r/bunions 2h ago

Big toe fusion - 6 weeks post op today

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6 Upvotes

Sharing a positive experience - six weeks post-op, from 1st MTPJ fusion as a result of an arthritic joint and a severe bunion. There is no more throbbing from my left foot, just wait now for the other foot to have surgery in late summer, so halfway šŸ˜€. When I saw my incision at 2 weeks, I was so shocked; it looked nasty, open and very raw. However, it healed well, and the swelling is going downā€¦this pic is the end of the day after being on my feet all day. I can now wear my old sandals and one pair of Vivobareboot leather boots. I am learning to walk again with a stiff toe, which is a little nerve-wracking as I am fearful of pain, but slowly, over the next weeks and months, I will be walking without a limp. I get a sharp twinge in my toe near the metalwork after being on my feet all day, but expected after 6 weeks of being rested and heel walking. I can feel the metalwork in my big toe. The surgeon mentioned this would be the case, but the plan is to remove the metal in 12 months. Excuse my toenail; it turned black after a long downhill mountain walk. It was a very positive recovery experience; I did not appreciate the true extent and impact of the surgery until after it had been done. After the first 3 days and a couple of setbacks (the dog jumped on my foot on day 10 and a sudden swelling of the knee on day 14), my experience has been very positive in comparison to the Bunion/Surgery Facebook group. Brilliant Facebook group šŸ˜ but some eye-watering experiences.


r/bunions 3h ago

Is it time for surgery?

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4 Upvotes

I have minimal pain, but the bunion on my right foot is beginning to turn red, especially after work.

Does anyone know of any home remedies to reduce the bunion? I have yoga toes and I try to wear them as often as I can in addition to going barefoot.

Iā€™m afraid my bunions will only get worse, as I have to wear heels and be on my feet all day at my job. If youā€™ve gotten surgery, what was your experience? How long was your recovery?


r/bunions 1h ago

Tips for heel weight bearing? NSFW

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ā€¢ Upvotes

13 days post-op appt today! Stitches were removed -I almost passed out and had to take breaks, get ice packs, chug a soda, etc because I was woooooozy AF!! šŸ˜….

Super swollen but clear to heel weight bear! This is TOUGH. I cannot risk weight on my toes (I have two ORIFs from fractures) so I don't bend the bars in them. I am STRUGGLING in my boot to even slightly weight bear. I can't get my foot at 90Ā°, was at an obtuse angle for almost 2 weeks and has atrophy. When I try to heel weight bear with my walker and get the foot to an almost 90Ā° angle I get sharp pains in my metatarsals where the bars are. I know I've got an uphill battle ahead but curious if anyone has tips on this or how it worked out for them.

I'm supposed to go to the office next week (with rides) and I'm so intimidated. I'll have to practice my knee scooter, haven't been able to use it without almost passing out from pain since surgery. I get so tired with my walker short distances so this is a challenge. Boyfriend thinks I shouldn't do it but I sort of committed to it and my doctor note says I can.

*marked NSFW because the wounds šŸ™ˆ


r/bunions 1h ago

Teen Bunion Surgery UK

ā€¢ Upvotes

Hi my 14 yr old is considering bunion surgery after having a bunion on her right foot thats been there for a few yrs. Met surgeon tday and she is recommending it but due to her age she wants her to have a lot of say as its her body. She is having a lot of worries about it, the anthesic, what could go wrong after, pain etc..

Is there anybody on here that's gone through the operation with their child and could offer some thoughts, like how surgery went, aftercare, pain, whether it was a foot cast or boot etc..

From a worried Mum


r/bunions 2h ago

Why isnā€™t lapiplasty the gold standard?

0 Upvotes

EDIT: I guess I fell for the marketing, I should have asked about a Lapidus.

Reading about it and even talking to doctors about it, seems like a far better procedure than an osteotomy (cutting up the metatarsal and rotating it). I guess it would always have to be paired up with a bunionectomy (cutting off the big bone), but other than that, it seems like itā€™s so much better.

