Well, looks like bunion surgery is in my future, although probably not anytime soon. (Not a “need answer fast!” thread. ) I don’t wear pointy-toed heels or anything - this is mostly genetic, as my mother and both her sisters have had the surgery.
However, that was years ago, and I imagine that as technology marches ever forward that the procedure(s?) evolved from back then. I saw a commercial once on TV that had an illustration that made it look like they treat the bunion from the middle of the foot, by re-aligning (maybe?) the ligaments, rather than shaving the bone off the side of the foot, which is what I believe my mother & aunts had done.
Has anyone here had bunion surgery, or know someone who did? Any medical Dopers who perform or assist at surgeries? I’m curious - do you do both feet at once (and get it over with) or one at a time (so you still retain some mobility)?
Are there any decent non-surgical treatment options? Mr. Shoe is madly in love with his Vibram Five Fingers, and I wonder if I got a pair and wore them a bunch, would they help re-align my feet a bit? I have no pain, for now, but if the angle of my foot changes much more it’s going to make that whole “wearing shoes to work” thing more difficult, and I don’t think Grandboss would like me padding around the office barefoot.
(Mods, if this is GQ territory, I apologize.)
It does not sound like you are close to surgery. Keep going and maybe you never will. Old doctors tend to stick with the old invasive methods. There are modern procedures that can have you on your feet in 2-3 weeks in a walking cast. The old ways could take months. Even better procedures may be available if you ever need work. So stick to non-surgical for now and maybe forever.
The last time I saw a podiatrist (about … hmmm … four or five years ago?) for a nail fungus, I mentioned it to him. He looked at my feet and said, “No, you don’t need surgery. Not now, at least. But you will. Eventually.”
My sister just had the lapidus bunionectomy procedure in December. That’s the one where they reallign the bones and you end up with a pin sticking out the end of your big toe for a while. :eek: (I think the squick factor is mostly in the way it looks.)
She went into the surgery with equal amounts of trepidation and determination. All in all, I think it was not as bad as she feared. The doctor told her initially she was going to have to be off her foot for 12 weeks, but I think the surgery involved less messing around with things than anticipated, so she was actually weight-bearing in 8.
I know she rented something that keeps cold water circulating over the foot to help with swelling and pain control. She thought it was worth it. Oh, and she also bought something that is designed for showering and keeping your foot dry. She said it was a gazillion times better than trying to cobble together something with tape and a garbage bag.
So she’s a little more than 3 months out now and back to her regular walking routine. She said she still has enough swelling that she’s loathe to run out and buy any cute new shoes.
I had bunion surgery maybe 15 years ago. IIRC they shaved off the bunion and had to break my big toe in order to realign it. I had one of those pins sticking out of my foot afterward. Looking at it wasn’t anywhere as squicky as feeling it rotate whenever I moved my foot :eek:
The swelling was horrible. I had to soak my foot in a bucket of ice water 3-4 times a day for the first couple of weeks :eek: elevate it, and keep my weight off it. I camped out on the living room couch during that time because, unless I crawled, I couldn’t navigate the stairs with my crutches. I set up a plastic lawn chair in the shower and used a garbage bag and duct tape in an attempt to keep it dry.
I don’t recall when I was given the walking boot…maybe when I started PT? I couldn’t drive for at least 6 weeks afterward.
I do remember, though, the swelling took a very long time to dissipate. I still have a residue of it. No more cute shoes for me
Oh, and I know I’m going to need the same surgery on my other foot at some point. I was told that when I had the other one removed. It’s getting to that point, but I’ve been putting it off.
) I don’t wear pointy-toed heels or anything - this is mostly genetic, as my mother and both her sisters have had the surgery.
