I need advice - should I get surgery or not?

mearlie
mearlie Posts: 224
edited January 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a bunion on my big toe and it's gotten so big that when I wear sneakers, the pressure causes muscle spasms and pain in my foot. This pain IS manageable but sometimes it REALLY hurts! And usually it hurts AFTER the workout, not during.

The foot doctor has agreed to remove the darn thing but it means I probably won't be walking for 6 weeks.

I JUST started exercising again. I have a history of being lazy and quitting after awhile. It's a vicious cycle. I'm so committed now though and refuse to give up - there's a commitment level that I have now that I really never had before. But I'm still afraid that I will use the foot surgery as an excuse to quit.

BUT I also have a desire to start weight training and I could start working on upper body strength even if my foot is in a big ole boot. So there IS that idea.

I should also mention that we will be moving outside the continental US for a couple years and during that time healthcare might not be quite as good as we have right now.

So, what would you do?
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Replies

  • jhall1255
    jhall1255 Posts: 99 Member
    i would get it removed you can always work on your legs and upper body without standing on your feet. but there is no reason for you to be in pain because what if the pain gets worse and it hurts your working out. it could go both ways.
  • IveLanded
    IveLanded Posts: 797 Member
    i would get it removed you can always work on your legs and upper body without standing on your feet. but there is no reason for you to be in pain because what if the pain gets worse and it hurts your working out. it could go both ways.

    this
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Get it removed. You can always lose weight with calories restrictions and you can do strength training without being on your feet. Think long term health instead of short term loss.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    i would get it removed you can always work on your legs and upper body without standing on your feet. but there is no reason for you to be in pain because what if the pain gets worse and it hurts your working out. it could go both ways.

    I agree with this!
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    Thanks guys!
  • BernadetteChurch
    BernadetteChurch Posts: 2,210 Member
    I'd get it removed because you'll be better off in the long run and might even be able to work even harder once you've recovered. And like others have said you can still work your upper body and should still lose weight even without any excercise if you stick tio your calorie goals.

    So I think it's unanimous!
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    Yes Bernadette it is! I figured there'd be a couple people at least who had a different idea! lol I don't want to do it, but if I don't it's only going to get worse. :(
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    Yes, REMOVE the damn thing! You really think you will keep on working out if you are in pain?!?! Nope. Just get it removed and while you are recovering focus on changing your eating habits.

    Weight loss comes from a calorie deficit anyway. Use the time healing to learn how to cook yummy foods in a healthy way and focus on the nutritional side of weight loss. By the time you are ready to workout again your new eating lifestyle will become habit and your body will be better fueled for you to really start kickin *kitten* on your workouts :)
  • krisiepoo
    krisiepoo Posts: 710 Member
    Get it removed... you could do upper body weights and use the arm bike for cardio. Your future self with thank you :)
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    Looks like plenty of good answers so I just want to say the OP's avi pic reminded me of this

    supaman-dat-ho-crossfit-demotivational-poster-1261521768_zps52aa2c38.jpg
  • bsuew
    bsuew Posts: 628 Member
    I agree with the other's! have it removed. It will only get worse.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    Get the surgery. The pain will likely only get worse.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    i would get it removed you can always work on your legs and upper body without standing on your feet. but there is no reason for you to be in pain because what if the pain gets worse and it hurts your working out. it could go both ways.

    I agree with this as well! Get it removed, you can do things without standing on your feet plus you could do water aerobics
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    In the immortal words of The Jerk, "See a doctor and get rid of it."

    The six weeks of recovery will go by fast. And then you'll REALLY be able to give it your all.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Chop that sucker off.
  • MommaKit79
    MommaKit79 Posts: 852
    Get it taken care of. Besides the fact that you could do other things for those 6 weeks, when you move, it will be harder to find someone to do it. AND, it will most likely get worse (at least my father's did when he had one). SO, get it taken care of and "out of the way" (PUN intended) and then you can move forward and really GIT IT!!!
  • normastafne
    normastafne Posts: 4 Member
    You should have the surgery. They should send you home with crutches and a knee walker. The knee walker allows you to get around easily without bearing weight on your recovering foot. So you can still get in your daily walks. Be patient with the recovery. . .and follow your surgeons post-op orders.
    Retired O.R. nurse.
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    Chop that sucker off.

    HAHAA! OK well there yah go, and it's still unanimous!
  • BRudd85
    BRudd85 Posts: 1 Member
    I just had a similar surgery done in July - also had several screws put in. My doctor gave me the same time frame, even put "no walking or standing for 8 weeks" on my FMLA papers. However, after the surgery (and with my dr's permission), I was moving around on my foot well within 2 weeks, walking very easily by 4 weeks, and running by 6 weeks. I am sure that is not everyone's experience, but I have found that the time frame they give you is usually very exaggerated in case you need it. All that said, I would do it 100x over. No more pain which now makes me more prone to exercise!

