- Tip: If you think some shoes may be too snug through the toebox, take them to a shoe store or shoe repairman. There are devices that will stretch the leather of the shoe over the bunion to allow you to wear the same shoes, but provide some extra room where the bunion is irritated.
For the most part, all patients with bunions can be treated with adaptive footwear. Surgery is only necessary if other treatments are not sufficient to relieve symptoms.
Isn't surgery easier for treatment of bunions?
There is a common misconception that surgical treatments for a bunion are better and quicker than non-surgical treatments. Unfortunately, patients often have unrealistic expectations, and may be unsatisfied with surgery.
In general patients should understand the following about surgical treatments of bunions:
- Bunion surgery is not cosmetic surgery. Bunions may not be pretty, but cosmetic deformity is not a good reason to perform surgery. There are too many potential complications to perform a bunion surgery simply for cosmetic reasons. While improved cosmesis is an effect of surgical treatment, the procedure should be done because of pain and difficulty with footwear.
- Patients must have realistic expectations. Bunion surgery can be helpful at relieving pain, but patients should not expect to have "normal" feet after surgery. In one study, a leading researcher on foot problems such as bunions, found that 1/3 of his patients could not wear the type of shoe they desired prior to surgery. Following surgery, 2/3 of his patients were able to achieve the goal of wearing their desired footwear. This left 1/3 of the patients unsatisfied with footwear even after their surgery.
- Bunion surgery decreases the width of the forefoot by about 1/8 of an inch. That's not much! That is the reason why even after surgery, most patients will not be wearing slender shoes. In the average patient, removing the bunion only narrows the foot a tiny amount. The toes are straighter, and the pressure may be relieved, but the foot will still be about the same size.
The patients who tend to be unsatisfied with bunion surgery are those patients who are having surgery done to allow them to have normal looking feet or allow them to wear slim shoes. If you fall into these categories, think long and hard about surgery. Surgery should be reserved for those patients who have significant pain, and are unable to correct the problem with adaptive footwear.
Read on for information about surgery for bunions...