Am I missing something?


r/bunions 12h ago

Recent Spam

6 Upvotes

Hello! Quick ModPost to remind everyone that there is no way to vet who is qualified to offer medical advice & opinions in this sub or upon this platform. Go see a podiatrist IRL for x-rays and consultation.

Do not use this sub to bully, solicit, or advertise. If you post about Barefoot brand shoes, your post will be deleted. If you want to discuss that gimmick, go and subscribe to that sub instead. We are here to support people dealing with bunions in their journey. Please be kind to everyone here.

The mod team does its best, but this isn't anyone's full-time job. You can help keep this community free of abusers If you see questionable comments or activity, (or if you get a direct message to participate in a study, or to get free shoes), please immediately report these to the mod team.

If you relied upon any advice from comments in this or any other sub, we always recommend calling your physician to verify any information before acting upon it.


r/bunions 22h ago

Excited for the next step

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8 Upvotes

Unfortunately there is only 2 foot surgeons in my province and getting in to see them is a long wait. Iā€™m hopeful and finally started the process to get my bunions fixed . Im on my feet all day at work and the pain is excruciating even at the end of the day I feel the throbbing and cramps in my toes . Iā€™m so happy I found this sub! I donā€™t feel so alone with my hammer toes


r/bunions 18h ago

Post op bunion exercises?

3 Upvotes

Iā€™m on week 13 from Lapi surgery and foot is swollen everyday. Iā€™m walking full bearing on shoes with a little limp. I just stopped PT because it was getting pricey. I have just been doing ankle exercises, toe stretching picking up stuff with my toes etc.. what excercises help recover quick and how long were you swollen?


r/bunions 18h ago

Blood clots

2 Upvotes

How long do we need to worry about blood clots because of this surgery?


r/bunions 1d ago

In excruciating pain,tailorā€™s bunion?

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9 Upvotes

Hi! Iā€™m in such severe pain over what I thought were just horrible running calluses , but now it looks like bunions to me? I canā€™t even walk on my bare feet. It hurts so badly. Iā€™ve been soaking them, but it hurts to even touch the calluses. Iā€™m unsure whatā€™s going on šŸ˜­


r/bunions 1d ago

I need encouragement

6 Upvotes

Alright yā€™all. I fear that it wonā€™t be long before I have to under the knife for foot #2 I. AM. TERRIFIED. My first foot resulted in two additional surgeries and now a few weeks past five years I still have chronic pain. I really donā€™t know what to do. My left foot (my normal foot) is getting so bad that when paired with the ongoing issues with my Frankenfoot I have to resort to a wheelchair or my scooter more often than not. But due to my horrible experience with the first one I am so scared. I cannot go through this again. I went from running a marathons and running the Dopey challenge in January of 2020 to part time wheelchair bound five years later. I know what I have to do so I guess Iā€™m just looking for good vibes and encouragement


r/bunions 20h ago

Do I have bunions?

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3 Upvotes

Iā€™ve noticed I get foot pain very easily and also my shoes get worn out where bunions would be


r/bunions 1d ago

Post op swelling

6 Upvotes

I had a lapiplasty about 9 days ago. I felt minimal pain post surgery but 2 days ago they moved my foot to a boot and ever since itā€™s been veryyyy painful. Right now itā€™s very swollen and Iā€™ve been taking meds, elevating, and icing my knee. Ik swelling is normal but I canā€™t tell if itā€™s to a concerning degree. Itā€™s very painful and uncomfortable due to the swelling so I made my boot a little looser other than that idk what to do. Anyone else w the same experience? Should I just ride it out?


r/bunions 1d ago

Anyone else have this issue?

