Debating Bunion, Tailored Bunion & Hammertoe Surgery on Both Feet, Please Help!

Do not wait!! I had six hammer toes operated on in my early twenties. It was painful but worth it. I don't need to hide my toes in the sand anymore when I go to the beach. My feet aren't perfect now but so much better than before. You will definitely need time off from work but somehow, someway you need to get it done. Once you get married, you'll probably get pregnant sooner than later and the time will never be right when you have little ones to run after. My mom has 3 children and her youngest is just finishing high school this year and only now is she able to start thinking about getting her bunions operated on. Hopefully this helps you decide. Good luck!!

Hi J., I have bunions and am approaching 50. I'm fortunate in that they have never bothered me even in training and walking the Avon 3 day (60 miles 10 years ago). Surgery is something that I would consider now as this surgery seems to have come a long way from what I understand. This of course is my opinion and experience so take it with a grain of salt. Do a lot of research with articles and talk to doctors so you will know what is right for you. Take care and all the best. Ugh, mine aren't that bad and I know what you mean about "people not holding back their reactions!" LOL, Take care, T.

J.
If you decide to do the surgery, be very careful about choosing your doctor. A friend of mine had hers done on both feet. She now has nerve damage and horrible pain in her feet. It's been 3 years and she has not found anything that helps for more than a day or so.
Victoria

I had the hammertoe/bunion surgery 3 months ago, and it is not that painful, just uncomfortable. Recovery takes a long time, and swelling, stiffness and numbness persist for up to a year. I think my foot will end up looking great -- but I wouldn't do this just for esthetic reasons. Plus there is a lot of scarring. And I have to do the other foot as well. My bunions are hereditary and developed in my 20's. For most of my life, I wore shoes which covered the bunion, but didn't press on it too hard. This meant my shoes were flat and limited in style. But I waited until in my 50's when the hammertoe developed and I found virtually no shoes were comfortable. If you do it, use the best orthopedic surgeon you can find. Several people I know had botched surgery which made the problem worse. And then they had repeated surgeries.
Expect several weeks on crutches and another few weeks in over-sized sneakers. Can't get the foot wet for weeks. Not a thing to do with small kids.
Obviously, there are many types of surgery and degrees of problems, so the doctor is the best one to discuss recovery with. No doctor I spoke with would even consider doing both my feet at once, but obviously others do it with few problems. Mine involved one toe fusion with a removable pin, re-aligning the metatarsal and having a bone graft and 2 permanent pins, and there are all sorts of more and less complicated surgeries people endure. It's amazing how many people hate their feet. I mention bunions in a shoe store and am immediately surrounded by strangers discussing their experiences! So I say live with them if it's not painful and mainly wear soft, flat shoes. Check with your doctor first.

Hi J. - I am a 43 year old married with an 8 year old boy. I had both feet operated on to remove tailor bunion and hammertoe, but not at the same time. I had my left foot done first, and 2 weeks later after the cast and stitches removed, had my right foot done. For years I contemplated getting this surgery done because (a) I had pain, (b) I didn't like the way my feet look and (c) being inconvenient from work and personal life.

Well it has been almost 3 weeks and I can honestly say, I experienced very little pain after the surgery. I was prescribed antibiotic and pain medication. For the 1st 72 hours you must keep your feet elevated and iced 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. Trust me it pays off cause your felt won't swell. I am now walking the shoe boot which is not the cutest, but I can walk and get around. However, my right foot still has the cast and wont' come off until another 1.5 weeks, thus causing me to depend on my hubby to drive me around town :-)

What I recommend for you if you are not experiencing any pain and want to do it for cosmetic reasons then go ahead. However, it at any time pain start, I will recommend getting it done. But wait, you said you are engaged with no children. In my real opinion, depending on date of wedding, I will just go and get the surgery done. After three days you will be able to return back to work. You will have to wear that surgical boot for 6-8 weeks, but it's worth it in the end. You want to have cute feet for the wedding and your honeymoon.

I hope I answered all your questions, but if not, send a reply and I will do my best to answer.

T.

Hi J., I had bunion surgery when i was about 20......No big deal at all!! I would'nt wait until they are painful` maybe if it were a horrible surgery but its not at all, infact they can do it with local anesthetic now...... about 5 years after the surgery i had go back in and have my screw removed, because it had shifted a bit- but that was no big deal either! I dont see a reason why you'd have to take time off, just schedule it on a Thursday and you should be good to go by monday! (especially if you are at a position where you can sit) hope this helps

I had bunionectomy surgery on both feet, left on the inside and right on the outside (by the baby toe). The recovery was much less than six weeks. I was in my early 20s when I did it and I am glad I did. My mom in her late 60s had the hammertoe surgery on one foot and I think she is glad she did as well. The pain was not unbearable with the bunionectomies, and my mom seemed to bear her pain okay too. Her recovery was a lot longer than mine. I had my surgery before I had kids. Good luck!

