To Bunion Surgery or NOT to bunion surgery? - Foot Problems Message Board

HoneyBee1015 · 09-24-2006, 05:45 PM

Hello to anyone out there that can give me some feedback. Constructive or otherwise. I am due to have bunions on both big toes and both little toes repaired on Oct 16th. I know little or nothing about bunions or the surgery. After reading some comments here... I am discouraged to hear that many need additional surgery afterwards and that some even have the bunions come back. The doctor did say on first visit that I will have pins in the big toes for 4 weeks, they will be removed in the office. I also understand this type or surgery to be a painfull and slow recovery process. Have had both knees replaced and a 3 part fracture of one shoulder repaired, so am no stranger to pain or of working hard through PT & recovery. (All three of these are doing fabulous.) I got a second oppinion and am going with the second surgeon. However this is THE surgery that has me totaly un-nerved. I am to have the surgery in Redding Calif. Any words of wisdom, encouragement or caution out there? Thanks, Fran

KathJack · 09-24-2006, 07:52 PM

Welcome, Fran! I had a double bunionectomy and hammertoe corrections in mid-May. (I have permanent screws, but had no pins.) I felt my recovery process went fairly quickly and that on the whole the pain was not bad. (The surgery itself was painless.) There was no additional surgery and I don’t expect any future procedures, although there is a slight possibility that I may need to have the screws removed at some point just because a small percentage of people do. I’m doing fine now; my feet feel—and look—good and if I had to choose again whether or not to have the surgery, I would definitely go for it. Obviously everyone’s experience is different. I would recommend that you read past threads about bunionectomies and keep in mind that people who have problems are more probably more likely to look for support and advice on medical board than people for whom everything goes totally smoothly. Best wishes during this time of decision making and/or waiting. Kathy

wakkochic17 · 09-25-2006, 11:14 AM

hey! I'm only a year out on my bunionectomy of my left foot-big toe so I can't speak for the full results of that yet. However, I'm 12 years out on the left foot and 10 years out on the right foot (both having bunionettes removed) and I haven't had a single problem since! It appears I won't need any additional surgery on those.. so don't think that a second surgery is always necessary. Good luck with your procedures! The hardest part is the first few days.. then it's downhill..

beckyn · 09-25-2006, 01:14 PM

I agree with the other posts. My (severe) bunionectomy was done a week and a half ago. The pain was minimal the first few days. Now it is just the inconvenince of hobbling around on one leg in a cast. The doctor took the bandages off after four days to put on a cast and I couldn't believe how beautiful my foot looked - even being swollen. My big toe never looked so straight and I am not thinking I will need addiitonal surgery. Remember, mine was a severe bunion. Even the fellows in the operating room were commenting that they had never seen one so bad. I have two permanent screws put in but no pin(s). Good luck to you.
Becky

evelyn_g · 09-25-2006, 03:03 PM

As long as you are confident you have a good doctor, you shouldn't worry too much. I had a bunionectomy in late June and it was more of a nuisance than anything. It was never very painful at any point but the velcro shoe was a pain, crutches for the first three days were annoying, I had to keep the foot dry, I walked very slowly for a time, etc.

Three months later it is only swollen a little bit and I have been walking, running, doing everything I ever used to do. This past weekend I actually wore some of my old pointy high heels and I was happy to see that my foot did fit into the shoe. (Confession: my foot was killing me after five minutes but I still view it as progress)

I personally am glad I did the surgery and will most likely do the second foot in a year or two.