Bunions anyone used anything that helps?

[CantThinkOfANewUsernameAgain]

I have a bunion, its getting worse. Surgery atm is a no go. Its too manic with little dcs to not be able to drive etc.

I saw a someone many years ago who moulded a rubber think to put bewtwebig toe and 2nd toe. But it hirt because i have a bit of hypermobility so where it was moulded under toes too to hold in place it rubbed because my joints bend a bit down.
Apparently i walk with a slight roll on 1 foot.
This is only 1 foot.
I have never worn anything higher than a 1 inch heel. And that's rare. Maybe twice a year. Ever i just can't do heels.

Is there a good contraption? Or similar that may help.?

I only wear trainers and have had to wear Crocs over summer as only thing wide enough. Flip flops etc no good due to the roll.

Following as mine is killing me today!

Just us then lol

Not sure if my experience is relevant, I’m 57 and had awfully painful bunions for about 3 years. The dr said they couldn’t do anything. However when I went on HRT within about 2 months the pain completely disappeared. 2 years later I still have the sticking out bone but absolutely no pain!

I used to have bunions on both feet, managed to mostly reverse them.
I only wear shoes with a wide toe box. Not the usual 'wide fit' stuff, but shoes that are not tapered. The widest part of your foot/shoe should be at the end of your toes. Eg. trainers like Altra or Topo.
(It's not just the heels, most everyday 'pointy' shoes also force your big toe inwards.)
Also correct-toes or the cheap dupes from Amazon, but if you can't get on with toe spacers try taping the big toe.
Foot strengthening exercises can also help, you'll find loads on Youtube. Iirc I started with Petra Fisher's videos.

Watching with interest. I've developed a bunion now... not generally painful except when I'm running. It does "crack" quite often, though.
DD has also got one which has started to hurt, and she's only 28.

@MostUnreasonable is right: even wide fit shoes often aren't wide at the toe box. Most annoying!

I have bunions. I've worn nothing but Altras (wide toe box) and it's made no difference to their development. As I understand it, you can't get rid of them without surgery.

Mine aren't so painful but I know from an mri on my foot that the joint is very arthritic and the sesamoid bones are displaced so it's only a matter of time.

I also currently have a stress fracture and wonder if the bunion is placing the weight weirdly when I walk. I am thinking about surgery but it's so invasive I just don't know if I want to go through it.

Absolutely agree with strengthening your feet and not wearing restrictive footwear ever

A good place to start is

https://www.petrafishermovement.com/free-your-feet/

I know you said surgery isn’t an option right now, but please consider it as soon as you can . Both my feet were so painful and shoes were an absolute nightmare. I had them both done at the same time about 20 years ago and not a twinge since ! Yes it was painful, first 24 hours especially, but so worth it. I worked in a school at the time and had it done at the beginning of the summer holidays and was back at work for the new term so 6 weeks approximate recovery?

Hyper mobility is what makes me over pronate and caused my bunions. I've had them both done. I won't lie, it's pretty brutal surgery with a longish recovery time. If you can see a podiatrist, insoles will help straighten the way you walk. I have insoles in all of my shoes now and my feet, ankles, knees and hips are much happier.

Can you all tell me what sort of bunion-friendly footwear you're wearing? For me:

*Birkenstock sandals (two buckle style) both real and fake. The real ones come in a wide fitting anyway, but they're all adjustable and have arch support, even my Tesco ones!

• Trainers with woven tops. I add orthotic insoles.
• Nike Air Force Ones -mens are wider.
• Mens wellies, to walk the dog.
• DMs! *Suede boots and shoes... they are softer and with more give. Clarks Funny Dream are a style I like in suede. *Rocket dog "jazzin" canvas trainers. Very funky and with a wide toe box. *Crocs, around the house.

Interested in other shoes!

No idea why my post went all weirdly set out! It was nicely bullet pointed.