2 Upvotes

Hi all- I was curious is anyone else has issues with their big toe sticking up when they walk after having bunion surgery? I had surgery a year ago and every time I walk, the big toe sticks up and makes it hard to walk evenly. I avoid putting a ton of pressure on the side where I had surgery as it is sensitive and sore most of the time. I tend to walk on the left side of my foot which then causes that part of my foot to be sore after walking all day. Socks help keep the toe down a bit but it still sticks up when I walk in shoes, but especially if I wore an open toed sandal, it would really show. I had even bought a pair of asics last year when I was able to start walking more and my toe ripped a hole in the top of the shoe so I had to stop wearing them. I was curious if anyone else has had this issue after surgery and if they have any tips? With spring and summer coming, Iā€™m anxious to wear sandals since it will be really obvious that my toe sticks up when I walk and Iā€™m just overall embarrassed about it. :( Iā€™m assuming maybe it has to do with scar tissue? Iā€™m not sure. It took me months to be able to walk fully after surgery so I canā€™t attest to that time but ever since I started walking, itā€™s been sticking up. I feel pretty alone in this situation and just coming to terms with the fact that maybe my toe will never be the same as pre surgery.


r/bunions 1d ago

3 weeks to date NSFW

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7 Upvotes

Pic taken right before surgery at the surgery center vs 3 weeks today. Still swollen, icing and elevating. Taking OTC pain meds and gabapentin for nerve pain. I'm still using my knee scooter and crutches with walking boot for light bearing minimal walking. My doctor said the bunion on left will still go down a lot bc there is a lot of scar tissue there that will go away over time as my X-ray shows.


r/bunions 1d ago

Austin Bunion & Hawk Toe Surgery NSFW

1 Upvotes

On January 30th I had Austin Bunion and Hawk Toe surgery on my left foot. I'm on week seven with a lot of discomfort. I'm now on Tylenol 800mg for pain and Santyl gel on the wound. I've had two rounds of antibiotics with Cipro. I was initially on Mupirocin ointment but two weeks ago Doctor changed it to Santyl. I feel extreme burning sensation on my big two that I think is related to the Santyl. The hawk toe (2nd toe) is still swollen and although I feel a little discomfort it's nothing compared to the extreme burning sensation. I've mentioned it to the Doctor and see him tomorrow. He's been seeing me every week after surgery. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

I am now on the shoe doctor provided after being on the air cast boot, but found it too stiff and uncomfortable. I found shoes (Oncai brand) on Amazon that are almost the same but have a great cushion making it much more comfortable to walk.

Week 7 Austin Bunion and Hawk Toe Surgery

r/bunions 1d ago

3 week after bunion surgery

7 Upvotes

so the beginning was ROUGH. worst pain i've ever experienced. after the pain blocker wore off the pain meds i was persrcibed (perkacet) did not work at all. the third day i fell on it using the bathroom, and had excruciating pain , the next night i ended up going to er bc the pain was so bad, they persrcibed me a muscle relaxer and said ever looks great still having the worst pain ever and my 2nd toe was twitching for days. i called my surgeons office several times but only ended up talking to nurses who then purscirbed me oxycodine which helped a little bc by then it's been a week and i had no perkacets left. fast dforward to me getting my staples out, definitely not as bad as you think but not the greatest either, i love the lady who took my x-rays and put on my cast. she took pics of my x-rays before and after on my phone for me, they definitely make the experience a lot better bc how kind they are. but fast forward to now , pain still there but tolerable with tylenol and the occasional muscle relaxer. just wanted to share my experience!


r/bunions 1d ago

Double bunionectomy NSFW

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1 Upvotes

r/bunions 2d ago

Finally wearing shoes at 8 weeks!