    Good luck with your decision!
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    brudd, that's good to know, I was thinking 6 weeks was a long time. My friend had a bunion removed and she said she was back on her feet in two weeks. Thanks to Norma the retired nurse, great advice!
  • shoshi68
    shoshi68 Posts: 407 Member
    I had this surgery, but when I was quite young ( I have weird feet). I was in a walking cast for a while, but was much better when it was off. MUCH less pain, and I am so glad I did it.

    Happy recovery! :D
  • megalin9
    megalin9 Posts: 771 Member
    Do it! The ONLY thing keeping me from getting mine removed is the fact that I have two small children. When they are older and able to fend for themselves a little bit (maybe in 2 years or so), I'll be getting mine done ASAP! I feel like someone's sticking a needle in my toe, and shoes literally squeeze my feet and make them go numb!
  • samblanken
    samblanken Posts: 369 Member
    I've had that done on both feet.

    Doc said no weight bearing activities - but he did say I was OK do to recumbent bike - so I was able to maintain my cardio fitness workout. And you can do all kinds of upper body weigh workouts. Surgery didn't really stop me or slow me down.

    I did however have to pretty much toss all my shoes afterward. Nothing fit right. Plus, I was also fitted with custom orthotics after surgery, and those don't work with all shoes.
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    sam, I'm not even worried about tossing shoes - I've resorted to flip flops in winter or summer. BC wearing real shoes hurts! I even wore flip flops to a formal dinner last year. OK well they were pretty flip flops but STILL!

    Yes I need both feet done but apparently it's one at a time with these people. And one of them is def worse than the other.
  • RumpusP
    RumpusP Posts: 163 Member
    I've had bunion surgery three times. Twice on my left foot, once on my right. My bones had both slid so far out of place that both of my big toes were out of joint.

    All three times it took me about six weeks or so to recover. The first two weeks I wasn't allowed to walk at all... I was to stay layer down as much as possible with my foot slightly raised. Then they moved me to crutches without my foot touching, then crutches with my foot touching, then walking but no running or weight carrying, then back to normal.

    Each time I had screws put in place. After about 4-5 years I had to have them removed because they were backing out.

    I am *so* glad I got them done. I used to have horrible pain from them.

    A result for me, though, is that I had had them since childhood and after the slid the bones back into place the muscles and cushioning in the balls of my feet no longer lined up perfectly with the bones. So it's hard and uncomfortable for me to stand on the balls of my feet. I also can no longer jump because the landing gives a sickening and painful feeling since that part of my feet isn't like most people's.

    But I can walk and run fine now and the daily pain I was in is gone. So it was completely worth it.

    Get it done, it is on,y going to get worse with time.
  • samblanken
    samblanken Posts: 369 Member
    I had a year in between the two, and one was definately worse then the other. You don't want both at the same time. I was able to leave the hospital both times on crutches. They told me to put as much weight on it as was comfortable. I walked with a cane for a couple weeks.

    RumpusP - I will need to have one redone in the next 5-10 years. I've taken up running so I am not looking forward to taking that time off. I completely understand the runners high now!!
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    Well thankfully mine are not awful, the doc is agreeing to removing one but the other one he's kind of wishy washy about. I know over time it will get worse and they will remove it but I figure I should try to get both done near the same time frame because of the way shoes will fit if nothing else.

    Rumpus, yours were way worse than mine. No pins or anything, thank goodness! Sam I think my surgery will go more like your experience.

    I really appreciate all the different comments! Even though Rumpus had a lot done in her surgery and she says it's worth it!
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    I wouldn't do it for anything in the world, Just my opinion. I worked for a DPM for numerous years, I respected him a lot and we did a lot of these surgeries. The problem I saw over and over again, was that there were problems then associated with the surgery too. There were physical issues of range of motion, long recoveries, etc etc.

    I personally would start with a more holistic approach. Get the weight off, get a routine set and started. I really like www.nwfootankle.com website and dr as he has a bunch of useful information on his website. He used to be a surgery providing DPM, but then decided that in the long run, so many therapies were being missed because surgery was the first option people were taking.
  • ethansmug
    ethansmug Posts: 159 Member
    Just cut out the side of your shoe that is rubbing on your toe
  • mearlie
    mearlie Posts: 224
    I wouldn't do it for anything in the world, Just my opinion. I worked for a DPM for numerous years, I respected him a lot and we did a lot of these surgeries. The problem I saw over and over again, was that there were problems then associated with the surgery too. There were physical issues of range of motion, long recoveries, etc etc.

    I personally would start with a more holistic approach. Get the weight off, get a routine set and started. I really like www.nwfootankle.com website and dr as he has a bunch of useful information on his website. He used to be a surgery providing DPM, but then decided that in the long run, so many therapies were being missed because surgery was the first option people were taking.

    Interesting! I will definitely take a look at the site, thanks for the information!
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