I've got wide feet anyway, and my bunions just make them even wider! (In my 40s, had them since childhood but they've got worse and painful in past 5 years). Anyway, this summer I bought a pair of Skechers Bobs trainers and I've found them to be wide and comfortable.

@TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth Meant to add I also have several pairs of rocket dog jazzin!

@TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth

Trainer's probably narrow at the toe, same with AF1s and probably wellies.

I had Nike free runs and they were fairly wide and the toe but after a month two in barefoot shoes they were too narrow and squeezed my toes.

If you put your foot on top of your shoe and your toes are over the sides it's definitely too narrow in the toe box. If you can't spread your toes out it's also not great.

Bit like this www.instagram.com/reel/CuPaXi9IRCT/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thanks @albalass and @olderthanyouthink

Problem is finding the shoes that give that amount of room though, older, it's surprising how little provision there is!

Also watching with interest.

I have a bunion on my right foot and very slim feet so I can't buy wide shoes, as the shoe on my left foot would be flapping up and down.

I have pretty bad bunions. Right foot so bad that the big toe is now crossed under the 2nd toe so 2nd toe now permanently bent. Finding shoes to fit is a nightmare as I need a deep toe box as well as a wide one! Live in trainers and any kind of soft shoe that can accommodate the 2nd toe poking up. Bunions not at all painful though so I am reluctant to have surgery.
Mine are definitely hereditary and exacerbated by hypermobility.

Would very much like advice on shoes - have tried wide fit shoes but my feet aren't actually wide despite having the bunion.

Mine also hereditary - neither me or my DM have spent much time in heels or pointy shoes but both of us have the bunions.

Am self employed so scared of having surgery and losing months of income but it's a long time to retirement.

mine is definitely hereditary, i've never worn heels or restrictive shoes, i'm tall and clumsy so have always been in trainers and flats. always . mine is on my right foot, as is my mother's and her mother's before her

This blog has some amazing before and after pictures that show what a difference switching to barefoot/minimalist shoes can make:

https://barefootuniverse.com/barefoot-shoes-before-and-after

@AnnaMagnani @Handsnotwands Maybe pointy was the wrong word to choose. Any shoe where the side is curving inwards instead of following the natural shape of your foot will push your big toe or the little toe inwards and most mainstream shoes, including trainers are like that. For example the shoe on the right or these Nikes (that are supposedly extra wide).
Take the insole out of your shoe and step on it stretching your toes as wide as you can (or put your fingers between the toes). Are they really not restrictive?

A lot of trainers are also not flat, they often have a 4mm-10mm raise at the heel. This can alter your gait and put pressure on the front of your feet.

Of course I'm not trying to deny that there can be hereditary reasons too, all I'm saying is I did manage to fix my bunions without surgery and a huge part was wearing shoes that worked for my foot shape.

@WhateverMate For narrow feet try Vivobarefoot, Altra (you can filter for the slim footshape), Merrell Vapor Glove or some of the Barebarics sneakers (but you need to try them on, the website is not very helpful)

Thanks for the replies.

I cant even wear air force 1s they hurt so bad.
Got some wider toe box sketchers. And the soft material. ANY leather type are agony

I went to a local boot maker the foot was EEEE width other foot EE. So wide too.

@MostUnreasonable any recommendations for some smart ish type shoes like loafers or ballet flats? I can't find nice ones with wide toe box!

I agree from my research it seems you can be more genetically predisposed but the shoes we wear even if not high heels have probably caused it. Mainstream shoes have narrow toe boxes. My mum has terrible bunions so I guess it's hereditary but I've bought my children the BGreater shoes for school and trainers and will only get them barefoot shoes now as I don't want them to have the same issue I am now having in my early 30s already despite never having worn high heels!
I think it's years of wearing converse that has done it.

I got some pain from mine after getting new shoes that were quite narrow,

I went back to wearing my Skechers trainers that have a wide toe box.

Now looking for some waterproof shoes with a wide toe box for winter....