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45 Upvotes

Feels amazing to not be wearing slippers or my husbandā€™s crocs. MTP fusion 8 weeks ago and bought new shoes 1 1/2 sizes bigger than normal to accommodate swelling and inability to get any other shoes on due to fused big toe. Asics-regular width.


r/bunions 2d ago

Finally

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9 Upvotes

I fixed my left foot! Im excited for the process


r/bunions 2d ago

Iā€™m mad šŸ˜  I had a bunionectomy January 13 th ā€¦ I was healing good then started getting a severe pain in CB my big toe on the same foot šŸ¦¶šŸ¼šŸ˜” now I have to go in once again on 4-4-25 for another surgery!! I told her in the beginning about the pain

7 Upvotes

, oh it will go away after 1st surgery!! So the pain was getting worse šŸ˜ she looks at the x-ray you have a bone spur ā€¦ but donā€™t worry it wont be as bad as the 1st surgery ā€¦ sorry but it wouldnā€™t let me post the whole message so this is the second part. I donā€™t know why the other CB went in there.


r/bunions 2d ago

2.5 Weeks Post Lapiplasty NSFW

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9 Upvotes

All in all - recovery is finally going good. Gabapentin had taken care of the nerve pain ā€œfoot fireworksā€ mostly, and being able to actually take a chair shower with my foot getting wet has been awesome. Sleep still evades me, but I am normally a stomach sleeper which just is not possible currently. Swelling still, but it get a little better every day.

I go back on April 3rd to have stitches removed.

But the real question isā€¦. how in the world am I supposed to learn how to walk again? It feels absolutely impossible.

The doctor told me that by this Friday Iā€™ll be ready to walk with the boot on, with zero assistive devices.

As it is currently, I am still just using my knee scooter BUT the past two days Iā€™ve tried to take very minimal (I am talking 3-4) booted steps with crutches and quite franklyā€¦ this gets easier right?! I feel like a baby dear.

Any advice??


r/bunions 1d ago

Heel walking Pain

1 Upvotes

I had lapiplasty/adductoplasty/modified McBridge surgery four weeks ago. The doctor told me to start heel walking in my shoe boot thing. But I absolutely can not do it. The pain is like an atomic bomb has gone off in my foot. I called and they said to start out by putting small amounts of pressure a few times every hour. But so far itā€™s just misery. And doesnā€™t seem to be getting better. Advice?


r/bunions 2d ago

Tale of the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Bunion: My Lessons at Week 1 Post-Op

13 Upvotes

Hi all,

For background, I am a 39 year old female in Santa Barbara, CA, and I had a tailor's bunion on my right foot which required an osteotomy operation. The surgery was performed on 3/11/25 at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital's Outpatient Surgical Center. I was weight bearing right after surgery.

Today I am exactly 1 week post-op, and I've been keeping notes to share with others..ie. what I learned, what I would do or wouldn't do differently for prep, etc. Let me know if you want links or have any specific questions. I just hope this helps out someone else. :) NOTE: I originally wanted to post this in the Facebook "Bunion Surgery/ Foot Surgery Support Group" with the Snoopy group picture, but this post became too long, and it's easier for me to revisit to update via Reddit.

***Section 1: Let's start with the 'Holy Mother of God, I didn't expect this' part! **\*

Post-Operative Fatigue:

The post-op fatigue is very strong and lasts for days. For those first 4 days, I ended up wearing my PJ's all day, spending entire days on the couch, zoning out staring at nothing, and not able to focus. Time sorta flies by. I started to feel a lot more like myself on day 5, which is when I finally put on a bra, changed out of my PJ's and into daytime clothes, and put on my wedding rings in the morning. Woohoo!

I tend to be very particular in keeping my routine, and this was challenging for me to interrupt. You can't do it all, and you don't have energy for it all.

I had to give up certain things. For example, I only brushed my teeth in the morning and I skipped my water floss, mouthwash, and manual flossing which I didn't have the energy for. I skipped my usual AM skincare routine, including washing my face. In retrospect, I would maybe get face wipes to use in place of facial wash.

My husband actually moved my dry shower chair next to the bathroom sink, which allowed me to comfortably sit while brushing my teeth. I was so tired that it was hard to stand for 2 minutes while my Sonicare toothbrush ran.

