I didn’t know I had bunions until my mother made a comment about my feet when I was in my 30’s. My feet looked like my dad’s and my mom’s feet. My two brother’s had bunions as well. I thought that’s what feet looked like! So, the genetic argument makes sense.
After the comment from my mother, I asked my doctor about them at my next regular appointment. He was a runner and he knew I was a runner. He said the surgery could affect my big toe mobility and there was a chance I might not be able to run afterwards. He said if they didn’t bother me (ie hurt) there was no medical reason to have them ‘fixed’. I have zero discomfort and no toe crossing. I wasn’t self conscious about my feet until mom made an issue about them.
My mother had bunion surgery, and afterwards developed hammer toes, and had to have more surgery for that condition. I only knew one other woman who had the surgery. She said she didn’t/couldn’t run after the procedure, but was able to return to easy running up to 5 miles after two years. She had no regrets about having the procedure.
Though there are lots of improvements in the surgery and surgical outcomes, I don’t think there’s getting away from the fact that it is a painful procedure, and recovery is long.
