Bunion surgery is frequently misunderstood and/or misrepresented. Unfortunately, many individuals confuse traditional bunion surgery with new, minimally invasive techniques. And, as such, they either forgo bunion surgery completely or put it off much longer than they should. Yet the truth is that minimally invasive bunion surgery is not only extremely effective, but also convenient, safe, and mostly non-disruptive. It is not debilitating. So can you walk after a bunion surgery? The short answer is yes –– often immediately after the procedure! That may sound too good to be true, but we’ll explain how this is possible and describe minimally invasive bunion surgery further here:
Bunion Surgery Recovery Times
One big reason why a person may choose to put up with bunion pain is that they don’t want to/can’t afford to spend weeks or months off their feet. This is totally understandable. Parents, laborers, or anyone who needs to be active on a regular basis may feel they don’t have the ability to commit to months of intense bunion surgery recovery.
Traditional bunion surgery often does require a very long recovery time. Indeed, in many instances, patients have to stay off their feet for a full two weeks immediately after the surgery. Then, they may need to wear a protective cast or use crutches for the next six months –– or longer. And once the foot finally heals, patients may still experience some pain and significant amounts of scarring.
Minimally invasive bunion surgery, on the other hand, allows patients to walk out of the operating room under their own volition and drive home. Patients who undergo minimally invasive foot surgery may have to wear a small postoperative shoe for a few weeks after their surgery, but most can return to regular daily activities like walking or going to work right away. Total recovery time is unlikely to last beyond 1-5 weeks and residual scarring and pain is minimal.
What Can You Do After Bunion Surgery?
In general, individuals who choose minimally invasive bunion surgery are able to return to a semblance of their daily routine almost immediately. This includes walking around, driving, standing for extended periods of time, and even some light exercises. Note, some individuals who perform strenuous physical activity on a regular basis may require slightly longer recovery times after bunion surgery. If you’re unsure whether or not you should engage in an activity following foot surgery, make sure to speak with a doctor first.
Minimally Invasive Surgery Methodology
The secret to short recovery time after bunion surgery is down to advanced minimally invasive techniques. As opposed to traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery is just as effective without causing the collateral damage associated with a traditional bunionectomy.
During a traditional open-foot surgery, the surgeon will make a large incision on the side or top of the foot. They’ll remove the bunion, and then hold the new alignment of the foot together using metal screws or pins. This contributes to lots of pain, scar tissue, and damage.
Conversely, minimally invasive surgery involves only very small incisions to remove a bunion completely. What’s more, minimally invasive bunion surgery is an outpatient procedure, and we only use local anesthesia on our patients. This means patients don’t have to deal with IVs, intubations, or a prolonged hospital stay following their surgery. Instead, they can get up and get back to living their life much sooner!
Contact Us
Traditional bunion surgery has a well-earned bad reputation. Thankfully, our team at Northwest Surgery Center are experts in minimally invasive bunion surgery. We’re dedicated to helping our patients overcome bunion pain and getting back to living their lives to the fullest. Contact us here to learn more or to schedule a consultation today!