General Chat

Can we talk bunions - I know it's not the most fascinating subject in the world, but I have two. The one on my right foot is large and very painful sometimes. I have 2 pairs of shoes (called 'Footgloves' from a well-known superstore) and they are much-loved by me and my feet. However, I have a cupboardful of glamorous shoes that I cannot wear and, with this in mind, I recently made an appointment at the Foot Clinic to see what could possibly be done to alleviate the problem.

Two options - the first - an operation to re-align my big toe, which would take 6-10 weeks to heal (not driving for 6 weeks, maybe longer) and not fully recovered for a year. The second - to have the protruding bone shaved off, which wouldn't cure the problem, but I would be able to wear other shoes and I would be walking again comfortably within 6 weeks.

Any advice please?

Wend you can talk all you like hun I bet BC will find save this thread to her watched threads......she can walk you through the gory details of the op the after care she is an absolute expert in bunions..........................so she is ;-)

Thanks Hayley, sounds bleddy ominous - I shall watch this space : :-P :-(

:-D

Wend

Looking at this and trying not to think about glamorous shoes (of which I have many sadly) it will be 6-10 weeks to solve the problem and 6 weeks to half solve the problem but to wear nice shoes. I would go for 'curing' the bunions. You could possibly have both feet done at once.

I had both feet done about 10 years back. Was down to wearing other people's worn in shoes but due to arthritis did not have the toes re-aligned but pain gone.

Vera

I have had bunions done twice!!
The first time, they basically removed the joint at the base of the toe, on both feet.. That worked very well for the one foot. The second foot, within 18 months, had built up significant degree of osteoarthritis, and the absent joint area was now solid, immoveable. Two years later, the bad foot received a joint replacement which worked VERY well. Pain level isn't completely absent but significantly improved. I can walk long distances now with no foot pain.
When the first surgery was done, a small bunion at the base of the baby toe was shaved. That also worked very well and has not recurred because the rest of the foot is better positioned in the shoe.
Good luck, get some comfort for yourself.
Mary

Thankyou Vera. I don't know how I would manage if I had the full op, if the full recovery period is a year. Also, I've got a feeling he said I wouldn't be able to drive for 3 months, not 6 weeks. With a large garden and allotment to look after (which I love doing) I think I might lose my marbles!

I feel the second option might be best and could well see me out!

As for you Island, I might've guessed I wouldn't get a sensible answer from you :-P

I've had both feet done, in 2006 and 2009, second op has been a night mare, as for wearing lovely shoes, you'd be mad to try after the op as you'll just mess up the whole procedure of getting rid of the bunions, my podiatrist said he wished he'd seen me years ago, and also said foot operations can only lead to problems with arthritis in later life, I have arthritis in both feet and its damn painful.
So my advice is, if you do have the op to remove the bunions don't try wearing high heels ever again as it will cause more problems, to be honest I couldnt wear high heels now if I tried, so the other week I finally got rid of the last of my heels, I was sad to see them go.

Dolly X

You should have done what your mum told you and wear comfortable shoes, not winkle pickers...LOL :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

George :-D :-D

Island,
Please tell me you dont wear those gross UG boot things. :-D :-D

George :-) :-)

Evening Wend and all:-) Hayley is quite right, I am a bit of an expert on this subject. This is how I get around the high heels bit....cut a piece out of said shoe where the said bunion would be, stick sequins all round hole...make it a kind of feature.....and add a bow or any kind of decoration you may fancy.....and trip off into the night. No pain and shoes that will have everyone talking :-)

On a more serious note., I had the operation about 40 years ago but it wasn't successful. Nowadays, of course, they have a much higher success rate and am due to have another op but keep putting it off as don't fancy all that keeping still for so long!

The thing is, Wend, if it is causing you great pain, then go for it, or settle for wearing comfortable shoes.

Good luck! :-) <3 ;-)

I would just love a pair of Uggs but I think I am a bit old for them :-( Island I think my Mum used to cut the sides out of her slippers...lolol.... :-D

I had both feet done at the same time around 14 years ago. i remember having such large plaster casts on my feet i looked like i should have been in The Flintstones!!!!
The recovery period was 2 months in plaster (which my lovely friends coloured in to look like trainers) !! then another couple of months taking it easy on what footwear i wore.
Nowadays i can wear heels, but actually only chose to do so on special occasions, i still have beautifully straight toes, but i have to say the toe joints are causing some discomforet during the colder months now. xx ;-) ;-)

Hobbles onto thread - ah, thanks ladies and gent for your helpful and funny replies. I'm starting to think that really, at my age, I should be coming to terms with all my knobbly bits - it's all part of the ageing process, I suppose.

Definitely having second thoughts now - maybe I'll miss, what I perceive to be when I look down at my feet, those two over-ripe plums and, hey, they do glow in the dark and guide me in the right direction when I have to get up at night, which is a bonus. Perhaps I should just learn to love them.

I actually came to this conclusion when watching 'Embarrassing Bodies' this evening - at least I haven't got knobbly nethers lol!

Hobbles off to bed, chucking my white sillitoes back in the loft as I go!

Now, where did I put my uggis?