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Original poster

Show me a pic of your bunions…

71 replies

User129867588 · 08/02/2023 19:49

Weird request, I know!! I have been diagnosed with a moderate bunion on my right foot ( that was the only one xrayed but I think I have it on both feet) Last week I was referred to a podiatrist on nhs so assuming will take ages to see one . My right toe is causing me issues and discomfort but not excruciating.

I’m just curious what others have experienced with their bunions and how it looked for you. Did you have surgery? I actually have bupa through work so if this referral takes ages I will ask for a private one. I’m 43 and never wore heels and always wear good quality shoes. I’m all for comfort and mainly walk in Salomon hikers. I am active and love walking so this is a bummer

Show me a pic of your bunions…
OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Eyesopenwideawake · 09/02/2023 19:23

Before and (about) 6 months post op. I was walking within 3 weeks but by christ, the first week was painful. Worth it though.

Show me a pic of your bunions…
Show me a pic of your bunions…
Eyesopenwideawake · 09/02/2023 19:26

Sorry - 2nd pic was 6 weeks, not months.

PermanentTemporary · 09/02/2023 19:32

Here's mine. I'm too scared to have them done, and luckily they don't hurt. I only wear hotter shoes and Alt-Berg walking boots, no point in trying others. Unfortunately ds has inherited them but a bit worse.

Incidentally I got a dodgy DM on twitter once from a bunion fancier so we might get invaded.

Show me a pic of your bunions…
Socrateswasrightaboutvoting · 09/02/2023 19:32

User129867588 · 08/02/2023 19:49

Weird request, I know!! I have been diagnosed with a moderate bunion on my right foot ( that was the only one xrayed but I think I have it on both feet) Last week I was referred to a podiatrist on nhs so assuming will take ages to see one . My right toe is causing me issues and discomfort but not excruciating.

I’m just curious what others have experienced with their bunions and how it looked for you. Did you have surgery? I actually have bupa through work so if this referral takes ages I will ask for a private one. I’m 43 and never wore heels and always wear good quality shoes. I’m all for comfort and mainly walk in Salomon hikers. I am active and love walking so this is a bummer

My mum and sister have bunions. It is a myth that heels causes them if you are prone to them they can bring them on or exacerbate the condition. Its more likely to be caused by an underlying issue with the mechanics of your foot. Wear appropriate footwear can delay the development of bunions.

Travelban · 10/02/2023 09:27

F4chrissakes · 09/02/2023 19:18

I have, and always have had bunions. They're none too handsome, but have never caused any pain. I met three people who had surgery. The first was when I was in hospital for something else, and she was in so much pain post surgery she kept hollering for more morphine. The second was a neighbour who had them operated on one at a time, and she was well and truly out of action for a good 3 months for each foot. The third was a young very sporty woman with very bad bunions. She had one operated on and wore a surgical boot for ages. When I asked how it was going, she said that a bone had died, there was nothing that could be done, there was limited movement in the toe, couldn't raise the heel that side at all, she was doomed to wear surgical shoes forever, and she wished she'd never interfered with it, and was most certainly not having the other side done.
That quite put me off, and since mine have never hurt, I think I'll just let them be. But I do buy wider fitting old fart shoes. Since I actually am an old fart, this isn't much of a problem to me.

Tbh if they don't cause you any pain then I wouldn't bother with surgery. Mine are mild/moderate and not very visible but hurt quite a bit. Hence the decision to go for the surgery.

Your stories sound horrendous and I am bot surprised they put you off. I am on day 9 now and I can categorally say that I have had very little pain foe the first two to tree days which I managed with paracetamol. I have been virtually pain free since day 5.

Having said that, although I am weight bearing and qalking around with my boot, if I am on my feet for more than 20 minutes my foot starts to throb. So I can definitely day that the first two weeks at least its sitting down with foot elevated most of the time.

This isn't an option for a lot of people who have say caring responsibilities or can't take time off work..I suspect 6 weeks is the realistic recovery time.

Travelban · 11/02/2023 18:41

10 days post operation

Show me a pic of your bunions…
WellTidy · 11/02/2023 18:51

Mine are more sever than yours, Op, despite mine being described as ‘moderate’ too. They’re definitely hereditary for me (grandma had them) as I’ve always worn sensible and well fitting shoes, even in my teens and 20s.

I am mid 40s and really need to get them done. Despite being incredibly careful about footwear, mine hurt. They ache pretty much all the time, and I feel like I’m walking on a pebble. I feel like I want to stretch out my foot all the time, and that I just want to wrap them up in something soothing and hold them supportively and gently. My poor feet.

If they didn’t hurt, I wouldn’t be at all bothered about them.

Bamboozles · 21/02/2023 18:51

Anyone recommend shoes for a wedding? I'm starting to worry 11 months in advance if it.

PermanentTemporary · 21/02/2023 19:35

@Bamboozles sorry to say it but I only wear Hotter wide fit now. Their sandals with gold and silver adjustable straps are the bomb. But glamorous they ain't.

Original poster
User129867588 · 21/02/2023 21:54

Eyesopenwideawake · 09/02/2023 19:23

Before and (about) 6 months post op. I was walking within 3 weeks but by christ, the first week was painful. Worth it though.

