Bunions

MERRYWIDOW46 · May 15, 2010

Comes from "Bad Foot Hygeine" that is NOT wearing correct shoes. Squeezing into too narrow shoes, not enough room to spread the piggies out and relax. Podiatrist I used to work with told me that. More women than men.

SlightlyMental_RN · May 15, 2010

It's not only bad foot hygiene. Genetic factors can predispose you to this condition. I should know: developed horrendous bunions at age 11, and I had responsible parents that made sure that I had correct-fitting shoes. Plus, no heels at that age. My dad and my mother's dad both had terrible bunions, and my brother has them, too.

Otessa, BSN, RN · May 15, 2010

Comes from "Bad Foot Hygeine" that is NOT wearing correct shoes. Squeezing into too narrow shoes, not enough room to spread the piggies out and relax. Podiatrist I used to work with told me that. More women than men.

I think the bunion on my one foot (only have a bunion on that one) came from breaking several bones in my foot including all of the toes when I was a teenager. It has hurt with too much walking no matter the shoes-ortho doc had warned me of this all those years ago-yippee. Have been careful with shoes worn (wedding high heels for short times or meetings at work , then change shoes :))

nursinger · May 15, 2010

I am blessed with my left foot only. I did wear high heel shoes and high heel boots in the late 70's early 80's. One day I had just gotten out of the shower and my son was about 4, I was sitting on the side of the bed and rubbing my bunion and I said to my son, "Mommy's bunion really hurts." He yells downstairs to my husband, "Daddy, mommy's onion is hurting!" :lol2:

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 15, 2010

Comes from "Bad Foot Hygeine" that is NOT wearing correct shoes. Squeezing into too narrow shoes, not enough room to spread the piggies out and relax. Podiatrist I used to work with told me that. More women than men.

It's genetic...

Causes
Bunions are most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot. It is not the bunion itself that is inherited, but certain foot types that make a person prone to developing a bunion.
Although wearing shoes that crowd the toes won't actually cause bunions, it sometimes makes the deformity get progressively worse. Symptoms may therefore appear sooner.

http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/bunions.htm

wooh, BSN, RN · May 16, 2010

Yoga toes. Made my acute bunions stop hurting.

CC918 · May 16, 2010

When I was student and rotated to the OR to observe for the day, the nurses there made sure I saw a bunionectomy...because many nurses will need one, apparently.

TCASII, ADN · May 16, 2010

Just an FYI, I have never met anyone who has had a positive experience from a bunion surgery and neither has my mother. My mother has worked for various doctors over the years herself. My mom is almost 60 and I'm 37.

In fact, my GF's lowlife stepdad had bunion surgery last year and he regrets it to this day. More pain than before. Do your homework if you ever consider surgery. I suppose some people have good stories, but I doubt too many are with podiatrists. Sorry, I would go with a orthopedist or nothing, even though I've been around some bad orthos.

llg, PhD, RN · May 16, 2010

I've known people who have been quite happy with the results of their bunion surgeries. Perhaps it depends on how early they "caught" the condition and treated it. When I first started having some problems on both feet a few years ago, I started wearing spacers between my toes -- similar to Yoga Toes, but only between my big toe and 2nd toe -- only at home in the evening, not at work. I also stopped wearing heels more than 1/2 inch. My early bunions went away completely.

Perhaps it was a case of "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" -- and that general priniciple of early treatment might apply to surgery, too.

SlightlyMental_RN · May 16, 2010

Just an FYI, I have never met anyone who has had a positive experience from a bunion surgery and neither has my mother. My mother has worked for various doctors over the years herself. My mom is almost 60 and I'm 37.
In fact, my GF's lowlife stepdad had bunion surgery last year and he regrets it to this day. More pain than before. Do your homework if you ever consider surgery. I suppose some people have good stories, but I doubt too many are with podiatrists. Sorry, I would go with a orthopedist or nothing, even though I've been around some bad orthos.

I've heard and seen the same thing. Everyone I know that has had the surgery, feels worse afterwards, and you still can never wear heels, so what's the point? This is why I said thanks, but no thanks, to the surgery, and I just live with the bunions.

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 18, 2010

I am 8 months post op from bunion surgery. I went to a sports orthopedic surgeon specializing in the feet/ankle. I did not have the typical bunion surgery, I had the 1st metatarsal osteotomy with plate/pins and proximal/distal soft tissue release.

I had both feet done at the same time. I was in a wheelchair for a little over a month, spent months in physical therapy, wore bilateral ortho boots for 8 weeks and I don't regret one bit of it.

Prior to the surgery, I limped after a 12 hour shift. I couldn't work 2 days in a row because I could barely walk afterward. I wrapped my feet in Lidocaine patches at night, took anti inflammatory medication, and could not jog for exercise. I was miserable.

Now, I may be a little sore every once in a while after work, but I NEVER experience the pain I once did. I still cannot wear very high heels, I was told it may take more time; however, I see progress, so I know it'll happen one day.

I am no longer in chronic pain. I would do it all over again!