Well, I went to the dr and I asked him about the area where the bunion used to be because it looks like I still have a bunion. It's not anything close to what it was, but it's noticable. He said it's still swollen that's why it looks like that. I am having a hard time believing hime after looking at pictures on the internet of postop bunionectomys. Has anyone else encountered this problem. Also, my big toe is totally still curved in. It was straight right after surgery. My dr says that since I had the bunion for so long, my big toe migrated back to it's original spot. That really doesn't concern me as much as when I pull my toe straight, the bump looks smaller. Please help!!!! I am freaking out. I went through alot to correct this and I am scared.

thank you in advance for any advice!!!!!!

Because you are so concerned, he should have picked up on that and had an xray done. The xray would tell the story. Request an xray, if you still have major concerns get a second opinion.

my bunion are is also not quite a straight as i would like it to be. i do notice that when i stand up, my toes do straighten out a bit. my doctor also told me after my first surgery (left foot) that since i had the bunion for so long (i'm only 26, but i've had bunions forever!!) my toes just want\ to go back to the position it's been use to. also, he did cut some ligaments/tendons to loosen the pull on the toes. my right foot does look much straighter than my left foot, which is nice. but i'm okay with my feet - i've tried on some strappy shoes and the fact that the "angled bump" form my former bunions don't stick out is fabulous. and they don't stick out of my sneakers either. if you like, you can see my before and after pics at photos.yahoo.com/thelittleprincess0303. hope that gives you some reassurance.

Thank you so much for your advice. I feel much better now. You know, after going through so much, you want it be worth your while. I am very pleased because of what I had before, but I am just concerned because I don't want to end up like I was before. Thank you for sharing your pictures too. Your feet look awesome!!!!!

I was amazed to see when my cast came off that there the side of my foot was flat. No more bump! The doctor took postop xrays and showed me how straight my toe was. If your doctor did not take postop xrays, get them done asap. Also have him compare them to your preop xrays as mine did.

Hi Sonia, I notice that my big toe is also turned in a bit still and was sort of disappointed. But then I noticed that the callous that use to be on the bottom of the toe is now on the side - because the toe use to be almost twisted sideways and pushed over. Now it is at least flat and I will be walking on the bottom of the toe not the side anymore. So it's not a perfect looking foot but it is a version of a normal looking foot and will be easy to find shoes that fit. I'm happy with that. My foot is still really swollen. I've had the cast off 5 days now but I have noticed that first thing in the morning I can just barely get a runner on it but 4 days ago I couldn't even get my toes into a runner. So things are progessing although at the end of the day it's so swollen it looks like a football. I bought big shoes a few days ago, thought I could drive with one big shoe on my right foot. Had second thoughts and called my Dr to see if it was okay and he said no - that if I had to make an emergency brake and put sudden major pressure on the foot it could wreck it so I've decided to take the shoes back and be patient! Just not worth jeopardizing the recovery at this point. Guess I'll have to wait another week or so to drive.
Hope you're happy with your foot once the swelling goes down. I just keep thinking about next summer when I've had both feet done and all this is behind me and I can finally buy cute strappy sandals. It will be worth it. I've had these ugly feet since I was about 10.

You know, I was looking at my foot (had bunionectomy 12 weeks ago on right foot 5/8/03) and I noticed I still have a small bump where the huge bunion used to be. My big toe is very straight now, though, but the weird thing is that my second toe is a good bit longer than my big toe now, so it's not the world's prettiest foot, but it is a HUGE improvement. Someday (hopefully next summer) I'll be able to wear the sandals that I've never been able to wear my whole life. I plan on getting the right foot done, as soon as I feel like this left foot can handle it, and it's not quite ready yet. I think the foot is still a bit swollen, so perhaps it will improve and the bump may disappear a bit, but I'm not counting on it.

