How Long Will I Be Out of Work After Bunion Surgery?

A lot of people suffer from painful bunions unnecessarily because they believe the surgery requires a long recovery, and they can’t afford the time off work. The thinking is a little misguided, but it’s easy to understand why people believe this way.

People need their feet to move around. If their mobility is taken away from them, then they can’t work. If they can’t work, then they aren’t able to put food on the table or pay the electricity bill.

Foot surgery in decades past could force people off their feet for weeks and sometimes even months. Not being mobile means that old fashioned foot surgery is off the table. No matter how much it hurts to move around, it’s a better option than not being able to move at all. Fortunately, there’s a better way to deal with your painful bunions, and it’s called minimally invasive bunion surgery.

Old-fashioned foot surgery belongs in the annals of myth and legend. It’s no longer true that bunion treatment requires weeks of sitting at home waiting for your foot to heal, while you wonder how you are going to live without your paycheck.

Walk-in, Walk-out, and Drive Yourself

Minimally invasive bunion surgery will mean you can walk into the surgery, undergo a relatively painless procedure, and walk out on your own a few hours after you arriving (minus the bunions).

Local anesthetic also means that you will be perfectly capable of driving yourself home or back to work after the surgery. Of course, you can still bring a friend or a family member for support, but it’s not necessary.

If you feel any pain at all, you can easily manage it with an over-the-counter medication you can get from any drug store or supermarket.

You will be able to drive yourself. Return to work depends mostly on your job. Desk-job patients may return after a long weekend or about a week if they can elevate the foot and limit walking. Jobs requiring prolonged standing or walking often need at least 8 weeks. Modified duty, shorter shifts, and more sitting can change the plan. The surgical team will give individual guidance.