Bunions - Lumpy, bumpy, unsightly feet - Surgery to correct?

[Earlybird]

Even Posh has 'em. How can they be prevented, or once there, prevented from getting worse?

And what about the surgery to correct them? Who's had it done, and what can you tell us about it? Need details about the surgery itself, recovery process/timeframe and what life is like after the operation.

[Earlybird]

anyone have thoughts?

[meysey]

I'm dying to know too!

[Florizel]

I had bunion surgery on both feet when I was only 16! Didn't even have the fun of wearing inappropriate shoes - I inherited the buggers from mother. I was beginning to have pain in my toes afgter long periods of standing. I still get this, but probably because I try to wear pointy high heels too often.

this operation was a while ago - blimey, about 15 years! and the surgery was done Thailand where I was living with parents, so things have probably moved on, but what the surgeon did to me was cut through the two tendons that run either side of the big toe joint down the foot, and then lengthen the inside one and tighten the outside one, thus shifting the toe to a straighter position.

I think it has made my toes straighter and saved me pain overall, but my mother had a similar operation twice, as the bones shifted back again eventually. She actually had bone chipped off the joint too.

I was in hospital for a few days and in considerble pain for a few weeks. It didn't take me long to be hobbling about again, and I didn't have any plaster, just tapes holding things in place. I was a stupid teenager though and got terrible blood poisoning from an infection in one of the wounds however, as I insisted on going out with friends in the rainy season to a nightclub before had healed properly! I was just wearing socks, as couldn't put shoes on yet.. What an idiot.

If you just have ugly feet, the surgery option is probably not worth it. If you are in pain from bunions though, it might be worth it.

[pineneedle]

Bumping this for a friend who is trying to found out about the op too - i've looked through the archives... did DaddyCool's dw get hers done in the end??!

[pineneedle]

just a little bump (no pun intended, honest )

[BadHair]

I went to my GP about my bunions last year, as they were starting to ache and my shoes were getting too tight. You can also see the bunion through my shoes very clearly.

I was referred to a chiropodist (4 month wait), who told me that for someone of my age (34 at the time) they would not be prepared to operate, as my feet would continue to change shape and the operation would probably be a waste of time. However, if my bunions had been more severe, they might have considered it.

I asked about the operation and apparently it hasn't changed much since my grandma had it done over 20 years ago. The chiropodist talked me through the bone-shaving version, and it is apparently very painful, and you can have balance problems for a short while afterwards.

I had some temporary supports put in the sole of my boots, to raise my arches to relieve pressure on my toe joints, and I had the option to have permanent supports made if the temp ones were useful. But to be honest they didn't make much difference.

Bunions are normally hereditary, which really pissed me off as my mother made me wear hideous Clarke's shoes until I was about 16 for exactly the reason of preventing the damned things from forming. And it was all a load of baloney - I got the things from her side of the family!

[TinyGang]

My mum has always had them, although wearing heels and standing a lot has probably made them worse.

She had the worst one done earlier this year. It took about 4-6 weeks iirc to heal, but her foot looks great. It was a big success.

She'd put it off for years thinking the op would be really awful, but she says it wasn't as bad as she'd thought it would be. You do have to take the time out to rest your foot a bit though.

They can't do her other foot because they think she has a bit of arthritis in it, but it's not as bad as the foot she had done.

[pineneedle]

Thank you both for the the updates.

I guess as my friend is 34 too she prob wouldn't be offered the op either.

[magicfarawaytree]

I have bunions and asked the podiatrist what hope there was for my children. she said that although often hereditary there are things that can be done to prevent it. she suggested that I keep an eye on how the walkd and how their shoes wear down - if necessary they can put something in their shoes which prevents then walking in such a way that the bunions form. dont know how accurate this is. I was told previously if you have the bunion op and are fairly sporty you could face problems it was something to do with not being able to spin on the ball of your foot after the op, if I remember correctly.

[magicfarawaytree]

think the reason it can be prevented is that it is the foot type which is inherited not the actual bunion ( the foot type determines predisposition) therefore the appropriate corrective action should prevent it.

[sallyrosie]

I had it done on one foot under local anaesthetic (nerve block at ankle) for painful bunion on my little toe that was making it impossible to find shoes to fit.
It was pretty painful afterwards even with lots of painkillers and I couldn't walk without crutches for 6 weeks. Would be impossible to manage now as I would be unable to drive (was student at time).
I can't move my little toe now as they took out one of the bones but don't notice this at all.
It has made both of my feet a similar shape and I can now buy shoes to fit so was probably worth it.
What has made the biggest difference though to my feet is wearing flat shoes all the time. The bunions on my big toes and other foot have not got worse and I have no pain in my feet anymore. Heels are really really bad for you!