Is there anything I can do to hasten my recovery from bunion surgery? Also, I sometimes get itching in areas on my foot that's covered by the cast and it's driving me crazy!! Has anyone had this problem?

Originally posted by jenfrog:
Is there anything I can do to hasten my recovery from bunion surgery? Also, I sometimes get itching in areas on my foot that's covered by the cast and it's driving me crazy!! Has anyone had this problem?

Hi jen. I had bunion surgery in october and I had a cast on for 2 months. The itching is very common. i know i used to stick pencils down the cast to stop the itch, but where you can't reach I know it's annoying. I know that I had to constantly keep my foot elevated because it would throb like crazy.
I had an extensive procedure though where the Dr. had to cut the bone in my foot. I had 3 pins and 2 sets of stitches. What type of surgery did u have? My cast was just below the knee!!!! I hated it. Good luck with everything. Just ask if you have any questions, maybe I can help.

Foot surgery.... Just had my second foot totally redone... bunion, bunionette, hammertoe and 2 midfoot fusions. BUT you were talkin about itchy casts. When I checked out they told me to use a hair dryer on cool to ease the itchies under casts.

Anyone else out there have midfood fusions?
Judy

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Judy

Foot surgery.... Just had my second foot totally redone... bunion, bunionette, hammertoe and 2 midfoot fusions. BUT you were talkin about itchy casts. When I checked out they told me to use a hair dryer on cool to ease the itchies under casts.

Anyone else out there have midfood fusions?
Judy

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Judy

i had a bunionectomy four weeks ago. although i had to have the more aggressive surgery and i'll be in a cast for 8 weeks and on crutches for 10 i was i very lucky because my doctor got me a removable cast. it's a fairly new technology, but (not to rub it in for you poor itchy cast-wearers) it is SO much better to be able to remove the cast. after the initial two weeks, my doctor let me remove it whenever i want (as long as i'm not walking around or doing anything that could put weight on it) so i can wash it and air it out and everything.
i definately recommend looking into this technology if you can, the only problem is it's still so new that some insurance companies (including my own) won't pay for it, and it's pretty expensive. luckily, the company was trying to promote the product so they are going to cover the costs for me.

also, pre-surgery i was a runner and i'm going a little stir-crazy right now since i'm stuck off my feet. i'm wondering if anyone can tell me how long i can expect to wait until i'll be able to start running again (even just a little http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif )??? is three-months post-op a reasonable time to expect recovery?
thanks (and feel free to ask if you have questions about my amazing removable cast!)

Hi...

Your amazing removable cast sounds great.
What is it made of? Plastic, I imagine! Is it anything like a 'walking boot'?
Bless you....hope you are up an running SOON, but to me running just sounds like pain.

Judy

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Judy

the cast is basically a plastic shell with straps. it comes with an inner core of airpockets and a terrycloth liner that you can wash. you put the liner around the airpockets, put that inside the plastic shell and use a backwards air pump (like a bicycle tire pump only it sucks the air out instead of putting it in) and the airpockets contract as the air leaves and aplly pressure to your foot. kind of a vaccuum effect.
that along with dissolvable pins and stitches and i think i've got the best that modern technology has to offer! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

as for running, right now i'd settle for being able to walk across the room like a normal human, but once spring comes i want to get out there...
oh well.
take care & thanks for your support!

Judy- I also had a mid foot fusion and I am wondering what your recovery has been like-did you have screws-any problems with it-etc.

The casts made with modern materials can all be made removable. Unlike the plaster casts of old, any portion alone is very strong. They can cut away the front, pad the edges, and you have a two piece 'bi-valve' cast. They just attach two velcro straps so that it can go back together again. It's all up to the doctor's discretion. It was a great improvement for me because as the swelling went down they could add padding which helped when I could ambulate. It also makes it that much faster and easier to do examinations, saving them time and materials. Modifying one takes less time than removing and making a new one, then they come off and on in an instant.

I had my second lapidus done 6 wks ago now, my first being done last May, but with non union.

I am still in pain, with numbness, and feeling so uncomfortable. I had a plastercast on for 2 wks then was given a removable cast/shoe with velcro fasteners on for removal so I can bathe. I just would like to know if anyone else has been through similar circumstances and if this time I have more chance of my foot healing properly. I go back the hospital on Friday and probably have x.rays to see if it is healing this time. Can anyone please tell me if I should be in this much pain after 6 wks, is it normal or does it mean my foot is not healing again.

I am so worried. If anyone can help ease my mind, please [ removed ] my name is Linda.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Is there anything I can do to hasten my recovery from bunion surgery? Also, I sometimes get itching in areas on my foot that's covered by the cast and it's driving me crazy!! Has anyone had this problem?
Hi

Hi
Hi
I am considering surgery for a metatarsal phalangeal jont implant and I am not sure what I am getting into . Has your surgery been successful? What can you tell me about it ?

