Do You Need Toe Straighteners for Your Bunion or Hammertoe?

Just purchased two toe straighteners, one single toe holder and one double-toe holder from MyFootShop.com to help keep my 2nd toe on my right foot from totally obliterating my 3rd toe.

It's been three years this month since my bunion/hammertoe surgery on my right foot. I've noticed in the past few weeks that my toes are almost back to the same position, minus the bunion ball as they were before surgery.

Something has shifted recently because not only do I have a callous on the bottom of the third toe from the pressure of the 2nd toe pushing down on it, but I have a new blister that formed on the side of the third toe. Hopefully these new toe separators will help with that problem until I'm able to have more surgery to correct this problem.

Moral of the story: Choose your bunion physician carefully and make sure your toes are splinted to keep them straight following surgery. Mine weren't and when I asked about it my surgeon said it wasn't necessary. My 2nd and 3rd opinion docs following surgery said it would have helped. Easy to say in hindsight but time has proven this true. Be smart. Be good to your feet.

Check out MyFootShop.com.
_____

Back Pain and Bunions

Have you had or do you have any back pain along with your bunions? Please comment below if you have.

I've wondered if the occasional lower back pain and sciatica that became chronic a few months after bunion surgery on my right foot and continues today is connected to the misalignment of my feet. All the doctors I've seen say it's not but I'm not so sure.

A friend shared the book Healing Back Pain by John Sarno, MD, which I started reading today. Sarno says that most back pain (and many other muscular, organ, and immune system issues) can be attributed to TMS (Tension Myositis Syndrome), which he defines as a psychosomatic issue that becomes physical as a way to hide negative emotions from your conscious mind, in particular repressed anger, because you're not ready to or think you can't handle the pain. Interesting idea and even more interesting when I consider the possibility that maybe I'm subconsciously angry that I have bunions and felt I had no option but to have surgery to get rid of the pain (that and every other transgression from childhood :-). Hmmm...and the solution, Dr. Sarno? Recognize the anger, find a healthy way to express repressed emotions, keep moving your body, and in 98% of situations the pain will subside.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, what's your experience with bunions and back pain?

Bunion Recovery Foot Exercise

I'm always looking for good foot stretching exercises, especially during walking, now that I'm a few years beyond my bunion surgery. This Heels and Toes exercise from Prevention.com is a good one. Remember, check with your doctor first to make sure you're ready to do an exercise like this, and then take it easy building up strength.

Heels and Toes Exaggerate the heel-to-toe motion as you walk: Land on heel, toes lifted, then roll up onto toes, lifting heel with each step.

Read more at Prevention.com

What Type of Bunion Surgery is Best for You?

Did you know there are over 100 types of bunion surgery?! Now, maybe you'll understand why I've hedged about defining different surgeries on the Bunion Relief Blog -- the possibility of error in description is better left to your surgeon. ;-) However, I just ran across a good overview of the general types of bunion surgery in an article on bunion surgery published by Blue Shield of California.

"There are over 100 surgeries for bunions. Research does not indicate which type of surgery is best—surgery needs to be specific to your condition. More than one procedure may be done at the same time.

"The general types of bunion surgery are:

• Removal of part of the metatarsal head (the part of the foot that is bulging out). This procedure is called exostectomy or bunionectomy.
• Realignment of the soft tissues (ligaments) around the big toe joint.
• Removal of a small wedge of bone from the foot (metatarsal osteotomy) or from the toe (phalangeal osteotomy).
• Removal of bone from the end of the first metatarsal bone, which joins with the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint). At the metatarsophalangeal joint, both the big toe and metatarsal bones are reshaped (resection arthroplasty).
• Fusion (arthrodesis) of the big toe joint.
• Fusion of the joint where the metatarsal bone joins the mid-foot (Lapidus procedure).
• Implant insertion of all or part of an artificial joint."
• Read more

Whatever type of surgery you and your surgeon determine is best for you, you want a surgeon who has experience in a variety of procedures, which ensures you'll get the best option from a surgeon who is selecting from several choices rather than one-procedure-fits-all.

Be sure to ask:

1. What different types of bunion surgery procedures have you done in the past six months?

2. How many of the procedure you're recommending for me have you done in the past month? Past six months?

I don't know about you, but I want a surgeon who has performed the surgery they're suggesting dozens of times with excellent results before experimenting or perfecting their skill on me.