Lately I have been doing some investigating of my foot and when I press in on the "bump" it is pretty soft so it may still be swollen. The improvement is unbelievable. I lost about 2 width sizes, so I am very happy with that. Thank you for your advice. I have also begun putting a toe spacer between my big and second toe. I don't know if it will do anything being 10 weeks post op, but it certainly can't hurt because my big toe is right where it was pre op

Hi, I'm just new to this board, and maybe none of you are reading it anymore...it's been a long time since you posted these messages. But in case you are, Lasoniamacaroni, I was interested to find out about your bunion recovery. I had a bunionectomy 8 weeks ago, and am concerned that it is not completely corrected. I too have a lump where the bunion was, and my big toe has drifted back to its pre-op position. I've also poked about at the lump and it does feel a little soft. My physio said that it's probably inflamed bone, and that it will sort itself out eventually, but I'm afraid that it won't. The weird thing is that just post-op it was completely flat (although it was a good deal more swollen all over then so maybe I just couldn't tell properly yet). Can you tell me how your recovery went. Did your post-op lump resolve itself and how long did it take? Any advice would really be appreciated as it's driving me nuts. Thanks!

Hi Miss P - I was not in the original thread as I wasn't even on this board then, anyway I had a bunionectomy done last Oct and my foot looks a lot better then it did but my big toe is not completely straight. What kind of bunionectomy did you have? I had a Lapidus procedure where the first metatarsul was fused back closer to the ankle to really stabilize the bones. Also have you started to put any weight on your foot yet? Mine did get some straighter when I stood on it.

My actual "bunion" was shaved a little but the dr told me that when it straightened the bones he really didn't have to shave too much and you don't want to "over correct" the bunion.

All in all I have to say I'm happy with the outcome. I'm still not real comfortable in open toe sandals as the other foot has to be done also so I'm still somewhat self-conscious about my feet.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Mary in NY:wave:

I had severe bunions. They were always horrible feet even at the age of 18.
I am in my fifties and had both feet done.
My foot size is about 6 1/2 to 7.
I was wearing about a size eight shoe to accomodate the foot.
My second toe was being pushed out of it's socket on the left foot which is what finally made have to do the surgery.
It all was hell to deal with. The cost was just stunning!!!! However, I have a great ins policy.
The bottom line to all of this is I know how you feel about the remaining bump.
My left foot has a minimal bump remaining and the right is a little more so with it angled toward the second toe.
However, my shoes fit fine and there are no bumps showing anymore.
I am in sandals, sandals, sandals even when it is 30 degrees.
I have had just horror story feet and I can show them for the first time in my life.
I do wish that they were perfect but they were sooo bad.
I do look at peoples feet and see beautiful, straight feet and feel very unhappy to have been given such terrible feet.
I am happy to be walking with no pain.
My only hope is that they stay exactly as they are now for I would be happy with them.
I asked my POD if they would remain this way and he said (just recently) "probably".
I know exactly how you feel because as I saw my bumps after the swelling decreased it does scare one after all of the trauma.
When I freak out, I put on a pair of sandals that make my feet look very straight (except for the small bumps). I just want to check that they are not changing back to the original problem.
One and two years post op they have not changed.
Hang in there some of us know EXACTLY how you feel!!!!!

my big toe is still angled also, but upon looking at my post op x-rays the bunion is gone, my big toe is actually corved. it is just somethign I have to live with. Atleast the pain is gone...

I had surgery five weeks ago and am worried that my big toe sticks out a little like a bunion. But the podiatrist said that my foot is still very swollen. My bunion was sooooooooooo bad to begin with though and now it looks good. I am hoping that the lump will disappear as the swelling goes down, since the x rays confirm that the toe is perfectly straight. Right now I am more worried about the bunionette on the same foot that the podiatrist did not remove during surgery, since it has been causing me pain..... :(

Hi, I'm just new to this board, and maybe none of you are reading it anymore...it's been a long time since you posted these messages. But in case you are, Lasoniamacaroni, I was interested to find out about your bunion recovery. I had a bunionectomy 8 weeks ago, and am concerned that it is not completely corrected. I too have a lump where the bunion was, and my big toe has drifted back to its pre-op position. I've also poked about at the lump and it does feel a little soft. My physio said that it's probably inflamed bone, and that it will sort itself out eventually, but I'm afraid that it won't. The weird thing is that just post-op it was completely flat (although it was a good deal more swollen all over then so maybe I just couldn't tell properly yet). Can you tell me how your recovery went. Did your post-op lump resolve itself and how long did it take? Any advice would really be appreciated as it's driving me nuts. Thanks!