[Guest]

I have severe bunions and would like to be rid of them. I have heard many stories of how that surgery should be avoided.

There is a podiatrist advertising laser surgery in the local area. Is laser a perfected effective way to correct foot ills?

Ron Mayes

[Guest]

Laser surgery canot be used to get rid of the actual bunion. However, if you have sever bunions, you should have them removed. I do not know why anyone would say surgery should be avoided. Your bones are not aligned properly which is causing arthritis in your big toe joint. Therefore, you should see a podiatrist for a thorough examination. Also, if you are not sure after seeing one podiatrist, you are welcome to go for a second opinion. Have a nice day and please write back if you have any further questions.
[quote] I have severe bunions and would like to be rid of them. I have heard many stories of how that surgery should be avoided... [/quote]

[Guest]

I wish I had heard the warnings before I had my surgery in Baltimore summer of 2001. My left foot took about 6 months to heal, and that would have been acceptable if I had known it beforehand, but I don’t believe my podiatrist ever told me that.
My foot was swollen for 4 ½ months after. Even a little swelling means pain when you stand on it. When I finally asked him directly, after 10 weeks of swelling, how long before it is completely normal, he told me 6 to 9 months.
I made a complaint against him to the Maryland Podiatry Assn, but they tell me it was just a communication problem. “Just!!!” One problem with me was that the podiatrist was so cute and charming that, I’m not sure what he actually said before surgery. But I know he did not stress seriously enough the long and difficult recovery, at least for most people.

The worst pain came 12 hours after the end of surgery. Because I live alone, I couldn’t fill the pain prescription. (Hobbling around on crutches, one doesn’t have use of their hands. You also cannot drive.) So after the needles wore off, I felt excruciating pain for about 16 hours. I was pounding pillows, screaming, almost out of my mind. After I got it filled, the prescription did not give any relief for 5-6 hours. Medical folks tell me that pain works like that once it gets established.

I did not have laser surgery, just the old fashioned cut and screw type. But I would imagine that the pain is caused by the fact that bones are cut, and bones don’t like to be cut. Whether they are cut by a knife or a laser (and I assume the laser cuts the excess bone away) I don’t think it makes much difference. The resultant pain will probably be the same.


Most of the bunion patients I’ve talked to were told not to walk on their feet post-surgery for one or two weeks. My doctor, David Samuels, was not so clear. I even met one woman whose podiatrist told her TO walk on it every day for at least 5 mins, even the day of surgery. She told me it was so painful that she ended up taking morphine. You would think that the podiatry assn, their professional group, would have discovered some ideal advice by now, after all these years.

If you live alone, try to find someone to visit you for an hour or 2 a day to help with necessary chores. You can’t even get mail from your mailbox while you’re walking on crutches. You cannot wash your body, prepare meals, brush teeth or anything. It can get really very lonely and depressing. Have a couple books on hand that you’d really like to read, and stay doped up as needed. After about 2 days, my physical pain subsided sharply, but then the incapacity and loneliness kicked in.

Because this was outpatient surgery, one is tempted to think of it as “minor surgery.” But believe me, it isn’t. The pain and disruption are major.

I hope this helps.

[quote] I have severe bunions and would like to be rid of them. I have heard many stories of how that surgery should be avoided... [/quote]

[Guest]

I had a combination bunion/tailor bunion surgery. My doctor gave me a perscription for pain meds on the day he scheduled my surgery. I too had a slow recovery, swelling for 6 months. I agree that they don't tell you how serious it is until when you are there, getting ready to start the surgery. A little to late to back out then. I have a suggestion for the problem people have getting around after surgery. I found that using a chair on rollers in the house, with your knee of the foot that had surgery, in the chair, pushing yourself around with your other foot. This frees up your hands to do things you need to do. I gave up on crutches in the house, it just doesn't work. Also, if you have any grocery shopping to do, do it right before the surgery. I have had more problems in that foot coincidently??? popping up since my surgery,have had aother surgery on same foot and now need one for a Neuroma which seemed to happen during the healing process of my first surgery, go figure!!!! Good luck to all!
[quote] I wish I had heard the warnings before I had my surgery in Baltimore summer of 2001. My left foot took about 6 months to heal, and that would have been acceptable if I had known it beforehand, but I don’t believe my podiatrist ever told me that... [/quote]