Bunions

[anndy]

I am 25 years old and have a moderate sized bunion on my left foot. It does not casue pain when I wear sneakers or certain types of flat shoes. However, I do have pain in most dress shoes and when I am on my feet for long periods of time or after 30 minutes on the treadmill.

As the bunion is moderate for now - does it make sense to get surgery now or wait until the pain is much greater? Is the end result better if I get surgery now - would this prevent a worse condition that would require a more technical surgery further down the line?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[alwaysunderfoot]

Hi anndy! Sorry for your foot problem. I also had a bunion from when I was about 18. For years everyone would tell me that I should have it removed but I didn't until I was 40. In my case the bunion got progressively worse over the years and when I finally had surgery I had to have alot of other stuff done to try to straighten things out. Instead of just taking off the bunion, I had to have a bone cut and moved, a ligament shortened, plus bunion removal. That was 16 months ago. Two weeks ago I had to have a screw removed left from bunion surgery, because it had loosened and was causing pain.I also had a morton's neuroma removed which left three toes numb plus other problems. It seems the neuroma was probably caused by the bunion. So, only my opinion, but I would have it done now if possible. It will more than likely get worse as time goes by. I really wish I had've had it done a long time ago. I wish you the best of luck. At least, I don't have that darn bunion aching all the time!!! The bunion surgery itself would not have been bad at all without the other stuff. Again, I wish you good luck and happy feet!

[ljogg]

I am so glad I found this site. I am 59 years old and I have a large bunion on my right foot...not much pain though. I have been to two doctors and one said that they can do the regular bunion surgery with a pin and the other wnats to do a major surgery on my foot with six weeks of no walking at all!

Yikes.........that's what I said. I did a lot of research and found out the minimum way at 59 is the best way to go. yes it won't be optimum and it could grow back again in ten years, bui this bunion has been growning for at least 40 years or more. The second doctor said he understood and he would do the Chevron procedure which was less invasive and less time out of work and off my feet.

I am going back to the first doctor this week and I am going to ask him a lot more questions and then schedule the surgery with him. I am going to Arbua the second week of July and I want to know if I
have the surgery in March, will I be okay to walk pretty well in July with the less invasiove surgery?

Do you have any idea? Thank you.......to say the least I a am scraed. Lou

[alwaysunderfoot]

Lou, Hi! So, you're gonna have bunion surgery? I'll be glad to share with you what little I know. I had the surgery (bunionectomy and osteotomy) 9/18/06. My dr. never told me how long to stay off my foot. When I went for my 2 week post-op visit to take my stitches out, I walked without crutches. Of course I wore the surgery shoe. I had to go every week to have the dressing changed for six weeks though. I had washed the siding on my house, even climbing a ladder, before my last visit. My dr. told me that day that most people were just starting to walk at six weeks. Don't get me wrong, it hurt for quite awhile even after that but nothing terrible. So, I'd say if you don't have any problems, you should be more than able to walk without pain when you take your trip. When my dr. finished my neuroma surgery (12/28/07) he came out and told my husband that I could'nt bear weight for six weeks too. I also walked without crutches for my 2 week post-op again. He said that everyone is different as far as healing goes. I have to go back tomorrow hopefully for my last visit and I do have alot of complaints for him! I already know that he'll say it's all normal. I gotta say this nerve problem is very aggravating. Do try to take care of yourself if you have the surgery though. Everyone fusses at me for doing things I do, but I tell them I know my limits. After all it doesn't hurt anyone but me!! Let me know how it goes at the dr. Best of Luck
Debbie

[ljogg]

Hi Debbie. I can't tell you how happy you sent an email. I am so nervous about doing this and when that second doctor told me I had to have extensive surgery in my late 50's, I saqid no way. May I ask how old you were when you had your surgery?
I am so active, work full time, run everyday, exercise have 8 grandkids to play with, so you can see how I would be worried about not being able to anything for a long long time. Did you have a severe bunion or mild? Your note really made helped My Podioatrist is about 32 33! Can you beleive this? lol

Did they put you out? That frightens me a bit...but I just had a colonscopy and they put me under oa very short time.

