A Variety of Shoes
What Should You Know About Bunion Surgery?
Tessa Jean
Bunions are a bony protrusion that can manifest on the side of the foot. They're typically caused by improperly fitted footwear, although genetics plays a role as well. Bunions aren't dangerous, and they can be safely left alone as long as they are not causing you pain. If your bunion is painful and bothersome, it should be removed through bunion surgery. A podiatrist can schedule you for bunion surgery after examining your foot and diagnosing your condition. Here are three things patients should know about their upcoming bunion surgery:
1. You will be awake for the operation.
Your doctor will not put you under general anesthesia for your bunion surgery. Instead, they will use a technique called ankle blocking to ensure you don't feel any pain during the procedure. Local anesthesia will be administered into key areas of your foot and ankle to ensure it's comfortably numb before the doctor begins the bunionectomy. Since you will be awake for the procedure, you should not experience any post-surgery nausea, grogginess, or disorientation.
2. You can stop taking pain medication relatively quickly.
While a bunionectomy is major surgery, most patients find they don't experience too much pain. Your doctor will prescribe you painkillers to use immediately following your surgery. For the first day or two, you will want to take them exactly on schedule to avoid breakthrough pain. Once a few days have gone by, you can discontinue the use of prescription pain medication if your pain is not too severe. Many patients find that ibuprofen and similar drugs are sufficient to help them manage their discomfort. It's best to minimize opiate use whenever possible since these drugs can be habit-forming when used incorrectly.
3. Your foot will heal slowly.
Although you can discontinue taking pain medication within a few days, the healing process itself can take much longer. Many patients can begin walking again within a few weeks. However, you will likely need to wear a medical boot to keep your foot protected while it finishes healing. Listen to your body and avoid straining yourself. You may notice some lingering inflammation for several months, and it can take up to a year for your foot to heal completely. Your podiatrist will work with you during this time to ensure your foot is recovering as it should. Listen to your doctor and limit your weight-bearing exercise until the podiatrist clears you for it.
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Growing up, I was never very interested in buying a large quantity of shoes to pair with my outfits. I rarely owned more than five or six pairs of shoes at any given time. I usually wore either my favorite pair of sneakers, boots, flats, or heels everywhere I went. When I married my amazing husband ten years ago, my shoe closet expanded. My generous spouse encouraged me to buy some several pairs of cute shoes to match my clothing. After shopping for new shoes, I was hooked. Now, I rarely wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Thankfully, I’ve learned that wearing a different type of shoe each day is good for my foot health. On this blog, you will discover the most important benefits of wearing a different kind of shoe every day of the week.