cind68

I had a double bunionectomy last fall...one foot Oct. 18 2005 and the other Nov 10 2005(too close I know now!!!)...anyway, I started out with some men's New Balance tennis shoes and remember at first having to STUFF my feet in them and yes, it hurt til I got them on. Then it's sooooo much better having them on than off! I would say those were the best for me at the beginning.

I was surprised(very!!!) at how much swelling I still had as I thought it was all gone or at least for the most part a month or so after getting them. I then got some Prince tennis shoes which are known for having a really big toe box(big and wide!!) in them. I'd ordered them and several pairs as I play tennis and was wanting to get back on the ball machine at least and use those. I couldn't stuff the feetsies in them at that point though. Just kept wearing the NB and noticed I kept having to lace them tighter and tighter. I finally tried the Prince again and they're GREAT now! My physical therapist had a double bunionectomy and her toes fused in her 20s(around 40 now) and had told me to get the Prince and she wears them at work, to play tennis, for just about everything. I see why now too! They really are wonderful.

You may be able to start out in them...?? Swelling was a really big problem for me and I just couldn't but love 'em now. Also love those orthotics she had cast for me!! I can't believe I ever lived w/o them!!! Get those at the physical therapist too as they're about 1/4 or 1/5 of what they'd cost at the pod or other places. I would HIGHLY recommend doing that!! Go back on some earlier posts of mine and you'll see how you have to gradually build up to wearing them all the time too. Your feet aren't used to having that arch support but man when they do!

Anyway....sorry so rambly this morning...in a hurry and trying to get it out too fast!yipes! I'd say start out w/the mens NB(think mine were DD width) or the Prince if you can.

Oh yeah.....after I was able to wear some "normal" looking shoes I got some Born ones that had really cushy soles in them and they've been great. You lose the padding under your big toe after the surgery so having that cushiness really helps. Found a couple Merrells but would end up picking the Born over them everytime for a couple months or so for that extra padding.

Happy to say I'm now wearing the Prince tennis shoes most of the time or my FLIPFLOPS!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!! Never thought I'd see that day again!! And this past weekend wore some wedges one evening!YEAH!!! I couldn't wear something like that all day right now and wouldn't want to anyway but was nice to know for an evening out they felt good and I could actually do it! I do however make sure I wear the Prince w/orthotics most of the time though to keep my feet in the proper position and prevent any future probs. ...yup....I have learned! ....as always, the hard way too ...no, mine weren't preventable but amazing how much difference those orthotics make and do actually prevent alot of things!
...wow...hope this is readable!...better get going!
good luck! Hope everyone else is doing well too!!! I couldn't have made it w/o this board going through all that!! Is it great or WHAT??!!!! You people are WOOOOOOOOOONDERFUL!!!!...and sooooooo incredibly knowledgable!!! I can't thank you all enough for the answers, support and encouragement getting me through all that! Is NOT fun that's for sure! Still amazes me when I hear about some who have such an "easy" time??? Good for them though! For what it's worth if I had to have changed anything I'd have had them done about 3 months apart rather than the 3 or so weeks.......hindsight is always 20/20 though! Thanks again!....
cindy