short-term treatment for imminent bunion surgery - Foot Problems Message Board

noname12345 · 09-09-2008, 03:02 PM

I found out yesterday that I will need to have bunion surgery. My podiatrist said that I can put off the surgery for a while, depending on some other factors. I am a teacher and can't miss the recovery period while school is in session. So, the surgery would be waiting until June. In the mean time, he has given me another cortisone shot and an Rx for pain if I need it.

Has anyone else been in this situation where the surgery has to be put off? How did you deal with the bunion in the mean time? Did your bunion worsen?

monster bunion · 09-09-2008, 03:12 PM

So it sounds like this is your second cortisone shot, which means you have been in discomfort. Do you think you can wait until next June? Walking around on a foot that hurts is going to be miserable. Perhaps it's time to take time out for yourself and get the bunion fixed. There is never an ideal time to have foot surgery because you always need to use your feet. If you want to wait, you may want to get crutches for work. Taking the pressure off your foot may give it time to rest. You may even try a walking boot to take the pressure off your bunion. If you don't have orthotics, you may want to try some. Good luck.

noname12345 · 09-09-2008, 04:44 PM

Thanks so much for your message. Yes, this was my 2nd cortisone shot. My toe was fine since the last shot in January. Going back to school aggravated it on the first day. I'm wearing my orthotics and comfortable/supportive shoes to school every day and am getting off my feet as much as possible.

KathJack · 09-10-2008, 09:44 AM

Wide, flexible, soft-as-butter leather shoes and moleskin bunion pads (as well as orthodics) helped me. You can also have a shoemaker stretch your shoes using a device that pushes out a bump where the bunion rubs the side. (You can buy something to do this yourself-- You attach the little plastic "bumps" where you need them. However, the shoemakers have better equipment (and probably better techniques); I had better results with them. I even had them work on my ice skates! I finally had the bunion surgery and now laugh when I wear a pair of old shoes that still has bulges on the sides (most of which were made by my feet, not a device

). Until you can have the surgery, forget fashion-- Go for comfort and look forward to fashion at this time next year.