Bunion Surgery - Foot Problems Message Board

wilkb7 · 06-29-2004, 03:57 PM

I am post op bunion surgery of 5 days. I'm still having quite a bit of pain, and a lot of swelling. I thought by now I would be down to icing a few times a day and elevating my foot on occasion. I'm still couch bound with my foot elevated almost all of the time and continual icing. Just want to see if others have had similar problems. I was given a "boot" to wear and no crutches, but the day after my surgery couldn't put any pressure anywhere on my foot, and had to resort to crutches. If I would have know this surgery was this painful, I never would have had it. Just to let you know, I'm not a big sissy and pretty tolerant to pain.

susieblueyes · 06-29-2004, 05:18 PM

HI,

Hang in there it's a long recovery. Believe me I know and anyone else will tell you the same thing.5 days is pretty quick to expect a change.It will get better and remember to take your pain meds. before the pain starts. It's easier to prevent the pain than fight the pain.
Sue

carreg · 06-29-2004, 05:27 PM

Ditto to what Sue wrote. I am now 15 days post-op. The pain is still there but tolerable. Patience is definitely a virtue with bunion surgery!! Hang in there and take care.

squirrelmom · 06-29-2004, 07:08 PM

I am sure no one thinks you are a big sissy! Just out of curiosity, was this a simple bunionectomy or something more? What type of procedure was it, and do you have pins or screws in place? How bad was the bunion before surgery? And what did your doctor lead you to believe your recovery process would be like (is what you're experiencing in line with what you were lead to believe by the doc)? I'm just trying to understand why people's recovery experiences are so different with bunionectomies...it would be nice to find some rhyme or reason for the differences.

I'm doing extremely well with my own bunionectomy recovery, but I'm still not sure if I should contemplate doing the other foot, or just leave well enough alone.

awest · 06-30-2004, 09:53 AM

I also wasn't aware of the intense recovery time that the surgery would take. I really doubt that I will have surgery on my second foot. I am 4 months post-op (NO weight bearing for 4 weeks and I had a pin removed after 6 weeks) and still experiencing pain and stiffness (it doesn't bother me 80% of the time, so it's not all that bad). I've heard it can take a whole year. I hope this isn't a lifetime pain.