Bunion Surgery Recovery Week 1

Here's the before and after X-Ray

Days 1-3

The first 3 days after the surgery was a breeze. I felt no pain since the local anesthetic and Norco pain medication kept me on a happy cloud of numbness. Used a cold compress on my foot during the day. I stayed in bed or in the living room couch, & got up only to use the restroom. I kept an ottoman in the restroom to keep my leg elevated while I peed. I ate lots of ice cream to make sure I had my calcium. Listened to Audio Books on my phone. Audible has a 30 day free trial. If you click on this link for the 30 day trial, you will be supporting this site.

Days 4-6

So this is when is starts getting uncomfortable. The constipation and the realization that you haven't bathed kicks in. Also since my leg and foot are in a splint, it started causing an uncomfortable sensation around the ankle and heel. I was a more mobile during these days so the crutches started hurting my armpits and created small callouses on my hands. I took Milk of Magnesia and a Teaspoon of Coconut oil 4 hours later I was not longer constipated. Then,  I took a nice bath. I used the ottoman to help me get in the tub by placing my right knee (leg with surgery)  on the ottoman then, placed my left foot in the and slowly lowered myself down by placing my hands on each side on the tub and kicking my right foot up and out of the tub to not get it wet. It was risky and bathing takes some upper arm and core strength so i was glad to have taken yoga. Just have to be careful not to slip. Getting out of the tub was a similar process. Just be mindful.

Day 7 Post Op Check up

Nurse removed the bandage from the splint and doctor checked my foot. She encouraged me to move my toes and to rotate my ankle which was painful. I should have taken pain meds before going. She added ointment to the stitches and changed the bandage. I will get a cast next week. She gave me the option to keep the splint for the next 40 days but the cast will keep the foot more secure.

Warning graphic zombie foot below:

Changed out the bandages was able to wiggle the toes and roll the ankle.

Day of Surgery

Surgery was at 11 am. Made sure not to eat anything after midnight the day before. Was able to drink sips of water after 9 am. Surgery took about an hour and a half. Was put to sleep, woke up happy and pain free. Was out of the hospital by 3 pm. Felt no pain on the drive back, the local anesthetic did not wear off until the next day. Even after that it was not so painful. There was some discomfort with swelling and a bit of throbbing here and there.

Preparing for Bunion Surgery

You will be an invalid for 7 weeks. Make sure to get some exercise, enjoy a leisurely jog with friends or do some yoga to help with balance. Make sure your designated caretaker is happy and ready. This person is going to be  chauffeur, chef, laundry person, bless their heart. Disinfect your domicile, clean your bedding and wash your pets.

Do some research about your procedure and come up with questions for your doctor and don't panic. My procedure was "Closing Base Wedge Osteotomy" the Google results was this video and upon finishing it I immediately wanted to cancel the surgery. I had to press through and talk myself out of canceling.  Closing Base Wedge Osteotomy is for moderate to severe bunion deformity. It requires cutting and realigning the first metatarsal bone with pins. Here's a less graphic presentation. This might not be the case for you dear reader. The video did help me give more respect to my recovery period. Knowing that I have a bone in my foot that has been cut in two and pinned back together will discourage me from bearing any weight on it early on. It can be pretty deceiving since the pain meds make you feel like nothing is wrong with your foot. It is also good to have knowledge

The week before surgery I stopped taking any blood thinning supplements like cod liver oil or vitamin e pills. Purchased some cute maxi skirts and pajamas. Also picked up the pain meds and crutches. Our friend lent us his wheelchair.Pants will be hard to wear. I'm going to miss pants and walking.

Here's a shopping list of items that you will need post surgery:

From the Pharmacy

• Cold Compress
• Calcium Supplements (make sure to get your doctor's approval)
• Baby Shampoo
• Pillow
• Shower Bench
• Stability Ball
• Aleve
• Baby Wipes

Fashion: Say goodbye to leggings, jeggings or anything tight. You will need clothes that will easily slip on and preferably with pockets since your hands will be occupied with crutches.

• Palazzo Pants
• Maxi Skirt
• Loose Pajamas

Here are some product recommendations. If you purchase via the links that go to amazon.com you will be supporting this website.


Reusable Cold Compress Once you are out of your surgery you will need to use a cold compress to help with inflammation. The cold compress will also help with pain. Make sure to wrap the cold compress so that you will not get your stitches wet.


My Pillow Pets Wiggly Pig 18 Inches You will need to keep you leg elevated while you're in bed this little Piggy will help keep all of your little piggies comfy and free from inflammation. Finally a great excuse for buying one of these.



Caltrate Gummy Bites Make sure to get enough calcium so that your bones will mend successfully. In addition to your prescribed pain medication calcium supplements can cause constipation so you will need Phillips' Original Milk of Magnesia Liquid.

Ez2care Adjustable Lightweight Shower Bench, White Be very careful to not get your stitches wet when you bathe since the surgery will most likely cut to the bone, and it can cause a nasty bone infection. The shower bench can serve as a handy footrest as well.


Black Mountain Products Anti Burst Exercise Stability Ball with Pump, Black, 2000-Pound/65cm This makes for a great traveling footrest.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo and Wash, Calming, 12 Fluid Ounces if you choose to take baths you don't want to irritate your eyes.

Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 Ounce half a teaspoon helped with constipation.

Clothes:

Superbaby Women Junior Drawing Pockets Cotton Pleated Long Skirt M

Houndstooth Palazzos with Pockets Black and White Soft Spandex

PattyBoutik Cotton Blend Hoodie Kangaroo Pocket Blouson Maxi Dress (Burgundy S)


Summer Sexy Women Cartoon Cotton Night Skirt Pajamas Sleeping Dress (Green)

Time off

After reviewing options with the Doc I decided to schedule the surgery. Here is where I made a mistake. I should have clarified with her the amount of time off of work I needed to recover. I assumed 2 weeks would suffice. So I put in my vacation request and thought I could come back wearing a cast to work after 2 weeks. Not so. I needed 7 weeks off. I was lucky that I was able to make arrangements with my work to get the time off. The doctor provided a note for me to apply for disability insurance to cover those days that will go without pay.

Considering Bunion Surgery?

If your big toe starts losing mobility and your feet on are pain, then consider bunion surgery.

I tried various home remedies such as corrective bunion braces, foot stretches, toe separators  but I did not experience any permanent results. My problem was genetic and the foot pain was getting in the way of activities. I then started losing mobility in my big toe. It felt and looked like my right foot was turning into a tree stump or a minotaur hoof which was narrowing down my choice of footwear.  I went in to get X rays and upon checking them out I  felt that the only way to fix it is by surgical correction. Doctor gave me the option of wearing orthotics for life to prevent further damage but at this point I wanted to fix my foot while i'm still young and able to heal. And yes I admit, I want cute feet, however mobility was more of a priority for me.

Here's a Footnote. I wanted to avoid surgery as much as a could, I could not fathom somebody cutting me open and using hardware store-like surgical tools to  cut my foot bones and put them back together with pins. No way. If the hobbling scene from Misery does not phase you at all, then you are ready for a bunion surgery.