Bunion Surgery Before and After: Lessons from My Father’s Recovery

Introduction: Bunions are bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe, caused by a misalignment of the foot’s bones. Mayo Clinic describes a bunion as “a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe,” forcing the big toe toward the other toesmayoclinic.org. Over time this misalignment makes the joint stick out, often turning red or sore. Tight, narrow shoes can trigger or worsen bunionsmayoclinic.org. Common symptoms include a bulging bump, swelling or redness around the big toe, and ongoing pain or stiffness that can make walking difficultmayoclinic.org. In fact, bunions are very common: about 23% of adults have them, and they become more prevalent with agehealthline.com.

People consider bunion surgery when conservative measures fail. As Healthline notes, surgery is generally “the only proven option” to remove bunions, but it’s usually reserved for cases causing severe pain at rest or with walkinghealthline.com. In other words, if your bunion severely limits your daily life, an orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. In this post, I’ll share my father’s real experience – from pre-surgery challenges, through the operation, and his recovery journey – to highlight what to expect before and after bunionectomy and why diligent post-op care (especially using toe spacers or orthotics) truly matters.

Before Surgery

For years my father lived with a growing bunion on his left foot. What started as a minor bump turned into constant discomfort. Every morning he limped a bit as soon as he stood up. The bump would ache even at rest, and after a few blocks of walking he’d feel a sharp, burning sensation in the joint. He often had trouble finding shoes that fit. As Mayo Clinic warns, bunions can make it “trouble finding shoes that fit properly”mayoclinic.org. He switched to extra-wide, soft shoes, but even then the skin over the bunion was sometimes red and tender.

He tried every home remedy we read about – padding the bunion, toe separators between his big toe and second toe, even custom shoe inserts. (Indeed, podiatrists note that orthotics – custom shoe inserts – can redistribute pressure away from the bunion and help prevent it from worseningconcordpodiatry.com.) These measures offered some temporary relief, but did not stop the pain. He skipped activities like long walks or hikes because every step hurt.

Eventually he agreed that surgery was the best option. His podiatrist explained that bunion surgery is typically considered only when the deformity “severely impacts quality of life,” making walking or standing painfulconcordpodiatry.com. Our decision was made when it became clear he couldn’t live the way he wanted (playing golf, walking in the park, even standing to cook) without constant pain.

The Surgery

On surgery day, Dad underwent a bunionectomy (osteotomy) to remove the bump and realign his big toe. Cleveland Clinic describes this procedure: the surgeon makes small incisions around the toe bones, cuts and repositions the bones, and often uses screws or pins to hold the new alignmentmy.clevelandclinic.org. In his case, the surgeon cut the bone at the base of the big toe, nudged the toe back to a straighter position, and fixed it with a tiny metal pin. The whole operation took under an hour – as the clinic notes, most bunion surgeries are completed in about 30–60 minutesmy.clevelandclinic.org.

He was given regional anesthesia (a nerve block) so the foot was numb for the surgery and even into the first day of recovery. This is common; the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) reports that many bunionectomy patients get a foot nerve block lasting 24 hours, and most only need ibuprofen or Tylenol after a couple of dayshss.edu. In our case, the block took care of immediate pain, and post-op pain medications kept him comfortable later on.

Importantly, his surgery was outpatient – he came home the same day. After surgery, he recovered in a room for a few hours where nurses checked his vitals and pain. Cleveland Clinic confirms this: “Most bunion surgeries are outpatient procedures,” meaning patients typically go home the same daymy.clevelandclinic.org. He needed someone to drive him home and helped him up and down the steps; he certainly could not drive himself because of the foot numbness and soreness.

Before leaving, the surgical team bandaged his foot very securely to hold the toe in the correct positionmyhealth.alberta.ca. They also put him in a stiff surgical shoe – a rigid, sandal-like shoe with Velcro straps – and handed him crutches. He was told, “Keep that shoe on at all times, and do not put any weight on that foot for now.” These instructions came from the standard protocol: Alberta Health’s guidelines advise that “you won’t be able to put weight on your foot at first” and that a cast or special shoe is used for at least 3–6 weeksmyhealth.alberta.ca.

