Bunions!

[Allthegoodusernamesareused]

Not mine! There are obviously more appropriate boards for this, posting here for traffic (hopefully!)

DD is only 17 but has awful, hereditary, bunions. They have got worse and worse despite orthotics and splints, and are now painful every day. She is awaiting an appointment to see if she can have surgery (podiatrist said she was a good candidate in 2020 and they've got worse since then).

She is extremely embarrassed by the appearance of her feet. Will only wear entirely enclosed shoes.

She has been asked to be bridesmaid for her auntie this summer, and she really, really wants to do it. But what do we do about shoes? She can't tolerate heels, won't wear sandals, can't put orthotics in ballet flats which in any case are agony for her.

Any suggestions? Her aunt has already vetoed Converse or similar.

What will she be wearing OP?

Surely her aunt should understand she needs to wear comfortable shoes?

Can she wear a full length dress then her shoes won’t really matter.

I'm so sorry for your daughter. They're so painful and she's still very young.
I think she should put in her feet whatever she is comfortable in and if her aunty doesn't understand, well that's very unkind and maybe I'd tell your daughter to tell her she won't do it then.
Keep putting pressure on your GP, weekly calls etc anything to bug them so they pull their fingers out. Once she's had her consultant referral, call the secretary and ask to be out on a cancellation list. They can sometimes get you in at very short notice. Xx

Thank you for the replies! Dress is likely to be floor length, dark green. I think her aunt will have to allow her to wear trainers, it's her side of the family the bunions come from so she's totally aware. I just wondered if anyone had some suggestions of places to get attractive, bunion friendly shoes.. I'm not sure they exist though.

@Shoemadlady

I'm so sorry for your daughter. They're so painful and she's still very young. I think she should put in her feet whatever she is comfortable in and if her aunty doesn't understand, well that's very unkind and maybe I'd tell your daughter to tell her she won't do it then. Keep putting pressure on your GP, weekly calls etc anything to bug them so they pull their fingers out. Once she's had her consultant referral, call the secretary and ask to be out on a cancellation list. They can sometimes get you in at very short notice. Xx

Thank you. We are really struggling. The podiatrist asked her GP to refer her at the beginning of 2020 but obviously Covid has delayed things, and when I last spoke to the GP they said we needed to go back to the beginning of the process because it's two years since the podiatrist saw her. She really wanted it sorted before going to university later this year, that seems unlikely. I'm wondering whether we can pay privately, although we're hardly in a financial position to do so, but it would be worth it.

callashoes.co.uk

solebliss.com/

Has she looked on either of the above? They have some great looking shoes that hopefully will be comfortable and look good

How about Dr marten shoes with ribbon laces? I can sympathise with your DD as I have had awful bunions all my life

I must say I had the minimally invasive bunion surgery last year (private) and it was really good. The recovery was very quick and painless. My consultant is south east based, I'm happy to pass on the details if you want them.

I’d be interested too

That was to @LactoseTheIntolerant

Hotter shoes

Or ballet shoes

Sorry, nothing practical to add, except how cool would converse look with a long, dark green dress!

@LactoseTheIntolerant

I must say I had the minimally invasive bunion surgery last year (private) and it was really good. The recovery was very quick and painless. My consultant is south east based, I'm happy to pass on the details if you want them.

Yes please, that would be very helpful.

I had to get extra wide Clarks shoes recently for a wedding. But not really a style suitable for this. It's so hard.

I have bunions and difficult feet and wear 'thong'style sandals.I know you said she is very self conscious but comfort and nice nails might win out?

I had both feet done privately about 6 years ago and it was transformational. Mr Matthew Solan was the consultant.

His name is Mr Kumar Kunasingam (if you Google it'll come up). He was absolutely lovely and I got seen very quickly. It's worth doing a bit of research about the non-invasive surgery in comparison to the traditional surgery.
For me recovery was very quick (which was important to me because I love running etc) and painless. I really hope you get a resolution for your daughter.

I have bunions and you can get pretty, wide fit flat shoes with arch support already in them from vionic and sometimes pavers have nice widefit pumps.

I really sympathise as mine are painful too, and I feel ‘young’ to have them at 46yo.

Sole bliss, pavers, vionic and calla have all been recommended to me in the past as brands that cater for bunions. For me, wide fit or extra wide fit in normal brands aren’t enough as my feet aren’t wide where those fits would expect them to be, they’re only wide on the bunion. Also, anything Mary-Jane style is a lot more comfortable than anything that resembles a ballet shoe.

Something I’ve always wondered about but never tried are shoes that Latin and ballroom dancers wear. They can have awful feet and would need shoes that fit.

Finally, how about a floor length dress and then dying a pair of fabric sketchers type white trainers to match? Less obtrusive?

Have you had a look at 'barefoot' style shoes? They have a much bigger toe box and come in lots of pretty styles including ballet. Maybe join the Facebook group (barefoot shoes open discussion UK) and have a scroll, as people are always posting pictures of their new purchases.

I have bunions and find espadrilles work well - how about silver espadrilles (flat if wedges aren't comfortable) with ankle ribbons? That would look pretty i think.