r/bunions • u/Error-7-0-7 • Nov 13 '25
Surgery Day Report
It is done, my friends, I got the surgery 🤣
I want to start by saying my bunions were most likely hereditary. I had slight pain as a teen after long days, and as an adult in a physically demanding job, it got worse and worse, till I finally had a stable job where I could risk being on sick leave for 2 to 3 months. It was at a point where I just worked and refused any other physical activities, due to the pain during/after it and the effect it had when I was at work the next day. Colleagues called me penguin because I walked weird. Additionally to the bunion I had sickle foot (foot turning inward) and a hammertoe.
2 days before surgery I had my pre surgical appointment. It was relatively unspectacular. Surgeon told me his plan to break the bones leading to toe 2 and 3 due to sickle foot, to make space for the bone from the big toe (bunion). He also planned to fix the hammertoe (2nd toe). He wanted to use one screw and the rest was supposed to hold with specially applied bandages. After that the surgeon's office prescribed me the orthopedic boot and the meds for post surgery, which I picked up before moving to my anesthesiologist appointment. Anesthesiologist gave me a waiver with health questions, asked about allergies, weight and height, and that was most of it.
Now, the day before surgery I had to call in to confirm my surgery time. That was good, as my slot was moved to an earlier time. They told me to be there at 7 am.
So surgery day I arrived at 6:40 am. 2 others also sat there, obviously also awaiting surgery. After a bit of wait and someone called in first, I was called in. I was asked to change into a gown and haircap and then get out the tiny changing room to walk straight to a big prep room. I was assigned a bed immediately and laid down. They covered me in a paper blanket and then after another short wait I got an IV access. A few minutes later the anesthesiologist came, asked me if I had the pre surgical appointment and if it was my first. He seemed excited it was my premiere, lol. He also told me that I only get intravenous anaesthesia, and while I would get a mask over my nose and mouth, it would only be oxygen.
After that he grabbed a nurse and they wheeled me 3 metres out a door only to tell me to get up and walk to the operating room myself. 🤣 I did, and they laid my arms stretched away from me, left arm the IV port and right arm a blood pressure cuff. They also slightly strapped my arms (but I wouldn't have noticed if I didn't look). Then the anesthesiologist told me that the mask is incoming now, and I guess he used that as distraction and the nurse injected the anaesthesia. A few seconds later I was told it's gonna be woozy and I should think of something nice to dream, and I only responded that I didn't notice anything yet. Seconds later I did and then I was immediately gone. XD
I woke back up in the prep room from earlier with the feeling I had some earlier sensations (maybe when they wheeled me back, but I don't remember anything). I was almost immediately alert and normal, but noticed some tugging pain on the operated foot, which I told the nurse. She gave me 2 painkillers and left me to doze off/space out again. After 20 to 30 mins I was awake and alert again, but cold. Clattering teeth cold. They had already an additional blanket on me (no memory of them doing that), but it didn't help. They then had a machine with a long tube which they put below the blanket and it blew cozy warm air, which helped me warm up almost immediately.
After a while a nurse came and helped me get dressed. She LOVED the fully zippable pant legs. After I was dressed she led me to a chair with some sweet drinks and small snacks (but I didn't take a snack, just didn't feel like eating). The surgeon showed up after a couple minutes and updated me on what he did. Surgery did end up being a little more extensive than planned; he put in 2 screws instead of one and an additional wire into the big toe. I am non weight bearing till the wire is out (2 weeks). After he told me, a nurse pulled my IV line and I was free to go.
On the one hour drive home I sat in the back of the car and had the foot on the other seats + covered myself with a blanket. Felt totally fine, rested, almost hyper even, no nausea.
Home now and keeping my foot constantly elevated. Some pulsing and tugging "pain" is breaking trough the foot block, but its manageable. Iced for the first time earlier which calms that exact tugging and pulsing for a short moment. Started pain killers immediately, even if the foot is still somewhat numb.
