Lapidus Bunionectomy scheduled november 12th - Foot Problems Message Board

melissa1873 · 11-06-2008, 03:04 PM

I'm trying to find anyone who might be having a bunionectomy coming up or may have recently had one. I am getting the lapidus procedure which involves screws and cut bones and no weight bearing for quite some time. I'm not afraid or nervous of this surgery but I am anxious. I know that in the long run I'll be happier cuz I'll be able to do my runs again! However I am such an antsy person I am afraid I'll go nuts while I'm layed up! How do you keep yourself occupied...busy...active (the best you can) ??? I cant even sit two hours to watch a movie!

RightFootMary · 11-06-2008, 04:23 PM

Hi Melissa - I had a Lapidus plus an Aiken Oct 8th so I'm 4 weeks post op yesterday. Just went to the POD tonight. He said everything looks great and I can stop sleeping in the splint but I cannot go anywhere without the cam boot. I asked if I could wean off the crutches and he said not until he sees me in another 2 weeks. Oh well I've been this route before (2 years ago on other foot) so I kind of know the drill.

As they say "necessity is the mother of invention" so you manage to do what has to be done via unique means. I find a rolling office chair is my lifesaver in the kitchen. At least I can get some food by myself and do some cooking and wash dishes. I roll to wherever I want to be and then I stand and kneel on the chair.

I work as a secretary and I'm back at work. That takes some improvising. I have a tote bag that I use when I have to go to the copy machine and I do alot of rolling with my desk chair.

I found a shower bench to be a lifesaver also. I have a very small house with all the basic rooms on one floor which helps alot. I never thought I would be grateful that my house is so small.

Hope all goes well, post with any questions that you have. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Mary in NY

melissa1873 · 11-06-2008, 04:32 PM

How long did it take you to go back to work? How long were you on prescription pain killers? I cant go back to work until I'm off the prescriptions...thanks again!

RightFootMary · 11-07-2008, 08:49 PM

Hi Melissa - surprisingly both times I really only used the pain pills the first couple of days. Actually the first day I used maybe 2-3 and the next day I just used one at night to sleep. After that I asked the dr if I could use Advil instead and he said I could use 3 Advil but only every 8 hours. that seemed to work well. The key is ice and elevation. the higher you can keep the foot the better. My family laughed at me because I laid on the loveseat and put my foot straight up against the back. Not a pretty picture but it sure made the foot feel good.

I was out of work only for 2 weeks. Since I could drive this time at the 2 week mark I asked the dr if I could go back to work since that was when he put me in the cam boot. I'm a secretary so I sit at a desk most of the time and my co-workers were great about getting me what I needed.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Mary

melissa1873 · 11-08-2008, 05:14 AM

I'm trying to get all my housework done and my house re-arranged before the 12th...and my last few cardio workouts in! I'm going to Hobby Lobby today to find something to occupy my time while I'm laying around so much. Hopefully I can find something to make my friends for Christmas. I have put a chair in the bathroom, a extra pair of crutches downstairs as well as a chair for when I do my laundry. I have stocked up on Advil and frozen dinners and got my most comfy pj's all ready for me - I think I'm set! ;-) I will follow dr advise to a tee cuz I want to heel as fast as I can...Have you been taking any calcium supplements? I read a couple of posts of people taking them and was wondering if it really encourages healing. I'm sure while I'm layed up I'll be on my laptop often giving updates to my status...I cant imagine I'm the only one in the world that was searching relentlessly for any information I could find about this surgery and reading everyone elses posts sure helped get me prepared! Thanks!!!