u/Today_theday_90skid

I have benefitted from reading on this subreddit for months in preparation for surgery and decided it was time to return the favor and share my experience for anyone who is interested. 

I am a 48 y/o female who is very active (running, hiking, cycling). I tried all of the conservative measures: toe spacer, bunion corrector, bunion pads, and wearing wide shoes but nothing was providing consistent relief. My bunion was getting progressively worse. I did a little research and scheduled an appointment with a highly rated podiatrist  (I was planning to consult with an orthopedic surgeon, too, but I felt confident during my first visit that my podiatrist was a good fit). 

I put off scheduling the surgery for several months until I had a two-week window where my husband and I didn't have any major obligations. 

I panicked a little immediately pre-op. What if it didn’t work? What if I developed nerve damage or complex regional pain syndrome? What if I can never run again?  But then I focused on the increasingly debilitating pain I was experiencing and bucked up. (Consider not reading Reddit bunionectomy horror stories the night prior :)

The surgery itself was fine. I don’t remember anything from 8:30am-1:30pm. I had a nerve block and was really just groggy and a little unsteady for the rest of the day. I camped out on the couch on the main floor rather than navigating stairs to the bedroom. I felt better than expected post-op Day 1 and pushed it a little more than I should have, sitting at the table for several hours, leg propped up at a 90 degree angle. Later that night, as the nerve block began wearing off, I took my first Oxycontine. I was feeling pain on the top of my foot where the big incision was made as well as pain from swelling. After that, I kept my foot elevated more consistently. 

I used Oxycontin sparingly on post-op Days 2-3. Everyone’s experience of pain is different but I got to about a 7.5 on a 0-10 pain scale (natural childbirth was worse but the reward made up for it). I developed cellulitis (bacterial skin infection) on post-op Day 4 which felt like burning and stabbing pain on the top of my foot and between my toes. Ibuprofen 800mg every 8 hours, prescribed to reduce swelling, covered enough of the pain until I went in for my first post-op visit on Day 6 and received a different antibiotic (Clindamycin).

Day 11 I began experiencing abdominal discomfort. I did a little research and identified Ibuprofen as the culprit. Gastritis is a natural consequence to prolonged, high-dose ibuprofen. I stopped taking and added Prevacid to my medication regimen in the hopes I could ward off a stomach ulcer. Studies are inconclusive, but there is some evidence to suggest prolonged Ibuprofen use delays or impairs bone growth.

Day 13 my splint was removed, stitches were taken out, and I moved to a walking boot. My foot had been splinted at a 45 degree angle rather than a 90 degree angle so the first day was a little rough as my achilles loosened up. I needed an Aleve to manage the pain. I found using one crutch under my left arm helped me to stabilize as I was getting used to walking. It also helped me to get around more quickly. After fourteen days at home, with the exception of two visits to the doctor, I went away for the weekend to watch my son compete in a tournament. I propped up my foot whenever I could and went from getting 800-900 steps a day to over 5,000. 

My doctor cleared me to drive on Day 13 using a post-op shoe. During our initial consultation he said it would be 6 weeks of no driving, but when I said that would be impossible he offered 2 weeks with strict instructions RE the shoe. I worked on ankle mobility for four days (up and down, side-to-side, alphabet) before driving on Day 17. I did a trial drive and all went well. The next day, I drove 30 minutes to my daughter’s end-of-season banquet and two days later I drove 75 minutes to work. 

I did develop thrombosis (the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel) in my right arm on Day 16. I felt pain in my arm, specifically in the vein that had been accessed for the IV. It felt hard, like a cord, and moving my arm was mildly uncomfortable. I used a heat pack repeatedly and by Day 19 it felt better.

I'm still elevating periodically throughout the day but not as consistently and for not as long. I went back to the office during week 3 and inadvertently went nine hours without elevating, not the best case scenario but figuring it out and making accommodations as I can.

A few thoughts: 

• Getting a scooter is a must to get around more easily. I used crutches to get up and down the stairs and while on the second floor (bedroom) but the scooter helped me to be more mobile. And mobility is good. Yes, rest and elevate, but getting up every hour or so helps prevent blood clots and maintains (a little) muscle mass. 
• Aim to take a shower as soon as you feel comfortable. A sponge bath just doesn’t cut it. I am fortunate to have access to a walk-in shower. My elderly mother is currently living in our master bedroom but I used the shower (with a shower stool) on Day 3. I sealed a plastic garbage bag with a hair tie rather than buying a cast cover. Once I moved to the boot, I started showering in my regular shower, sitting on a bucket (nothing fancy) with my foot wrapped outside the tub.
• Stay busy. I had multiple projects I was looking forward to working on during my two-week hiatus, some work related (creating a master PPT slide deck for my consulting work, doing research for an upcoming project, editing my manuscript) and some family related (catching up on annual family photobooks). I also had books to read, coloring books, puzzle books…anything to keep me occupied.
• Mindset matters. Try to stay positive. You can’t control the past or the future, but you can decide how you navigate this moment. Be proactive: wiggle your toes, ice, elevate, use bands to maintain arm strength, do one-legged squats, let yourself rest without feeling guilty, eat protein.

 

I hope this is helpful to someone. It's a journey, but so far I am optimistic that getting surgery was the right decision.