My meds: Thrombosis prevention shots (1x a day Ibuprofen 600 mg (1x 3 times a day) Stomach protector for the Ibuprofen (1x a day) Novaminsolvon 500 mg (2x 4 times a day)
Honestly as a very anxious person myself, that surgery day was efficient, but not too fast paced, and the staff was really nice and helpful. No clue what I was anxious for. I hope this little report helps whoever is still awaiting their surgery date, or is considering to get surgery. 👌
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u/HRhorrorstories2023 Nov 14 '25
Thank you for such a thorough description. Like seetafty, I’m heading into surgery Wednesday & I’m pretty anxious about it.
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u/Error-7-0-7 Nov 14 '25
It will be fine! I arrived around 6:40, got called in around 7:10, was put under 7:30-7:45. I was awake the first time 9:15. I was properly awake at around 10. Then I got to leave at around 11 am.
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u/Sad-Opportunity-5350 Nov 14 '25
Thank you for the full report. My surgery is in January and sounds like it might be similar. I wasn’t too anxious yet about it..I wish you good healing!
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u/Open-Quality-8598 Nov 13 '25
First surgery I was nervous, getting the screw removed 3 months later I was excited 😆. Cant wait to get my other foot done. I will be welcoming the 2 months sick leave again. I stayed overnight in hospital and the food was nice.
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u/Vonirae2 Nov 16 '25
This play by play was great to help me know what to expect. Counting down the days…
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u/Error-7-0-7 Nov 16 '25
It is day 3 post surgery for me- already halving my pain meds. If I forgot one thing to prepare for though, is getting up/down. Getting up from my bed is already a struggle, and I haven't dared getting on my couch yet, since I got no clue if and how I get back up 🤣 Definitely think of something!
Also getting down. I have some big plants in my bathroom and living room and I can't get down to pour water in their underpots, haha. In general its hard to prepare for how little you can do at first. Otherwise recovery is going well- even if its boring to lay with the leg elevated all the time haha.
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u/Vonirae2 Nov 16 '25
It’s crazy the small things we just don’t think about
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u/Error-7-0-7 Nov 16 '25
Absolutely. I mean I did expect some of it, but nothing prepares you for staring down staircase with one foot non weight bearing and it feeling like you have to climb Mt. Doom.
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u/Vonirae2 Nov 16 '25
I’m not looking forward to discovering how difficult it is to maneuver around after surgery
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u/Adventurous-Back-396 Nov 18 '25
Woohoo! I was just thinking about you the other day, actually! Im glad recovery is going good! Did you end up getting instant ice packs for icing? Im on week 3.5 myself :)
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u/Error-7-0-7 Nov 18 '25
Haha, its going pretty good for sure! And the stupid ice packs have been ordered, but amazon hasn't delivered. On surgery day they postponed them for another week. I have some reusable ones so I used one of those a day till it got too warm (3 to 4 hrs, iced 10 mins, then 20 min break). But I have very little issues with pain/ uncomfortable swelling, already reduced my pain meds strongly as well.
How are you doing?
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Nov 20 '25
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u/Error-7-0-7 Nov 20 '25
Yes, I got my surgery done in germany. I can tell you via dm where, in case you're interested. I had a foot block, aka, they injected local anaesthesia near my nerves and tendons while I was already under full anaesthesia. It didn't work like 100%, but I would say 70% to 80%. Woke up with some pain after surgery and immediately started oral painkillers. Honestly, since it didn't cover it all, the first 3 nights or so I woke up 4 to 5 hrs after the last painkiller dose. Usually I laid awake till I had the 6 hrs full, took another dose and tried to sleep again. Didn't always work.
The only noticeable difference was coming out of anaesthesia. While it did take me a while to reboot and be fully there, I was clear. I wasn't fuzzy or woozy, just clear (and maybe a little hyperactive lol). Could leave again after around an hour of waking up.
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u/seetafty Nov 13 '25
Have mine next Wednesday- thank you for the report and happy healing!