Post-Surgery Recovery

Week 1: The first week was tough but crucial. Dad kept his foot elevated on pillows most of the time, even while sitting on the couch or in bed. Elevation reduces swelling, and Alberta’s recovery guide explicitly recommends frequent icing and elevation: “Put ice or a cold pack on your foot for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, every 1–2 hours for the next 3 days… Prop up your foot… to reduce swelling.”myhealth.alberta.ca He followed that to the letter – even sleeping with an ice pack on a timer beside him at night. Swelling and pain were highest in these first days, but slowly eased. He took prescribed pain meds, and by day 3 he could drop back to over-the-counter Tylenol, just as HSS indicates is possible for many patientshss.edu.

He was completely non-weight-bearing on that foot. In fact, as Alberta notes, his surgeon told him “you will have to wear a cast or special type of shoe… to keep it in the right position for at least 3 to 6 weeks”myhealth.alberta.ca. In our case, Dad used the provided surgical shoe (which had a rockered sole) and crutches to move around. For the first week, he was essentially one-legged, hopping to the bathroom and wherever necessary. Keeping the bandages dry was another concern – the instructions said not to shower until the sutures were out, so sponge baths it was.

Weeks 2-3: At two weeks post-op, Dad returned to the clinic to have the stitches removed (the Alberta handout says sutures usually come out at about 2 weeksmyhealth.alberta.ca). He was relieved when the stitches were off and the bandage came off – the incision looked good, and he still felt only mild soreness. This is also typically when doctors start loosening restrictions. From HSS guidelines, patients often begin to put some weight on the foot around this time (depending on the surgery type)hss.edu.

True enough, the surgeon allowed Dad to begin partial weight-bearing. He started by putting his heel down lightly in the shoe while using crutches. He could remove the shoe at home to do gentle ankle and toe stretches (therapist-prescribed exercises) to keep joints from stiffening. Bucksfoot Clinic, a foot care center, highlights that physical therapy and exercises are important in these weeks to restore strength and motionbucksfootclinic.com. We spent time each day doing simple exercises: flexing the ankle and tiny toe wiggles.

He continued using ice packs 1–2 times per day as needed for swelling, and still slept with the foot elevated. Swelling remained notable around the toe, especially after periods of walking, but it was clearly going down compared to the first week. By the end of week 3, he was walking on the crutches with more confidence.

Weeks 4-6: In weeks four through six, we saw steady improvement. Dad gradually weaned off the crutches (usually one crutch at a time). He was still wearing the special shoe whenever he was on his foot, and avoiding any hills or uneven terrain. His walking steadiness improved daily.

By about 6 weeks, he could mostly put full weight on the foot in the surgical shoe. This aligns with recovery timelines from Cleveland Clinic: bones typically take 6–12 weeks to heal, and by 6 weeks patients often regain enough function to walk normallymy.clevelandclinic.org. HSS also notes that by 6 weeks many minimally invasive bunion patients can wear a regular sneakerhss.edu. In our case, the surgeon cleared him for regular shoes at 6 weeks, but stressed they must be supportive.

So Dad transitioned to a pair of wide, cushioned sneakers with a low heel. Concord Podiatry emphasizes that proper shoes are essential: “Shoes with a wide toe box prevent compression” and good arch support helps distribute pressureconcordpodiatry.com. We ditched any heels or tight loafers; even after surgery, placing pressure on the joint too soon would hurt. He also started using a rubber bunion pad in the shoe to cushion any residual bump. Bucksfoot Clinic notes padded pads and insoles can even reduce foot pain post-surgerybucksfootclinic.com.

