There are several types of operations to correct bunions.
Your consultant obviously is the decision maker.
I decided to have my operation done on the NHS as Guy’s
Hospital was near where I lived. Having always gone privately, I had to admit I
was really unsure about what to
expect, especially as I had to stay in overnight. All the horror stories you
hear and read –although as a journalist, I should know better than to be
influenced – did fill me with trepidation. I reckoned spending one night in
hospital couldn’t be worse than a night on some of the long-haul flights I have
experienced – mentioning no airlines.
Ioan Tudur Jones, the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who
operated on me, was incredible. I felt totally confident with him. The service
and care I received were far beyond my expectations. The nurses were amazing.
The one that took me down to theatre was so funny that I ended up with tears
rolling down my face from laughter. Not how I imagined hospital at
all.
The ward was spotless and even the food was edible and the
coffee was far better than you get on a plane. I can’t praise the staff at
Guy’s and St Thomas’ highly enough.
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| At Tower Bridge, wearing my surgical shoes |
I had to keep my feet elevated for the first two weeks and
could only stand for approximately 15 minutes an hour. That was the hardest
part. My mother and friends rallied round with general support doing shopping
and chores. Then it was back to Guy’s
to have my bandages changed. Being squeamish I didn’t want to
look, but the sister told me my feet were lovely. I nearly wept, when I saw them.
Yes, there were scars but the lumps were gone and they looked lovely and
dainty, albeit a bit swollen.
The next four weeks I managed to go for short walks aided by
a crutch. The advice given to me was: your body will tell you how far you can
go. And believe me, it does.
When I finally left home and once again saw Tower Bridge, which
is near to where I live, I felt as if I was a tourist seeing it for the first
time. It’s funny how being incapacitated makes you appreciate things differently.
After six weeks, my bandages were removed and the surgical
shoes confined to the bin and replaced for the next six weeks with my black
soft leather FitFlop Super T Sneakers (£90) which have ultra-slim Biomimetix
midsoles, that I find, make them extremely comfortable to walk in. They are
also sturdy.
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| FitFlop Super T Sneaker |
I was also told to rub E45 (£1.99, Boots), a non-greasy emollient
into my extremely dry feet. It is quickly absorbed into the skin and forms a
protective barrier helping it to retain more moisture, so it is rehydrated and
softened. I also have to do some exercises, for approximately an hour a day,
for my big toes.
The pain, since day one, has been minimal. Every day I feel
as if I am making some progress. I am
due to go back to the hospital in six weeks, but I am not expecting
any problems.
There is so much written about what kind of footwear you
should or shouldn’t wear that I asked Mr Jones what are the best kind of shoes
to wear once my feet are healed, his answer was: “whatever is comfortable!”
By Daralyn Danns
