Bunion Help

[spunkypenguin]

I have always had bunions, but I have notice the one on my right foot getting worse.  I don't know if it's the way I run (I know I come down funny on my right side b/c my right shoe always wears out faster) or the fact that I'm wearing more heels since I lost the weight.  Just wondering at what point you seek help/treatment for the issue.  It's unsightly, but not terribly painful at this point.  There are some times when it is a little sore, but nothing near excruciating or anything.

What will help?  Orthotics?  Superfeet?  Podiatrist?

[labbie]

I'd recommend seeing the podiatrist before they get any worse. While orthotics could help,and may end up being what you get, imo it's always worth a professional opinion. I'm not sure if bunions and issues are genetic, but each of my older sisters (a couple of them are runners/athletic) has had them, and 1 has had surgery so far (I hope that's not in my future). I've had a different foot issue and had great luck with a podiatrist that specialized in sports related issues.

[hokiegirl82]

Go see a podiatrist to talk about orthotics. I have had 2 bunion surgeries in the last year because mine were so bad on both feet that even orthotics and all other treatments didn't help, but both of my podiatrists recommend trying all other treatments before surgeries. I had custom made orthotics for my dress shoes and bought orthotics through the podiatrist for my athletic shoes. I only had surgery because both feet were in so much pain all of the time, and running was awful. Now I'm a year out from my first surgery and 6 months out from my second surgery and can run pain free.

[ddi741]

 I was diagnosed with bunions at 15 by a podiatrist and used orthotics.
I had surgery about 4 years later on my right foot as the pain just got too bad. I had my left foot done 2 years after that.  BEST.DECISION.EVER.  No pain, no issues walking and I could wear cute heels.

Definitely start with the podiatrist.

[spunkypenguin]

Thanks for all the feedback. I guess I'll be looking for a podiatrist once I get home from vacation next week! I will probably have to have surgery in the future, but hopefully not for a while longer. How long is recovery? No kids or plans for kids, but taking time off of exercise would suck too.

[arch01]

I'll be the odd one out and say see an orthopedic surgeon. Mine was geared more toward active people/athletes. I talked to a ton of people on TN and everyone pointed to an orthopedic surgeon and not a podiatrist-I think though at the end of the day, there's only so many ways to get the job done.

I'd do the surgery over again in a heartbeat. Besides getting my tonsils out, this was the best thing I've ever done. I had my surgery the Monday of Thanksgiving week and was given the go-ahead to drive as soon as I was off pain killers, which was the next day since I don't tolerate them well. I did both feet at once. I had 13 degrees of separation between the first 2 metatarsals in one foot and 15 degrees in the other. 15 was the "breaking" point-15+ meant breaking bones and realigning, but since I had one foot that was under, I was able to choose what I wanted...I went with shaving and realigning with pins. I had dissolvable pins. I was walking with crutches immediately, ditched those on Wednesday and did the injured shuffle for a couple more days.

I was in those awful velcro shoes for 6 weeks, back to running at 8 weeks. The swelling went down finally at about 7 weeks.