Pain by this point was mostly gone, replaced by a dull ache if he overdid it. He kept taking anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen) for another few weeks. Overall, mobility was returning – he was now walking without aids and doing gentle daily walks around the block. By 8-10 weeks, he resumed many normal activities, though he still didn’t run or play sports. The clevelandclinic.org site advises that normal activities often resume around 3 monthsmy.clevelandclinic.org. We noticed he still had some ankle/foot stiffness, which is normal and expected to slowly improve up to a year out.

Throughout recovery, we learned that consistent use of recommended footwear was key. Bucksfoot Clinic specifically advises that wearing a “surgical shoe or boot is crucial during the initial weeks post-surgery” to protect the footbucksfootclinic.com. He never omitted that shoe in the first 6 weeks, even at home. Later, he adhered to wide supportive shoes as the doctor recommended. This all paid off: by month three he was walking fine, with only mild swelling after a full day on his feet.

The Mistake

Our one big regret in the journey was neglecting post-op care once things felt almost normal. Around the third month, Dad began to slack on the toe corrector. The surgeon had emphasized he should use a toe spacer splint (a soft device that holds the big toe straight) every night for several months, but Dad thought “I’m doing great now” and sometimes skipped it. At first nothing seemed amiss – but slowly, almost imperceptibly, his big toe began to drift back toward the others.

A few weeks later, when he tried on an old pair of loafers, he felt a familiar pinch on the inside of the foot. He realized the protective padding was rubbing again – the bunion was creeping back. This was devastating. All the months of care had given back a toe position that looked very close to the original deformity. We learned that this can indeed happen: foot experts note a bunion can recur if the corrected bones shift postoperatively. HSS reports a lifetime recurrence rate of about 20% for bunions, especially if care is laxhss.edu.

Fortunately, his drift wasn’t severe enough to cause full-blown pain again, but it was a wake-up call. The surgeon explained that the bones only truly set when full healing happens (several months in). Until then, soft tissues can pull the toe back unless held straight. In other words, every post-op device is important – it “helps maintain correction postoperatively”doralhw.org. By resuming nightly use of the splint and staying diligent about wide shoes, we ultimately kept his toe from slipping much more.

This slip-up taught us that bunion surgery doesn’t give you free license to ignore your foot. As one podiatrist site warns, if patients don’t “follow postoperative instructions carefully,” healing can be compromisedhss.edu. We learned the hard way: the surgical correction could be undone. We recommitted to all aids – toe spacers, orthotic inserts, and even occasional splinting – to lock in the good result.

Lessons Learned

The key lesson from my dad’s story is that post-surgery care is just as crucial as the surgery itself. Correcting the bone alignment is only the first step; ensuring everything heals in that alignment depends on supportive devices and habits.

• Toe spacers and splints work. Our doctor emphasized using a night-time toe separator to keep the big toe straight. This advice is backed by experts: for example, Doral Health explains that the main function of bunion splints is to “help maintain correction postoperatively”doralhw.org. Bucksfoot Clinic also notes toe separators can “contribute to improved toe alignment in post-bunion surgery patients”bucksfootclinic.com. In practice, wearing a silicone toe spacer (or soft splint) for even a couple of hours each night made a noticeable difference in preventing drift.

• Orthotics and cushioning reduce stress. Even though the bones are fixed, the soft tissues and joints still bear stress. Concord Podiatry points out that custom orthotic insoles “support, align, and improve” foot function, redistributing pressure and helping prevent a bunion from worseningconcordpodiatry.com. After surgery, Dad continued with insoles in his sneakers. This “reduces stress and improves stability”concordpodiatry.com on the healing foot. We also used cushioned pads: as Bucksfoot notes, a cushioned bunion pad “helps distribute pressure more evenly”, which felt great on the tender areabucksfootclinic.com.

• Don’t underestimate swelling and pain management. We realized that even after the initial “great” feeling, the foot was still vulnerable. Elevation, ice, and anti-inflammatories kept inflammation low. Resting the foot was not annoying “doctor-order stuff”; it really helped the tissues knit together. As Alberta’s guide says, swelling can slowly improve over 6 weeks, and mild pain can last up to 6–12 monthsmyhealth.alberta.ca. We stayed patient through this, knowing it was normal.

