Below arefive MIS Bunion Surgery Recovery tips along with commonly asked questions and answers. By the end of this article, you will hopefully feel less overwhelmed and more informed about bunions and recovery!
1. Keep it dry for the first two weeks.
Your new and improved foot will be nicely bandaged up, so before bathing pop it in a plastic bag. The good thing about MIS bunion surgery is that the incisions are smaller, so you have less risk of infection. It is still best to keep it dry during the early healing stages.
2. Deep tissue massage.
After two weeks, the bandage usually comes off and then it is time for deep tissue massage. Mr Kunasingam, Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeon, recommends applying pressure that turns the tip of your thumbnail from pink to yellow, massaging the small scars and surrounding areas up to five times a day.
3. Wash your foot but don't scrub it.
Allow time for any little bits of dried blood to wash away gradually, revealing a nicely healed foot underneath. Use non-perfumed creams for a few weeks so as not to irritate the skin.
Hold the base of your big toe up for a count of five seconds, then down for a count of five seconds and repeat five times (so five sets) five times a day.
5. Trust in your new foot!
It can sometimes be tempting to shy away from things like massage and stretches for fear of causing harms; but these are the things that will help with mobility, promote faster wound healing and recovery. Whilst we may want to tiptoe around our foot (no pun intended), it is helpful to keep active to a reasonable degree.
Hold on a second, what is a bunion again?
Bunions, also known as Hallux Valgus, occur when the big toe moves towards the other toes.A bony lump on the side of the big toe (at the head of the metatarsal) usually comes from the metatarsal bone moving outwards. The pressure of the first toe leaning can lead to a change in the appearance of the second toe. The pressure of the lump can rub against shoes and create a thickening of skin and of course, pain. It is best to try and get this treated as soon as possible before the bunion worsens. 'But I don’t like blood, surgical knives or even the idea of surgery!' – You might say. Let’s address this fear.
Is Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery still painful?
Minimally Invasive Surgery is much less painful than open surgery. The technique typically usesfive tiny incisions rather than one long cut, resulting in less soft tissue damage and ultimately less pain and scarring. General anaesthetic is used during the surgical procedure so you should not experience any pain. Following the surgery, you may experience some mild discomfort which can be managed with pain medication. This procedure happens in Day Surgery meaning that you are up and out of the hospital the same day. Yes, you read that correctly. You will be able to put weight on your foot to walk on it more or less immediately after. Crutches are provided for balance and to ensure that no one bumps into you or steps on your foot.
How long will it take to recover after MIS bunion surgery? And when can I go back to work?
People recover at different rates.The bandage comes off after two weeks andtypically, you will be back in shoes.At four weeks there is still some swelling but minimal. Some people go back to work afew days after surgery. According to Mr Kunasingam, you could even go to the gym a couple of days after surgery and use a static bike with the middle of the foot on the pedal or careful weight training. Check outGiles, a past patient of Mr Kunasingam, to see his post-surgery story, gym included!
MIS bunion surgery recovery varies between people and the overall focus is maintaining quality of life and living pain free. For more information, give us a call or fill out our enquiry form.
FAQs
With minimally invasive surgery, patients can walk in usual sneakers or comfortable shoes six weeks after the PECA procedure and eight weeks after the MIS Lapidus surgery. If you had open surgery, you could walk in regular footwear after 10 to 12 weeks, and you can't put weight on your foot after six to eight weeks.
How long does it take to recover from mis bunion surgery? ›
With minimally invasive surgery, patients can walk in usual sneakers or comfortable shoes six weeks after the PECA procedure and eight weeks after the MIS Lapidus surgery. If you had open surgery, you could walk in regular footwear after 10 to 12 weeks, and you can't put weight on your foot after six to eight weeks.
What are the must haves for bunion surgery recovery? ›
What Items Do I Need to Recover From Bunion Surgery
- 3) Cast protector or bag to keep foot dry in shower (can be provided by Dr. ...
- 4) Two pillows to elevate surgical foot when at rest and sleeping.
- 5) Crutches or walker, knee scooter is optional but recommended to use for longer distances, and ease of use.
Ice and elevation
- Put ice or a cold pack on your foot for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake). ...
- Prop up your foot and leg on a pillow when you ice it or anytime you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep it above the level of your heart.
You may need to refrain from driving for a week or more after surgery. Exercises or physical therapy may be recommended to help the foot recover its strength and range of motion after surgery. High heels should be avoided for at least 6 months after surgery.
How long is bed rest after bunion surgery? ›
It's important to allow yourself adequate time to heal and recover from the anaesthesia, even if you're able to work from home, so you should allow a week before returning to work if this is the case. You should allow 6-8 weeks off work if you have a manual job or you need to be on your feet all day.
When is the most painful time after bunion surgery? ›
The days directly after bunion surgery are when pain and swelling will be the most intense, so it is important to take measures to reduce the discomfort, such as elevating the foot and following doctor-recommended instructions for painkillers and cold compresses.
When can I stop elevating my foot after surgery? ›
It is important to rest and keep your foot elevated above the level of your heart for 23 hours a day for the first 2 weeks after your surgery. Elevating of your foot will encourage healing and decrease the chance of wound infection and break down. It will also help with pain and swelling.
How do you sleep comfortably after bunion surgery? ›
Keep Your Foot Elevated While Sleeping
This helps reduce swelling and pain and speeds up the healing process. The best way to elevate your foot is to prop it up on a pillow. You can also use a special bunion surgery recovery sock, which helps to keep your foot in the correct position.
Do you limp 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.
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.
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.
Should I wiggle my toes after bunion surgery? ›
Operation to two weeks
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. If you are sitting raise the foot on a chair, or by sitting across a sofa – this will reduce the swelling.
Why is bunion surgery not recommended? ›
Arthritis: Bunionectomies are not recommended for people with arthritis in their toes because the procedure can actually cause the condition to worsen. Diabetes: People with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing complications after any type of surgery, including a bunionectomy.
Can I go barefoot after bunion surgery? ›
The recovery period after bunion surgery can vary between individuals. You may have your stitches removed after a couple of weeks. The average patient may spend approximately six weeks wearing a post-operative shoe or using crutches. It is really important to not walk around the house barefoot during this time.
What is the new procedure for bunions? ›
Lapiplasty® is a new procedure using patented technology to correct not only the bunion, but its root cause. It straightens three dimensions of alignment of the metatarsal bone. First, it corrects the sideways lean of your metatarsal bone.
What is a mis Bunionectomy? ›
Minimally invasive bunion surgery has become more common over recent years. The technique allows surgeons to correct a bunion through very small incisions using specialized instruments to cut and fix the bones. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is appealing because it can allow for faster recoveries with smaller scars.
How long does a tailor's bunion take to heal after surgery? ›
After Tailor's bunion removal surgery, your foot will be swollen. This should improve dramatically in the first 3 to 5 weeks from surgery and steadily resolve completely over the following months. Most of our patients are back to walking in their sneakers within 6 weeks of the surgery.
What happens if you accidentally put weight on your foot after bunion surgery? ›
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.
Is there a bunion corrector that actually works? ›
Unfortunately, there is no medical research or data to support the claim that bunion correctors straighten the big toe.