Hi J.,
I had bunion surgery in my big toe and little toe on my right foot about three years ago. It worked for me, the pain was tolerable and I only missed three days of work. Then again, I work in an office behind a desk, my walking is very limited, it depends on me. I had crutches for most of the time. And you will be limited on the shoes to wear. I have children, and regardless of how careful I was they all stepped on my foot, even my husband and the dog stepped on me!!! So, please have it before you have children :) take my word! it's better. Oh, by the way have it done by a podiatrist, my podiatrist was the best!

Hi there
I had bunion surgery on both feet done before I had my kids. It was done 16 years ago (when I was 21) and was one of the best decisions I made - I had a lot of discomfort in my feet before the surgery, and none at all since, plus I have a much bigger choice of shoes now which is great! I was in a lot of pain immediately afterwards but was OK pain wise within 2 or 3 days.
I had both my feet done at the same time to minimize recovery time, and that worked well for me. I couldn't bear weight on my feet (ie I had to be in a wheelchair) for the first 3 weeks then I could walk on them. I was in plaster 6 weeks, then still needed the chair to get around for another 2 weeks after that, so about 8 weeks before I was totally mobile again.
I would definitely recommend doing it before you have kids. You cannot believe the amount of running around and chores you have to do when you have children, whatever age they are. It is constant. You will find it hard to get the rest you need and recovery will be longer.
I have a friend who had the same surgery (just one foot) a few years ago after she had her children, and the kids still complain about how tough it was on them (!!) that she couldn't move. She needs the surgery on her other foot but keeps putting it off because it has such an impact on family life.
So do it now while you can!

I this done on both feet but my surgeon would not do them both at the same time. I did not understand why until I had it done. The worst of the pain was in the first 3 days after surgery then it wasn't too bad but if I would not have been able to use at least one foot it would have been much harder. I went back to work after 1 week each time. If you have a job where you are on your feet you'd have to wait longer. I wore the boot for 6 weeks. I am very happy I had it done when I did (in my mid 20's). I would definitely do it before you have kids!

Hi J.:

I was advised to have bunion & hammertoe surgery when I was 26-27 years old. Because I am a slow healer, we did it in 2 surgeries 12 months apart. Mine were done by a podiatrist who understood that I had to function and couldn't stay home for 2 months to heal. I had surgery done on a Thursday, and went back to work the following Tuesday ... so only had to take off 3 days. When I did my surgery it wasn't because I was in constant pain, it was because I was in occasional pain and my feet looked ugly ... and I had no children yet.

Someone below stated they had pins still in ... I do not, so have never had any issues since surgery. I now have a very active life ... and again wear high heels.

[fyi: a friend had her surgery done by an orthopedic and was in casts up to her knees for 2 months ... and inspite of only having to go through one surgery she was in a wheelchair, being carted around for 8 weeks]

Good luck ... do what works best for you, with medical advise,.

I can not suggest having the surgery or not but can say if you decide to do it, do it before you have children. You need to walk, a lot, when you have a baby no matter how much help you have. I had minor foot surgery when my youngest son was about three months old. The dr made it sound as if it would be totally fine. I had to crawl around to care for my kids for a week despite calling in for some help. Good luck.

J., Just reviewing all the posts, you can see that everyone has different healing experiences. I had both feet done, 4 months apart. It was probably the best thing I had ever done to relieve pain in my feet. As far as the healing process, it was a long one for me with physical therapy and cortizone shots. My surgeries consisted of bunion surgery as well as bone fusions in my little toes. I would have to say it was really a 6 - 8 week process and the procedures were done in an outpatient surgical facility. Good luck!

I am 65 years old and had a bunionectomy done in 2002. I had some pain and couldn't wear all the styles of shoes that I wanted to wear and my big toe was really overlapping the pointer toe. The problem was with my right foot.
The doctor removed the bunion and any arthritis that he could, but he also aligned the bone in the top of my foot. The bone had to be broken, aligned, and pins were inserted. I had to be off my foot for 6 weeks. That was hard, I didn't work at the time, but most activity involves walking. I used crutches, walker, and a wheelchair in the house. I pushed it around with my good foot. When you have this surgery, you cannot put weight on your foot at all, because you can misalign the bone with the screws. Well, I didn't make it through without once, loosing my balance and coming down on my foot, and another time I fell while trying to sit down on my computer chair and fell right on the foot in question. The doctor put me into a cast, which they usually do not have to do with this surgery. The best news yet, I had to have my feet x-rayed not too long ago for my rheumatologist. The report came back that I had a bunion growing again on that foot.
You know that a lot of things come into play as to why we get bunions. Can't change everything. My feet pronate a great deal. That's one reason. Research on the internet. Then make your decision. If you decide to do it, yes I would do it before you have kids. Be sure that you live in a home where you do not have to go up and down steps. That's important as well. Well, good luck whatever you decide!
B. S.

