I Had Bunion Surgery . . . I Have Questions!
For years, I had dreaded it, put it off, didn’t want to discuss it. For some reason, admitting I had a painful bunion and was having surgery seemed like a clear transition into old ladyhood, a transition that I wasn’t thrilled to be making. That said, I was getting tired of the increasing pain and at least being older has taught me that there is no reason to endure pain when there is a clear solution to the problem. Also, the year was almost over and I had met my deductible and let’s be honest, that influences our medical decisions whether we like it or not. So, I went for it and had my surgery three days before the year ended. I’m currently in the midst of recovery and of course I have questions.
- What exactly is a bunion?
For most people the word bunion conjures up images of bent toes and hideous shoes. But, how do you even get them? According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause is unknown, but genetics play a role, as well as possibly tight shoes or a previous foot injury. In my case, my Mother has one and at least one of my sisters does too. The bunion occurs when a bony bump forms at the base of your big toe and eventually causes the joint to move out of place. - What is a bunionectomy?
A bunionectomy involves repositioning the big toe and possibly shaving off some of the bone or using screws to hold the toe in place. I had the most common procedure, the Osteotomy, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is when the surgeon makes some small incisions in the bone and then uses those screws to secure the realignment. For me, it was an outpatient procedure and I was asleep for it. During the procedure, they numbed my foot so when I woke up, I wasn’t in any pain from the surgery. - When should I consider surgery for my bunion?
I believe the standard advice is to consider surgery when the pain is disrupting your life. It took a long time for me to get to that point. I accepted not wearing heels, but I couldn’t accept being in pain when I walked or did exercise. I am a pretty active person and when the pain started interfering with my activities, I knew it was time. I am in my mid fifties, so it was years before it got to that point. - What does the recovery from surgery look like?
I’m not going to lie. I’m a just over week in and it has not been fun. It is very important to mostly stay off of your foot during the beginning of recovery. When you do walk around the house, you will need to wear a walking boot to keep the pressure off of your foot. If you do shower, you need to get a cast/boot cover to keep your foot totally dry. I was able to use OTC pain meds and didn’t really need them after a few days and a week later, the doctor changed the dressing. In another week, I will get the stitches out. - When can I get back to my life?
I am a stickler for following my doctor’s advice and instructions, so I’m not going to be doing yoga or hiking for 6–12 weeks. After one week under my belt, I am pretty sure it’ll be more like 12 weeks for me. It’s eye opening and humbling when you cannot walk or do many basic tasks. I am actually excited that I walked into the kitchen and unloaded the dishwasher this morning. That will probably be the extent of my activity today. I hate that, but at the same time, I am thankful that I could get this done and avoid more pain and declining mobility as I get older.
If you do notice your bunion is causing you more and more pain, don’t be afraid to get it looked at. The doctor will take x-rays and there are a lot of non surgical options to relieve the pain. Dealing with a bunion and opting for surgery is one of those things that is different for everyone. For me, it was a two year process of considering it and deciding it was time. The recovery is no fun, but I’m glad I made the decision to have the surgery and look forward to the results!
