Post op bunion removal

[samthebordercollie]

I'm due to have my right foot operated on in October: My bunion is huge, not painful itself, but my squashed toes are (I think hammer toe is the expression) and I've only been able to wear trainers for years:
My big worry is how long the recovery will be: I run every day at the moment, also walk, cycle and swim and I'm generally very active all day: The thought of sitting on a sofa with my feet up fills me with horror and I'm not sure how I'll cope, or my 2 dogs for that matter (DH isn't a great walker)
The surgeon said it would be 6 months minimum before I can run again so I'll lose all my current fitness:
I'm nearly 57 and know the longer I leave it the harder recovery will be: What experiences has everyone else (particularly runners) had?

Bump, anyone?

Hi op! I’m so glad I found your post as I’m in a very similar situation to you. I’m scheduled for bunion surgery next month, I’m nearly 56 and very active, too - dog, teenagers, demanding job etc. I’m worried about the recovery process and how long I’m going to be off my feet and the impact on my health. But, I’m not getting any younger and recovery won’t be any easier the longer I leave it. Hopefully someone will come along who has been through it but perhaps we can support each other as going through it at the same time?😊.

If you have access to a pool you can swim laps and buy an aqua jogger belt. I used to marathon and used one when I had a knee surgery and it helped me preserve my running fitness.

Good idea, blisstwins. I’m a swimmer and will be looking to get back in the water asap - I think it will be about 8 weeks with leg in a cast to get through first though, then having to wear a special boot for some weeks after, so navigating getting in and out of a pool will be a whole new nightmare! I’ve not used an aqua belt but sounds good for recovery later. It’s going to be a long journey ahead I think.

@CryMeACucumber Hello! I'm so glad you found my post too! What sort of operation are you having? And what timescales for recovery activity have you been given? I joined a FB group (a lot of posters from the US) and it isn't exactly encouraging, many regret the surgery:
Are you in pain with your bunion? I'm not, but I'm starting to get a hammer toe due to the squashing of the toes in the toe box which isn't comfortable and means I can't wear anything but men's trainers and Birkenstocks: Which isn't the end of the world fashionwise at the moment!

I’m having a lapidus midfoot fusion. My bunion is ENORMOUS and has an overlying bursa which is constantly inflamed. No pain as such when at home and barefoot but can be agony at work and of course footwear very difficult to find. I have written in my journal that I just want a straight foot for 2023!

I’ve got the sort of opposite of hammer toes - my big toe is moving over, not under, the second. My surgeon said that eventually I’ll have pain underneath my toes. I’ve also got a bunionette on the outside of my foot. All in all, it’s horrific! He said 8 weeks completely off feet then, depending on bone fusion, I can have a boot (cam walker?.) and “normal’ shoes at 12 weeks. But the swelling and nerves settling down will take a good year 😔

I had my left bunion operated on when I was 22, am now 31. I was so worried about recovery too but it was honestly the best thing I've done, my foot looks completely different and the discomfort I had from ill fitting shoes because of the shape of my foot is completely gone.

For me I was back in trainers by 6 weeks, and took it steady with exercise (swimming, yoga, cross trainer). I read a lot about recovery and found articles like the ones on Paula Radcliffe really helpful though I'm not personally a runner they might be interesting for you! Having an automatic car helped loads and also having the operation over winter is something I'd really recommend if you can.

My mom had both her bunions done after I did in her early fifties and regrets not getting them done sooner, too having had a quick recovery.

That’s really good to hear, Goodgoodthings - thank you! It’s really good to hear a positive story. Did you have any nerve damage or loss of sensation in your foot after? That unknown aspect concerns me.

Also, @Goodgoodthings , why would you recommend getting it done over winter, please?

No problem I think it's so hard to find positive stories because lots of ladies feel shame around the way their feet look (I know I did!)

So for me I had the bunion removed and my second toe pinned which was previously lifted and my big toe crossing underneath (think like what you've described?). I've no issues with feeling, movement or nerve damage, the only long standing issue is that if I do get swelling (I'm currently pregnant for example) that ankle does typically swell slightly more, but nothing painful or drastic and not a typical thing.

I wish I had it done over winter because I just felt that I was missing out on so much when I had mine done in summer - I wanted to be exercising and doing things more in the sun and I felt like I was missing out. My mom had hers done in winter and found it easier as we were cosied up at home more often, she still missed dog walks in the earlier days but generally she was happy to be in her comfies at home resting. By the time spring came around she was wearing nice dresses and sandals, walking and exercising more and enjoying the sunshine. I think I felt like I was in an eternal winter! Hopefully that makes sense!

I hope if you decide to go for it you'll have a similar experience to me and can get back to enjoying your hobbies quickly. It's a big decision but honestly it's made me so much more confident to wear what I want and I also don't have to worry about being in pain because of them which is honestly wonderful.

Thanks @Goodgoodthings - I shall try to think of it as looking forward to a snuggly, restful winter - that’s a good way to frame it. And you are right, I certainly feel very ashamed and self-conscious about my foot. I never draw attention to it at work and just try to ‘hide’ it. It’s very embarrassing to me and I’m not looking forward to telling colleagues why I’ll be out of work for so long, because then they’ll be looking at my foot!,

I'm having foot surgery (not bunion) next month and have been told I'll be off my feet completely for 3 weeks and using a stick for a couple of months.

