I'm going for a distal chevron osteotomy on Wednesday to remove bilateral bunions. This is thinking pretty far off in the future, but I was just wondering what kinds of shoes I should be wearing when the time comes. My guess is that the safest option is a very soft gym shoe with lots of support, but that sounds hot and uncomfortable, especially since my feet tend to swell slightly when it's hot outside (on top of the swelling I already anticipate having). Could I wear a t-strap thong sandal or flip flops instead? Also, do my sneakers have to be the clownish athletic type, or would something like pumas or adidas be okay too? Do I have to go up a size or get a wide width? I don't plan on getting any new shoes until I can try them on, but I want to narrow down my options so I know where I should be shopping and what I should be looking for.

Also, around when could I look forward to getting back into a ballet flat or a soft leather oxford type shoe (with my orthotics)? I am obsessed with shoes and it scares me that I might not be able to wear them for a year!

I was able to start wearing shoes two weeks after my double bunionectomy and hammertoe correction surgery (Surgical sandals until then). My doctor wanted me to start out in gym shoes; he didn't seem to care much what kind except that I shouldn't try to buy them ahead of time. I had to buy really wide ones to accomodate the swelling. I chose fairly supportive ones, but I was able to find them in plain white. I doubt that you will be advised to spend a lot of time in flip flops too soon. By eight weeks I was able to wear SOME of my "regular" shoes including a good pair of sandals with adjustable straps. One reason I didn't even want to go around in open toe shoes right away is in case someone stepped on my toes. Ouch! In order not to have to wear white gym shoes everywhere, after a few weeks I got a cheap pair of Dr. Scholl wide black tie up shoes. Certainly not fashionable, but inobtrusive with nice black pants which I could dress up with colorful tops. I could wear some feminine (flat) shoes by three months and everything in my closet by six months. (Actually all my shoes were pretty flat since that's all I'd been able to wear for years.) At that point I went shopping-- It was exciting to be able to get fun new shoes. Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks for the tips, Kath. I have a really hard time finding wide width shoes in my size (5.5-6) so that's why I'm a bit concerned about this. Even Zappos only seems to carry dance shoes in my size. Grr. Your experience sounds really great though. I hope mine goes just as well as yours did.

I was in a tennis shoe about 2 weeks after my austin bunionectomy. I had to go up a full size in order to fit with the swelling. About 2 months later I bought new shoes a 1/2 size down and they fit great now. I am 5 months post op. I am slowly getting into flip flops...I love em! But I cant wear them for long because I have a low arch. I bought dansko's and they were the best purchase I have ever made!!! I love those shoes and they have a great arch in them for me. I can wear them all day and my feet wont hurt at the end of the day. They are a little tight because of the swelling I still have but they are great to wear.

I'm 4 months out from my chevron bunionectomy and still can't wear any closed-toed shoes due to some weird nerve thing - it's getting better over time, but the main watchword is that you just won't know what you can do, shoe-wise, until you're in the recovery process. I'm loving flipflops and Danskos (even my Dansko clogs are working - the only closed-toe that I can do - probably because the toe box is so big), and pretty summer sandals are very workable now - yay! Good luck!
-Zard

One of the first pairs of shoes I got six months after my bunionectomies was Danskos. Not beautiful looking, but great for being on your feet a lot and I was beginning a teaching job. I had several friends who swear by them, but I'd never been able to wear them before because of the bunionectomies-- It was too painful for me to wear anything but glove-soft leather and the Danskos are sort of stiff. They are great-- and I do even get compliments on their looks! You may not need a super wide gym shoe if you go for a larger size and you find a style that has a big toe box. A lot of people on the board back when I had my surgery were recommending New Balance. Good luck!

Try Ryka gym shoes for a wider toe box. They only make women's shoes. My cousin had always worn them because she had difficult feet. I got a pair right before my surgery. I didn't realize the wider toe box until after I'd bought them but it worked out so well because they were the only shoes I could get my foot in with my bunion splint thingie that I had to wear. They're normal cross trainer/running shoe looking. Not at all dorky or orthopedic looking and they're VERY comfortable. As for New Balance, I've heard of many people that love them but I've never found any that were cushy enough for me. I need a lot of cush and the Rykas definitely have that. Also, they're about the same price as regualr name brand gym shoes. I'd say $40-70ish. I actually got mine at famous Footwear. They were normally $60 I think but marked down to $35. I happened in during a buy one pair (of any shoes), get another half off. Since I was buying another pair of shoes, I wound up only paying $17 for the Rykas. Can't beat that!

I wore my adjustable Tevas (velcro sandals) for awhile until I could get into my sneakers.

gym shoes will be the best at first and slowly uou will be able to get into your own shoes. dont worry until you have to.

I had severe bunions and surgery for both feet that is now OVER WITH!!
The first sandal that I was able to wear was not a flip flop because of the inner area of the great and second toe being too tender.
I got a pair of sandals from Wal Mart with a rigid bottom (that is very important at first). The sandals closed over the top of the foot with velcro.
Therefore, it was an adjustable top. They weren't ugly either!
Tennis shoes worked but they had to have wide access to place the tender foot into them.
I just by pure luck had some expensive, trendy shoes that I had purchased for my pathetic bunion accommodation way before the surgeries.
These were the ABSOLUTE BEST SHOES post surgery.
They had an adjustable strap over the top arch of the foot and an adjustable strap at the back of the ankle. I was able to slip my foot into them and then adjust.
Eventually, you will be able to fit into just about anything post surgery.
However, be PATIENT for it takes a good six months for things to resolve themselves......................