• Be patient with activity. We learned to obey the weight-bearing rules strictly. Walking too soon or without the brace caused pain. HSS notes that outcomes are excellent if “postoperative instructions [are] followed carefully”hss.edu – and true enough, when we stuck to the plan, there were no major setbacks.

In short, the takeaway is: Bunion surgery can dramatically relieve pain and restore foot alignment, but only if you protect that correction afterward. After his experience, my father strongly endorses every device and precaution we now know to be important.

Tips for Patients

If you or a loved one is preparing for bunion surgery, here are some practical tips based on our experience and expert advice:

1. Follow the doctor’s orders exactly. Don’t skip appointments or ignore instructions about weight-bearing or bandage care. HSS emphasizes that patients who carefully follow postoperative directions tend to have the best resultshss.edu. If the surgeon says “no walking” for the first two weeks, do not sneak those walking shoes on.

2. Rest and ice frequently. In the first 3 days (and even through week 2), keep your foot elevated and use ice packs regularly to reduce swellingmyhealth.alberta.ca. This not only eases pain but speeds healing. Make a schedule: ice for 20 minutes every couple of hours if possible.

3. Wear the protective shoe/boot religiously. Immediately after surgery, you’ll have a hard-soled surgical shoe or cast. Wear it all day, every day for as long as directed (usually 3–6 weeks)myhealth.alberta.cabucksfootclinic.com. This device protects the repaired bone and lets you walk safely. Don’t try to substitute a regular shoe early on.

4. Use toe spacers and splints nightly. Start using a toe spacer or bunion splint as soon as your doctor allows (often once bandages come off). Wear it every night (and even during rest periods) to keep your big toe aligned. As one podiatry blog notes, toe splints are intended to maintain the post-surgery correctiondoralhw.org. Think of this like a retainer for your teeth – it holds everything in place while healing.

5. Gradually switch to supportive shoes and orthotics. When your doctor clears you for regular shoes (often around 6–8 weeks), choose sneakers or flats with a wide toe box. Avoid heels or narrow-toe shoes for many months. Concord Podiatry advises wide, cushioned shoes and good arch support to prevent pressure on the bunion areaconcordpodiatry.com. Also use custom orthotic inserts if you had them – they help “redistribute pressure away from the bunion”concordpodiatry.com.

6. Continue gentle exercises and watch for warning signs. Follow any recommended physical therapy or foot exercises to regain motion. If you notice increasing pain, numbness, or that your toe is drifting again, contact your surgeon right away.

Below is a quick reference table of helpful post-op tools and when to use them:

Each of these can make a difference. For example, concord podiatrists confirm “wearing orthotics after surgery helps reduce stress and improve stability”concordpodiatry.com on the foot, and studies cited by Bucksfoot Clinic show insoles “significantly improve gait and reduce the likelihood of post-surgery complications”bucksfootclinic.com.

Conclusion

Bunion surgery can be life-changing. In our case, my father’s procedure ultimately freed him from years of pain: he now walks almost normally and can enjoy activities again. Research and clinic data back this up – for instance, one study cited by Bucksfoot Clinic found about 85% of patients experience significant pain relief and improved function after bunion surgerybucksfootclinic.com. In other words, the odds are good for a happy outcome.

But as we learned firsthand, the best outcome only comes with good aftercare. The surgery sets the stage, but the real show happens in the months of recovery. Using the toe corrector, orthotics, proper shoes, and following all instructions were not optional add-ons – they were the essential tools that kept Dad’s corrected toe from shifting back. If he had to do it again, he’d emphasize: “Don’t let your guard down.”

For anyone facing bunion surgery, our story underlines this: stay vigilant with your foot care afterward. Commit to wearing that night splint, keep swelling in check, and ease back into life slowly. Talk to your doctor about all the supportive devices. Your repaired foot will thank you. With patience and careful aftercare, you can look forward to a stronger, pain-free step.