Bunion Surgery anyone?

[sheehs1]

I was looking at a site to explain bunion surgery before I signed on tonight and low and behold F$mandolin started a thread about big toe pain.

So thought I'd start one to ask if anyone has had bunion surgery and if you have, how was your recovery, what were your results and would you do it again?

I have one and am thinking about this surgery. Doesn't look like a great recovery time frame and results might not be what I would like.
The only real pain I have is when the bunion has come under pressure and friction with a shoe. But this bunion is getting worse. I'd call it intermediate. I can now feel it even when I have my tennis shoes on.

I think it is genetic as my mom had one and my daughter has a slight one. I have lived with it for years when it was slight to moderate but now...it is affecting my life in more ways including some associated foot pain elsewhere.

 

[Katsmeow]

Yes, I did. In my case I had no choice. The bunion was not that severe. However, there was a nerve which ran over the bunion which was put in such a place due to the bunion that I couldn't walk if I was wearing a shoe.

One day I was at work and was walking down the hall and suddenly my leg gave way and I fell down. I got up walked a bit and it happened again. I found that if I took off my shoe I did fine. So I went to see an orthopedic surgeon. He thought the nerve was inflamed and maybe if I put no pressure on it, I would be OK. I had to find sandals that didn't touch that part of my foot (not easy in January, way before we had online shopping). Long story short, after several weeks, I put on regular shoes and started falling down again. It was recommended to remove the bunion.

This was a long time ago so I'm sure like most things the surgery is much less difficult now that it was then. Still, it was OK. I did have to use crutches for awhile which was a pain. However, my recovery was uneventful and I've had no further problems. This was over 20 years ago.

 

[sheehs1]

Thanks Katsmeow...I'm going to look and do some research for a good doctor tomorrow and at least have a consult. They say possibly 6 to 8 weeks recovery depending on how severe or how much bone rework there is. I'd be happy if they would just shave off the bone without reworking the bone joint. But I'm sure it's not going to be that simple. It is outpatient and shouldn't take more than an hour or two.

Sounds like you definitely had no choice! Falling down is not an option!

 

[Elbata]

I had the surgery. No complaints or problems, but generally I don't find problems when I buy things or with surgeries.

 

[braumeister]

DW has had it done twice. First time, the relatively young doctor was great and recovery was easy (less than a month).

Second time, on the other foot, the doctor was much more experienced but the surgery went poorly. Lots of pain and discomfort during a long (two months) recovery.

So, in our experience, you can't predict your outcome very well for bunion surgery. Just try to get a good doc and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[eytonxav]

Dr Oz had an episode on this the other day: The Surgery You Should Say "No" To | The Dr. Oz Show

It appears that there are many differnent experiences in terms of outcome and recovery time for these operations. I would suggest reading through the comments section on the Dr Oz piece as you will see many pros, as well as cons vs just listening to the point of view on the show segment. I guess the best thing is to try and find the best specialist possible for your operation. Good luck and hope it turns out well for you

 

[sheehs1]

Thanks Braumister and DFW_M5...and mikefixac. I'll check out the link for the Dr. Oz show. Saw something about that last night while trolling around for info.

I think I'm afraid of making something that really isn't painful...painful. Meaning other than the bunion issues when irritated, my toe seems to works just fine. But it has gotten much worse in the last 5 years. The other pain comes from when the bunion has bee inflamed with shoes.

If only I could go barefoot or wear open toed danskos all the time.!!

 

[Texas Proud]

DW had it done along with a pin put in another toe (hammer toe)....

She was walking the next day and was out of her boot in 3....


Her problem was that the pin that was put in her big toe (not the hammer toe) had to be removed a couple of years later and a big cost to us....

 

[sheehs1]

Thanks Texas Proud. I understand they have some biodegradable screws now. Too bad they don't have biodegradable pins.
I used to be a medical researcher in orthopedics (fresh out of college) so will definitely be asking a lot of questions before I proceed. Have put some feelers out for doctors...

Have decided that it can wait until after the holidays so looking at January.

Part of what is driving me to do this right now and perhaps other medical procedures that may come up is I get to keep my 0% coinsurance until Dec 2014. My deductible is high at $3,500 but not as high as it WILL be.

 

[haha]

What causes bunions?

Ha

 

[sheehs1]

What causes bunions?

Ha

Ha...there are all sorts of reasons from wearing high heel shoes to genetics. The high heel shoe theory isn't proven.

I had a toe injury one day (a heavy door slammed down on that big toe) and that night I experienced gout like pain so severe it sent me to the ER. I literally could not walk. This was about 8 years ago. They told me I did not have gout (based on blood work), gave me a shot for pain and sent me on my way. Odd that it is this big toe that has the bunion.

BUT...I'm thinking genetics is playing a part. My daughter has a slight bunion forming. She is 26. Although, she too had a toe injury playing sports.

Don't know if the "injury" sets it up to happen.
One would think if it is genetics, it would happen in both toes/feet. My other foot/toe is fine.