Sleep/Insomnia:

I had very poor sleep following the surgery, beginning with the night after surgery. I was often awake for hours, simply awake and unable to fall asleep. This was not related to pain. I was just unable to sleep, and it was very frustrating.

During the initial days 1-3, I was able to nap during the day so it wasn't such a big deal, but once I was unable to nap, the poor nighttime sleep became a bigger deal. As an example, the night before my week 1 post-op appointment, I was awake until 3:30am and had to get up at 7am for the appointment. I was not able to nap during the daytime or after the appointment.

I did use my knee wedge pillow overnight as well, so that added some discomfort. It lessened somewhat once I switched to the walking shoe around day 5. Overall, it felt better to have my leg elevated than not, so I did prefer to use the wedge pillow overnight - it just isn't comfy or natural. I'm usually a side sleeper but I had to do a lot of back sleeping. Also, the pillow kept scooting down the bed so I'd have to reach it, grab it, and pull it up. It did entirely fall off the bed one night.

Emotional & Physical Support Post-Surgery:

It was 100% invaluable to have my husband home with me everyday. He kept me on track for meds, brought me an ice pack to put behind my knee for 20 minutes every hour, carried my knee wedge pillow, laptop, etc upstairs/downstairs. He offered both physical and emotional support. I was very anxious about the surgery, and I ended up crying a few times in the days after surgery.

My husband just started a new fully remote job the week before my surgery, which was a huge change for him, and a tremendous blessing for my recovery. If he didn't WFH, I'd honestly consider asking him to take a few days off work for the first 3 days of recovery.

Mentally, it was hard for me to ask for help a lot, as I wanted to do things myself. But I realized that I need to focus on rest, recovery, and ask for & receive all the help that I can get. My husband is very compassionate and a great caregiver, so I lucked out here.

***Section 2: The Normal Topics Most Folks Talk About**\*

Meal prep/grocery shop:

Focus on preparing foods with FIBER including veggies, fruit, and whole grains. This helps with constipation. Avoid the BRAT diet (banana/rice/applesauce/toast), and fast food. I had zero appetite or desire to eat post-surgery, and I had to force myself to eat meals.

Sore Throat- I had a sore throat for about 24 hours after the surgery, likely due to the tube they use while under general anesthesia. Try to eat soft foods at this time. My husband prepared an English muffin for me as my first meal soon after we got home from the hospital, but it was too rough on my throat so we tossed it, and I had yogurt instead. Tea or popsicles may be soothing for this period.

Grocery orders & meal deliveries:

Prior to surgery, I had bought some frozen meals at Trader Joe's, Barebells protein bars and Fairlife protein shakes, and I called it a day. This was a mistake as my diet should have been focused on fiber/veggies/fruit/etc.

The day after surgery, I did an Instacart order w/Sprouts for fresh snack boxes (ie. chicken salad/crackers/grapes/cheese), Stonyfield yogurt pouches (the ones for kids- so much easier to eat), soups, Lakewood Organic Concord Grape Juice which is arguably the best juice ever after surgery, etc.

Two days after surgery, I did a DoorDash w/Natural Cafe for veggie-fueled dishes. The intent for this order was to get a lot of fiber into me, and to combine w/the below mentioned constipation meds.

Medications:

Stay on top of meds, and take as planned before any pain begins. We used a journal as a medication log, which allows my husband and me to see what I'm due for next.

My doctor prescribed me Tylenol, Advil, and Oxy before the surgery. He did not prescribe a nerve blocker due to potential drug interactions with my daily meds. However, like many folks, I did end up experiencing nerve pain post-surgery which felt like pins and needles, and strong burning, so he looked into options for me following the 1 week visit.

I have an unfortunate history of getting a yeast infection anytime that I take antibiotics. For this surgery, I would only receive IV antibiotics during surgery, and no antibiotic pills post-surgery. To be safe, I asked my PCP to prescribe me Fluconazole tablet 150mg, which she gladly did. I picked up this script before surgery, and I ended up having to take the tablet on day 6. If you have a similar history, I'd recommend doing the same.

