STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

shopgirl · Kenneth Cole

bunion

Alegria · Kate Spade

Has anyone else had bunion surgery? I have. Bilateral bunion removal on both feet at the same time.I don't know the specifics of your surgery but mine was pretty severe.

Besides not having pain when wearing shoes, what other things should I expect from the surgery? Well, I think I set my expectations too high on how my feet would look. Also, don't underestimate the pain. I almost died when they told me I needed to use crutches. OUCH!!!! Also I was told that in 6 months my toes/feet would be completely heeled. Not so. I think it took closer to a year before I could stand on my toes and not feel the ouch. Even now, the scar is sensitive.

How much pain will I be in? More than you can ever imagine. The pain is indescribable.

When should I expect to be able to wear shoes again? The doctor wanted me in shoes in like um... if I remember correctly 3 weeks. BS!!!! It hurt like hell still.

How long were you out of work? I believe 3 weeks was recommended but I took an extra week and even then it still hurt.

What things should I make sure I have at home? Everything that cold possibly make your life comfortable. You have to do foot soaks so make sure you have a bin for that. I forget what you put in the soak. Ask your doc.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Let me know if you want to know more specifics. I have mixed feelings about it but overall am glad that I got it done.

TMI-My pain may have been worse than usual. I didn't just have the bunion shaved, I had my big toes broken, straightened, and reset. I currently have a screw holding my big toes together.

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

I haven't had it.. but.. OUCH!

Good luck!

alb · Marc Jacobs

shopgirl - i just saw this post. did you have the surgery? how did it go? i have bunions too and am wondering if i should see a podiatrist. my left foot is a lot worse than my right. i'm afraid to have surgery though!! is there any other alternative that you know of?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

A podiatrist I saw was just about to schedule me for surgery, and all my family said not to do it. I took their advice.

Instead, I started going for private sessions with Cynthia, who is a Feldenkrais Practitioner (she has a background in dance and a degree in PT). My step-MIL is a practitioner too, and she recommended Cynthia for appointments. (From the website: The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve movement and enhance human functioning.)

Feldenkrais did several things for me.

I was able to rid myself of most of my foot pain.
My foot not only felt better, but it looked better too. The bodywork, stretching, alignment, and body/motion education helped my foot look less clenched, knobby, narrow, and stiff.
In addition, Feldenkrais helped me learn how to walk properly so that I evenly distribute weight onto all points of my feet (not just the ball of the foot) while walking.
My posture got better, I looked and moved with more grace than ever before.
It has helped me avoid trouble with sciatica in my left leg--no doubt a result from walking unevenly.

I cannot recommend Feldenkrais enough. Cynthia said that, even if would have had the surgery, I could have developed trouble again because I would have still been walking incorrectly. The surgery fixes the bone, but it doesn't educate you on how to avoid this and other problems down the road.

Cynthia moved to Manhattan last year. She provides Feldenkrais sessions at a bodywork clinic in the city, and she also works with dancers to help them heal from injuries and prevent future ones.

I thought for sure that I would be relegated to grandma shoes for the rest of my life (which was extremely upsetting to me), but I am able to occasionally wear heels now. I just keep up with my stretches and stay mindful of all the things I learned in Feldenkrais whenever I walk, sit, or move in some way.

LINKS

http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/frequently_asked_questions/

http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/article/one_click_away_sa_w2009/

You can even see some exercises that you can try at home or work at the Feldenkrais website. Feldenkrais is very gentle.

I'm glad I made foot surgery a last resort.

alb · Marc Jacobs

pollyjean23 wrote:

A podiatrist I saw was just about to schedule me for surgery, and all my family said not to do it. I took their advice.

Instead, I started going for private sessions with Cynthia, who is a Feldenkrais Practitioner (she has a background in dance and a degree in PT). My step-MIL is a practitioner too, and she recommended Cynthia for appointments. (From the website: The Feldenkrais Method is a form of somatic education that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve movement and enhance human functioning.)

Feldenkrais did several things for me.
I was able to rid myself of most of my foot pain.
My foot not only felt better, but it looked better too. The bodywork, stretching, alignment, and body/motion education helped my foot look less clenched, knobby, narrow, and stiff.
In addition, Feldenkrais helped me learn how to walk properly so that I evenly distribute weight onto all points of my feet (not just the ball of the foot) while walking.
My posture got better, I looked and moved with more grace than ever before.
It has helped me avoid trouble with sciatica in my left leg--no doubt a result from walking unevenly.
I cannot recommend Feldenkrais enough. Cynthia said that, even if would have had the surgery, I could have developed trouble again because I would have still been walking incorrectly. The surgery fixes the bone, but it doesn't educate you on how to avoid this and other problems down the road.

Cynthia moved to Manhattan last year. She provides Feldenkrais sessions at a bodywork clinic in the city, and she also works with dancers to help them heal from injuries and prevent future ones.

I thought for sure that I would be relegated to grandma shoes for the rest of my life (which was extremely upsetting to me), but I am able to occasionally wear heels now. I just keep up with my stretches and stay mindful of all the things I learned in Feldenkrais whenever I walk, sit, or move in some way.

LINKS
http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/frequently_asked_questions/
http://www.feldenkrais.com/method/article/one_click_away_sa_w2009/

You can even see some exercises that you can try at home or work at the Feldenkrais website. Feldenkrais is very gentle.

I'm glad I made foot surgery a last resort.

pollyjean - i cannot thank you enough for posting this! i have heard that the surgery is painful and not a permanent solution to the problem (my mom had the surgery and hers came back years later). my hubby wants me to go to a podiatrist, but i've been hesitant b/c i am afraid he/she will suggest surgery as the only option. i was wondering if there were some other less intrusive/invasive approach and even asked a massage therapist about it the other day (but she didn't know). this seems like a fabulous option and i can't wait to read up on it and found out if there are any practitioners in my area. thanks again - i'm so glad there's hope!