TV chef Nigella Lawson recently lost a lot of weight, which she attributes to her recent bunion correction surgery.
According to Lawson, following the bunion surgery it was too painful for her to walk to the fridge. As a result she had to ask people to go to the fridge to get food for her, which made her more conscious of how much she was eating.
But bunion surgery was likely not the primary reason for the weight loss, according to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lance Silverman.
Dr. Silverman Comments
This is a cute story, but the weight loss is more due to a newfound habit, rather than bunion surgery. Lawson decided that asking others to help her eat made her more conscious of what she was eating. This enhanced understanding led to better choices during her recovery.
As for recovery from bunion surgery, the recovery is not nearly as bad as advertised, at least not with the way we manage patients at Silverman Ankle & Foot.
Elevation and strict bedrest for 23/24 hours per day is critical during the first 3 days. After that, patients use pain and swelling as their guide. A compressive dressing helps control swelling. This dressing is changed during the first week, and then a removable compression splint is applied.
Most of my patients walk immediately after surgery in a simple post operative sandal. As soon as tennis shoes or hard soled clogs will fit, they are recommended to use them. By 6 weeks, I expect bone healing and return to sport or walking.
People worry incessantly about the pain. I tell them, “This is not your mother’s bunion surgery.” Bunion surgery is painful only during the first 1-2 days after the procedure (the time we control pain with narcotic medication). After that, symptoms recede quickly.
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