Pain is a natural concern before any surgery, and it’s one of the areas where MIS genuinely stands out compared to traditional approaches.
Generally Milder Than Traditional Surgery
Because MIS involves much smaller incisions and significantly less soft tissue disruption, most patients experience less post-operative pain compared to open bunion surgery.
What’s Considered Normal
In the first few days after surgery, mild to moderate discomfort particularly swelling and tenderness around the incision sites is expected. This is a normal part of the healing process, not a sign that something is wrong.
How Pain Is Managed
Post operative discomfort is typically well controlled with standard pain medication prescribed after the procedure. Most patients find that:
- Pain is most noticeable in the first 2–3 days
- It gradually decreases over the following week
- Elevating the foot and resting as advised helps reduce swelling and discomfort
When to Reach Out to Your Surgeon
While some discomfort is expected, pain that suddenly worsens, is accompanied by significant swelling, redness, or fever, should always be discussed with your surgical team promptly these can be early signs worth checking, even if uncommon.
Most patients describe the post operative experience with MIS as significantly more manageable than they expected, especially compared to what they’d heard about traditional open bunion surgery.