Bunionectomy: Type, Cast v Boot, Recovery Time(s) - Foot Problems Message Board

Annette06 · 09-26-2005, 09:40 PM

Wanted to find out what the differences or similarities were out there.

Could you list the:
1) type of surgery you had and if you had screws placed
2) if you were placed in a cast or boot and for how long w or w/o weight bearing during that time, and
3) how much time you took off before you went back to work - esp if you had minimal walking and a desk job
(did you continue to elevate at work?).

Thanks in advance - Annette

roz5 · 09-27-2005, 03:17 AM

I had a bunion removed from my right foot the end of July. The bone was cut; toe realigned; permanent screw put in & spur cut off the top joint. I was minimal weight bearing for the first 2 weeks. I had a surgical shoe on and was permitted to put weight on my foot and walk. At 4 weeks, I started wearing sneakers. Returned to work at 5 weeks. Right now, I am 8 weeks out and wear regular shoes at work (I am a teacher and am on my feet all day). I am back on the treadmill as instructed to do so by my podiatrist. I do have swelling around the top of the foot and ankles each day and minimal range of motion in my toes. I also have pain in my foot when walking. Hopefully, this will all fix itself in due time. I return to my podiatrist in 2 weeks.

JannR · 09-28-2005, 02:22 PM

To Roz5: My surgery sounds similar so similar to yours, with the exception of the spur removal. My bunionectomy was August 4th and I too, returned to work at 5 weeks. Fortunately, I have an office job where I can prop my foot up most of the day. However, since being out of the boot, (for just 2 days now), I continue to have the swelling, limited range of motion, and tenderness when I walk. I still definitely have a "limp". I try to do the exercises as recommended by my surgeon, but you can only bend that joint so far!! She keeps telling me I'll regret it if I don't continue religiously to do the bending, that my joint will always be stiff. Someday, we'll both say this is all worth it!!! Sooner than later I hope!!!!

roz5 · 09-28-2005, 03:06 PM

To JannR-
I hear you about being able to bend your toe joint only so far! Mine will not budge and I am trying to keep flexing it! I go back to my podiatrist in 2 weeks and we'll see what gives. I'm also taking my 11 year old son there next week for his "toeing in" problem, so maybe I will ask about the progress of my foot.
Good luck to both of us!

DCFeet · 09-28-2005, 08:33 PM

Not sure if any of this will help- I had my bunion removed, toe broken in two places, a wedge of bone removed, two screws put in the lower joint, ligaments retied (I guess you would say) and a pin put through the whole foot to hold it together as it healed. I was in a cast with no weight bearing for six weeks, then an aircast/boot with crutches for four weeks and go back tomorrow to see what's next. Most likely surgical shoe. I took two weeks off of work and have a sitting job so when I went back, kept it elevated as much as possible. Found I really had to with the swelling. Swelling is still present, but not as bad as it was in the beginning. I still wonder if I'll ever wear a normal shoe again. I do the toe exercises and find that, each day, the range of motion gets better. I think the main problem preventing complete ROM is the swelling- hard to bend the toe when foot is swollen. Told that as the foot heels more, the swelling subsides.