Bunions

[Elfish88]

I am a 21 year old girl, and I had a full bunionectomy (both feet) when I was 16. Because I was so young, the doctors did not need to break my bone during the surgery- they were able to do the surgery by just nudging the bone over (redirecting it) and keeping it in place with a dissolvable screw.

I still have pain my the joint where the bunion used to be, and I wonder if bunions can grow back. It is easy to have the physical joint fixed with surgery, but it is not easy to change the way I walk. I feel pain in the arches of my feet a lot, and I wonder if that pain means my bunions are growing back.

Does anyone know anything about this? Thank you!!

[Elfish88]

Also, it would be wonderful if anyone has tips for relieving the pain or training myself to walk differently...

[footdr4u]

You may want to try a pair of orthotics, which are shoe inserts or arch supports that help change the way you walk. This irregular way of walking is called pronation. This is a hypermobile foot type. The orthotics need to be hard, not the soft or gel ones over the counter. The firmer orhotics will control pronation. Your foot doctor will have some at his office or may be able to make you a custom device. Orthotics are very thin now and can be made to fit in any type of shoe, even high heels. Bunions can come back after surgery if the irregular walking or pronation is not controlled. Sometimes it takes many years after surgery for the bunion to return back as bad as before surgery. Most all my patients after a bunion surgery get orthotics. Once you are used to wearing them, you will not want to take them out of your shoes. They will also support your arch. I hope this helps!!