Bunions, surgery, etc...tell me what you know

[ckay87]

I'm just looking to hear from other people who have experienced painful bunions to find out whether you opted for surgery, whether it helped, or whether you chose another solution.

I have one on my right foot. The whole big toe slants in and the thing is painful, depending on my shoes. At this point, almost any enclosed shoe, unless I've spent 2 years breaking it in, causes real, real pain. In the summer, I'm as good as gold because all my shoes are loose and open. But this is the time of year where I'm saying "OUCH, I forgot about that!"

I've known about the surgery, but chose not to do it for so many years because my boys were little and I didn't see how I was going to spend weeks off of my feet. But my boys are teens now, DH works at home, so doing this is definitely an option. I'm thinking of scheduling something for the winter (depending on when Bon Jovi tours! )

So what have your experiences been? I'll take the horror stories as well as the great results stories. I don't like to do any medical procedure that's not really necessary and I'd continue to put this off, but dang! It hurts!

 

[crz4mm2]

Yes, it is painful.
I used to work for a Podiatrist that did lots of surgery. He had great results and used NO external pins of any kind.
Do your homework finding someone that does a LOT of surgery. I would never have external hardware.....

Good luck!

 

[Christine]

My coworker had it done and she told me to wait until I get to the point that I am dragging my leg!

She said it was very painful. She then had to go back and have the pins removed because they were causing her pain. She is fine now but it was a long road.

I think I will need it done eventually. Like you, I was fine all summer but now that I've got to wear a closed shoe (and a heel at that) there are days that I'm dying if the shoe is not perfect.

But from what I've heard, even if I have the surgery I will likely be very limited in what shoes I can wear because heels can cause them to come back.

 

[720L]

My mom had it done.....she said it was VERY painful but she is glad she did it. Now she can buy all the cute shoes! Her recovery seemed to take quite a while. I'm developing them now, not as bad as hers were, but they probably will get worse? Oh she had pins put in.

 

[Kimickey]

Im 31 and had both of my bunions removed at the same time in 2002. I was in more pain before the surgery than the actual surgery. I was out of commisson for about three weeks had to use a wheel chair, crutches, take a bath with my legs hanging out of the tub. All in all the pain was not too bad afterwards and I dont regret having the surgery at all. I'm an advid runner and have zero problems with my feet. I didnt have to have pins removed either I believe they used dissolvable pins. My feet feel great!

 

[ckay87]

ugh, what a hard decision. With the right shoes, it's something I can live with. A lot of new style dress shoes have open backs, so I can easily kick them on and off as needed (as long as the time and place are right!) You know what KILLS me? Sneakers. They are the worst because they are tied on. I went out to eat with my gym sneaks on last night and I was literally getting tears in my eyes at the table. So it's one of those things that I have to decide whether I can live with. I may just visit the doc again to hear about my options. Thanks crz for the advice about external hardware.

 

[LindaG4458]

I've had 5 bunionectomies, three on the left foot and two on the right.

The first two times in 1983 (one on each) I developed a lot of scar tissue. The doctor said it was from swelling and I would need to elevate the feet for a second operation.

The second two times, in 1984, I had to stay off my feet as much as possible and keep them elevated (no work) for 6 weeks each. The right foot is fine.

The third time, in 1986, I had a bone in the upper left foot resected and a pin put in (later removed). The left foot now looks like the description of your foot. Eventually it will probably need a fourth operation. I was told there would be a resection of the toe rather than the upper foot.

My surgery was done by two different orthopedists under general anesthetic because I am a needle and pain phobic. My podiatrist at the time, who treats some famous Boston athletes, would only operate under a local. I might have had a better result if he had done the surgeries.

As far as cute shoes, I still have to buy C or D width with low heels. Most cute shoes are B width only. Also, I was told to wear orthotics and they don't work in open shoes.

If you are in discomfort it is well worth the pain and inconvenience. I was before the surgeries; now I am not. That is why I am delaying the 6th operation.