Have you had a bunion surgery, and would you recommend it?
Question:
Answers:
Hey there, I had the surgery about 5 years ago. The doctor I went through did an 'OKAY' job. One foot looks different then the other.what I mean exactly is.one looks more straight and one looks like i broke my toe a hundred times. What the surgery taught me is to seriously.like yourself..flaws and all because cosmetic surgery is expensive to feel better.
However..its an easier time wearing different shoes, the recovery is minimal and even though i was kind of disappointed with my doctor..I still liked having the surgery because it was way better than it was and it isn't so painful to walk around in different shows and for whatever reason I got the surgery..I am HAPPY with the end result. Please just make sure you go to a doctor with great stats and someone who pays attention. I believe my doctor was new and didnt really care.
Hope this helps
lala
Other Answers:
I haven't, but I was talking to this woman the other day that did. In fact, she was walking on crutches. She claimed that something 'went wrong' and broke loose, or something like that. I asked her about it, and she said she would not get the surgery unless it was absolutely necessary.
Is Bunion Surgery For You?
If nonsurgical treatment fails, you may want to consider surgery. Many studies have found that 85 to 90 percent of patients who undergo bunion surgery are satisfied with the results.
Reasons that you may benefit from bunion surgery commonly include:
* Severe foot pain that limits your everyday activities, including walking and wearing reasonable shoes. You may find it hard to walk more than a few blocks (even in athletic shoes) without significant pain.
* Chronic big toe inflammation and swelling that doesn't improve with rest or medications.
* Toe deformity-a drifting in of your big toe toward the small toes.
* Toe stiffness-inability to bend and straighten your toe.
* Failure to obtain pain relief from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Their effectiveness in controlling toe pain varies greatly from person to person.
* Failure to substantially improve with other treatments such as a change in shoes and anti-inflammatory medication.
As you explore bunion surgery, be aware that so-called "simple" or "minimal" surgical procedures are often inadequate "quick fixes" that can do more harm than good. And beware of unrealistic claims that surgery can give you a "perfect" foot. The goal of surgery is to relieve as much pain, and correct as much deformity as is realistically possible. It is not meant to be cosmetic.
Types of Bunion Surgery
Orthopaedic surgeons use many different surgical procedures to treat bunions. The common goal of these procedures is to realign the joint, relieve pain, and correct deformity. These procedures include:
Repair of the Tendons and Ligaments Around the Big Toe
These tissues may be too tight on one side and too loose on the other, creating an imbalance that causes the big toe to drift toward the others. Often combined with an osteotomy, this procedure shortens the loose tissues and lengthens the tight ones.
Arthrodesis Removal of the damaged joint surfaces, followed by the insertion of screws, wires, or plates to hold the surfaces together until it heals. Used for patients with severe bunions, severe arthritis, and when other procedures have failed.
Exostectomy Removal of the bump on the toe joint; used only for an enlargement of the bone with no drifting of the big toe. This procedure is seldom used because it rarely corrects the cause of the bunion.
Resection Arthroplasty Removal of the damaged portion of the joint, used mainly for patients who are older, have had previous bunion surgery, or have severe arthritis. This creates a flexible "scar" joint.
Osteotomy The surgical cutting and realignment of the joint. Your orthopaedic surgeon will choose the procedure best suited to your condition.
The Orthopaedic Evaluation
If you are interested in exploring bunion surgery, your family physician can refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon for an evaluation.
The orthopaedic evaluation consists of three components:
* A medical history, in which your orthopaedic surgeon gathers information about your general health and asks you about the extent of your pain and ability to find shoes that don't hurt. He or she also will ask you about other medical conditions that could affect your surgical outcome. Diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, for example, can increase the risk of infection and interfere with proper healing. Circulatory problems can increase postoperative pain and impede healing as well.
* A physical examination to assess the extent of the misalignment and soft tissue damage and to check for the presence of other foot deformities, such as hammertoes and corns.
* X-rays to determine the extent of damage and deformity in your toe joint.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will review the results of your evaluation with you and discuss whether surgery would be the best method to relieve your pain and deformity. Nonsurgical options, including switching to different shoes, also will be discussed.
Your orthopaedic surgeon also will explain the potential risks and complications of bunion surgery at this time.
Realistic Expectations About Bunion Surgery
An important factor in deciding whether to have bunion surgery is understanding what the procedure can and can not do. The vast majority of patients who undergo bunion surgery experience a dramatic reduction of foot pain after surgery, along with a significant improvement in the alignment of their big toe.
Bunion surgery will not allow you to wear a smaller shoe size or narrow-pointed shoes. In fact, you will have some shoe restrictions for the rest of your life. Always follow the recommendations for shoe fit presented in this booklet.
Remember that the main cause of the bunion deformity is a tight fitting shoe. If you return to that type of shoe wear, your bunion will reappear.
