Please can someone answer my question about bunions? Any orthopaedic surgeons here?

[Lukethe3]

I'm trying to avoid the £220 fee to speak to a consultant! I am 39 and am developing bunions- they are in the early stages. I am unable to wear high heels and get occasional pain when doing exercise but they are not causing a major problem at the moment. I would definitely consider surgery as I love sport. Does anyone know if it is better to have surgery sooner rather than later or is it ok to wait until they get more painful/ problematic?
Thanks

Bumping for you.

I'm not a specialist but did go to see one (through the NHS) about my bunions. The surgeon was happy to operate sooner rather than later. I did not go ahead as could not afford the recovery period as ds has special needs. After locking my foot up in a fall (catching ds) went to see a podiatrist/chiropodist. She felt it was better to delay surgery for as long as possible (since I was quite young and the surgery quite major at my stage), and prescribed orthotics to reduce the strain on my big toes and advised on suitable footwear. I still cannot wear high heels much of course but my feet are less painful. However I am not as active for other health reasons so this may be a red herring. The orthotics limit my choice of footwear but most sports orientated wear is fine. I read about a newer less invasive surgery for early bunions which may be worth looking into. I think it was Bupa offering the new technique. Hope this bumps for you.

I have had bunions since I was 11. I only where heels etc when going out and not walking - they are for sitting around looking decorative. I try and get round toes ones if they are in fashion.

The rest of the time, I do not wear shoes or wear very sensible shoes like josef sobel. If fact I spend a lot of money on sensible shoes I can wear all the time and as little as I can for the decorative ones.

I do ballet and dance, strengthening my feet and paying attention to posture and maintaining proper foot alignment. I used to have supports in my shoes, but they encouraged me to take the weight on my arches. I much prefer to learn to hold my feed correctly and build up the muscle (the hard way!).

I am nearly 50 now and the operations available were not good when I was in my teens. I know people who have had it done recently and had good results. At the moment, I prefer to keep things the way they are and not risk any foot flexibility. I do remember well the pain of the sheets on my bunion when I was younger, but I have not had that problem for years, and I think the one on my left foot may have improved :)

I have quite advanced bunions and my GP said that I should not have the surgery until my toes get crossed over IYSWIM because it is major surgery with at least 6 weeks recovery- wanting to wear pretty shoes, he said, was not a reason to undertake foot butchery.....