Hi. I've done some research about bunions, but have actually found some different definitions. If someone could tell me exactly what they are that would be great.

thanks,
Jenn

I have bunions, so I can give you an okay descriptiom of what they are. I'm not in any medical field, but this is just what I've been taught. Bunions are when your big toes on both feet aren't growing right and they tend to curve out. So instead of having straight toes, the big toes make a V sort of a shape, and mine are starting to push all of my other toes together, causing them to all bend a little. It looks like my toe bone is sticking out of my feet a little. This can get worse as you get older and I'm thinking about getting surgery when my feet finish growing, but I heard you have to be off your feet for 3 months or something like that. Oh and bunions are hereditary, no one in my family has them except for me and my dead great-uncle, so that's where I got them from. That's all I know, but if you find any info on surgery, could you pass it on? Thanks!
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/biggrin.gif -princess_rkb

[This message has been edited by princess_rkb (edited 04-29-2002).]

I have bunions and have no idea what to do next. I know that there is a surgery that will remove them but it is so expensive and right now I really don't have that kind of money. My toes do not overlap and perhaps they are not as bad as some people have it, but the part that does stick out, sticks out a bit much. Even with wide shoes the bunion is pushing my foot to one side of the shoe so that I get a corn on the side of my little toe.

Isn't there a simpler way to get rid of bunions? Is it a bone or just a calous-like growth? I would love to go for surgery but it won't be any time soon and my feet are killing me now.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

MissValentine, I have have bunions as well, and also problems with corns, I work in retail so I'm in heels most of the time; please tell me you can help me with my corns...they are killing me; are yours painful as well? Thanks, Doris

Hi DorisW

I had a huge corn on the side of my right foot pinky toe all because despite my shoes being wide, the bunion forces the side of my foot to rub and press against the lining of the shoe.

I bought one of those corn removers, I *think* It was Doctor Scholl. It's nothing special, just something I picked up at drug store. It took a while but it finally got rid of that corn. I wish there were something that you just stick onto your bunion and watch it burn off.

MissValentine, I had been thinking of using those as well, I guess the friction due to high heels is my problem, have you suffered from corns long?

Smurfette007 and MissValentine - I too was diagnosed with a bunion on my right toe. I had finally gone to the doctor when red hot pain kept me up all night! He had orthotics made for me and after about 2 weeks I hardly noticed any pain at all! It was getting to the point it hurt to flex my toes on that foot to walk! The orthotics cost $400 now and SOME insurance companies WILL pay for it. Mine did. However, my mom is on medicare and they DON'T pay for it. So it would pay to check into that.