Preparing for Surgery
If you decide to have bunion surgery, you may be asked to have a complete physical with your family physician before surgery to assess your health. If you have heart or lung conditions or other chronic illnesses, you will need a preoperative medical clearance from your family physician.
Before surgery, tell your orthopaedic surgeon about the medications you are taking. He or she will tell you which medications you should and should not stop taking before surgery.
Tests, including blood samples, a cardiogram, a chest X-ray, a urine sample, and special foot X-rays, may be ordered by your orthopaedic surgeon to help him or her plan your procedure.
Your Surgery
Almost all bunion surgery is done on an outpatient basis. You will most likely be asked to arrive at the hospital or surgical center one or two hours prior to surgery.
After admission, you will be evaluated by a member of the anesthesia team. Most bunion surgery is performed under ankle block anesthesia, in which your foot is numb, but you are awake. General or spinal anesthesia is used occasionally. The anesthesiologist will stay with you throughout the procedure to administer other medications, if necessary, and to make sure you are comfortable.
The surgery takes about one hour. Afterwards, you will be moved to the recovery room. You will be ready to go home in one or two hours.
Possible Complications After Surgery
Fewer than 10 percent of patients experience complications from bunion surgery. Possible complications can include infection, recurrence of the bunion, nerve damage, and continued pain.
If complications occur, they are treatable but may affect the extent of your full recovery. Your orthopaedic surgeon will explain various options in treating these complications.
Your Recovery at Home
The success of your surgery will depend in large part on how well you follow your orthopaedic surgeons instructions at home during the first few weeks after surgery. You will see your surgeon regularly for the next several months to make sure your foot heals properly.
Dressing Care You will be discharged from the hospital with bandages holding your toe in its corrected position. You also will wear a special postoperative surgical shoe or cast to protect your foot. Your sutures will be removed about two weeks after surgery, but your foot will require continued support from dressings or a brace for six to eight weeks. To ensure proper healing, it is very important not to disturb your dressings and to keep them dry. Interference with proper healing could cause a recurrence of the bunion. Be sure to place a plastic bag over your foot while showering.
Bearing Weight Your orthopaedic surgeon may advise you to use a walker, cane, or crutches for the first few days after surgery. You can gradually put more weight on your foot as your wound heals. However, walk only short distances during the first few weeks following surgery. You will probably be able to drive again within about a week.
Swelling and Shoe Wear Keep your foot elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery, and apply ice as recommended by your orthopaedic surgeon to relieve swelling and pain. You will have some swelling in your foot for about six months. After your dressings have been removed, wear only athletic shoes or soft leather oxford type shoes for the first several months until the surgery has completely healed. Do not wear fashion shoes, including high heels, until after six months. Follow the tips on shoe fit presented earlier in this booklet when selecting your shoes. This will help prevent the recurrence of your bunion.
Exercises to Strengthen Your Foot Some exercises or physical therapy may be recommended to restore your foot's strength and range of motion after your surgery. Your surgeon may recommend exercises using a surgical band to strengthen your ankle or marbles to restore motion in your toes. Always start these exercises slowly and follow your surgeon's or physical therapist's instructions regarding repetitions.
Medication Your orthopaedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection for several days after your surgery. Pain medication to relieve surgical discomfort also will be prescribed for several days.
Avoiding Problems After Surgery
Though uncommon, complications can occur following bunion surgery. Contact your orthopaedic surgeon if:
* Your dressing loosens, comes off or gets wet.
* Your dressing is moistened with blood or drainage.
* You develop side effects from postoperative medications.
Also, call your orthopaedic surgeon immediately if you notice any of the following warning signs of infection:
* Fever.
* Chills.
* Persistent warmth or redness around the dressing.
* Increased or persistent pain.
* Significant swelling in the calf above the treated foot.
Your orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.
Sometimes surgery maybe the only option but I would make it a last resort. You can try new shoes with a bigger "toe box" or talk to your MD about some other choices such as custom fitted orthotics. Alot of the time it may due with biomechanical issues of your whole foot (over pronation) and if this is true bunion surgery will help to begin with but the bunion will likely come back.
Two of my patients have got joint surgery in India.One was treated for acl repair surgery and the other for bunion removal surgery.Both of them are very happy with the results.Their pain and other symptoms due to joint damage have totally gone.
Orthopaedic Surgery is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges spine surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as some of the surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.
The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your knee surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.both my patients had gone to India through the forerunners healthcare company.i strongly recommend you to talk to this company,checkout your options with surgery from them.
http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com
The pain of a bunion is caused by inflammation of a bursa over the prominent bone on the side of your foot with big toe pointing inward making this protruberant subject to pressure. The surgery is definitely indicated in such a case and leaves a happy patient.
my friend has and she was out of work for a long time . it is very painful and recovery is very long but it is worth for the look of it her feet are pretty now
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