Vitamin D Deficiency and My Bunion Surgery Nightmare

Vitamin D is crucial when it comes to bone health and fracture healing.  I found this out the hard way after my bunion surgery.  During a routine follow up exam about 4 months after my surgery my orthopedic surgeon looked at my recent x-rays and said that it looked like the bones in my foot that had undergone surgery were no longer fusing.

He recommended that I get a bone simulator device called an Exogen which is supposed to speed up the bone healing process by sending ultrasound waves through the bone.  After using this for a few weeks I went back to the doctor and he said he could see no progress and said this was a condition called “nonunion” which is when the bone does not heal.  He said I would need to have the surgery again where he would take out the old screws (one of which had broken) and he would replace them and install a metal plate.  He also would take bone from the back of my foot and use it as a bone graft in the gap.

Needless to say I was shocked and disappointment as this had been a very long recovery period up to this point and the doctor said that essentially this would be like starting over.  By the way this doctor has a terrible bedside manner but that is a different matter altogether.  He said this only happens in 2%-3% of his patients and never in someone as young as me.  He then ordered a vitamin d blood test and said I should get my levels checked because if my levels are low this would happen again.

So I had the test and unsurprisingly my test came back low.  The normal range is 40-100 ng/ml and my level was 21.  The doctor prescribed 50,000 units of vitamin D2 and while it may all be in my head my foot already feels better after a week.

I remember I had tested low about 2 years earlier with my primary care physician. From what I understand my orthopedic surgeon should have done this test before my surgery and I could have avoided this nightmare.

I am now getting a second opinion to see if I still need surgery.  I’m trying to remain optimistic but since one of the screws has broken and it has been so long since my surgery I have come to terms that I will most likely need to go under the knife again.

5 Signs You May Have a Vitamin D Deficiency

1. Excessive sweating
2. Darker Skin
3. You Feel Blue (Sad)
4. You Are Over the Age of 50
5. You Are Overweight or Have a Muscular Build

It is a simple blood test to find out your level.  I was in and out of the testing facility in less than 10 minutes.

Get your Vitamin D level checked before having bunion surgery.

I wish someone had told me about Vitamin d and it’s importance before undergoing this surgery and wasting 5 months of recovery.  This small step can save you a ton of headaches, pain, time, and money.  Good luck!