Hi I'm thinking of getting bunion surgery and would like to know what kind overall outcome everyone had? Were you happy with the results?
Was the pain worth it?
What regrets do you have if any?

hi cinderalla.

for me, the surgeries were definitely worth it. i did a 5k about 10 weeks after my 1st surgery (left foot) and my right foot (non-operated on with bunion still) was hurting less than 1 mile into it. my left foot began to hurt towards the end of the 5k only b/c i don't have the full flexibility yet (the bottom arch hurt, not the old bunion area)

my feet look so much better in shoes!! no bunion sticking out when i wear my sneakers. (right foot still in post-op shoe - just had surgery 5 weeks ago for that one) when i slip on open toe shoes, no bunion sticks out b/w the straps. i do have an ugly keloid scar on my left foot - i do care a little, but am willing to live with it since i don't have the kind of pain i had before the surgery. besides, i can always get my dermatologist to try things to reduce the scar. i am using merderma on it, although not consistantly. i;m trying to be consistant now with my right foot - don't want to develop a scar on that foot as badly as the left foot. you can check out my pre-op and post-op pics at photos.yahoo.com/the littleprincess0303.

good luck on your decision!

I would not recomend surgery to anyone EVER. I had my surgery March 21 and am still not able to go physical therapy as the cut has not healed. I may even have to have another surgery to fix what has been done. I would have tolerated the pain of my bunion the rest of my life if I knew that it would be like this. I swore I would tell everyone. DO NOT DO IT!

Hi,
I had both of my feet done on June 12, am now 6 weeks post op and am so glad I had this done. I was in surgical shoes from the start and went into athletic shoes 2 days ago. My surgeon did a phenominal job. The scars are almost invisible. I had a removable pin in each foot and those came out at 4 weeks post op. I was nerveous about having that done, but it didn't hurt at all when he removed them. I had just moderate pain the first week that was eased with tylenol 3. Just make sure you have someone that can help you. I was pretty much unable to do anything for myself the first four weeks. Would I do it again, YES!!!

The pain was definitely worth it! I heard lots
of horror stories but took the chance and I'm so
glad I built up enough of guts to do it. It's
been about three months since I had it done and I'm
going to have the other foot done in a few months.
Hopefully, it will be another success!

definitely worth it--glad I am done with surgery as both feet have been done now--left foot bunion and hammer toe(second toe) 7 years ago and right foot same as left June 9--still have a lot of healing to do but am glad the worst part is over

Oh my goodness, YES,it has been worth it, so far. I have only had one foot done and while the recovery has been a hassel, it has not been terribly painful. More uncomfortable than truly PAINFUL. The first few days it was more of a tremendous pressure (like my foot was very swollen and wrapped very very tightly). It's hard to describe. After that, the discomfort centered around the swelling. I would have to be up for a while and then sit down and prop up my foot a while. But, YES, it has been SO worth it and I plan on doing my other foot either this September or January. I thought about this for 14 years,I embarassed to say. Finally, got the guts up (I don't even like a needle prick). It really wasn't bad, I promise. My friend had one foot done the week before me, by the same Dr., and she agreed. I'm the biggest chicken in the world and if I can do it, you can too!!
PMCW

It's not a question of the initial pain. This goes away and forgatten. The question is in the long run was it successful. In my case I traded bunion pain with new pains. My big toes don't touch the floor and I put too much strain on the little toes and have lots of pain (even stress fructure) as a result. I'm almost a year after the second surgery and still can walk the way I used to before. I also think the strain on the little toes aggrivate the Morton's neuroma.
Good luck to you but my suggestion: Don't do it unless it's a must.

I would consider both of mine a success. While I have a ways to go on this one it is coming along very nicely. Right now it is as if my foot is like a baby's foot. But it is getting stronger every day. It will be better than before surgery. When you reach a point that you only have 3 options-barefoot, houseshoes and SAS's and in a lot of pain, it is time to do something. Look forward to going through my shoes and seeing what I can get into in another month or two. And hopefully in a few months to a year, will be able to wear most of my shoes again.