How long does a bunionectomy surgery take to heal?
It took me around 11 to 12 weeks to be healed enough be back to my usual routine after my bunionectomy. By 6 weeks I was out of my surgical shoe and could walk in a my FitFlops. I probably won’t be fully healed until a full year after surgery. This time frame is required for the bone to heal itself, and most bunion surgeries require the bone to be cut or moved. My doctor gave me an earlier time frame for healing, but that was not the case for me. Everybody is different.
How long after a bunionectomy can I go back to work?
When deciding when to go back to work after a bunionectomy, you will have to factor in the type of work you do. Are you on your feet all day? Does your work involve heavy labor? Do you need to drive?
In a desk or office type job it could be a matter of two weeks. That will depend on:
- The doctor giving you the okay to work.
- If you can keep your foot elevated.
- If you have transportation or have not had surgery to the right foot in order to drive.
- Your body’s pain tolerance level. After having a bunionectomy the foot is swollen for quite some time. When standing, even to take a shower, the blood rushes to the foot and may make it uncomfortable to stand on it for long periods of time.
For some people, it could take 2-3 months before going back to work, especially when the work requires standing, or is physically demanding.
Do I need surgery for a Tailors Bunion?
Tailor’s bunion surgery may be needed when all other non-surgical remedies have been exhausted. Surgery will be contingent on the magnitude of the deformity. Generally, when pain or further growth of the tailor’s bunion continues surgery would be used to either remove the bony prominence, or realign the bone to allow usual use of the joint. The correct surgery needed based on the structure of your foot will be recommended by a podiatrist.
Will there be a scar after my tailor bunion surgery?
Like any cut you may get from falling or on a kitchen knife, there is a healing of the skin that takes place. When having tailor’s bunion surgery, the foot is cut open and stitched closed. That stitching can create a scar. There are some products you can methods you can use to treat the skin while it is healing in order to minimize the appearance of a scar.
- Apply vitamin E onto the scar.
- Rub coca butter on the scar.
- Rub twice a day with BioOil.
- Mederma, a topical gel which uses botanicals to naturally fade the scar.
What shoes are good for someone with a tailors bunion?
It is important to invest in proper footwear, especially if you suffer from bunions. A good shoes will have the following:
- Wide toe box. This will prevent friction and pressure on the bunion.
- Removable inserts. This will allow you to remove the insert sold with the shoe, in favor for an orthotic.
- Skip the heels. A shoe that has a heel higher than 1 inch worn regularly will only worsen the deformity.
How do I prevent a Tailor’s bunion?
Once a tailor’s bunions has surfaced there is no getting rid of it. At this point, all you can do is try to take a few precautions to slow down the progression of it.
- Comfortable shoes. The importance of proper footwear cannot be reiterated enough. If a shoe has a high heel, is tight, pointed, or narrow, it will only worsen the condition. A wide toe box is essential in slowing down the growth.
- Orthotics.
- Bunion pads.
- Cortizone injections.
