How long should you stay off your feet after bunion surgery?

Post-Surgical Self-Care

You should keep your foot dry and stay off your feet for 3 to 5 days after your surgery. You should use a walker, cane, knee scooter or crutches to get around. Follow your doctor's recommendations exactly for any medications you have been given after surgery.

Can I walk 3 weeks after bunion surgery?

About 2-6 weeks of no or extremely limited weight bearing activity. About 6 weeks before you can return to weightbearing activity, including driving your car if you had surgery on your right foot.

Can I drive 3 weeks after bunion surgery?

"It is probably not advisable to drive before six weeks after bunion surgery on the right foot -- our research shows that the reflexes and the power required to brake suddenly in an emergency is fully returned only at six weeks in the post-operative period," Dr.

How long do you have to wear a boot after bunion surgery?

While recovery after bunion surgery takes about six to eight weeks, full recovery from bunion removal surgery can take an average of four to six months. For the first two weeks following your surgery, you'll wear a surgical boot or cast to protect your foot. You should avoid getting your stitches wet.

How long do you have to keep your leg elevated after bunion surgery?

You should keep your foot elevated as much as possible for at least two weeks after bunion surgery. This helps to reduce the swelling and pain. You will find that if you have your foot down for too long, it will start to throb, swell and become more painful.

What To Expect After Bunion Surgery

What happens if I walk too soon after bunion surgery?

In MacGill's clinical experience, patients who put weight on the foot too early can increase postoperative pain and swelling, as well as risk loss of correction and possible delayed bone healing, he said.

Should I wiggle my toes after bunion surgery?

Sleep is more important. o If you had surgery on your toes, don't wiggle them. It's fine to move your ankle back and forth as long as it doesn't hurt. Don't worry about wiggling your toes.

How long does it take to walk normally after bunion surgery?

13) Normal walking will not be a part of your routine for at least 8 weeks after surgery. Expect mild pain and restriction of movement (bending) of the toes for 8 weeks or more. Normal shoes may not be possible for 8-16 weeks after surgery depending on swelling.

What is the fastest way to recover from bunion surgery?

Do I have to sleep with my foot elevated after bunion surgery?

Foot Elevation is Key for Sleeping after Bunion Surgery

Elevating your foot with a pillow or by resting your leg against a wall is key for reducing swelling and pain following traditional bunion surgery. Wearing a boot or rigid footgear while sleeping can also help manage pain or discomfort.

How painful is bunion surgery recovery?

You will have pain and swelling that slowly improves in the 6 weeks after surgery. You may have some minor pain and swelling that lasts as long as 6 months to a year. After surgery, you will need to wear a cast or a special type of shoe to protect your toe and to keep it in the right position for at least 3 to 6 weeks.

Is a bunionectomy worth it?

Bunion surgery is highly successful in a majority of cases, but as with any type of surgical procedure, there are risks involved with bunion surgery. Although complications occur infrequently and are often treatable, it is worth considering the risks and discussing them with your surgeon before committing to surgery.

How painful is bunion surgery?

Patients do not experience pain during surgery because a general anesthesia is used. Patients experience minimal pain for the first 24-48 hours post-surgery due to advanced, long lasting, local pain blocks. Pain medication will be prescribed and should be started before the block wears off.

When can you put weight on your foot after bunion surgery?

After 6 weeks you can typically fit in a normal sneaker, depending on your level of swelling and comfort. Midfoot Fusion: If you are a candidate for the more formal bunion correction, you will need to be non-weight bearing for about 2-4 weeks, meaning you cannot put weight on the operative foot.

What happens at 4 weeks post op bunionectomy?

You are usually in the walking cast for 4 weeks, then progress to a wide sneaker or tennis shoe for 4 more weeks. No running, jumping or playing with the other kids for at least 8 weeks, often 10 weeks. Pain management: Narcotic pain medication is often needed for a few days after surgery.

Should I wear compression socks after bunion surgery?

The doctor may also recommend a special compression sock (to help with swelling), and/or a toe alignment splint. If sutures are removed a prescription scar cream or scar cream recommendation will be given (to improve the scar appearance and reduce painful or raised scars).

Can I sleep on my side after foot surgery?

You can sleep comfortably and safety on your side, as long as a pillow or other support is between your knees. Other sleep positions are not recommended and are potentially dangerous because they can require you to twist your legs and cause dislocation.

Can you elevate your leg too much after surgery?

Minimize sitting time as much as possible to limit swelling. When sitting, elevate your leg as tolerated. Do not allow your leg to dangle downwards for too long.

Can you feel the screws after bunion surgery?

Screws used in minimally invasive bunions surgery are not placed near the joint, they just hold the bunion correction. Patients will not be able to feel the screws as they are placed within the bone. Screws are titanium alloy which are inert to the human body in the vast majority of cases.

Is bunion surgery a big deal?

In general, surgery for bunions is only recommended when pain from the bunion prevents a patient from wearing normal shoes and performing their normal daily activities. If your bunions only hurt when you are wearing pointy toed, high heeled shoes; surgery is not your best option.

What percentage of bunion surgery is successful?

Outcomes and complications of bunion surgery

Some studies suggest that 85% to 90% of patients are satisfied with their results, but one review found that about a third of patients were dissatisfied even when their pain and toe alignment improved.

How do you stay fit after bunion surgery?

Taking care of the toe and foot after a bunionectomy can help get patients back in the gym in no time. If possible, patients can ask friends and family for help with daily activities such as making dinner or doing household chores. Stretching and low-impact exercises can keep patients nimble and ready for gym day.

What age should you get bunion surgery?

Due to the nature of the child's foot and the growth plate centers that are present, bunion surgery should be delayed until about the age of twelve. The area of most bunion corrections is away from the primary growth center in the first metatarsal bone.

Do bunions grow back?

Recurrence after bunion surgery is a possibility, but it is not common. However, when bunions do come back, they reoccur, but they do not regrow. That's because a bunion is not a growth of bone, rather a dislocation of the big toe joint.

Why do bunion surgeries fail?

Essentially, bunion surgeries can fail in the following circumstances, each discussed below: the deformity is not fully corrected and hallux valgus persists or recurs. the deformity is overcorrected into varus. the bone doesn't heal, resulting in a nonunion.