With modern techniques, bunion surgery is now a routine operation and complications are rare. However, it will still take some time for your foot to heal completely, so it’s useful to know what to expect during the recovery period.
What’s the recovery timeline like?
There is a wide variation in the amount of time your injured foot will take to recover entirely from bunion surgery. Your podiatrist will be able to give you expert advice, but here are some pointers as to what you may expect:
- Between one and three weeks, your stitches will be removed, and any pins will usually come out a couple weeks later.
- Depending on the specific procedure you have undergone, you may not be able to put any weight on the injured foot for as long as two months.
- Although most people can gradually resume ordinary activities after this time, some complex bunion surgeries can take as long as six months to heal fully.
How to help your foot heal properly
As with any other type of surgery, it’s very important to follow any instructions given to you by your doctor. This will make sure your foot heals properly, as well as minimizing the risk of complications.
- While you still have the stitches in, take care to keep them dry. When you take a shower or bathe, make sure you cover up the affected foot.
- Don’t move straight from resting your foot totally to using it normally – start with gentle, partial weight-bearing movements to protect your healing foot.
- Although you may be able to wear your regular shoes in a couple of months, your doctor may ask you to use special footwear, splints or casts for a while.
Handling the recovery period well
You may feel some discomfort during the recovery procedure, but in most cases this can be handled with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Ask your doctor for advice if you’re not sure which is right for you.
- Despite the inconvenience, don’t resume activities like driving too soon. Most people will need to wait between six and eight weeks, depending on the type of surgery.
- To reduce the risk of swelling in the affected foot, place it on an elevated stool, especially in the weeks right after your surgery.
- If you get a high temperature, severe pain that painkillers can’t reduce, or significant redness around the surgery area, see a doctor right away.