Post Bunion Surgery

Triathlon Forum
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Hi, I am new to posting on Slowtwitch…
I had double bunion surgery 8 weeks ago tomorrow. One foot had more extensive work done (along with the fracturing and realigning, it had a bursa removed and more bone shaved than on the other side). Obviously I know there is a lot of swelling to be expected for up to 6 months and I am still in big shoes (unfortunately I have women’s 10’s to begin with, so I am in man shoes!/boots).

Just looking to hear from others who have had it done or know someone who had it done. I have started some cycling, and with my straps open and no inserts in them they are not too bad, just a bit of pressure. I am not worse after I am done. I tried swimming at 6.5 weeks (doc said I could do anything but run or jump)…I did not feel great after that so am going to wait another 2 weeks to try.

Has anyone who had it gotten back to running at 3 months? 6 months? Not at all??? The right one is slower to heal and more swollen than the left, but both are still quite tender . .I know this is a big surgery and (I am also a physio, so knowing too much is both a blessing and a curse!)…I have to be patient.

Any words of advice or encouragement are totally welcomed! My goal is to get back to full competitive racing (I now primarily stick to sprint/Oly distance after a few yrs in IM, but am open to a half IM return one day if running goes okay. ).

Thanks.
Elise

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Bump for others to share their experience since I know for sure :slight_smile: there are others on board that can relate their stories of recovery, progress, etc. that I think you are looking for.

Not sure why you had both done at the same time - I strongly encourage patients (and won’t) don’t do this. Yeah, I’ve heard all the “excuses” - just one block of time off work, won’t do the other I heard if I do just one, etc.

Anyway, recovery is also WAY longer with a bilateral procedure and also varies tremendously by what exact surgery was done. I definitely have some people running as short as 6 weeks (unusual), all are ambulatory from day 1 (at least a little). Most are trying spinning, walking by 12 at the latest. Can swim (with a pull buoy) around 3-4 weeks if no incisional problems. Osteotomies take longer to heal and will cause swelling for quite some time. Proximal osteotomies usually do need a longer period of immobilization than distal ones (what did you have?). Pre-op flexibility and associated pathologies also will play into your recovery as well.

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Elise, I can write you a novel on post bunion surgery. I am sure Dr.Roof will give you advice as well, he did surgery on both my feet:-)

First I believe it’s hard to put everyone in the same boat. I had both done 4 months apart. I got the left one done first. I was RUNNING after 8 weeks. I was amazed at my progress, I couldn’t wait to get the other one done. I did cycle after 4-5 weeks, started with a platform and toe cages but decided that the clip in was much less painful.

So then I got the other foot done. WHOLE different story. It took 4 months before I could walk pain free. I have broken sesamoids that became painful. So I struggled a lot. Got 2 cortisone shots, I believe the last one was like 8 months post op (I am like 1 1/2 to almost 2 years post op) I am not for shots but they did help. I struggled to swim. It hurt to kick and push off wall. My toe was numb as well and swimming made that feeling really weird. So the left foot was great, right foot was getting me depressed.

So I had a hard time training, I was discouraged but patient. Then I developped Plantar fascitis in left foot, I believe my gait was altered. I struggled with that and still do a bit but it’s much better. ART and 2 cortisone shots later in the left heel, I feel vulnerable but I can RUN! It’s been only 2 months that I can actually run without flaring up. My gait is very altered and slow, but I am also much bigger. I can now run 3-4 miles 3 times a week consistently. I don’t have pain swimming and cycling is ok, as long as I have orthotics in the shoes.

I cannot wear heels. That hurts my toes. Sometimes, when I trail run, I get numbness in the toes. Well I am a chiro, so like you I feel it was a blessing and a curse.

Wearing CROCS helped a ton. It was very comfortable for the healing part. I also wear the Sidi MEGA bike shoes, the only bike shoes wide enough for me. Forget all the women specific cute shoes.

I would say be patient. Your body will let you know what it can and can’t do. I believe everyone (and each side) heals differently. I would tell you that you will get there.

Like you , I would try and then wait 2-3 weeks, retry… and now I believe I am at a much better place, I am just wayyyy out of shape. It is hard to go from competitive to shuffling for 3 miles at 12-13 min miles. But I am staying positive and focused even if I still get down at times:-)

Does that help?

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Hi Andrew…had both done because I would not want to go through this twice. Time off training, pain etc. And to be honest I would almost find it harder to walk flat footed (as I did from week 2- week 6) than to even it out on both.
I had a chevron osteotomy done … Bursa removal on the right, and then the realigment. No pins required. Wore surgical shoe and weight bear on heels for first 10 days, then no toe off gait for 6 weeks. Did no exercise other than open chain and upper body/core till last Wed at 6 weeks+. I did the odd squat but weight was on heels and no issues.
Pre op I was quite hypermobile in my first ray and had a metatarsalgia develop on right side too. Big bursa, had to cut holes out of right running shoes. Left foot was not painful, but angulation way worse than the right side. Aesthetically they both sucked and I want to wear shoes again ! Only comfortable shoe was a birkenstock. Had men’s running shoes with hole cut out of right one.

My surgeon did both as I am in good shape, (in my early 40’s) and he is an aggressive surgeon in sports med. He operates on National Ballet of Canada dancers when they retire and did not dissuade me from doing them together. I worked with him for many years so I trusted his opinion and knew he would be honest with me given our relationship.

Thanks for your advice and experience. Part of this is me continuing to be patient which I really was for the first 6 weeks. His words to me were at 6 weeks you are functional, at 3 months light running and normal shoe, at 6 months a “fashion shoe” and full competitive running. Although I never wear heels unless going to a wedding!

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Wow Marisol…I certainly hope I am not in that situation! I know of another pro triathlete that had it done and she fared well in the end.

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Wow Marisol…I certainly hope I am not in that situation! I know of another pro triathlete that had it done and she fared well in the end.

I am still happy I did it, I had the BEST surgeon EVER, that helped tremendously:-)

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I had one foot done a few years ago. Bunion shaved off and big toe realigned (pin in foot, cast, etc). Also had a Morton’s neuroma cut out. Eventually the foot came back worse than ever before, at least to look at. I now have another big bunion, plus a hammer toe. I went back to an orth guy and he said I needed much more extensive surgery than before, and would be off my feet for weeks. Well, my foot wasn’t painful so I decided to stick with the ugly foot. I cut out a side of my running shoe to allow for the bunion and only wear big, flat shoes. But I’ve been running now for years pain free and did IMFL 2 months ago. So, if you can avoid surgery, do so. Surgery is not always the answer.

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Very interested in this thread as I likely have bunion surgery in my future. Thanks for the updates!

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Hey went back to this thread in google search and lo and behold I started it:)…so you mentioned yours came back after surgery worse than before…well I am in the same boat!! Just one…I think it is the bursa that came back but the angulation is not pretty. Sad thing is it hurts back in shoes again. I am so not interested in cutting holes in my shoes again or wearing ugly wide shoes. Did that for so many years. But on the flip side surgery is not going to help if my mechanics have not changed. So frustrated. Have not been back to surgeon. Going in a couple of weeks.
Are you still in same boat? Or did you do it again
Just thought I would see where you are in your post surgical mess up too!
Mine came back so acutely . I think from increase in treadmill running with this horrid winter we are having!
Elise