I am reading some of you talk about different type of bunions (i.e, Tailor and Austin). Could someone explain the difference, is there more pain associated with one type of another.

Thanks

:wave: Hi Sandra: Not sure about this, but I think "Austin", "McBride", etc are the different types of procedures that doctors do for the bunionectomy. For example: I had a horrible bunion (it was what you call radical surgery because it was past "severe") and my surgeon did a "modified McBride" procedure. You can look up the procedures on the internet and find out exactly what they do. I even found a video of my surgery which made everyone in my family sick to their stomach :p I thought if I have to endure this surgery let them know what it is like. Have you had surgery yet or you just thinking about it? Jo :angel:

Thanks Jo,

I have not had bunion surgery yet. I chicken out, at the hospital. I only allowed the surgeon to remove the bone spur in the baby toe. I thought the surgeon would talk me out of it, but he did not. Now I sit with good baby toe, but I still have the bunion! I will have to get the bunion off eventually. Jo when did you have your procedure, and are you happy with the results?

Sandra,

Key question.. Do your bunion cause you pain? If not, than by all means leave it alone, and learn to live with how it looks. On other hand, if it hurts when you walk or stand for a period, or if it is impossible to find comfortable shoes, than maybe it is time to address the issue. It is by no means anything like having a small bone spur removed. A bunionectomy will shave the bump, but also your bone will be broken and a section removed and either pinned or screwed. Recovery can be hard and long...

I had moderate bunions, and my big toes was starting to shift under my second toes. My feet hurt day and night - and would often just ache. I had my bunions for almost 20 years, but the last 5 years they did become worse. I am now 3.5 months post op with an Austin Bunionectomy (2 screws) plus an osteotomy on the second toe (bone cut/broken and a section of bone removed) held w/ a permanent pin. Same thing on left foot, plus a taylor bunion shaved was done 7.5 weeks ago. Had to wear an awful/hard to walk in shoe/boot for 6 weeks, couldn't drive, and more. Still, my feet are sore and not fully recovered by any means. The surgery shouldn't be taken lightly - and truthfully, I thought I was prepared, but it is a bit more than I thought. I have had 7 other surgeries, and 3 of them major, bone surgery is very different!

Austin is a common type of surgery for bunions on the big toe area (inside of foot). There are other types of surgery. Tailor bunionectomies are specific for the outside of the foot (little toe).

Sandra: I had bunion surgery (ostectomy) on my left foot on June 29, 2005. I am in a cast to the knee. I go this week and have the cast cut off and stitches removed. The doctor will then put on a new cast (same type of cast) and I will wear another 4 weeks. AFTER THAT, :rolleyes: I will be in a "moon boot" and will wear that for approximately 1 months and then I move to the shoe. I am glad I had it done because I was getting to the point that I was limbing from the pain. If you have a pretty bad bunion, get it operated on before you get older. It is not fun to be in a Non-weight bearing cast for 6 weeks, but it just had to be done. I intend, God willing :angel: , to have my right foot operated on in January, 2006. It is a mild bunion and the doctor said I could walk out of the operating room so that sounded wonderful to me!!! I don't intend to have the right foot get in the condition as my left foot. So............if your doctor thinks you have a moderate size bunion and it is beginning to move your toes around, get it fixed before you get older. Also, I had been to two different doctors and they all were treating me for various problems, (tendonitis, capsultitis, etc.) when all these problems were caused by my bunion :eek: I was so thankful to get to a doctor in Clarksville, TN and he said for me to go to Nashville, TN for the surgery because he honestly could do the surgery that I needed. Thank God for some doctors that still do not have such an ego that they can just come out and tell you that they can't do something. Yes! My doctor is in Nashville and he is great.

Good luck.

Jo

Thanks Jo,

As of now I have not had any pain associated with the bunion. Although my bone spur in my toe was caused by the bunion pushing on my other toes. The doctor is going to fit me with othonics, in hopes to prevent it from getting any worse. I had been walking 3 - 5 miles on either my tread mill or outside everyday. I have bought an Elliptical machine. I am hoping both these measures will buy me some time.

I will be on the lookout for it getting worse, I do not want to go through the surgery you described.