How Soon Can I Walk after Bunion Surgery? - Dr. Blitz (2024)
“I want bunion surgery for my painful bunion, but I commute to work on the train every day. How long will it take until I can walk?”
It’s understandable to be concerned about what happens after a bunionectomy – or any foot surgery, for that matter. Many of us take walking for granted, until something happens and we can’t.
But if you’re worried about not being able to walk after bunion surgery, there’s good news. There are minimally invasive bunion surgery approaches, like Dr. Blitz’s Bunionplasty® procedure, that allow a patient to walk the very same day as their bunionectomy.
What Makes a Bunion Painful Enough to Need Bunion Surgery?
A bunion (or “hallux abductovalgus”) forms when a bone in the first toe shifts towards the second toe. When these bones are out of alignment, they cause a bump on the inside of the foot. That bump gets bigger as the bones continue to shift over time.
The change in the positioning of the bones can become painful, especially for people who are constantly on their feet. As the bump grows and presses against the skin, clothing, and shoes, it can cause extreme pain, along with redness and swelling.
Can I Have Bunion Surgery and Still Be Able to Walk?
There’s good news: Dr. Blitz’s Bunionplasty® 360° Bunion Repair™ solution allows patients to walk the same day as their bunion surgery. Many are able to walk out of the surgery center wearing just a small surgical sandal – No Casts No Crutches®. That’s true even if they’ve had a bunionectomy in both feet at once, or the bunion is large.
That doesn’t mean you can run a marathon the day after your bunion surgery, of course. You’ll need to go slow, and Dr. Blitz recommends that patients plan to take it as easy as possible while recovering from this type of bunionectomy.
But for people who prefer to be constantly on the go, Dr. Blitz’s bunion surgery techniques can get you back on your feet fast. After the Bunionplasty® procedure, many of his patients are walking immediately in a surgical sandal, wearing sneakers and walking comfortably after six weeks, and back to their favorite activities and shoes after two months.
There's good news: Dr. Blitz's Bunionplasty® 360° Bunion Repair™ solution allows patients to walk the same day as their bunion surgery. Many are able to walk out of the surgery center wearing just a small surgical sandal – No Casts No Crutches®.
Most patients typically begin walking again - with the assistance of a surgical boot 3+ days after your surgery. Most patients return to walking shoes between 6-7 weeks after the surgery, low impact activity around 3 to 3 1/2 months, and back to all activity and exercise around 4 months.
In many instances, patients have to stay off their feet for a full two weeks immediately after the surgery (during which time they are often in a great deal of pain). After this two-week post-operative period, patients may need to wear a protective cast or use crutches for the next six months –– or longer.
Putting any weight on an operated foot or ankle can damage the repair that's been done. Bones need time to heal. Plates or screws that may have been added during surgery need the bones to heal around them. Adding weight too soon can interrupt this important internal healing process.
These include potential complications like arthritis and avascular necrosis, and nerve damage which may cause limited or uncomfortable sensations in the feet. Some patients may still experience ongoing pain and swelling despite the surgery.
Most patients report 3 or 4/10 on the pain scale after surgery if they reduce activity, ice their foot, elevate and take pain medictions. This varies by patient and if you have a history of a lot of pain after other surgeries, specialized pain blocks can be performed to keep foot numb for 3-4 days after surgery.
Will I Be Able to Bend My Big Toe after Lapiplasty? Yes, you will still have normal movement of your big toe after this surgery at Bone & Joint Specialists. The fusion in this procedure takes place at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This is deemed to be more of a “non-essential” joint.
You may sleep without your boot once you are 4 weeks from surgery. after surgery you will be allowed to bear weight on your foot as tolerated in your boot. This may change based on skin healing or other added procedures. Use your crutches, walker, or knee scooter for a total of 4 weeks after surgery.
Following your doctor's advice on pain medication, elevation, and icing is necessary to relieve pain, alleviate discomfort, and speed up recovery. Elevating your foot above heart level can help minimize swelling after bunion surgery.
When your surgeon allows you to begin putting weight on your foot, your physical therapist will help you regain a normal walking pattern, or gait. It is not uncommon to limp after a bunion surgery or to develop a tendency to roll your foot outward in an effort to avoid rolling off the affected big toe.
You should wear the postoperative shoe, day and night. You can wiggle the toes, but the aim of this fortnight is to rest and get the skin wounds soundly healed.
The first phase is the non-weight bearing while using a walking boot, the second is weight bearing while continuing to use the walking boot and finally, full weight bearing once the walking boot is no longer needed. The first phase may not be needed, depending on the type and severity of the injury or surgery.
Crocs are considered to be a therapeutic shoe because they offer long-term relief of foot pain after surgery. Patients are encouraged to wear crocs after surgery especially when the feet have swollen.
Lapiplasty offers a promising surgical treatment option. It involves a less invasive procedure, fewer complications, and a quicker recovery than traditional bunion surgery. It also addresses bunions at their root cause.
There's no cut-and-dry rule regarding an age limit for bunion surgery. Seniors can visit a podiatrist serving the Sugar Land area to find out if the procedure might be right for them.
While everyone's specific bunion surgery and recovery process is unique to them, patients who have the Lapiplasty® Procedure may begin partial weight-bearing in less than two weeks with the assistance of a surgical boot.
A typical recovery timeline for the Lapiplasty® Procedure is as follows: At 2 weeks begin to put some weight on your foot.Next 4-6 weeks walk in a boot and return to light activities.At 6-8 weeks transition back into comfortable shoes.
Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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