going house crazy after surgery - Foot Problems Message Board

Ninarbo · 07-24-2008, 10:37 PM

I had bunion surgery on july 11 and i am going out of my mind. I am very active and workout everyday on my treadmill and now i a confined to a couch with my laptop and tv. You dont realize how depressing surgery can be. Iam really praying when my pin comes out of my toe on monday my recovery moves faster. I have a wonderful husband but i feel so bad that all i do is complain about the pain and going house crazy. wow what a bad time to not be able to go for a walk or even drive to the store after being in all winter long. I was just wondering if anyone feels depressed after your surgey and if so do you have any suggestions to get past this?

OnTheGoodFoot · 07-24-2008, 11:36 PM

I share your depression after surgery. I, too, am extremely active. And I'm addicted to golf. The one thing saving me is that I practiced driving with my left foot a couple of weeks before surgery. So I am able to drive, take myself out to lunch, or do a quick grocery store trip. I just joined. But what made me reply is that I had my surgery on July 10th!!!! And I cried more that first weekend than I have in a very long time.

Having said that, hang in there. As the pain dissipates and you are able to get out more, you will feel better. Also, talking on the phone with friends is really helping too. I keep telling myself how thankful I am that I do not have a permanent disability. Lots of self talk and lots of time sleeping, surprisingly.

What doesn't kill me will make me stronger (lol)

eileen1215 · 07-24-2008, 11:44 PM

Hi there. I had surgery (bunion, joint implant and pins in 2 toes) on 7/9 and have sat in the recliner w/my laptop and watched tv for the last week (didn't care about doing anything for the first week post-op). I am also struggling w/depression from the same kind of issues you mentioned. This is a normal part of recovery, though. It's that stage between "I'm totally reliant on others" and "now I can get around a little and do some things for myself". The fact that it's summer is also a bummer. But, foot surgery seems to be a whole different process than other surgeries. It takes a good deal of time, but as I understand, it's well worth it in the end. Thank you for sharing. It helped reinforce that my experience is typical of this kind of surgery. Take heart and take care. In a few more weeks you'll feel so much better and can enjoy some sunshine.

Janesfoot · 07-25-2008, 04:15 AM

I'm eleven wks post-op double bunionectomy on the right foot with osteotomies and pins. I want you to know it will get better. What helped me when I was feeling down was to put things in perspective. I knew I had a right to be miserable, but then I would compare my situation to those who were suffering elsewhere (the earthquake in China had just occured). This really helped give me a dose of reality that my problems were temporary, and I had so many good things in my life to be grateful for. As I mentioned in a different thread, once the pins came out, recovery went into overdrive.

Stitcher317 · 07-25-2008, 06:47 AM

Hi Everyone,

Boy, it's so good to listen to everyone's story.

I had a Keller Bunionectomy on Jne 23rd. Bandages totally removed Tues and I am now 4 weeks out. My foot is till quite sore when walking. I was asked to try to start transitioning out of the surgical shoe this week. That isn't happening. I am still quite swollen. I am hoping I didn't overdo it in the beginning and that's what is causing the delay in getting out of the surgical shoe and into a wide sneaker. Maybe I am expecting too much at 4 weeks?

I've known for over a year that I had to get the surgery done and planned to have it this summer while we are in our summer home up in the mountains. I am extremely active and busy in the winter months in Fla. so I thought this would be a relaxing time! I collected movies, books and needlepoint to keep me occupied and of course the news is always on in the background! Maybe that is why I get depressed! I do have permission to drive now.

Where were all of you at 4 weeks? Still uncomfortable? It seems I haven't made any progress in that department for the past 2 weeks. I didn't have any pins. One of my friends who is a retired physician teased me yesterday and said, "You aren't as young as you used to be so healing will take longer"...
WOW - I thought 66 was the new 46! At least I felt that way a month ago!

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