Bunion And Hammertoe Surgery
What You Need To Know About Bunion And Hammertoe Surgery
Bunion and hammertoe surgery isn't always performed on both conditions at the same time, as most patients have one disorder or the other, but not both. Still, the procedure is either case is somewhat similar. Both conditions result from an abnormality in the structure of the foot. In some cases, an individual may have both problems, and a combined surgical procedure may be in order.
Hammertoes And Bunions - Hammertoes usually begin as a slight bending of one or both joints in one or more of the small toes, and not the big toe. The bending may become more pronounced over time, and the joints may become less flexible, leading to foot discomfort and an inability to find a non-invasive treatment.
A bunion is a deformity involving the joint between the foot and the big toe, which usually causes the toe to bed inward towards the smaller toes, and creates a sac or bony deformity on the outside of the toe where it joint the foot. This sac or deformity can become painful and quite tender, and make proper fitting of shoes very difficult and in some cases nearly impossible. While some believe improperly fitting footwear can bring on a bunion, most agree that there is an underlying genetic cause, and that ill-fitting footwear simply makes a developing situation worse. Hammertoes are also inherited in some cases, but are most often the result of trauma and damage to the joints of the toes.
Once you've consulted with a doctor, and determined that you wish to go ahead with bunion and hammertoe surgery, there are a few things to prepare for. Bunion and hammertoe surgery is quite often done on an out-patient basis, so you're not facing a stay in the hospital, but can probably go home the same day.
You're going to be off of your feet for the most of the time during the first week or two, and on crutches for some time after that. If you live alone, you'll want someone to check in on you from time to time, and you might consider renting a wheelchair to move around in when you get tired of lying or sitting in bed, or have certain duties to perform.
Rest And Cabin Fever - You'll probably be given a protective boot of some kind to place over the cast to keep it dry when bathing. Your foot will probably be numb for a couple of days, but try to avoid striking the cast or the boot too hard against anything as you may incur damage that will have to be surgically repaired later. Most of the time however, you're not going to be doing much walking around, but will be sitting or lying with your foot elevated. When on your feet, blood will naturally tend to accumulate in the foot, which while normal, may feel very uncomfortable. A boring as it may seem, you'll usually be happy to be sitting or lying down again.
It's going to be at least two weeks following bunion and hammertoe surgery before you can place any weight on your feet, and when you start, you'll probably walk mainly on the heel of your foot to avoid putting any pressure on the toes. Rest is essential however, so cabin fever is apt to be your worst enemy.
A couple of months after bunion and hammertoe surgery, things will get back to normal, but you'll probably find yourself most comfortable wearing soft shoes, such as moccasins, which you may want to have half a size too large. Eventually you'll get back to moving around normally, at which time you'll realize the surgery itself was only a very small part of the whole experience.