Experienced Bunion Survivors!

L.,

I had bunion surgery on both feet at the age of 18- over 20 years ago! It was so worth it! No more leg or foot cramps, no more lower back spasms! My Mother in law had bunion surgery last summer. Our experiences were so different. My surgery was inpatient and required fiberglass casts up to my knees for 6 weeks. Her surgery was out-patient and required ace bandage binding for 2 weeks and she was wearing flip flop style shoes before graduating to real shoes. I still have 2 scars on each foot one from the incision and one from the pins. She only has a small incision scar on each foot. However, she and I both agree that my feet look more aligned than hers do. We are both looking forward to see who's feet last longest. She isn't experiencing any ill affects from her surgery and my feet are still going strong 21 years post surgery! Good luck with your decision!

Hi L.,
My sister had surgery for her bunion right after she turned 18. She had it for most of her life and it was to the point that she could really only wear sandels due to the pain it caused. She scheduled it for Christmas break (she was HS senior but took classes at the community college) when they had about 4 weeks off school. It's been 10 years and she hasn't had any problems. The recovery wasn't too bad...the first few days were rough and she was on pain pills but the pain began to subside. It would probably be best to have it done in the summer if his high school is older and he would have to climb stairs with crutches. Good luck.

I had surgery when I was 19, I believe. It went really well. My feet haven't really progressed since, and it's been ~11yrs. Main thing is to wear the insoles they make him in all his shoes. No more sandals, but it's an easy price to pay. Also make sure he flexes the big toes a lot when the doc says it's time to move them a lot to rebuild the tendons/muscles. I slacked on that because it hurt, and have had to really work at getting them back in shape to have the full movement. But definitely do it now, before it gets any worse! Good luck!

My only advice is to do it now! Bunion's run in my family and my parents kept trying to get me to have mine removed when I was younger, but I played sports so I didn't want to deal with the recovery time...now I'm older, have kids and a job and really really wish that I had mine removed back then because now it's pretty much impossible to find the time!

By the way - all of my family members who have had them removed have been fine ever since - even my mom and she had hers removed almost 40 years ago...my aunt had hers removed a few years ago and said the technology has only gotten better since then....

Sorry so slow to respond! I had bunion surgery bout 7 years ago, and it is still not a problem at all. I no longer have to deal with the pain and pressure from the bunion in that foot and with the trouble of finding a shoe that is wide enuf for that foot while still fitting the other. It is a rather painful surgery at first, but i was in a walking shoe right after and only on crutches for 2-3 weeks so that wasn't too bad. If you have any other questions, my email is ____@____.com. C.

Hi,
My Daughter whom is 17 just had the surgery and it went well. She is two weeks out from surgery healing well and now in a walking boot. Her Dr. said she shouldn't need the surgery again, but the chance is very minimal. As she is mainly done growing. Hope it goes well. let us know what you decide to do.

K.

I have had a bunionectomy on both of my feet, and I am very glad that I did!! I had my first one done when I was a senior in high school, and had a cast on my leg up to my knee, and had to use crutches, but it was nice because my teachers let me out of class early so I could beat the crowd in between classes. I had my second one done about 5 or 6 years later, and once again had the cast on my leg, but I was able to get a wheel chair to use around the house when needed (I could never really get the hang of crutches!!). I was very happy to get the surgeries done, as I was in a lot of pain from the bunions, and they had actually managed to push my toes together, and on an angle, instead of being straight like they should be. I had what I felt was the best Ortho doc doing the surgeries, and now, other than having a scar on both feet, it was the best thing I could have ever done!

I didn't have the surgery, but my sister did. It is amazing the difference it makes. It went well for her and definitely made a huge improvement!

I'm a survivor!

I had my surgery 12 years ago. It still feels great. the only thing is that I don't have the same flexibility in my toe as I did before. (I used to be able to curl my toes tightly like if you are going to crack your toes against the floor and walk on them like that. not really a "skill that I need or anything)

my bunion wasn't terribly bad and there really is not known reason why I had them in the first place because I rarely wear shoes that would cause the problem in the first place, but it hurt SO much when I would walk. Now I don't ever think about it unless I am looking at my scar and very straightened toe.

I have a bunion on my other foot, but have not needed surgery on that one. it's never bothered me and doesn't seem to be getting any worse.

I would recommend it

I am 34 years old and had bunion surgery when I was 17. I had a good experience: I was only on crutches a week or two, don't remember having terrible amounts of pain and was able to get back to playing sports relatively quickly. I played softball and I had the surgery in February and was able to play in our first game in April. It used to hurt so bad, especially when wearing cleats. Now I'm able to do whatever activity without any troubles. I did wear the orthotic inserts for many years, mostly to prevent having to have surgery on the other foot. I'm glad that I had the surgery and would definitely recommend that he have it done when he's young. I know a few other people that had it in the 40s and 50s and they really struggled. Good luck!

If he is in sports it really is the best thing for him. I was a soccer player, had my first one done at 13. Seemed a bit early but at the time it was great.
I stayed off it only unsing crutches for the frist few weeks (however now it's different).
Second foot was done at 16 and at 17 the first foot was redone! Well live and learn.
My mother just recently had it done and they wanted her walking on it the day she left from the hospital. It was a quicker recovery for her.

I had bunion surgery on one foot when I was 18 and the other when I was 19. It's been 10 years and I'm still glad I had it done. I've had no real problems and the recovery time wasn't too bad. They still hurt occasionally if I do a lot of walking or running or sometimes when the pressure changes outside, but nothing I'd even take Tylenol for. I'd recommend getting it done at a young age as the recovery time is so much faster. My father had it done last year and it took him much longer to get back on his feet and he had issues with swelling. Good luck!

I had bunion surgery on my left food a few years back (at 27). It wasn't too bad, make sure he keeps off it as much as possible afterwards (awesome excuse for a teenager to sit around and watch tv and/or play video games, lol). AND make sure he wears the thing to keep his toe straight...TRUST ME.
I had a 4 yr old at the time and had to tend to him and the housework, but if I could've had it done sooner, I would have.
As far as pain goes, it does cut down after it heals. I feel it helped alot.