 

[Meadbh]

Here is the link to the Mayo Clinic article on bunions.

Bunions - MayoClinic.com

These articles are sound. Whenever people have basic health questions they are an excellent place to begin looking for information.

Basically, a bunion occurs when the toe joint gets out of alignment. There may be several contributing factors. And now for some algebra! Once a bunion (the visible sideways protrusion of the joint) forms, the tendons attaching the toes to the muscles of the foot will no longer be parallel to the bones, but will take the shorter route, with tendon plus bone plus bone forming a triangle. The tension on the tendon will tend to shorten this side of the triangle over time, making the opposite angle less obtuse and the bunion more prominent.

If symptomatic treatment does not relieve the discomfort, the only other option is to realign the joint, which requires a surgical procedure. Any surgery involving bone can be painful.

Genetics and footwear are two important contributing factors. They are commoner in women. My mother had bunions which were ugly but not painful. She always wore "dress" shoes. As a young woman I wore fashionable shoes some of the time but as I went into the medical profession, where I spent a lot of time on my feet, I switched to comfortable, low heeled shoes or sneakers, except for special occasions. (Hey, who cares about fashion when you're wearing scrubs!). I have never had bunions.

 

[HFWR]

If you have a bunion removed, how will you be able to forecast the weather?

 

[sheehs1]

Here is the link to the Mayo Clinic article on bunions.

Bunions - MayoClinic.com

These articles are sound. Whenever people have basic health questions they are an excellent place to begin looking for information.

Basically, a bunion occurs when the toe joint gets out of alignment. There may be several contributing factors. And now for some algebra! Once a bunion (the visible sideways protrusion of the joint) forms, the tendons attaching the toes to the muscles of the foot will no longer be parallel to the bones, but will take the shorter route, with tendon plus bone plus bone forming a triangle. The tension on the tendon will tend to shorten this side of the triangle over time, making the opposite angle less obtuse and the bunion more prominent.

If symptomatic treatment does not relieve the discomfort, the only other option is to realign the joint, which requires a surgical procedure. Any surgery involving bone can be painful.

Genetics and footwear are two important contributing factors. They are commoner in women. My mother had bunions which were ugly but not painful. She always wore "dress" shoes. As a young woman I wore fashionable shoes some of the time but as I went into the medical profession, where I spent a lot of time on my feet, I switched to comfortable, low heeled shoes or sneakers, except for special occasions. (Hey, who cares about fashion when you're wearing scrubs!). I have never had bunions.

Thanks Meadbh, I use that site often. I think in my case it was injury to the toe joint.

 

[sheehs1]

If you have a bunion removed, how will you be able to forecast the weather?

My sinuses are a better indicator of incoming weather than my bunion.

 

[imperialman67]

Well as a new member that was browsing thru the different forums here , I was surprised to find a subject about Bunions.
I am no expert ,but I have had Bunion surgery on both feet(at the same time!), and pins inserted afterwards. Though it wasn't something I enjoyed, I will say it wasn't the horror story that some make it out to be either. About a 6 week recovery time including the wearing of the moon boots.

 

[sheehs1]

Imperialman67...you'll find all sorts of topics discussed here! Thanks for your post. Wow..you had both feet done at one time. Did they leave the pins in or take them out?

I have a consult Thursday with a podiatrist. I've consider an orthopedist ankle and foot specialist but wanted to try this first.

Who did yours? Podiatrist or Orthopedist?

 

[imperialman67]

Imperialman67...you'll find all sorts of topics discussed here! Thanks for your post. Wow..you had both feet done at one time. Did they leave the pins in or take them out?

I have a consult Thursday with a podiatrist. I've consider an orthopedist ankle and foot specialist but wanted to try this first.

Who did yours? Podiatrist or Orthopedist?

I had my surgery done by a Podiatrist.
Honestly I didn't research it much,as far as Podiatrist, or Orthopedist.
I just went to the person recommended by physician

The Podiatrist did say both pins were permanent though the pins don't seem to help much with my weather forecasting

 

[sheehs1]

I had my surgery done by a Podiatrist.
Honestly I didn't research it much,as far as Podiatrist, or Orthopedist.
I just went to the person recommended by physician

The Podiatrist did say both pins were permanent though the pins don't seem to help much with my weather forecasting

But in all seriousness, that's a good thing. Good that you don't experience any pain with weather changes!

 

[Tandemlovers]

I had bunion surgery about ten years ago, performed by a podiatrist.

A pin was inserted and I always had a small bump on top of my foot.

Flash forward to the end of last summer and I began to have problems
with the inserted pin and had it removed. What relief! Didn't realize how
much that pin had been bothering me over the years.

Recently found out that a younger podiatrist within this practice also
inserts pins during the surgery, but removes them within a month or two.

 

[sheehs1]

Tandemlovers...I would prefer that pin be removed too! How did they remove them? Another surgery?