Bunion flare up (after having no issues since childhood)

[ThisRareFox]

I have a bunion on my right foot since I have had since childhood - someone else pointed it out at school when we were having PE. I was about 11 or 12. I have had, until recently, no issues with it - no pain, nothing, so didn’t need any medical intervention.

I am now 53 and post-menopausal (not sure if this has anything to do with it - I’m not on HRT and never have been). Over the last few months I have noticed how tired I get walking about. At first I thought it was both feet aching (I walk a lot around London when I visit or in the Lakes) and invested in some Sketchers. I then realised that it was my right foot that was causing significant pain after being on my feet for an hour or so. I have also noticed that the bunion seems a little bit more prominent now and pushes my toe across to the right, therefore pushing the toe next to it slightly. The pain is on the bottom of my foot - the ball bit. The skin is slightly red too. I have also developed an issue with my right knee and I am experiencing pain (and struggle to walk tbh) only when I’ve been walking downhill/down a sloped area for a while - it doesn’t hurt walking uphill or on flat ground.

I am really worried about all of this as I enjoy walking!

I have ordered some toe support for bunions to see if that help but does anyone have any ideas that would help with this? Do you think the bunion/knee issues are related? I’m 53 now. Do I need to visit the GP? Both are now stopping me doing things I enjoy 😞. I am reluctant to have any sort of surgical intervention but worried it may lead to this.

I drive cross country once a week for my job too so this would be affected too!!

My foot has been throbbing all night 😔. Definitely in the area underneath between the big toe and 2nd toe. It hurts to touch - pressure.

How are you getting on OP? Did the toe support help? I’m just recently becoming conscious of how stiffness in one foot is impacting my walking life. I’m about the same age as you.

Can you book in to see a podiatrist privately for a diagnosis and support?

Often Sketchers are too flexible to support the foot if there are any functional problems. If the bunion is quite pronounced you could try Topo trainers, they have a wide toe box but are also supportive with a forefoot rocker. If not too wide at the forefoot then something like Hoka may help (narrower but also have a forefoot rocker, which reduces pressure at the metatarsal head, where it sounds like your pain is). Knee issues can be related, but I’d try the trainer change first, bunion surgery is actually quite a big operation and often footwear changes solve the problem.