That is such a massive improvement. Thank you for sharing

OP posts:
Original poster
User129867588 · 21/02/2023 21:55

Travelban · 11/02/2023 18:41

10 days post operation

thank you for sharing- looks good for 10 days post op. Are you in a lot of discomfort?

OP posts:
stayathomegardener · 21/02/2023 22:09

Dh has them genetically I assume.
He never wears shoes without a fat silicone toe separator.
Goes through about 8 a year but means his feet don't now cause him issues.

WellTidy · 21/02/2023 22:15

Bamboozles · 21/02/2023 18:51

Anyone recommend shoes for a wedding? I'm starting to worry 11 months in advance if it.

I bought shoes for a wedding from Sole Bliss. They were great, pricey, and nothing at all out of the ordinary to look at for the price, but they were comfortable. I bought lots of pairs and returned the ones I didn’t want, refund came very quickly.

bellocchild · 21/02/2023 22:35

It will depend on the type of bunion you've got. I've had both feet done, Wilson's/Mitchell's osteotomies in 1980s and again in 2000s, to revise the original surgery when better procedures were available. The secondary effects which required correction were mostly metatarsal, caused by loss of arch strength over the years. I have lost some feeling in the metatarsal areas from removal of a neuroma, but it has all been very successful surgery: I can wear most shoes, and my feet don't hurt. The procedures were not painful either - I didn't need any analgesia. The only pain I have ever felt was from the reduction of a bony toe joint, and that wasn't too bad. All my surgery was on the NHS, but you really ^do need a specialist podiatric surgeon, someone who only does feet.

Travelban · 22/02/2023 07:21

I haven't had much pain at all. I am on day 21 now. Scars hadn't healed properly yet so i am still in dressings. Swelling is minimal, mainly at night but I am still elevating most of the day. Gone back to work (from home) on Monday and its pretty tiring!!!

BunnyOnTheOnion · 22/02/2023 10:14

I hate, hate, hate my feet! My mum has similar, she's had her bunions done twice now, and her second toe shortened! They do look much better now.

I've hardly ever worn heels as she always warned me this was likely to affect me. She was right 😭and now I'm restricted to the flattest, widest kinds of shoes.

Left one is definitely getting worse and starting to rub and feel sore. I hate (to the point of feeling physically ill) anyone looking at or touching my feet so I haven't ever sought help. I still run but finding trainers is a nightmare.

Show me a pic of your bunions…
Travelban · 25/02/2023 16:28

For those of you thinking of having the surgery, I thought I would post an update with photo. I am 3 and a half weeks post surgery now. I have no pain at all. Small scabs are slowly healing. I can actually pit thr foot down and walk barefoot(I tried a few steps) but I amnstilo wearing the biot. Very little swelling and I was on my feet most of the morning.
The slight bump on the side is swelling rather than the bunion re-forming lol 😆

Show me a pic of your bunions…
Travelban · 25/02/2023 16:32

And this was before (sorry about nail varnish fail)

Show me a pic of your bunions…
stayingaliveisawayoflife · 25/02/2023 20:48

These are my feet now. I had my left foot done ten years ago and my right foot nine years ago. They really have not changed since the op and are still fine. Sorry for fat feet photos!

LilyGlobe · 25/02/2023 21:33

I had bunion surgery in November. Walked 10k without issue today.
I had mine through Bupa, I first saw the consultant in May, could choose the surgery date and went for November for work reasons, but I could have had it done much sooner.

I was off my feet for 2 weeks (and on co-codamol) and on crutches for a further 4. I’ve had a reasonable amount of discomfort since, mainly nerve related, but in the last 2-3 weeks, it’s improved massively. Swelling has been minimal throughout and I’m glad I had it done.

I had a lot of pain before surgery and certainly wouldn’t have it done just for cosmetic reasons. My other foot will need doing at some point but hopefully not any time soon.

WizardingKangaroo · 26/02/2023 10:19

Anyone have tailors bunions? Trying to work.out how bad mine are! Scared by the recovery time as work on my feet!

PriamFarrl · 26/02/2023 12:22

WizardingKangaroo · 26/02/2023 10:19

Anyone have tailors bunions? Trying to work.out how bad mine are! Scared by the recovery time as work on my feet!

DH has one. I got a wired rubber thing that goes over his toe and stops it hurting.

SwedishEdith · 26/02/2023 18:47

Travelban · 25/02/2023 16:32

And this was before (sorry about nail varnish fail)

That doesn't look too bad. What made you go to see someone about it?

Travelban · 26/02/2023 19:06

I have very small feet and funding shies that fit is a struggle anyway, I have always worn wide feet shoes. In recent years though more and more shoes hurt the.bunion and so I was limited to one or two pairs.

I saw two surgeons. Both said ah that doesn't look too bad but when they Looe at the xray they could.see how close the bunion was to the.nerve.

Finally, I was curling my big toe when walling a lot as balance was starting to feel off. I do thunk my problem exacerbated by having very small feet.

Travelban · 26/02/2023 19:07

Ps sorry for typos!!