bunions - bane of my life!

I had mine done 7 years ago, aged 54. Op was under ocal anaesthetic and I was back at home by the afternoon. Having heard all the horror stories, I was dreading the post-op pain but found I only needed paracetamol for about 4 days. The worst part was boredom as I couldn't drive or walk very far. Go for it. Better than twisted feet which will only get worse.

Oh dear, I really do need both my bunions dealt with, have heard good and bad reports from friends and this post is also full of mixed reviews (so not much help to we ditherers). I have very narrow feet otherwise so shoes slip about like boats round my heals. Something must be done, such a coward.

I had one done about eight years ago - the relief was immense. I couldn't find shoes to fit and sometimes my foot felt as if it were about to burst into flames, it was so hot and painful. When a holiday in Rome was severely curtailed because I couldn't walk anywhere I took the plunge. Wonderful - the foot wasn't at all painful, just uncomfortable to begin with , and within a few weeks I was almost back to normal, wearing 'Crocs', which were a godsend for a month. I would strongly recommend it - after all if your feet are painful you have absolutely nothing to lose!

As a retired orthopaedic sister, I can say that I have seen many successful bunion operations relieving the patient of pain and allowing more choice of shoes.

I’ve had both my bunions done - right foot nearly twenty years ago was a total success, left foot done last year and has made no difference to the appearance or the pain and I can only wear wide fitting shoes if I want to walk further than fifty yards. Oh and I’ve got those funny lumps on both ankles (“common in post menopausal women”)!!

Bunions can be hereditary, not always caused by badly fitting shoes. Know of a person who in her 20s had to had bunions removed and was warned they may well appear again. Outcome of surgery, great.

I had bunions on both feet removed under general anaesthetic , though not at the same time. I looked down at my feet one day, and saw my mother's. She had a dreadful time with hers, and used to wear bunion shields to ease the discomfort. I am very pleased I had the operations even though I still need to wear wide fitting shoes. As others have mentioned, the recovery time is a nuisance, but the pain was certainly not terribly bad, and now I enjoy going for pedicures, and am not ashamed to wear open-goes sandals.

For "goes" read "toed". Predictive text - bah humbug!

Don't do it!!! I had a Rt Great Toe Bunionectomy 12 years ago in a Private Hospital with supposedly the best Foot Surgeon one could wish for. After 3 days things took a marked turn for the worse with my lower Rt leg so swollen and smelling like it was rotting. Due to other problems and multiple infections I was eventually told by a Microbiologist "I cannot save your lower Rt.leg". I was looking at amputation below my Rt. knee.
After very aggressive intravenous antibiotic therapy I still have my leg although it looks different to my Lt. leg I don't have to strap it on in the morning.

Overthehills - what are "those funny lumps" on both ankles? Do you mean ankle puffiness or what?

There are 'bunion correctors' advertised on EBay. Anyone tried them?
I don't have bunions even though I've worn high heels all of my life. I think as others have said bunions must be hereditary.

I had both mine done in 1974 when I was 22. I was told that it would be easier to get shoes. Wrong! I just had to accept that I could not wear high shoes or pointed ones. I now have bigger bunions than the ones I started with and nothing can be done as it is new bone growth around and under the joint. However it did take 25-30 years for this to happen. I now wear 4E width shoes which I have to purchase from a catalogue that specialises in wide fit shoes. Hopefully things have come a long way since my op and I know of two people who have no regrets for having it done in their later years.

Each time I have gone to have my minions operated on something has happened that prevented op taking place ,I think it's not meant to happen and leave well alone,mine are hereditary,how I would have loved the chance to wear hills as a young woman,and take the chance of unions,had all the pain and no pleasure...have just averted a flare up of the bursa of fluid and splitting of skin...oh the joys ..

That is meant to bunions..

Think I might have stood a better chance of unions if I had had been able to wear heels

Two things:
1. Bunions are done on the NHS if it considered necessary.
2. Every operation comes with risks. It would be worth asking what the risk factors are. When I tecently had a knee replacement, the consultant gave me the figures for each possible complication so that I could decide for myself.

Bunions correctors do NOT work!

I too have quite ugly looking bunions but thankfully not painful. My doctor did refer me to a specialist but he wasn't interested and didn't recommend an operation - said op not always successful and sometimes csuses more problems than it solves. Don't know if he was just putting me off because of cost to NHS. A couple of years ago a friend recommended fit flop sandals to me and although I've never worn and always hated flip flops in general, I tried a friend's on and felt they were so comfortable that I now own 3 pairs. I only wear them in summer and keep one pair for indoors only. Last year I noticed at the end of the summer my feet had a better shape. Of course they can't 'cure' your bunions or drastically change their shape but they align your foot better. If you have ugly feet (like me) I say, paint your nails, get some pretty fit flops (they're not cheap unfortunately) and put your best foot forward.