If you've had this conversation with your doctor, I'm curious to know what you discovered. Please share your comments below and if you know the specific procedure they're recommending or that you've had done, please let us know.

Yoga Toes for Bunions Half Price Through Monday Dec. 1, 2008!

This is a fantastic sale! Only $25 for a pair of Yoga Toes! If you've never tried them to ease the pain of bunions, now is the time! I love mine!

If you have a pair of Yoga Toes, give a pair to someone else for the Holidays. No coupons are needed. Here are the details:

Kick Off The Holiday Season… Because Your Feet Take A Beating

Take advantage of the YogaToes® Special Thanksgiving offer and Save $25!

Click here for YogaToes or call 877-964-2776. Special YogaToes Thanksgiving discount. No coupon code required.

Special Thanksgiving offer runs from Friday, Nov. 28 through Monday, Dec. 1st

The sale does not apply to YogaToes Gift Sets. Coupon codes or other promotions cannot be combined with the Thanksgiving Day Sale.

Happy Thanksgiving!

YogaToes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

And a Happy Thanksgiving from BunionSurvivor.com too! Mary/Smiling Walker

"If the only prayer you ever said was Thank You,
it would be enough."
~ Meister Eckhart

Bunions: Avoiding the Agony of De Feet

Perfect timing! It's the end of the day and now you can try on new shoes.

This morning's post reminded me of a great article on finding good shoes written by a world champion disc golfer who is also a speaker and trainer on her feet all day and who has bunions.

Along with a great sense of humor Leslie Charles also has a great sense of the practical. We've been friends for a long time and I find her wisdom and energy a real gift. I know you will too. Enjoy her article and after you're done reading, check out her website.

AVOIDING THE AGONY OF DE FEET
by Leslie Charles

Cache or comfort? Style or sensibility? Bunions, hammertoes, and calluses are just a few of the insults we women suffer for the sake of fashion. Study a typical high heel shoe and there seems to be an assumption that women’s feet are not only unnaturally narrow, but our feet are symmetrical, with our middle toes being the longest. Give me a break!

As an orthotics wearer for thirty years, I long ago gave up the idea of sexy shoes and opted instead for sensible ones. When I met Terri Lammers, an excellent orthotist and prosthetist in East Lansing, Michigan, she told me I had the “best” collection of shoes of any of her clients. Terri helped me take the next steps in knowing exactly what to look for in a shoe.

Here’s what Terri says about shoes: “Look for a straight mid line.” Hold the shoe upside down (sole facing you) and put a ruler or thread in the middle of the heel. Now extend that line through the toe section of the shoe. Does the line pretty much divide the shoe in half or does the front of the shoe lean off toward the toe side? If the line is straight, your feet will be happier. If there’s a noticeable curve, don’t buy it.

As Terri would say, “Don’t buy a shoe that’s shaped like a banana! The best shoes all have a straight mid line, firm soles and low heels.”

For everyday comfort, here are some good brands to consider:

Birkenstock (your best bet is to buy the traditional foot bed).

Finn Comfort (these are handmade and expensive but they will last forever and you can send them back for resoling. If you like clogs, compare the straightness of the Finn Comfort sole with a Dansko and you might be surprised).

Keen – (a popular shoe for younger women, these make for great sport shoes with a wide toe bed and great lateral support. I own several pairs of Keens).

Naot (this brand works well for narrow feet).

Merrells (from sport shoe to a slightly dressy look, some of their styles look great with slacks).

For a dressier look, try Aravon (made by New Balance, another good shoe manufacturer). I own two nice looking pairs of Aravon sandals and I really like them.

For the dressiest look and surprising comfort, check out Beautifeel. This is a stylish AND comfortable shoe I introduced to Terri and she loved them! They are dressy, trendy, and some are even a little sexy; Beautifeel shoes come in a variety of styles and heel heights.

The prices are reasonable and they have such a realistic width, I can wear my orthotics in these heels. What a find! If your local quality shoe store doesn’t carry Beautifeel look for them on the Internet. I can wear my Beautifeel heels all day and my feet stay happy.