Foot surgery.... Just had my second foot totally redone... bunion, bunionette, hammertoe and 2 midfoot fusions. BUT you were talkin about itchy casts. When I checked out they told me to use a hair dryer on cool to ease the itchies under casts.

Anyone else out there have midfood fusions?
Judy

------------------
Judy

Hi
I am considering foot surgery which requires a titanium implant.The procedure is called a metatarsal phalangeal joint implant. I am really nervous about surgery with regard to results which may be less than successful, however I am really tired of the constant pain in my foot with every step I take. This is an arthritc problem and not one caused from bad shoes.I have tried the orthodics but hesitate to embark on anti-inflamatories because my stomach can't tolerate them (among a host of other reasons not to take them.) If you have had this type of surgery please let me know all about it, how your recovery went and if you have any pain.
Thanks a lot.

I am due to have bunion surgery in 3 weeks i am nervous, they are going to put a screw in my toe and cut off some of the bone. How do you feel when you get out of surgery and the next day?

Thanks,

tracy

Hi Tracy, don't be nervous. I had the same procedure with 2 screws, plus the second toe with 1 pin. Right out of surgery your foot will be numb for hours, so you will not feel pain. Your doctor will give you a prescription for some very strong pain medications, and once you get home, start taking them as directed (even if you don't feel pain), and ICE & ELEVATE as much as possible.

During my recovery (and I am still recovering) I felt some discomfort, but I would not say it was excruciating pain. The worse part is going to be boredom, as the surgery will limit your mobility for a very long time. Full recovery takes a long time for your foot to return to normal.

I am post op 6½ weeks, still have a good deal of swelling, and I walk cautiously and slow – but no real pain. I am going the have my left foot done this week, so the first surgery didn’t scare me from doing it again! You’ll be fine, and start reading all the posts & tips you can, and let us know how you do!

What kind of cast did you get? I got this ugly removeable wedge shoe and then another flat removeable shoe made by DARCO. I had a double bunionectomy and hammertoe repair 4 weeks ago. I have stitches on both sides of foot and I am putting Mederma on it for scars. I have 2 screws in big toe. I had the 1st foot done in December and I really think recovery is about how much you elevate your foot early on and how healthy and young you are. My December surgery foot is not ready for running yet. Sometimes I get shooting pains in the toe. I think that since you are already a runner you will heal faster than say me (a secretary who is almost 40 and has 3 toddlers). I got a handicap sticker for my car so that I do not have to walk very far and it is for 6 months. I think at 6 months you should be able to run and jump without much pain or swelling. I hope this helps.







i had a bunionectomy four weeks ago. although i had to have the more aggressive surgery and i'll be in a cast for 8 weeks and on crutches for 10 i was i very lucky because my doctor got me a removable cast. it's a fairly new technology, but (not to rub it in for you poor itchy cast-wearers) it is SO much better to be able to remove the cast. after the initial two weeks, my doctor let me remove it whenever i want (as long as i'm not walking around or doing anything that could put weight on it) so i can wash it and air it out and everything.
i definately recommend looking into this technology if you can, the only problem is it's still so new that some insurance companies (including my own) won't pay for it, and it's pretty expensive. luckily, the company was trying to promote the product so they are going to cover the costs for me.

also, pre-surgery i was a runner and i'm going a little stir-crazy right now since i'm stuck off my feet. i'm wondering if anyone can tell me how long i can expect to wait until i'll be able to start running again (even just a little http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif )??? is three-months post-op a reasonable time to expect recovery?
thanks (and feel free to ask if you have questions about my amazing removable cast!)

Hi Notami,

I'm 7 weeks post-op double bunionectomy and I can run no problem. (I don't run distance however- I never did) Yoga, eliptical, and weight training is more my thing.

I really feel like being in such good shape before my surgery sped up my recovery a lot- so I bet it will in your case as well. My dr gave me the green light to return to full activity, just using pain as my moniter. I find that standing still is when I tend to hurt a bit... walking, and running short distances I don't have any pain at all.

I was very active last weekend (Dancing in sneakers for several hours..).. so this morning my feet do ache a little, but it's really an all-over ache, not my bunion-site anymore. I find that I actually don't have any pain at all that's isolated in my big toes- But it seems like my feet are still more prone to being sore at the end of the day. (not bad for 7 weeks)

Good luck!
Megan

I am two weeks out of a bunionectomy and hammertoe surgery, but fortunately I do not have to wear a cast for this surgery because it would cause tightness around the nerves that I have to have surgucally fixed at a later date. But this is my second surgery and in my first surgery I had a seismoidectomy, which was terrible by they way. I had a cast for 7 weeks and crutches for about 9-10. It was terrible...I could stop the itching with pencils and also the cool hairdryer works well. Hope you are doing better...I know from my own recovery being only 2 weeks out it is just terrible. So I wish to you the best of luck...and also hopes you can scratch your itches : )

When I read your post I was shocked. I am a little over two weeks out of surgery now and I had a bunionectomy and also a hammertoe procedure with two screws and a removable pin in my second toe. How are you recovering? Are you in a lot of pain?