Anyone had bunion surgery?

[Fruityb]

I’m getting a little concerned about my left foot. I have a bunion there - not a massive one but it’s enough to hurt my foot and can be quite sore after walking or running. It can really hurt some days and the angle my big toe is at isn’t helping. It doesn’t tuck under my others or anything but I know that when I walk that joint is bending at an angle.

I don’t know a lot about corrective surgery and don’t even really know if it’d be worth it. I’m just having some thoughts about it. I don’t know how I’ve ended up with them as I’ve never worn silly shoes - or certainly not for a very long time - and I live in trainers when I’m not at work. But I’m a little worried this could just get worse and worse.

Anyone had it or know anyone who has? I know it’s an off your feet for weeks healing time so that’s something I’d have to give serious thought to. I’m always up and about so don’t want anything like this to prevent it.

I have. The podiatric surgeon told me they are genetic and have nothing to do with the shoes you've worn. Saying that, certain shoes can aggravate them.

I had mine done by specialist podiatric surgeons but it had to be done under local anaesthetic. In my region if you want it done under general anaesthetic it will be done by general orthopaedic surgeons. It seems there is a much quicker recovery rate and less complications if you have it done by the specialists so I pulled up my big girl pants and did it under local anaesthetic.

Each one took about an hour (had them done 12 months apart) and it really wasn't too bad.

I won't lie, the recovery is hard and painful. I was non-weight bearing for 2 weeks then the bandages came off and stitches out and I could heel bear on crutches for another 2 weeks before I was properly weight bearing. It took 3 months for the swelling to go down properly and to get back in normal shoes. I'd recommend having them done in the summer so you can live in flip flops!

For me, it was the best thing I could have done. I can wear normal shoes again and I'm not kept awake by the throbbing pain they caused. The surgeons told me only to get them done once I couldn't stand the pain any longer!! It's certainly not a cosmetic surgery and one that shouldn't be undertaken lightly!

Hope that helps

Thank you for that! And that’s fab info. I wouldn’t say they throb or are agony but they can be painful if I’ve been on my feet a lot or some days just in general!

It’s good to hear there’s genetics involved. It’s been like it for ages and it’s so frustrating getting shoes I can’t get my knobbly feet into! I really enjoy running but it can be really painful to do that with my foot being as it is. I’ll let them be for now and see what develops over time.

I have.
It isn’t an easy recovery, the scars heal but the bone takes a lot longer to heal. I had a large chunk of bone cut out and pins put in.
I have never regretted having it done, mine were really painful and made walking difficult, which affected my already dodgy back.

I had it done, recovery was much much harder than expected but I don’t regret it as I can get my feet into shoes now. I still get pain if I’ve been wearing heels though.

I don’t think dodgy shoes created mine, it was one of those things I think.

Nearly at 6 months post surgery from my second op. I won't lie, the surgery is pretty brutal, but I'm so glad I had it done. Sketchers trainers for when the dressing is off as they're lightweight and comfortable. I'm mostly healed now. I did have a bone spur removed too. I'm working up to having the first one redone, as it wasn't done well.

I had both mine done together 5 years ago. I’m hyper mobile so it was a case of very stretchy ligaments. Mine looked horrendous with toes crossing but no pain at all. But I figured shoes were getting more and more tricky and and I wanted not to have to worry about “shoes off” in people’s houses.
NHS. No choice of surgeon but apparently I was “ lucky” and got a good one. Under general. Lots of pins and some sanding. They cut my nerve endings so really didn’t hurt at any point. You walk on special sandals and crutches right from the off.
Rested for a week. Got around with crutches after that. Was in sandals at a wedding after 6 weeks ( puffy but fine) . Walking round intensively on a city break in Rome after 3 months. No problems start to finish.

However I did suggest to my friend she have hers done. She went private and a couple of years on they are just about sorted. She has probably got osteoporosis in fairness though.

I’m getting mine done this year. I had them assessed about three years ago and they were assessed as ‘moderate’. At that stage, they hurt, but nothing like as much as they do now. I’ve never worn silly Or badly fitting shoes and nowadays I live in flats. Can’t think when I last wore heels.

But they hurt after I walk any distance now. And now I have the feeling that I’m walking on a pebble underneath the centre of the ball of my foot. I think the bunion has caused another problem which will need to be fixed at the same time.

I had one done at 15 then the other a few years later. Had to wait for feet to stop growing. Annoying generics. Worth it though. The pain when it would come was horrible.
Agree with what's been said the recovery is brutal. No regrets as they wouldve only got worse over time.

I have bunions on both feet. They throb from time to time and do cause pain when I run. But my physio said it's not worth having surgery as the recovery is very long and they can just reform over time. So I personally think it's better to live with it.

My mum will be having it done sometime spring.

I have a bit of trouble with one foot, but I got one of those splints - bit of plastic that has velcro straps, and straps to your foot and to your big toe, I wear that at home & overnight & after a couple of weeks I find it massively improves the pain.

(Tried this because getting a Dr appointment here is like finding a needle in a haystack)

I went for a consultation, but the surgeon took one look at the then 1 year old climbing up my leg, and said "you can't have bunion surgery at the moment!" which, when he explained recovery time etc, I totally agreed with. Instead I got referred to get orthotics made to go in my shoes which have made an ENORMOUS difference, basically no pain in the 2.5 years since, and it was constant before. I may need the surgery eventually, but the pain for me was in the joint, not from shoes pressing etc, so hopefully the orthotics will keep me going a few more years.
I'd look into orthotics before going for surgery.

I had mine done when I was 14 in the 70s. It involved two and a half weeks in hospital, six weeks in plaster and a half term off school!

One has reformed and is occasionally painful but I wouldn't bother having it done again and I'm (pleasantly) surprised the NHS are still doing it on any but the most extreme cases (Nigella Lawson anyone?).

Will look into Supports thank you for that. I’m just worried it’s going to get worse - It is a throb that I get and that part of my foot is sore if I walk any distance.

With a three year old on the side I may wait for more serious stuff however!

I went private for mine. Cost 4.5k.