Thanks Debbie. it is 65 in NY! Can't believe it.

Louise

[alwaysunderfoot]

Louise, Hi how are you doing today? You sound like you're a very active person! I consider myself fairly active but I don't exercise! I should though! I was 40 when I had my surgery. It was a very severe bunion. I had it since in my teens but was too chicken to have it removed. If I'd had it removed years ago the surgery would've been simplier I'm sure. I also believe the bunion was what caused the neuroma that I had removed six weeks ago. I hope you don't have that problem too. I know how worried you are cause I've been there twice! Is your dr. gonna cut bones, ligaments, and use screws in your foot besides removing the bunion?
I was put to sleep for my surgery, both of them. I'm chicken, I admit it! I'll be honest with you, foot surgery is no picnic. It was very painful at first but if you take your pain meds and keep it elevated its much easier. I've never done that enough like you're supposed to. Have you ever had to use crutches before? They are a pain!
How quickly you recover depends alot on how extensive your surgery is, how good your dr is, and how stubborn (I'm guilty!) you are. If you have so much pain that you can't stand being on your feet before surgery though what's it gonna hurt? At least you have the chance (hope) of getting better afterwards.
Debbie Sorry this was so long!

[ljogg]

Hi Debbie
Thank you so very much.
The funny thing is that I have no pain in this darn big bunion....................just that it is beginning to make the other toe next to it have a bump in it.................so I decided to have it fixed................yes a pin goes into it.................but since I am not having the ligamemts cut, he the doctor says that I will be okay for work in a week as long as I keep it up and ice it. I have an office job. I opt not to have the extesnive surgery as the second doctor suggested.............six weeks of no walking at all! At my age, I do not think so.
What is the problem you had with your foot recently? Did you have podiatrist? I so APPRECIATE the time you are taking to write back to me. If I won't be able to run anymore ever, I will not havethis surgery. I am so confused. Louise Oh when could youy drive? Thanks

[alwaysunderfoot]

Louise, Hi how are you doing? I don't blame you for not agreeing with the second dr. Especially if it doesn't cause any pain. I know a man who had the 'simple' bunion surgery and didn't have any problems at all. He worked for an utility company and was back climbing poles in four weeks.
I don't know about running. I haven't been able to even jog since my first surgery. Come to find out the screw they left in was loose and moving around and he thought that was the problem. I probably helped make that happen by some the stuff I did too soon. This last surgery I had a Mortons neuroma removed from between my third and fourth toes and that screw removed. I now have 5 different incisions on that foot. I could've driven after a couple of weeks but it was my left foot and I drive a straight drive. I can't push the clutch in! I still can't this time and its been six weeks.
I hope whatever you decide its successful for you. When are you supposed to have the surgery? Do you see a podiatrist? I see and orthopaedic surgeon. He's alright just no bedside manner!

[ljogg]

Hi Debbie
The weather in Ny has changed so drastically.cold clod cold! I truly hate it.
I am going to the doctors on Friday and I will make my decision then. Probably in March. So you still can't drive with your last surgery. Sorry to hear that. I can't believe you still can't jog...I guess that's because your toes needed to be fixed and the screw................it became loose?? Funny how they don't tell you all that from the beginning. I hope this time you heal well. I am less anxious now because at least I know I am not going to have the extensive surgery.so hopefully all will go well.........you know it's so worrisome when you have to make all the desisions about your toe! lol
I will let you know what the doctor says about exercise. How many weeks before you were pretty muchback to normal with your first operation? Louise

[alwaysunderfoot]

Hi Louise! We were spoiled with the sixty and seventy degree days here. I live in Va and it has turned pretty cold here too.
I'm glad your dr. appt. is Friday. I think worrying about it is worse than actually having it done. I was back to normal within six weeks (or before) with my first surgery. I'm sure that you'll do fine. When I first had surgery the dr said if he put a screw in he'd have to take it out, and if he put a pin in he could leave it. Well, he put the screw in and then said we'd leave it and take it out if it caused trouble. It would have been better I think if he'd taken it out after six weeks as was originally the plan. But anyway, all's well that ends well right?
Try not to worry so much.
Debbie