I had surgery on both of my feet, not with this doctor, but in London, UK. Most people discuss recovery immediately after surgery, but not many talk about what happens weeks or months later. It takes about six months for your foot to fully recover, and it may even take longer.

During the recovery period, you can walk and work, but wearing normal shoes can be difficult due to ongoing swelling. In the first few weeks, the swelling is constant. After a month or two, it becomes intermittent—some days the swelling is present, while other days it may not be. As time passes, the intervals between swelling episodes become longer.

In my left foot, I experienced some pain around the ankle months after the surgery, especially when walking too much or standing for extended periods. The swelling lasted for about six months. On the other hand, my right foot had no pain, but the swelling persisted much longer than with the left foot. Even seven months after the surgery, I still experience occasional swelling in my right foot.

Overall, I have been wearing soft trainers for over a year because no other type of shoes is comfortable for me. Am I happy with the results? Definitely! I had severe bunions on my feet, which were not only ugly but also uncomfortable. Now, my feet look perfectly normal—no bunions and no more discomfort when walking. I can definitely say it was worth going through all of that.

This is the most thorough video I’ve seen! I wish Dr. Campitelli could be my doctor! He’s so comforting and reassuring!

Thanks for all your pieces of recommendation.

Thank you for being very thorough on the bunion recovery with MIS.   I had to search and do a lot of scrolling before coming to yours.  I wanted to know if I needed a walker or cane but you explained how the boot works.  Even my own DPM was not as detailed.  I only knew I was wearing a boot and was told it would be about 12 weeks for recovery.

Great advice before my bunion surgery ! 😊

Thank you for  your amazing explanation  you answered all my questions  and realised my anxiety ❤

I didn't get near this amount of information.  I am 8 weeks out of surgery, I limp heavily, I can't flex my big toe much without pain, my last toe knuckle was pinned for reasons I don't know.  I was never told to exercise my toe knuckle.  I wear the toe splint daily.  I thought by 8 weeks I would be walking normally and even running.  I can only walk slowly with a limp.  Pressure on my little toes is painful.  I have to say that this surgery has become depressing.  I went to a top hospital in Houston and the surgery was very expensive.

Thank you doctor 🙏 you helped answer questions and ease my worries

Thx Doc !❤ my friends are all concerned for me ! So   I sent them this video ! 💞🤓😇!💞

Had my surgerry June 21 and 10 hours later went to work, the same day.

I’m three months and two weeks from a Lapislapty I was
In a cast for a couple of weeks and changed to hospital bandage. One month and a week physical therapy I go three times. No more pain just tenderness, my big toe do not touch floor when standing I’m working on that. I must say I’m recovering nicely but I suffered a lot with muscle spasms, falls due to crutches and scooter. Of course swelling but I was constantly keeping my foot elevated.

Totally different in the uk, no boot while sleeping, no icing, the boot that this video shows is used before the op the boot they use after is like a sandal with a heel but front of foot is off the ground. Your sent home the same day, the cut is from midway down the toe to midway down the foot, stitches are removed 7 days after the op.

Very helpful video

I had bunion surgery on both feet 4 weeks ago which included Morton’s neuroma surgery (trapped nerve) in the one foot. I can tell that full recovery will take several months. My Feet are still very sensitive, quite swollen (in spite of regular icing and keeping feet raised) and there is A LOT of nerve healing taking place. So in my case, I experience tingling sensations in the feet often feels like sharp, burning prickly sensations that come and go but especially bad at night. At moment its causing insomnia, but I’m not allowing myself to get stressed about no sleep (as I would usually do)! since I can make up for it at some stage in the day if need be. It’s stressful enough due to the general discomfort of sitting a lot in order to keep off one’s feet, due to the swelling and blood flow to the feet.  That said, i am absolutely delighted that I went through with this op as I did have my concerns as to whether I was doing the right thing etc etc.  For those who are looking into it, I hope this feedback of my experience has been helpful.

I’m four weeks out and did everything I was told and I still have tremendous pain in great toe joint and nerve issues into great toe. I also have a pin in the second toe from a hammer toe which doctor fixed at the same time..While putting a short distance and time amount of pressure on foot walking as directed in the walking boot and not over doing it, the pain comes into that area AFTER RESTING and elevating it. THE PAIN last longer in the evening  and so the intensity in those areas mentioned. I manually massage area that I can away from distal. Sometimes helps momentarily but pain returns again to those areas. I have even iced it ..swelling appears minimal…pills ( pain and anti flam.)  don’t  seem to help. My one incision is from joint site all the way to great toe. The second toe has one small incision and a tiny one where the bone was cut. NO SIGNS OF INFECTION  First  X-Ray after two weeks showed everything in place and doctor was pleased. I’m nervous and concerned about fully healing and getting to a pain free level. If it’s time I need please give me some reassurance. I’m healthy, active, an everyday biker who misses her exercise. I would love any feedback at this time…PLEASE

I was non weight bearing for 2 weeks. I just got the ok to be partial weight bearing with the boot for a month.

Thanks a lot Dr

Hello Dr Campitelli,

Your videos are so informative.  I have bunion on my big toe and tailor bunion as well.  I have been looking for a good surgeon who can perform the same procedure that you do in Southern California.  Do you have any recommendations for me? My insurance does not cover out of state even i really wanted to meet you in OH.  Thanks so much.

U r the best

Thanks❤