Once I'm over the bed rest period I plan on doing some gentle cycling on my exercise bike. If I set it at low resistance and use my heel rather than toe to pedal carefully, I can at least keep moving cautiously.

Good luck with your surgery @Titsflyingsouth Hopefully, you’ll get some good physiotherapist support and exercise advice too.

Weird thread.

As a foot and ankle surgeon I would almost never operate on somebody whose symptoms were mild enough that they could do recreational / fitness running on a daily basis.

Bunion corrections should be for activity limiting pain, 15% of people aren't happy with the results of their operation, and that's when it's done for moderate to severe pain...

Thank you for commenting! I have to say that's why I have a doubt, I'm in France and the private cliniques tend to push you towards surgery, often for financial gain rather that necessity!
My hallus vagus is pronounced but not painful, however my toes are squashed and hurt if I don't wear oversized mens trainers. Not sure if that's a good enough reason to have surgery or not. I was falling over when running but that could be due to a change in trainers to HOKA which have no drop, lots of shock absorbing and therefore unstable at times. I've never fallen over when walking.

Have a look at the bofas website, some good info. Size of the bunion is irrelevant.

Pain that stops you doing things is the only strong reason for operating.

Softer reasons might be not being able to get work specific shoes on, or if the lesser toes start to claw.

"Softer reasons might be not being able to get work specific shoes on"

In recent years I've not be able to find shoes and/or walking boots to fit me
I always had ducks feet ( wide fitting never wide enough ) and then bunions came along.

More or less pain free but I do live for trail walking and my boots and shoes are in tatters.

Any suggestions as to what I can do ?

( FWIW I saw a surgeon on this, he told me more or less exactly what FixTheBone · posted at 13:51 )

@samthebordercollie I had bunions from being a small child. It was my 40th birthday present to myself to have them treated /straightened. I had both done at the same time in the belief that if I had one done and it was painful, I wouldn't go ahead with the second. I needn't have worried! Painkillers and rest and I was as fit as a flea after 6 weeks. best thing I ever did. It's only now, some years later that I am starting to have trouble with arthritis in my toes - but I probably would have had that anyway.

What about minimally invasive surgery? There are a few private clinics doing this and the recovery period is shorter. Is keyhole surgery available on the NHS? Both my feet are like your right foot OP.

I'm heading towards my 4th bunion surgery, had both feet done same day originally and was about 6 weeks recovering, had the boots that keep the weight on your heels only and crutches but used a wheelchair for the first week or so, left foot was successful but right one had to be repeated, the big toe was broken and pinned the second time but its drifting inwards again and starting to move on top of the toe beside it, I have arthritis in that foot which is part of the reason it wasn't as successful, the toe is slightly bent so I have to be careful when buying shoes that nothing rubs it, it'll need further pinning so that's the next surgery. I'm willing to go through it again because I seen how much my mother suffered from hers, she had surgery but her feet were so deformed by then it was difficult to improve them sufficiently. I was surprised how quickly mine healed, had them done in spring so not during freezing cold weather but still a quiet time of year so I could recuperate in front of the fire while watching TV and eating chocolate.

Knee scooters are a great way to get around if you are non weight bearing following surgery. They can be hired by the week.

A note of caution from me. I had toe surgery in April (arthritis and a ganglion). Was told by the (private) surgeon I'd be weight bearing from day one. That was just about true but I wasn't told until after surgery that it was also a weeks complete bed rest. Now nearly 5 months on, I'm still not able to run and the physio is saying it could be a 12 to 18 month recovery time. My toe was very painful before but it's still painful now and I've developed planta faciitis. On reflection I would not have had the surgery

Thanks so much for all your comments, it's all very helpful!
@PandoraRocks I'm in France and the surgeon I saw specialises in the mini invasive treatment but said my bunion and the fact one or two toes will need to be broken meant it wouldn't be possible: When I saw him I hadn't done enough research into the operation - I'm going to see him again in 3 weeks and will have a lot more questions!

I had both my done when I was 41 ten years ago. Bunions and really bent in toes since childhood , although they weren’t painful.Also really glad I got them done although I suspect my toes will return to their firmer shape eventually.

Recovery and pain was fine. I had bones broken and shaved and ligaments cut, pins inserted. You get special sandals to hobble round in and they like you to move a little bit to keep blood flowing. I had a week of proper sofa and bed rest. After 6 weeks I was in normal sandals although my feet were swollen. Had to wear bunion supports at night.
3 months on and I was in fit flops walking round Rome literally all day long. They were still bigger than normal. Not a runner but I can see why they’d say 6 months. It takes ages for the swelling to go and your feet to reset solidly
The most painful bits though were the scars really even in the beginning.

However after my success story my friend had hers done. She’s older and in retrospect possibly had a touch osteoporosis. She had a nightmare.with neither tie ending up straight, pain from the new position rubbing and having additional surgeries. In comparison shes since had hip and knees done both of which were fine.

Hers was done privately mine if the NHS. My surgery was apparently really good although I don’t think you get any choice with the NHS.