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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fucking HATE bunions

117 replies

Pinkglitterglue · 14/12/2021 22:21

NC

Not really an AIBU sorry just a rant AngryI have 2 bunions and I’m fed up of how painful they are. Has anyone ever had them operated on? How bad did they need to be and what was the operation process?

I’ve heard horror stories about the surgery and was adamant I would never want it but my feet are throbbing every day and I’m waking up during the night with the pain now

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
parrotonmyshoulder · 19/12/2021 10:22

Love the way my joint problems are caused by my unresolved emotional issues…!

Gingernaut · 19/12/2021 22:40

@WakeyWakey123

The root cause of problems like this is nearly always unresolved emotional issues. What’s been going on in your life OP?
I was born with short first metatarsals, with the remaining metatarsals being longer than average.

As the big toe joints bend at a different point to the rest of my feet and toes, I ended up with a weird gait to accommodate this.

I now have bunions, bunionettes, fixed and flexible hammer and mallet toes, neuromas, fat pad atrophy, ankle issues, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.

A large portion of my emotional issues stem from my inability to walk without pain, being unable to take some jobs because I wouldn't be able to perform the tasks without pain and pain even on resting.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 19/12/2021 23:29

@user333334

*and to add - second toe was a hammer toe and had to be straightened due to me having put off the surgery for so long
Did they fuse the toes? I have a bunion and hammer toe on one foot and a bunion on the other. I did get referred to see a surgeon when the ligament on the second toe was perforating as it was really painful. However it took so long to be seen that the ligament was fully gone and there was no more pain when I finally got seen.

He told me that the toe would be fused and I would need to wear flat or very low shoes as the toe would be fused. As I was no longer in pain, I decided to leave it. However I would love to get rid of them.

AdoraBell · 19/12/2021 23:39

I was born with bunions, DD2 as well. I’ve learned what shoes I can wear to avoid the pain. Never considered surgery because when I was a child an aunt had the surgery and ended up in a wheelchair. Never walked again. That was in the 70’s and I’m sure that procedures are better now.

AdoraBell · 19/12/2021 23:52

My bunions are more severe than DD2’s.

To fucking HATE bunions
MrsMurdstone · 20/12/2021 01:06

Mine is getting worse and worse. Soon it will be time to do something.

Years ago I read about this new "pain free" lunchtime surgery. Has anyone tried this? It's old enough to have been thoroughly tested by now.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1051558/Pain-free-surgery-cured-bunions-just-minutes.html

Original poster
Pinkglitterglue · 22/12/2021 17:36

Everyone’s advice/commend/experiences are extremely helpful, thank you very much! I read that you can get local anaesthetic for the surgery instead of having to go through a general, has anyone ever had this and did it have less of a recovery time?

OP posts:
Fontella · 22/12/2021 19:12

@WakeyWakey123

The root cause of problems like this is nearly always unresolved emotional issues. What’s been going on in your life OP?
I literally burst out laughing when I read this.

What on earth have 'unresolved emotional issues' got to do with big toe joints?

My entire family has bunions - down the generations, male and female including my own two children. The root cause of which according to you is 'unresolved emotional issues'.

Nothing to do with genetics and our hereditary muscoskeletal make up then?

GetOffYou · 23/12/2021 22:30

Ooh … a bunion thread!!!

I had bunion and hammer toe surgery today on the NHS.
So far so good.
General anaesthetic with a nerve block, and no pain as yet.
I have crutches and a shoe thingy which encourages me to heel walk.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Concestor · 24/12/2021 12:04

[quote MrsMurdstone]Mine is getting worse and worse. Soon it will be time to do something.

Years ago I read about this new "pain free" lunchtime surgery. Has anyone tried this? It's old enough to have been thoroughly tested by now.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1051558/Pain-free-surgery-cured-bunions-just-minutes.html[/quote]
My surgeon did not think much of this technique. He says there's a reason it's not widely used and he wouldn't use it himself

Iggly · 24/12/2021 12:07

My bunion started after wearing horrendously cheap pointed shoes and walking ages on them. Painful to the touch. I was in my 20s.

Since then, I massively reduced the amount of time I wore stupid heels/pointed toes and switched to flats, comfy ankle boots etc and over time it’s calmed down massively. I won’t wear cheap shoes and DGAF about glam.

So maybe think on footwear and let your feet heal a bit. My foot looks almost normal now.

Concestor · 24/12/2021 12:13

These are my feet now. Pain free, fit in shoes, and I occasionally wear heels on a night out but have got into the habit of wearing flats and ensuring they have a wide toe box. I do not want to risk bunions again!

To fucking HATE bunions
OchonAgusOchonOh · 24/12/2021 12:53

@Iggly

My bunion started after wearing horrendously cheap pointed shoes and walking ages on them. Painful to the touch. I was in my 20s.

Since then, I massively reduced the amount of time I wore stupid heels/pointed toes and switched to flats, comfy ankle boots etc and over time it’s calmed down massively. I won’t wear cheap shoes and DGAF about glam.