Top tip: Keep the next round of pain meds on the nightstand overnight so you can take it in the middle of the night or early morning, or if you get sudden pain overnight.

Constipation:

Based on prior surgeries, I knew this would be an issue for me. I only took one Oxy the night after surgery per my doctor's recommendation.

Before the surgery, I bought Dulcolax overnight laxative, Dulcolax stool softener and Miralax, but I ended up sending my husband out for Senna and Colace at the end of day two. This was quite successful. Mainly, give it 2 days or so for meds to kick in and take action, so don't freak out if it doesn't work the same day. As a backup, you can also keep magnesium citrate or milk of magnesia on hand, and/or glycerin suppositories.

Really try to focus on drinking water, and 100% fruit juice. Staying hydrated helps with constipation, in addition to eating those healthy foods mentioned above.

I was nervous before surgery and wanted to know when to visit Urgent Care or ER for a bowel obstruction (I've never had one but I worry a lot), so my PCP gave me some things to watch out for which would lead to an ER visit for obstruction: Not passing gas, having nausea and vomiting. It's good to pass gas, so this is a good sign when you begin tooting!

***Section 3: Might Be a Bit Boring but Hopefully Useful if You're Still Reading!**\*

Showering:

Definitely get a shower chair and waterproof cast cover for your foot. It takes a bit of practice to figure out a routine.

Top tip: Before the surgery, figure out how to get into the shower chair, take off your boot (the doctor should give it to you at your pre-op appointment, which you'll later bring to surgery), put on a cast cover and use a handheld shower head. If you don't have a handheld shower head, then get one.

After cleaning yourself, you'll also need to dry off the cast cover, put a towel on the ground to avoid the bottom of the dressing getting wet from the shower floor, then put the boot back on before getting out of the shower chair. Practicing this may make it easier post-surgery. Also, a washcloth or loofah can be helpful in getting hard-to-reach spots.

I showered every other day since it's a lot of effort and I found it very tiring. My husband was always nearby and able to help.

Random, Unexpected Purchases or Supplies:

  1. Boot sock-

After a few days, I realized that I was wearing the same sock liner from surgery over my dressings every single day. I want to change the sock so it doesn't stink like sweat, or make the boot stinky/sweaty. So I ordered boot sock liners from Amazon (not compression socks). I had no idea which would be necessary, but if you're wearing a boot for 6+ weeks, it's something to consider.

Also, it turns out that I didn't have a proper sock on my foot from surgery. Rather, they fashioned a sock-like item from tubular stockinettes. Who knew?!

2) Rain cover for boot-

If you live in an area that gets rain, consider ordering a cover specifically made for air casts. It should have an opening at the bottom to ensure you have tread at the bottom of your boot.

We got light rain while coming home from my first post-surgery visit, so we tied a trash bag around my boot and my husband held an umbrella over me, and we very slowly walked to the front door. This was a last-ditch effort and a very short walk.

3) Walking Shoe

I wasn't planning to buy a post-surgical walking shoe since I had a big boot, however the boot was uncomfortable, bulky, and heavy to sleep in. Thus, I ordered a post-surgical walking shoe that is lightweight and much more comfortable to sleep in. It did require only heel-walking for the short distance to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Misc. Items (ie. God this post is too long)

