized plaster is all that's needed after the first change, I got some "inadine" patches from the chemist to go under the plaster to prevent infection, he changed his in the evening, got in the shower with them on and removed them after washing so no soap went in them and no pulling on his teenage toe hairs
As for footwear, he wore slides.

My DS had his done and went back to school the day after (had them done one at a time) wearing oversized cheap canvas shoes with the front cut away. He still says it was the best decision he ever made to have them removed, despite the pretty long recovery/healing period.

What have you actually had done? I had my big toe nails removed 4 weeks ago and went back the next day to get my bandages changed to much smaller ones.

I was able to shower the next day but advised not to stay in too long for the skin to go soggy.

I just wore Havaina flip flops whilst those bandages were on...

Could you get some black fake ugg style boots in a size bigger than normal? (Eg Matalan do them for £10)? Very comfy and accommodating, not office wear exactly but less noticeable than trainers?

Who did the procedure ?

I'm a Podiatrist and qualified to do nail avulsions (though it's not something I do TBH)

The dressings have to be this size until the change then they'll be much smaller .
The risk of bleeding is highest in the first 24-48 hours

If they were phenolised (usually they are but on occasion the patients want a regrowth so it isn;t) the phenol itself gives pretty good pain killing (weirdly enough , it's a strong caustic)
Post-Op painkiller (without asprin) should help.

I must say , I am ver' ver' disappointed when you post a Photo warning .......and it;s a dressing . I was expecting an ingrown toenail and gopping pus !

This should all have been covered pre-op. The recovery , dressings, shoes, time off .

Main side effect you need to be aware of is excessive bleeding -which you'll see without removing the dressing . And if you need anything like dental in the next 24 hours , take the letter with you , they need to kow if you've had analgesia .

You've been through the worst now - once it's all healed you will be glad you did it .

My son had this few months ago. He was off school for 4 days and wore oversized trainers with the toe cut out. We considered sandals but didnt have any.
We thought the GP who did the procedure greatly underestimated the pain and recovery time. The practice nurse who changed the dressing had had it done on her toe and agreed with me on this.
My sons toe got infected as well the following week.
It was definitely worth doing though.

I have had the nails at the side cut and then acid has been put on to stop regrowth. I have ordered some cheap oversized trainers so that I can drive when needed.

It was done by a podiatrist.

The pain seems to have eased lots in the last hour or so. Not sure if that's due to the nurofen though.

I can see no bleeding through the bandages and the pain is a throbbing pain so I'm hoping for a normal healing process.

Was told to keep my legs elevated as much as possible today as it helps healing and that tomorrow ill be fine to drive and can return to work on Thursday.

Really looking forward to smaller bandages on Friday. I'm worried about knocking them and causing the healing to take longer but I'm going to be super careful.

Apologies for posting a warning and then not having a gruesome picture. I just assumed many people think normal feet are gross enough hence the warning lol.

I've had this done. 3 times.
Advice is not to return to work for at least 3 days, and to keep feet elevated. Whilst you've got those dressings on, nothing will fit on your feet except for Crocs, preferably a size or bigger than normal. I've found even Uggs won't do for the first week or so.
Once the dressing is changed, it will be a lot smaller, but your toe will be less protected so you will need to keep something on it - I wouldn't suggest returning to work in sandals/flipflops.
Children may heal quickly, but adults take longer.

Also, "A normal sized plaster is all that's needed after the first change".
Nononono.
That might have worked for the posters son, but it's unusual. You will need dressings 5x7cm, for at least few weeks.

OP it’s not going to be safe to drive in shoes that don’t fit you. If you crash, I’d be surprised if your insurance company was happy with your footwear arrangements.

Had one done in July. Wore big medical Post op shoe (you can get on amazon) - my bandages were bigger than your mind.

I showered with a plastic bag around my foot secured by tape.

Good luck.

The only thing I can think of is crocs or slippers.

Velcro Sanford (Reefs) when I had my big toe nails removed - both gone now thankfully!!

I also bought one of those shower socks to keep it dry as it took weeks and weeks to heal but I also put google eyes on my bandages at work and called them Frankie mankie the gangster toe........

Sandals!