How Long Should You Do NOTHING For After Bunion Surgery?

[Highlander]

I'm 2 weeks down the line after having both feet done. Fairly mild procedure I guess (distal osteotomies in both).

My feet are heavily bound in bandages and I have those velcro walking shoe things and crutches.

Healing beautifully - no swelling, wound is fab, virtually no pain.

Thing is, everyone is a bit vague as to how much I should be doing. had stitches out at the end of last week and the nurse said rest as much as poss but, paradoxically, to wean myself off the crutches. Internet not much help, although am a bit worried that too much weight bearing will stress the ligament too much and I'll be back to square one!

saw soemwhere on the internet that I should have 'heel bearing' shoes but mine are totally flat.

Can you call and ask doctor/nurse? When are you due back for a check up?

I have bunions, and have considered surgery though have been warned (by those who have been through it) that it should be a last resort choice. Do you agree?

surgeon said it's impossible to preidct.

Some bunions, with or without orthotics, will never get worse.

However, surgical correction when the deformity is mild means the surgery itself is simple ( a distal osteotomy). Couple this with a realtively young age and your recovery is likely to be easier.

If you wait until deformity is severe, when you're older, then a proximal osteotomy (or worse) means only 1 foot can be done at a time, surgery and recovery are painful.

I'm very glad I've had mine done. Pain was a bit rough for the first 24 hours, but got a lot better. I had a spinal anaesthetic with tibial blocks which helped a lot with the pain. Insisted on going home that evening though which I guess didn't help! Paracetamol for 10 days, topped up with Volterol in the first 72 hours, dropped down to Ibuprofen after that.

Get your GP to refer you - the best person to advise is the orthopaedic surgeon. don't be put off by various people referring to pain. It's surgery often done on older people and their tolerance and understanding of pain and subsequent compliance with analgesia tends to be very poor.

Don't agree about age and pain. I had my bunion done and it was hideously painful (I was 33) ok so I had an infection but 6 months on it was still too painful to walk any great distance and only now 18 months on can I wear any sort of non sensible shoe. Now I have a beautiful foot and am pleased that it was done but my advice to me (if I was to have it done IYSWIM) would be not to. Sorry but it hurt like hell and I have a tolerant pain threshold (gave birth (only child) on one paracetamol and a little gas and air)