So maybe think on footwear and let your feet heal a bit. My foot looks almost normal now.

Unfortunately, for most people bunions are hereditary. My mother was meticulous about proper, well fitting shoes for us as she has had bunions but I still had bunions in my teens. I was the same with my kids but dd had bunions in her early teens.
Original poster
Pinkglitterglue · 26/12/2021 16:43

Thanks for all the advice 😊 I’ve mainly been wearing fitted trainers (not the soft ones, the more rigid/supportive style) which has helped a lot. I’ve tried to wear the insoles as much as possible but it feels like they’re hurting my foot but not really changing the bunion at allSad I guess with covid ect the waiting times will be really long for treatment as well. All GP surgeries in our area have had to suspend routine appointments indefinitely due to increased covid cases but once they’re open again I’ll try and make an appointment to at least discuss options

OP posts:
AuntyMabelandPippin · 26/12/2021 16:53

Get referred. Even if it takes a couple of years, you'll get there eventually.

I had both feet done twenty years ago when I was 40 and I've never looked back.

GetOffYou · 26/12/2021 17:46

It may not take long for a referral.

I had a telephone appointment with my GP mid
July, had a face to face assessment with a specialist nurse mid August.
He referred me to a surgeon who I saw early October.
I had surgery last Thursday.

strawberryblondebint · 26/12/2021 20:49

Here are mine. I'm on the waiting list for surgery. Covid is delaying it though. They won't do both at the same time as they are too bad? Arghh. I struggle with shoes.

OutbackQueen · 26/12/2021 20:55

Had left one done 10 years ago (privately) and never looked back. It was really painful and kept me awake at night like you OP. Well worth it. The other one didn’t hurt so I left it alone and now I’m lop-sided. Wish. I’d had it done at the same time but now don’t have private health cover and would have to wait years to have it done on the NHS.

littlepeas · 26/12/2021 20:57

Have a look at toe spacers (correct toes) and barefoot shoes (Vivo barefoot is prob the best). ‘Supportive’ trainers are just as crap for your feet as most other shoes.

usedtobeboss3 · 26/12/2021 21:07

I had both mine done over 30 years ago (I was about 15 at the time) and had to stay in hospital, bed-bound, for two weeks; then plaster and crutches for about 6 weeks, i think. Not had any trouble as such since, but I don't think my big toe joints are as flexible as they should be. I'm sure things have moved on since then though!

Sarahlou63 · 26/12/2021 22:30

Just popped on to say I’ll be 5 weeks post op tomorrow and today has been the first day when I’ve not really thought about or noticed my foot. There a great FB page called “I survived a bunionectomy” that’s very helpful (despite the often rather gruesome photos!).

HereLiesBetelgeuse · 26/12/2021 23:01

My 10yr old DD has bunions in both feet (hereditary from my DM) and I think they are quite bad but she swears blind they don't hurt! She has form for being very stoic so I am not so sure if they maybe do hurt.
Hers are worse than a few photos on here and better than others so it's hard for me to tell if she needs them sorted or not. I do know however that they will get worse not better.
We'd be going private not NHS

Fontella · 27/12/2021 22:58

For those with not too bad bunions, one thing does does help is instead of wearing slippers around the house, wear flip flops with a toe pole between middle and second toes.

I know it sounds daft but it really does help. My son has a bunion on his right foot and it can be painful from time to time, so I recently got him a pair of flip flops to wear indoors and they are such a good design (Dunlop) that the strap actually sort of presses on the bunion a little bit and sort of straightens it, if that makes any sense. It just holds it in a better position.

Anyway, the upshot is that he is getting a lot less pain since he's started wearing them.

I'm sure it wouldn't make any difference for severe bunions, but in our case it has proved helpful.

Original poster
Pinkglitterglue · 28/12/2021 16:40

@Fontella

For those with not too bad bunions, one thing does does help is instead of wearing slippers around the house, wear flip flops with a toe pole between middle and second toes.

I know it sounds daft but it really does help. My son has a bunion on his right foot and it can be painful from time to time, so I recently got him a pair of flip flops to wear indoors and they are such a good design (Dunlop) that the strap actually sort of presses on the bunion a little bit and sort of straightens it, if that makes any sense. It just holds it in a better position.

Anyway, the upshot is that he is getting a lot less pain since he's started wearing them.

I'm sure it wouldn't make any difference for severe bunions, but in our case it has proved helpful.

Hey that’s a really good idea actually! I’ve been wearing slider-style slippers but I’ll get some flip flops. Thanks so much Smile
OP posts:
Ladylunchalot · 28/12/2021 16:56

I had my bunion removed 22 years ago and I'm so glad I did. Recovery wasn't easy - was initially told I would be off work for 8 weeks but it ended up being 16 weeks.
My foot is lovely and straight although I still have the scar. My tendon(s) in my big toe fused and I have next to movement in it so putting on shoes can be fun!
I've also broken that big toe 3 times in the last 5 years due to taekwondo sparring which hasn't helped my already limited movement in that toe Hmm
Still glad I got it done though as the pain was awful.