Are you preparing to have bunion surgery? I’ve had bunion surgery twice so I know a thing or two on how to help make your recovery go as smooth as possible.  I’ve learned alot through this experience and I’ve made some mistakes along the way but hopefully these tips will help you out on your way to a speedy and full recovery. And yes…full recovery is possible!

Get a Knee Scooter

Buy a knee scooter! If you only remember one thing from this guide it should be this….forget the crutches.   Trust me, getting a knee scooter to help you get around during your weeks of recovery is a requirement. During my first surgery I tried to get around on crutches for the first week and it was a nightmare.  I consider myself to be very physically fit and active but I never felt stable on crutches.  After almost falling a couple of times and just being exhausted from exerting so much energy to stay upright and get from my car to my desk at work the knee scooter was like a gift from heaven.

Not only is it easy to get around the office and to run errands like going to the grocery store or going to the movies it is a great way to prop up my foot at the office when I am sitting at my desk.  I was also able to use the scooter to take my kids to the park and play catch, “walk down the paved hiking trail, play with our drone, etc.  I could never have done any of these things with crutches.

Knee scooters are pretty affordable.  I was able to get one for less than $200.  Worth every penny!

Check out the latest price of this knee scooter on Amazon.com

Keep Yourself Entertained

You will be spending alot of time on your back elevating your foot so it is important that you  keep yourself from getting bored.  To help with this:

• I loaded up my Kindle with all kinds of books
• Bought some of my favorite guilty pleasures which are large comic book anthologies
• Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are indispensable!
• Treat yourself and get a Nintendo Switch.  This is a fantastic gaming console that is also portable.  With so many great games like Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario Odyssey you will be well entertained during your recovery.

Check out the latest price of the Nintendo Switch on Amazon.com

Keep Your Foot Iced

During recovery from my first bunion surgery I did not take icing as seriously as I should have and I believe this was one of the contributing factors to my post surgery woes.

To help reduce pain and

swelling an ice pack can be your best friend.  You will want to make sure you have at least two wraps so you can always have one ready in the freezer when the one you are wearing is no longer cold.

Check latest price of ice pack on Amazon.com

Elevate, Elevate, Elevate

You will need to keep your foot elevated above your heart as much as possible for the first 2 weeks of your recovery.  To make this as easy and comfortable as possible you should pick up a specially created elevated pillow just for this purpose.

This is the pillow that I used that was a life saver.  It was the perfect height and density and much better and more stable than trying to stack pillows to just the right height especially if you are also icing your foot. This is a must have.

Check latest price on Elevated Leg Rests on Amazon.com

Stay Fresh and Clean – Get a Shower Seat!

Staying clean with a cast on your leg is shall we say “challenging”.  To help with this you will want to get a shower seat.  This will make your life 100% better.  You will want to stay clean and standing in the shower will be impossible. You will just sit on this while you are in the shower. You will also want to buy a few water proof cast covers to put on your cast while you are in the shower.  You want to keep your cast as dry as possible while you are recovering.

Check latest price on Shower Seats on Amazon

Check latest price on waterproof leg cast covers on Amazon

Keep Things “Moving”

You will be on pain meds for several days which while great at keeping your pain at bay have an unfortunate side effect on your digestive system making you feel well…….. frankly……. constipated.

After not being able to get things moving after about 3 days you will not be feeling your best  so to avoid this situation I recommend drinking a glass of water with a few tablespoons of Nopalina everyday.  This has worked wonders for me to keep things regular.

Check latest price of Nopalina on Amazon.com

Healthy Snacks Should be Nearby

Since you will be on your back with limited mobility for a few weeks you will want to make sure you have access to healthy snacks.  The last thing you want to do is pack on unwanted pounds while you are recovering.

You will definitely need to plan in advance to make sure you don’t load up on sweets and potato chips.  I made sure I purchased several cans of soup and meal shakes.  My favorite is the Atkins Meal Replacement Shake which only has 1 gram of sugar and 160 calories.

Check latest price for Atkins shakes on Amazon.com

Be Patient With Yourself and Keep a Positive Attitude

It is important to not push yourself during your recovery and take it one day at a time.  Don’t blame yourself for this situation and try to use this time to rest, reflect, and envision yourself walking pain free.  Do your best to enjoy your time off if you have a job because before you know it you will back to the daily grind!

You will sleep ALOT!  Trust me on this.  I probably slept at least 12 hours each day the first week following my surgery.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to to take things easy.  I was getting stir crazy after my first week of being cooped up in the house so thought it would be a good idea to go to a restaurant and a local arcade with the family. After about an hour I knew I had pushed myself too far because my foot was uncomfortably swollen and stiff.  This was a reminder to follow my own advice and take it easy.

Remember PACE –  Positive Attitude Changes Everything

Before you know it you will be back on your feet in no time.  This is a temporary situation!

Let a Loved One Take Care of You!

And the #1 most important thing you need to survive and thrive during your bunion surgery recovery is a caring loved one that will take care of you!

My wife was indispensable during my recovery and took such good care of me.  She made sure I was comfortable, taking my meds on schedule and keeping me company.

Be the best patient you can be!  You will get through this!