Hi! I am 7 days post-op from a Austin and Akins (not sure of spelling there) bunionectomy. Also, the bone was shaved on the side and my tendons & sesamoid bones moved. I have two screws placed in my foot that will be removed later. I was placed in a soft cast yesterday. I am to wear an osteo boot over the cast anytime I walk anywhere. The first week I was NWB. I elevate my foot as much as possible. I use a wheelchair for any shopping excursions. I use my crutches with the osteo boot to get around inside the house. Can anyone comment on their recovery process? I have had other surguries and nothing like this. How long before you were able to walk with the osteo boot? I think once I am able to walk with the boot that will be so much better.

Oh my goodness. You are so lucky. I had a bunionectomy on Sept. 15th and I have to be NWB with a hard cast for six weeks. I've got two more weeks to go and I am going nuts. I'm having a difficult time being confined like this. There is so much to do and hobbling around on one leg just doesn't work. (I live alone.) I'm back to work part time which helps to make the time go by but I use a walker to get into the building and then get into a wheelchair for the day with my leg elevated. Obviously patience is not my specialty.

It's amazing how different doctors have different requirements after the same surgery.

Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.

Becky

I was able to walk from Day 1 in the osteo boot after both of my bunionectomies/hammertoe surgeries done 3 weeks apart in July. Painful, yes, but not impossible. I tried to keep the walking down to a bare minimum, as trips to the bathroom from the bed, to the computer to check my e-mail, to the kitchen to heat up TV dinners, to the surgeon's office for weekly check-ups, etc. I never used crutches or a wheelchair, just a cane. Very uncomfortable from about Day 3 to Day 10 on each foot after the operation, but at least I was able to hobble around. Three months on and I am now wearing only surgical sandals, a big improvement over the boots, which were so heavy they were putting too much pressure on my tender tootsies.

Isn't it amazing how everyones' experiences vary so much?

Marianne

It is crazy how different people's experiences are. I wonder how much is due to the severity of the bunions to start out with, the kind of surgery performed, and/or the doctor's philosophy about the recovery process. In May I had surgery on both my feet for "significantly" severe bunions and hammertoes on the toes which had been pushed up by my big bent toes. (I am 57 and had had the bunions for at least 20 years.) I was never total NWB, although at the beginning I also confined my walking to the minimum (bathroom only for the first week; kitchen, living room, car, and doctor's office the second week). During that time I wore bandages and simple velcro surgical sandals with inflexible soles. After two weeks, I started wearing wide gym shoes and walking as much as I could tolerate. I was able to go around the block at 4 weeks and for a mile by 8 weeks. By three months, everything seemed pretty normal-- I am now five months post-surgery and things are fine. My toes are still pretty numb, but I rarely have pain (FAR less than before the surgeries) and can walk 3 or more miles and be on my feet most of the day without any problem. I'm also wearing all my "normal" shoes, and have been for a while. I have permanent screws which will be removed only if they start to bother me. So far so good... I think that if I got a diagnosis that called for casts, weeks of NWB, etc. I would get a second opinion just in case that was due to your doctor's preferred practice rather than the state of your feet. Many people on this board recommend seeing sports medicine doctors-- besides their expertise, one advantage would be that they are used to getting their patients back on their feet (pun intended) and active as soon as possible, while at the same time not risking their future mobility-- So it's probably a good idea, especially if you have any questions or concerns about after a consult with another doctor. Best wishes to all my fellow bunion sufferers!

I also lucked into seeing a sports medicine surgeon specializing only on ankles and feet (I say lucked into this because I didn't know any better when I first saw him). I saw a podiatrist first, and didn't like him, so tried an orthopedic surgeon next. Much better bedside manner.

He said he performed two types of bunion surgery - one for minor bunions, one for major. Mine were major (one still is - to be fixed next month). I had the first one done in May, and I'm back to wearing heels again - YAY! I've had to buy shoes that are 1/2 size bigger for my new, very pretty, straighter foot. I love it. I can do everything I could before. The only difference is that my range of motion in the big toe isn't 100% like before, but close. It never will be - but it doesn't impede me at all. I was never NWB, except for the first few days, which was by choice - I couldn't bear to walk on it because of the pain. My doctor recommended partial weight bearing from day one.

I can't stress enough how important it is to find a doctor who isn't afraid to push the healing process a little bit. Seriously, the thought of being in a cast, NWB, for months is so scary, and so unnecessary, I think. I am thankful for my doctor every day.

My only rational thought for being in a cast for six weeks is that if a person brakes their arm or leg...they would be in a cast for six weeks to heal. In my case, the metatarsal had wedge of bone removed, realigned, and set with screws to heal. Sounds to me like others on this message board had the same type of surgery done...and yet walked soon thereafter. Hm-m-m-m.

Becky,
I had an Austin/Youngswick bunionectomy on Sept 15th too for Hallux Limitus. I was never in a cast and only NWB for 2 1/2 weeks. I was in a Birkenstock by week 3 and a sneaker by week 6. Now at week 8, although still taking care, I'm close to walking normally. I hope to be back to full activities by week 12. My understanding is that the screw fixation takes the place of a cast since it holds the bone in place. The firm sole shoe (surgical shoe or boot) is only there as a precaution. As Marianne said - it's truly amazing the different experiences and advice people are given!