I am 10 days post op. I had a double-bunionectomy one bunion on each foot, one taylors bunion, baby hammer toe, and two corns removed, way harder to deal with than a single. I hardly had any pain just discomfort and swelling which with all the bandages felt like the circulation was stopping the bloodflow to my feet but my doctor said it was fine. Even with my husband being home for the first 5 days was extremely difficult. He tried helping me to the bathroom but i was better off doing it myself. I sleep on an air matress in the living room. I'd roll off and roll myself in front of the couch turn backwards and use my arm muscle to slide onto couch backwards. I'd have th wheelchair close enough to sit up using my arm muscles again and slide into wheel chair and rolling myself to the bathroom.Make sure the the wheelchair WHEELS ARE ALWAYS LOCKED!! I get close as i can to the entrance of the bathroom take 2 steps on my HEELS and plop onto toilet,what a relief. Getting up was more challenging. To take a bath was somewhat difficult. I'd wheel myself to the bottom of the stairs and sit on the bottom step backwards. I'd pull myself up the stairs once again using my arms and pushing gently with my heels to go up 2 flights. Took me 10 minutes the 1st 3 times now i make it in half the time.Once on top of the stairs, I scoot myself on my bottom into the bathroom scooting backwards. I scoot close to the bathtub, and once again using my arms pulled myself up and over into the bathtub hanging my feet out. It helps to have a removable showerhead so you can give yourself your own . bath. Going down the stairs is way easier. Gotta tell you, I'm 38, out of shape, and weigh 190lbs. But i did it. My arm, stomach, and leg muscles feel stronger. At 5 days post-op i went to my appt. I was extremely nervous. This was my first surgery. I was sweating and wanted to faint. It felt good to have the bandages off. But when they took the tape off my stitches to clean the area I freaked. You might feel a little pulling on the stitches but NO pain. He rewrapped the foot and it's very tight again. My advice, the ELEVATE AND ICE!!!! I'm 10 days post op and I am still elevating and icing. I go back in 5 days which would be 2 weeks and 1 day to get my stitches removed.He said i can then purchase a good running shoe that he recommended but will still need bedrest for another week or two. I can wear the running shoe or the boot whichever feels more comfortable. I will continue wearing the boot because I don't think i feel comfortable enough right now to fit my foot in a shoe.Also for you women out there, try and schedule your sugery a couple of days after your menstral period...
Just has my stitches removed today 15 days post-op, didn't hurt but really stung. I felt clammy and almost fainted. Walking in the boot is very scary now because i no longer have it wrapped. I never had any pain after surgery only uncomfortable feeling of the swollen feet and the extremely tight ace bandage. I'm so happy i had both feet done at the same time. My docotr was Tony Nguyen DPM (orthopedic surgion) San Diego, CA Kaiser Hospital...Awesome guy!!!!

I have bunions too and I used to run marathons. The doctors told me to wait until I was in pain to get the surgery since without the pain there is no point to the surgery since it is so much to go through for cosmetic reasons. I will run marathons again once I stop nursing and I can find a running bra to fit my boobs in.
You'll need to talk to your podiatrist about taking time off from work. You may not have a choice; the surgery requires what it requires. However, if you have a desk job you may be able to do it from a wheelchair, right? Your podiatrist can tell you what your recuperation needs are for your particular case. I have two small kids and this surgery would be hell to deal with right now. Fortunately I will be able to delay it for years and years I imagine.
Don't wear high heels, they will make your bunions worse. I think a thorough consultation with a podiatrist is in order to help you weigh the pros and cons of the timing of the surgery. Also, like one poster mentioned, they can come back.

Seems like you answered your own question when you said six weeks
off from work was not an option.

I had hammertoe surgery on both of my feet at the same time. I was a full time student and I was working part time. My doctor said that I would be able to walk out of the hospital but I had to have my big brother carry me to the bathroom for a week straight. I could not put on a normal shoe for almost 2 months and in a wheel chair for 1 month, it was just too painful. My doctor was not the best so I suggest that you research you doctors background, make sure that they have several years of experience within this surgery and as to see their pictures of past work. Also, ask to see what kind of procedure they perform. Whether a side of the toe or on top of the toe incision, exc. Its 5 years later and my feet dont feel any better, due to a poor procedure, my bones grew back with no spaces in between them (like it was supposed to) so that the toe could lay flat. I advise you to be cautious with you feet and time and not to let your doctor rush you through anything! I hope this helps and from what I hear, the best doctors are in cali and ny. Remember that a lot of people who were dissatisfied don’t get much play on these chat rooms, im glad I could respond without have to create an account and such. Good luck to you and I hope you have a wonderful and healthy surgery.

PS: if you do decide to get the procedures, make sure you have someone by you at all times for help. Ice 24/7 or what you doctor advices and elevation every time you sit down is the key to less swelling. Also, keep in mind that if you get a pin placed in any of your toes, there is a high chance of you losing the ability to bend it. My second toes cannot bend, I can point them but they cannot bend, it can be painful at times. Take care!