Pain

[Danaj7]

I have a bunion on my right foot. It really hurts when I wear heels and now hurts with any shoes if I stand or walk for long periods of time. What is surgery like these days? How long is typical recovery period? I've heard that bunions will just grow back. Is this true? Any non surgical remedies? My pain is not from friction on the skin. It's in between the bunion and my big toe.

[Yena H Do, DPM]

You are having pain at the big toe joint b/c the joint is out of alignment.  Wearing high heels can add more stress to the joint.  Have you taken x-rays of the foot?  It helps to evaluate the bunion and get a better perspective to see what needs to be surgically done.  If the mal-alignment is severe, you would need a procedure that requires 6 weeks on crutches.  If not, you would most likely get a procedure that would allow immediate weight bearing.  Bunion surgery is very successful if done correctly.  Bunions usually come back if the wrong procedure was chosen.  It's true, the swelling will last for up to 6 months.  Typically, patients can get back into a shoe by week 8-12.  It may have to be a roomy shoe initiallly.  For conservative treatment, wear orthotics and wide toe box shoes...stay out of heels if you can (especially if you are standing for extended periods of time).

[Danaj7]

Thanks for sharing your experience and opinion...I have two small children so I don't think it's an option right now!

Dana

[dai3symae]

I had bunion surgery 2 1/2 years ago and will need another surgery soon on the same foot.  My doc was ok and the procedure went ok but....I wasn't prepared for how long the recovery time would be and looking back ('cause hindsight is 20/20) I know I did things before I was healed enough.

So....the moral of the story is get a doc you have confidence in and double the time for recovery......then expect your foot to be swollen for 6mos to a year. (yep, a year).

The surgery was done in the hospital (outpatient, of course) and I had twilight sedation (I don't remember anything).  I was home by late afternoon.  I didn't have a lot of pain after the procedure (I had a bunion and hammertoe repaired) because my doc sent me home with a little IV pain pump for the first 3 days.  However, I was really cold that night even though it was June and getting around was a little tricky 'cause my house has steps (picture it...middle age woman, crutches, drugs; I scooted up and down the stairs on my butt for weeks).   I took percoset (don't think I spelled it right!!!) for about 10 days.....oh, and I used a bone stimulator (a little weird but didn't hurt) and I kept ice on my foot.

My bunion repair has lasted fine and I have no pain in that toe....unfortunately I dislocated the hammertoe by walking too much and walking without the "blue shoe" too soon.

I don't know if the bunion will grow back....but I do know that the bunion caused my hammertoe (which was way more painful than the bunion).  I'd have gotten the bunion fixed years ago if I'd had any clue.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

Sandy