Bunions! Picture of my foot attached!

[Fruityb]

So I think I have bunions. I have had trouble for years with the part of my foot I have helpfully arrowed. I have never worn silly shoes as my feet are too wide - I live in trainers! But when I have to wear shoes I get a real ache in my feet on that part. I used to run but my feet hurt so much when I do - I think I need better trainers but this bit can be so painful.

Surgery isn’t something I want to think about in all honesty - is there anything I can do to help alleviate it a bit? It can be anything from a dull ache so actually making me gasp. Not every day but certainly after a day at work when I’m driving home I can feel it. Both my feet are like the picture. I am so annoyed this has happened lol as I avoided wearing narrow shoes and have worn trainers for so long!

I had the bunion removal surgery.

My understanding is that they have to be very much more pronounced and probably more painful, before you’d be able to have surgery on them. The recovery period is quite lengthy I believe.

I think here are guards or something you can get to protect the foot.

Yes that's a small bunion. I have one on my right foot that's more pronounced than that and sometimes it doesn't cause me any problems for months, then all of a sudden I can barely walk. Cushioning is about all I've found helpful to be honest.

That’s both my feet (excuse the saltwater sandal tan lol).

It’s something I’m starting to notice a lot now and it’s not pleasant. It can be really quite uncomfortable at times. I’ve always tried to look after my feet. I blame the longer second toe or genetics after looking on google lol.

Wait... do I have a bunion then?

I have the same. They told me the joint is swollen and it’s a type of arthritis. I was advised to get rocker- sole type trainers (Hoka One brand), go up a shoe size and get wider shoes. I could have had surgery but instead I opted for a steroid injection into the foot (ouch) which for the moment has alleviated a lot of the pain. Will watch to see if any good tips come through this thread as I too want to avoid surgery for the moment.

Yep. I have them too. You won't get any nhs help unless they are actually really painful/arthritic. There are some ball exercises you can do to break down the calcification. I have a foot massager which is very good, plus I do find Voltarol gel rubbed on at night really soothes it if it's particularly painful after exercise.

I run and it definitely makes it worse but it's not unbearable so I carry on! Hoka one trainers have a good wide foot bed, plus you can lace your trainers so they aren't so tight over the joint, but it's still possible to run and manage the pain.

Oh and I was told flat (saltwater type) shoes are the absolute worst for bunions.... good arch support is essential.

Bunions are largely genetic. They can be exacerbated by bad shoes, but some people can wear sky high heels their whole life and not get them and some people can wear trainers all the time and get them. I know some people who have had successful surgeries to remove them, but I’ve also read that the failure and recurrence rate after surgery is relatively high. I’m very careful about the shoes I wear, but sometimes mine will flare up anyway. I’ve found that shoes with wide toe boxes and conforming material (like stretchy knit trainers and soft leather) are helpful.

You can also get a strap type thing ( look for a bunion corrector) which you can wear for an hour or so at a time. Really works with mine. Change your shoes though- that's been the deal breaker for me. Skechers for work now!

Running was quite uncomfortable - not agony but I was very aware of discomfort in this part of my foot. It was like flexing that joint was causing grief. Voltarol beforehand might be an idea having read that!

I have Doc Marten shoes now and have always worn wide fit ones. It can make a lot of shoes just impossible to wear.

My Nike trainers are knitted sides and they are great but hurt my arches sometimes! I can’t win!

It can sometimes be bright red after a day at work as if it’s been irritated all day. It can really ache. Like someone else said it flares up sometimes and then I might have a while where I don’t notice it.