Good web sites for view shoes include:
zappos.com (multi view)
comfortableshoes.com
keenfootwear.com
trackntrail.com
aravonshoes.com
footwise.com

As a professional speaker, facilitator and trainer, I spend a lot of time on my feet. Finding a comfortable, good-looking work shoe has taken a lot time, energy, and sometimes wasted money. I hope my discoveries will help you make better choices so you can prevent the agony of de feet.

Leslie Charles is the author of seven books, including the fun, light hearted and practical “Bless Your Stress: It Means You’re Still Alive!” As an active, vital woman in her mid sixties, Leslie’s book offers some excellent anti-aging advice. In fact, Leslie just broke a world distance record for women in her age group in a popular but little known international sport, disc golf. She is listed on the world flying disc federation site, wfdf.org, along with other world record holders from ages 1 to 101. Read more...

Thanks Leslie!

Buy Shoes for Bunions Late in the Day

No matter how tempting it is to try on those Manolo Blahniks on sale at lunch time or during your Saturday morning errands, put them on hold and wait. Go back at the end of the day when your feet are at their most uncomfortable (and swollen) so you don't inflame them any more than they already are with shoes that are too tight.

Cedars-Sinai Women's Health program is great. I ran across their enewsletter with a great reminder for anyone with bunions or foot problems.

Shoes are all-important when it comes to preventing foot problems. Buy shoes late in the day when your feet are at their largest. Select shoes that are comfortable, practical and fit well. Shoes should fit the shape of your foot, and soles should provide shock absorbency. Heels should be no more than 2 1/4 inches high. Avoid pointed toes, thin soles and spike heels for prolonged wear. New shoes should not need a "breaking in" period -- they should feel comfortable immediately. Read more...

If you live in the Los Angeles area, check out their foot and ankle care department. You can also sign up for their free Women's Health eNewsletter.

6 Tips for your First Meeting with A Bunion Surgeon

Follow these six tips to help make your first meeting with your potential bunion surgeon as informative and stress-free as possible.

1. Give yourself extra preparation time. How much time have you allowed yourself to do your research and make a decision? The last thing you want to do is feel like you're making a rushed decision and then end up wishing you done things differently after your surgery. Take your time researching. I recommend at least a month and three opinions from different doctors that aren't recommended by the previous doctors you've seen. And if your doctor pressures you into making a quick decision or makes you feel uneasy, take a deep breath, and sleep on it. You want to make your decision based on your needs and schedule, as much as when the surgery suite is available or your doctor's vacation.

2. Do your homework. Answer these questions before you make your first appointment:

• Who have you gotten your referrals from? Please don't tell me you got your doctor's name from the Yellow Pages or from people who haven't already had bunion surgery. :-)
  
  
• How much research have you done online watching videos and looking at different doctor's websites?
  
  
• If the doctor you're considering doesn't have a website, what do you know about their success rate?Are you keeping notes on each doctor you've been referred to?
  
  
• Write your questions out and ask other bunion survivors what questions they wished they'd asked their doctor before surgery.
  

3. Arrive at your doctor's office 30-60 minutes early. Why? Feedback. Talk to others in the waiting room, especially the ones wearing boots or limping. Ask them, "What did you have done?" "How has it been going?" "What would you recommend to make the experience better?" "Would you go to this doctor again?" Be brave. Ask questions. You have a right to great results.

4. Notice the "vibes" in the office. Are the employees happy? Professional? Efficient? How does the doctor talk to his/her staff? What kind of body language do you notice? Rolling eyeballs or smiles? Does the office energy make you feel confident or unsure? Go for confident. You're making a decision about the rest of your life. Your feet take you everywhere you go; be good to them.

5. Bring a family member or friend to take notes. Give your friend a list of your questions for your surgeon and ask them to go through them with you at your meeting, checking off each one as you get your answer. And remember, there are no stupid questions.

6. Ask for copies of the paperwork you'll be asked to sign before surgery, as well as the pre- and post-surgery suggestions (make sure you READ these thoroughly BEFORE you sign anything!). Also ask for your x-rays before you leave. Technology has made it easy for most offices to give you a paper printed copy. You may be charged $10-40 dollars. Pay it. If you choose not to go back, you'll have your records to take to you 2nd opinion bunion surgeon.

If you've had bunion surgery, what would you add to the list? If you're a bunion surgeon, what would you recommend? Please add your comments below.

Wanting the best for you,

Smiling Walker