A Double Bunionectomy Update

kimann

Rina! How good to read your post and know how much better things are! Wearing normal shoes, comfortably, and resuming normal activity, comfortably, swelling gone! I'm glad you posted, and I'm sure lurkers considering the surgery appreciate knowing it works well!!! Take care. Kim

KathJack

Hi, Rina~ So good to hear from you! I am glad that you are doing so well. I too had a double bunionectomy in May and was one of the other people posting on the thread with you then. And I too have no regrets about getting the surgery—I’m also back to my normal activities In fact, I recently started a new job which has me on my feet much more than I’ve been in years (so glad that I had the surgery; I’m not sure I could have handled it otherwise), and wearing my normal shoes, although I’m still waiting to get a new really cute pair—it’s what I want for my birthday in October. My scars are minimal; I’m not sure if it is due to the Mederma I’ve used daily or just that my skin heals well. My feet don’t look perfect (Big toes still curve in slightly; second toes which were corrected for hammertoe are a bit crooked), but they look good enough that no one would every notice them—which they sure did before! After decades of ugly feet, sometimes I can't help but just look at them and smile... And they feel good, which is what's really important. My range of motion seems fine; I’m still bending my big toe back and forth when I think of it, but I’m sure I could probably quit it anytime. I did take Before pictures the morning of my surgery, but I’ve yet to take After ones. I definitely should! Don't think I'll frame them, however… Rina, didn’t you graduate from college this spring? (I remember you having a hard time finding shoes to wear for the ceremony.) Are you working now? I had just finished a nine-month project job for an educational publisher when I had my surgery. I didn’t find a new job for several months except for a little free-lance editing I did at home, but then I ended up taking a new very challenging position at the end of August. I am now the Library Media Specialist for a relatively small inner-city private school on the west side of Chicago. Basically, that means I’m the teacher & resource person for the computer lab and the library. The media center is a new facility (In fact, I spent most of the first week painting it and am still arranging furniture, installing tech equipment, etc.) and it’s a new program, so I’m also developing the curriculum. I have many years of experience in education, some of which is recent, but have not been a full time teacher since my daughter was born 25 years ago, so this job is quite a challenge in many ways. Thanks to bunionectomies, my feet will be up to it; let’s hope that the rest of me is! I’m really glad you posted—and Kim too. It’s great to see the progress you’re making. I know that your strong spirit, faith, patience, and endurance are an encouragement to other people on this board who are suffering in similar situations. It would be good to hear from our other fellow thread members. How are you all? Hope everyone has a good weekend. I want to get outside for a bike ride while the weather is nice-- It’s going to be in the 80’s here today, then going down to the 50’s by Tuesday. That’s Chicago! Cheers, Kathy
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rbstarr

Good to hear from both of you. I did graduate in the spring with my B.Sc in physics, I am now in an education program working towards becoming a teacher. I am currently attending classes, and student teaching, which involves a lot of time on my feet. Not so sure I could've done the long days before the surgery. Yesturday is got a bit cold and rainy here in Manitoba, Canada, and I could actually feel it in my feet where I had the surgery. It must've just been the humidity and the coldness that my feet aren't really used to yet, the summer here has been so dry. I've been showing off my new feet by wearing sandals all summer, it felt so nice to be able to bear my feet. I've never before worn sandals because my feet looked too hideous. Glad to hear you're all doing well.

footsy

Wow, it's good to hear that everyone is doing great. I'm also back in regular shoes. My orthopaedist said he was amazed at how quick I recovered. On my last visit a couple of weeks ago, he noticed one of the pins had moved. I told him I had a lot of pain in my right foot. He said I was walking pretty good even with the pain. He said the x-rays showed that the pin has moved towards my toe so everytime I step, there's pain. Anyway, I'm going back on Thursday to get both pins removed (one in each foot). My doctor said since one has bothered me he might as well take the other one out at the same time. He said they were only there to keep the bone straight while it was healing. I guess for some people they never have a problem with the pins and then others do have a problem. Sol you'll see me posting elsewhere to see how recovery is after pin removal.

I'm so glad y'all posted. I've been wondering how everyone was doing.

My husband and I are getting two puppies one week after my surgery. We are empty nesters and we've lost two of our dogs over the past two years. So we are ready for some more. We were going to get one dog, but decided we'd go to training classes and thought it would be fun for both of us to have a dog to train. We are getting shelties. We had a sheltie two years ago and she was the best dog I've ever had.

Have a good weekend. Debbie

Pamelyn

I am scheduled for a double bunionectomy on Feb. 12. Will I need a wheelchair, and for how long? It is nice to hear your positive words about the outcome.

KathJack

Hi, Pamelyn~ I had a double bunionectomy in May of last year. I did use a wheel chair, but only because a friend had an electric one that she didn’t need at the time. I never used it at home—Our place is not really wheel chair accessible and I would have been constantly “driving” into doorways and furniture. What I found helpful was to use it in lieu of a car during the time I couldn’t drive. I went to the library, doctor’s appointments, a music fest in Chicago where there was no parking, and just for “walks” on nice days. It was pretty zippy and kind of fun! I don’t know where you live, but if it’s in the north you probably wouldn’t use one in the same way at this time of year. Of course everyone’s situation is different, but most of the people who posted on this board did not need or get wheelchairs; crutches or “rollabouts” were more common. For the first two weeks after my surgery I did very little walking, but what walking I did was without any aids. (I just walked slowly, stiffly, and carefully—Like a robot or a very old lady.) After two weeks, I was able to replace my surgical shoes with extra wide gym shoes and starting walking more and more (still without any aids), but I continued to spend a lot of time with my feet elevated when I didn’t need to be active. There were two “Double Bunionectony Questions” threads on the Boards during the spring that I found to be very helpful. (Two because one got so long it was cut off and a new one had to be started.) I highly recommend using the Search function on Healthboards to search the archives for them. You’ll find lots of great advice and encouragement. Best wishes for a successful surgery and quick recovery. Kathy
BTW, I am fully recovered and very glad that I had the surgery—and that I had both feet done at the same time.

Pamelyn

I live in Florida where it is warm, so the zippy chair would not be a bad idea. I have a rolling office chair that I think I will use around the house. My house is not very wheelchair accesible either. Thanks for the site references. I will look them up. Two feet at the same time is the only way to go for me also. Thank you again.