I counted down the minutes until my 6-week follow up for my second bunionette surgery. I couldn’t wait to get rid of the boot and regain some of my freedom.
If you’re new here, I had my bunionette repaired on my right foot early December 2019. The bunionette is on the Tailors bunion on the fifth metatarsal. Read more about my bunion surgeries here.
The appointment was less than optimistic – “you still have some healing to do” – he said after I spent 90 minutes waiting for an Xray at UHNBC for the 2.5 minute follow up appointment in the Cast Clinic.
You can try shoes.
But use your boot for long distance for the first week or so.
Those words feel crushing. I just wanted to ditch the boot and be over and done with. But I’m forgetting that bunion surgery recover isn’t simple and easy – It’s a slow, long process with one adventure after another.
The next 6 weeks will be about learning to weight bear.
No barefoot walking, just me and my shoes.
I miss showering like a normal person. I hate sitting in the shower, but my foot isn’t ready for that.
— My first surgery, 6 week experience with the Left Bunionette – This foot is a little slower to heal based off my recollection. I jumped right into runners. I don’t remember ever wearing my boot after 6 weeks with my left foot. But here I am 4 days post-op and I wear my boot 50% of the day. I asked the doctor once about healing and he said there’s not a lot of reason why one foot heals differently than the other.
6 Week Pain, Post Bunion Surgery
My foot hurts. This is the most amount of pain I’ve been in since 2 weeks post-op. It’s miserable and makes me a grumpy person.
It’s not a make it feel better pain – It’s like the dull ache of your body that can’t be treated with pain killers. Just rest.
4 Hours At a Time
I can drive again when wearing my shoes, but I can only last about 4 hours in my running shoes before I need to sit down for a long time, or transition back into my aircast.
I tried to make dinner with shoes but ended up miserable. I’ll spend the first half of the day in runners, and the second half with my air cast on.
My walk is slow. Learning to put weight on your foot and talking yourself through that fear is slow. I waddle. I take each step with caution as I’ test out my new foot.
Full Time Shoes will come
Full time shoe wearing Bailey will be back. It takes time. Just like transitioning from non-weight bearing to partial weight bearing at 2 weeks, this step is slow. It’ll be a few more days before I’m comfortable, and a few more weeks before I can hit up Costco without misery.
Be gentle with yourself.
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