Surrounding bunion surgeries there are many false beliefs and misconceptions. These misconceptions are often spread by people who do not have accurate information on the subject. Often, true accounts become distorted and exaggerated when they are passed along from person to person. So here is what to expect and what not to expect after a bunion correction surgery.
How Soon Can I Walk After Bunion Surgery?
One misconception is that the patient will not be able to walk for up to 3 months after the surgery. And this notion is completely false. In fact, patients are able to walk right away after their surgery. Wearing special surgical shoes for at least 2 weeks, with 5 weeks being the longest time, patients can walk since bunionectomies are weight-bearing procedures that allow a vertical force.
So, as long as patients wear surgical shoes, they will be able to walk as the surgical shoes will protect the area of the bunion. In short, the good news is that patients can walk right away after the bunion surgery if they are wearing these surgical shoes.
Are Bunion Surgeries Painful?
The second misconception about bunion surgeries revolves around the question of pain. Are bunion surgeries painful? The answer is no, bunion surgeries are not painful. Having access to modern medicine like lidocaine and Propofol, not to mention sedation, bunion surgeries do not have to be painful. When it comes to the actual surgery, patients have the option of choosing sedation or not. If patients choose against being sedated, then bunion surgery could be comparable to a visit to the dentist.
Some potential patients might be worried about how many stitches they will get during the surgery. Normally, patients will get between 1 and 5 stitches. Some patients worry that the more stitches they get, the more damage they have gotten as a result of the surgery. However, this way of thinking is very naïve because there is no correlation between the number of stitches and the supposed damage or gravity of a surgical procedure.
The incision size, which varies from surgeon to surgeon, will determine how many stitches are placed. In turn, incision sizes will vary depending on visibility and anatomical structures. In short, the number of sutures does not dictate how successful or not surgery is.
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How Soon Can I Wear Regular Shoes?
Many patients also feel anxious regarding when they will be able to return to their normal shoes. In the case of heels, it is not true that patients will never be able to return to wearing those. At least 2 weeks will elapse between the surgery and the patient’s being able to wear regular shoes.
If an osteotomy is performed, patients will usually have to wait around six weeks until they can wear regular shoes once again. For example, many patients return to wearing sneakers a month after their surgery.
Find out more about bunions in our extensive guide: What Is a Bunion? A Guide to Bunions, What They Are and How to Treat Them. Call Best Foot Doctor NY today with any foot condition concerns.