Ruth Porter had bunion surgery at London Foot and Ankle Centre undertaken by consultant orthopaedic surgeon Martin Klinke. Ruth, aged 64, from Kent, describes her experience and treatment.
I was in my fifties when the bunion developed on my right foot. Within two years, it became very painful and restrictive. I couldn’t fit into shoes without an orthotic to widen the shoes and it was particularly difficult during winter, when I couldn’t wear sandals. I remember being on a trip to the West End with my daughter and being in so much pain that we had to search for a pharmacy selling bunion pads.
When I mentioned bunion surgery, many people said – that’s one of the most painful operations you can have. It was off-putting because that was something you heard a Iot. But that wasn’t my experience at all.
I had my surgery in 2010 and together with bunion correction, Mr Klinke straightened my second biggest toe and removed a bony spur which had developed on my little toe. I can honestly say that I wasn’t in any pain at all – not immediately after surgery or in the weeks which followed.
I did follow the instructions to the letter and I think this is very important. They mobilise you quickly – I was walking with crutches the day after surgery and weight bearing straight away. I stayed with my eldest daughter and throughout the first two weeks and tried to keep my foot elevated as much as possible. You then spend a further four weeks in a post-operative shoe and have regular physiotherapy sessions. I remember my toe feeling tight, but there was no discomfort, pain or stiffness.
Now it is two years after surgery and the operation has been a huge success. I have since had a knee replacement, which was very painful – by comparison bunion surgery was very straightforward.
I recently saw a doctor locally in Kent who does foot surgery but is not a specialist. He looked at my foot and said – ‘Mr Klinke has done a brilliant job. If you ever need to have your left foot, you should go back to him and get a matching pair.’ He was very honest in his praise of the surgery I’d had and it’s a real achievement because I have complicated feet, due to having very mobile bones. My right foot is now perfectly straight – I can wear any shoes – and there is no pain or stiffness whatsoever.
