Bunions are painful and frustrating! They can force you to sit out of your favorite activities and everyday tasks. Learn how a patient at Advanced Foot Care was able to get back to running faster after Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ bunion surgery.
Is Lapiplasty a Permanent Treatment for Bunions?
A patient of Advanced Foot Care had developed bunions and it was interfering with her running. The pain got worse over time and this active patient was not able to participate in their favorite activities. As an avid runner, she was frustrated. After trying to treat the bunions with OTC pain medication, she made an appointment with Advanced Foot Care. Dr. Pignetti knew she would be a great candidate for the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™.
While most people view bunions as just a bump on the side of the foot, it is actually a much more complex three-dimensional deformity that is the result of a series of bones and joints shifting and rotating out of place over time. As a result, treatment does not consist of simply "cutting off the bump." In order to obtain a lasting, complete correction, the affected bones and joints need to be returned to their ideal position.
The Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction™ enables this correction to occur using special instrumentation, guides and implants that are designed specifically for just this purpose. The technique corrects all three dimensions of the bunion deformity at the joint that is the "root cause" of the bunion. This leads to a more robust, long-lasting correction and greater stability. Advanced Foot Care is recognized as an Elite Lapiplasty Center - the 13th practice nationwide to receive this distinction.
When can I exercise after Lapiplasty?
The return to exercise and full activities will take place in a gradual manner. While walking is permitted in a special post-op boot as early as three days post-operatively, patients should prioritize rest and frequent elevation during the first two weeks following surgery. Patients may gradually increase the time spent walking after sutures are removed at approximately 12- 14 days after their procedure. Non-weightbearing exercises of the lower limbs such as leg lifts and curls may be started at that time, as may sit-ups, crunches and exercises that work the arms while seated. The patient will have x-rays taken following 6 weeks of recovery and will typically transition to sturdy, athletic footwear. The next several weeks will concentrate on increasing flexibility, control and endurance of the recovering foot. Lunges, squats or other non-impact stretches that place increased stress on the feet are not permitted until the patient has been cleared to do so following the evaluation of x-rays taken approximately 3 months following Lapiplasty surgery.
How long after Lapiplasty can I run?
Patients may return to more aggressive, high impact activities such as running approximately three to four months after surgery.