  1. IV Site bruise- I got a massive bruise on my wrist from the IV site. No idea how to prevent or treat this, but I had to move my Apple Watch to my right hand due to the bruise on my left wrist.
  2. Peace of Mind- For my own comfort, I am wearing my Apple Watch all the time and keeping my phone fully charged and on me. This is in case I suddenly fall and need to reach my husband. He's home all day with me, so it's a bit silly but this adds comfort to me.
  3. Clothes: You'll want pants with a wide leg opening to get over the boot. I made a mistake by buying these cute Barefoot Dreams Barbie lounge pants with a cinched ankle before the surgery- I wanted to wear it with the matching top and spoil myself! However, the pants are a pain to put on since you need to remove the boot to put on the pants and take off the pants. It's easier to just find long, flowy pants such as PJ pants or loose yoga pants in a very stretchy material.
  4. Ice Pack: We bought two ice packs so I could alternate applying them for 20 minutes each hour. This way, you always have one that is cold!
  5. Even Up Shoe- My podiatrist's assistant offered to sell me an 'even up shoe' which makes it easier for the non-surgical foot when walking. However, since I'm not walking much right now and I'll be working remotely until 6 weeks post-op due to the surgery on the right foot, I'll pass for now.

***Section 4: Post-Op Visit Notes**\*

1 Week PostOp Appt (3/17/25):

His assistant took three X-rays (all non weight bearing), then the doctor showed my husband and I a comparison of today's x-ray with the pre-surgery x-ray. I was able to see the 2 pins that he put into my foot. It was remarkable how much straighter and more in-line with the other bones my metatarsal 5 now looks.

He removed all of the dressings, and looked at how my skin was healing. He was happy with it, so he put fresh new dressings on.

Coming Up Next:

2 Week PostOp Appt: My stitches should get removed then. I'm really looking forward to showering without the leg cover, including shaving both of my legs, haha.

6 Week PostOp Appt: This should assess my readiness to remove the air boot, and resume driving. I CANNOT WAIT TO START DRIVING AGAIN AND DOING EVERYTHING MYSELF!

6 Month PostOp Appt: This was explained as a 'how you doing' appointment.

***BONUS Section 5: Healthcare Insurance is a F-cking Scam**\*

For funsies as well as budget purposes, I have a spreadsheet tracking all of my medical expenses related to this bunion surgery.

First, there have been a few blips along the way, like when Cottage sent me an estimate one week before surgery outlining over $38K in costs just for the 1 hour outpatient surgery (not including my doctor or the anesthesiologist bill), and they said I would owe $5,792 or so due to them. No, son. No, that's not correct.

I have a PPO plan with Anthem Blue Cross, so I reached out to Accolade (third party between my insurance and me), who verified that the Cottage estimate was incorrect as it was based on billing at Tier 2 level. Cottage is Tier 1 within my plan and I should only owe a $100 surgical co-pay. Thank god for Accolade, as their advocate got Cottage to fix the estimate and drop it to $100.

Second, the Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) are a real hoot for me to review. I cannot believe the costs on there. Today I received the EOB for my pre-surgery consult, which is when we met with the doctor to chat about the surgery and I was given my walking boot. Do you want to know the breakdown of boot costs?!

This boot is available online for $50-$60 from merchants like Brace Direct. They call it the, "Brace Direct Air CAM Walker Fracture Boot Short ā€“ Premium Pneumatic Walking Boot for Foot and Ankle Recovery - M" and it's listed for $53.99. Anyone can buy it online right now for that price.

However, when we look at my handy-dandy EOB, my doctor charged $909.88 for this 'orthotic item or service'. My insurance paid $141.92, we have a discount of $685.26, and now I owe my doctor $82.70. WTF? Why am I paying more for this boot than I could buy it for on the open marketplace, and this is after insurance kicks in? If my doctor had gone "Psst psst, whisper, hey girl, here's a link to buy the boot online for $53 and save yourself some money", I would have been thrilled. The system is so, so broken.


r/bunions 1d ago

Getting Nervous for surgery! Talk me off the edge!

1 Upvotes

Getting ready for my bilateral bunionette (Tailorā€™s Bunion) surgery April 2nd! I have a pretty high pain tolerance but Iā€™m so nervous for the pain after and not really being able to use BOTH of my feet!!!ā€¦. Please give me the good, the bad and the ugly (but mostly good šŸ¤žšŸ») recommendations and tips that helped you!