Bunions

Stagiaire Fash

Since my broken big toe healed, I’ve had pain in the “bump” of my foot between that toe & my arch. I just saw the orthopod; he’s having me get it x-rayed. It hurts way more than I imagined! Woke me up early this morning. A friend of mine has a daughter who had hers operated on, age around 17. Does anyone here have experience with treating and healing these to share?

5 years ago

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10 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

MsMaven

Veteran

I’ve got bunions but they seldom bother me except when shoes don’t fit. It’s difficult to find decent shoes these days. My podiatrist has given me some helpful ideas, but said no surgery unless they become very painful.

I understand that it takes a lot less time to recover from the surgery nowadays.

I have other foot problems to deal with including a tendency to get plantar fasciitis. I wear insoles and pads when I can. The bunions are getting worse though.

5 years ago

Jane

Veteran

I have a bunion on one foot. So far, not so painful. However, I am waiting for the day that it really does hurt. Waking up with foot pain is tough though.

Soaking my feet when they really ache in heavily salted water really does help. Soothing and really takes the edge off. However, I am guessing that the pain you are experiencing is beyond being able to be soaked away.

Sympathies.

5 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I have what I think are somewhat advanced bunion issues with the problem being it’s not just the” bump”, as process gets worse, the toes roll inward and cross so it affects how foot and toes are grounded.
I have gotten pretty severe pain including nights as you mentioned but is clearly better if I wear shoes with no pressure there. Also, driving long distances can exacerbate , as I tend to drive with just the edgeifmt foot, , or big toe joint, on the accelerator.

5 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have bunions. My paternal grandma also had them. I’m thinking you don’t have bunions yet... enlargement of that bump. In any case, a toe separator does help me.

5 years ago

ClaraT

Veteran

I have terrible bunions (that sometimes ache at night) BUT I lead an extremely active lifestyle and have heard very mixed results about downtime. I have two friends who had bunion surgery, and one says it still hurts (3 years out) when she runs and skis. The other isn’t very active...I’d love a magic wand to fix my feet, but as long as I can buy shoes that allow me to swim, run, and bike without too much discomfort, that’s what I’m doing. Shoe selection is very limited, though

5 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

I just remembered that I used to do lots of foot exercises--some given by my podiatrist and some from books or articles. I can't say they helped--maybe they did stave off further damage for a while. Not sure why I quit doing them either.

You might check on it though.

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thank you all for the replies! This is a new world for me.

MsMaven, I also hope to avoid surgery. I don’t know what counts as “very painful”, but right now they occasionally wake me up at night. I’ve gotten plantar fasciitis—very mild cases—a few times over the last couple years. My PT says they are related to the same issues in the way I walk. I’d be interested to hear more about the exercises you got. She has me doing squats, calf raises, and seated leg lifts (from the knee).

Jane, bunions or not, a good foot soak just sounds great!

Unfrumped, there is some discussion over whether this is technically a bunion yet or not. It hurts at that spot, and the “bump” is prominent, but my toes are nowhere near crossing. The PT didn’t call it that at first, but when we were at the orthopod for my son (father of his school friend), he ordered an x-ray for me to see if it actually is. Does a block on the accelerator help?

Rachylou, thanks for mentioning the toe separator. Off to google that now....

ClaraT, I’m with you on wanting an active lifestyle. I only know one person who had the surgery, and she was 18, so she might’ve healed up faster than it would.

5 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Fashintern my Aunty had bunion surgery about 3 years ago and having had it, wished she’d had the operation years earlier given how improved her feet were and leaving her pain free and able to walk great distances in comfort. My Aunt was a very active 68 year old at the time of the operation. Whilst I hope your foot issues can be solved with rest and specific exercises, if you truly have bunions, an operation may be the right solution.

5 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

After bunion surgery, my friend was out of commission for months and the swelling didn’t disappear for close to a year. The bunion on my left foot doesn’t hurt but the one on the right foot does. But my right big toe also has hallux rigidus, meaning it pretty much doesn’t bend. I sometimes use Rx Diclofenac Sodium topical gel so I am not always taking a systemic anti-inflammatory.

I suspect that bunions can vary a fair amount. After all, podiatry is a specialty.

Oh, and I often use a foamy bunion sleeve or a silicone one that fits over my big toe. I also add a PF half sole with an aggressive arch or an arch cookie since they take pressure off that joint, keeping in mind that I pretty much have pancake flat feet.

5 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sorry I’ve neglected this thread for so long!

Bijou, thanks for telling me about your aunt. I have been wondering about surgery. This is not how I want to go through life.

Donna F, thanks for telling me about those aids to make it feel better. I have high arches, but now 2 docs and a PT have told me I walk with my feet rolled in too much, so I’m trying to change that and also doing exercises to correct the associated muscle development.

I got the x-ray today. It is not only a bunion!!! Turns out that when I broke my toe, I apparently also chipped the “bunion bone”, that bump just before the big toe. I don’t know what they’re going to do about it—am seeing the orthopod tomorrow.

5 years ago

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