Q: How soon after bunion surgery can I begin walking?

A: Well, that depends upon what type of bunion surgery you are having done. Not every bunion is the same, and thus not every bunion needs to be corrected by the same type of procedure. For some very mild bunions, in which the connective tissues are balanced out and the bump shaved off, partial weight bearing with a walking boot may be allowed. For bunion corrections involving a cut made in the bone and pins or screws to secure the bone, non-weight bearing for about 3 weeks is required, following by walking in a boot for another 4-5 weeks. For the more involved bunion corrections, non-weight bearing with a cast may be required for 6-8 weeks before putting weight on the foot.