I'm so confused and stressed about whether or not to have surgery.

I'm kind of in the same situation. Been on nhs waiting list since March but started to have second thoughts, pretty much the same reasons as yourself. Mine isn't as severe as others I have seen. But over the past 2 months I have decided it needs done. The pain has increased 10 fold and affecting my walking. Just had my pre op. I have a pre booked holiday in Oct so likely to be done in Nov. The pain has made my mind up but like others have said, also want it done while im younger/ fitter and its not as severe where the op is likely to be more complicated. Over time its likely to progress so that is my reasonings. Good luck x

I have a large bunion on my right foot and am a regular on the hills…. I get my walking boots stretched professionally by a company called Whalley Outdoor. I just mark where my bunion is, post the boot, they steam stretch it and send it back. I have had regular walking boots and stiff mountaineering boots stretched. I wear altra loan peak for the gym. Foot shaped and Zero drop so weight is back on my heels. I also wear bespoke insoles. All of these together changed my thinking re getting surgery.

Mine are much worse than yours but luckily I manage to live with it and I wear comfy shoes, barefoot at home helps strengthen my feet, I use different aids, exercises to strengthen the feet. They look terrible but I prefer not to have surgery as I feel that would weaken my feet. My mum had surgery and her feet were ok for about 10 years and now they are as bad as ever. I think it's just personal preference how to deal with it.

I’m 54 and started noticing I had bunions a couple of years ago. They only hurt occasionally. I wear toe dos era and wear wore tie box sneskers ( I hate they way the look worn my work clothes), but I’m a teacher and I’m on my feet all day dnd walk a lot. I remember my mom had bunions and I thought she was crazy fur not getting the surgery, but she told me it’s a long recovery, she wouldn’t be dnkd to drive fur several weeks ( she had to drive my die idk needs brother to drs snd work) and she said they still may come back. I’m not sure his lineage had them, but she passed at age 80. She was always active and just made sure she word a wide shoe. I don’t even think they were wide toe box shoes, just a 9 wide instead of a regular wide. Nothing expensive either. I think she used to but her shoes at Payless before it went out of bodies or JC Penny, Kohls etc.

I’m similar age and also like to exercise. I’ve started wearing toe separators to Pilates, it makes such a difference in my balance. I just make sure I wear wide fit, gel soles boots or trainers. My bunion had actually bore a hole in 2 pairs of Skechers 😬

go to a podiatrist get some custom orthodics made to take pressure off them

I have bunion x both feet, surgery definitely Be last resort. I now use COSYFEET online, women's are all,extra wide fit. Quite expensive, but worth paying that extra. Im in UK cosyfeet in uk. Xx

The pain will only worsen with time. I had mine done and 2 hammer toes when I was 55. Took nearly 2 years for me to run again. Glad I did it. I had a full foot reconstruction which is the only proper way to fix it and it will not return.

And, yes good orthotics are important for arch support

I suggest toe separator also. ..my toes looked a lot worse than yours, but with toe separator between large toe..helped! Also, I wear sandals by Orthofeet and wide toe box shoes by Altra. I’ve had bunion for 40 years, but wouldn’t want bunion surgery.

Don’t do it unless affecting you daily/ nightly. I ask a pod as a friend and she said leave well alone

Just want to say you’re not alone with struggling with the decision. I’ve been struggling with it for years as well. I’m also mid fifties and a runner. I can still run uncomfortably, but still out there. Concerned about the setback at this age. I did see a new surgeon and he wants to do an MRI to rule out neuroma, and then I’m going to make a decision and I’m leaning towards having it. I feel like I won’t be satisfied with my foot until I at least try to get it fixed.

It’s such a tricky situation. I’m a runner and already have arthritis in my big toes, I know someone who had surgery and regretted it. I just put up with it but my feet hurt!

Gosh I really feel for you. I'm kind of in the same place. Saw a consultant 18 months ago and it's basically up to me if and when I decide on having it done. I also have mortons neuroma. I also enjoy long walks and have D B Wide fit shoes, the hiking boots are really good. I put pads on my feet for the neuroma and wear toe spacers. Part of me just wants to keep going and part of me thinks I should go back to the cobsultant as I have some nerve pain now. It's a very difficult decision for you, being self employed is not easy, been there. I really do wish you well in whatever decision you make.

I went to see a podiatrist privately as my GP didn’t think mine were severe enough to be even considered. I was told they’ll only operate in extreme cases as longtime success rate is very poor. The pain especially through the night goes on 😖

I’m in my 50s and I’m having surgery on the 18th sept through NHS. He agreed that it would be better to do it now while I’m young and fit and also he said the procedure isn’t as complicated as it would be if I left it. Easy for me to say as I don’t have anxiety but I’m just thinking of the future as I want to be able to carry on hiking when I’m older so I’m just going for it!

Mine are much worse but I’m not in pain. Decided to leave them. I think you would be incredibly lucky if your bunions look any better after the op and don’t hurt in the gym. My shoe choice is always wide fit and still many just don’t fit at all. As on the picture I wore the same sandals all summer 😁

Well, I am having my third surgery later this year. On balance, I wish I'd left it alone....

I had my bunion and hammer toe. It was described as a reconstruction. Had my big toe fused. After three months it was fine. Still a bit swollen. I could walk so the recovery was not bad at all. So glad its done. Just cant wear heels.

I had mine done. Best decision for me. It was only my right foot and recovery wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

It is the muscles that are pulling the toe. Some had bunions return after surgery.

It's too bad you have to wait so long for a consultation and/or surgery. Even though your feet aren't too wide, make sure you only wear "wide toe box" shoes which give your toes room to spread out. Regular wide shoes won't cut it, I learned that lesson. There are different types of bunion surgeries available. I just had my second Lapiplasty procedure but I'm retired now. I put it off because I wouldn't have had a way to get to work without driving.

Why haven’t you looked into a Lapipasty? Why not rotate the metarsal back over where it belongs secure it? That’s what causes a bunion to begin with. Sometimes when the bunion has gotten too much of an issue, that’s not possible, but you can check into it.

I am 61 and had my left foot done in March with surgery scheduled for December for right foot this year. I waited until I literally couldn't wear a shoe on my left foot for more than 10 to 15 minutes without extreme pain. I fell my first week and the surgeon removed the k-wire in my second toe which he fixed a hammer toe while doing my bunion. With that minor setback, I am happy I had this surgery. I am 5 months out and minor swelling and no pain with a tennis shoe on. I also went to physical therapy once I was out of my boot from surgery. I had terrible anxiety about having this surgery. I didn't know what was going to happen etc. I was freaked out about being in more pain or my bone not healing. I went to talk therapy and that helped a lot. I did tons of research online. I even got a second opinion. It is a long recovery but I am mostly back to normal now. No pain. Maybe a little ache in my surgery foot if I walked too far. Exercising is not an issue anymore. My trainer has shown me some alternative ways to do exercises if needed. This is considered elective surgery in the States. So for insurance to pay, your bunion needs to be atleast moderate and mine was severe. I literally went into the hospital not knowing if I would go through it the morning of surgery. I figured I could say no until they started. I am so happy I went through with it. I still can't bend the toe that used to be a hammer toe but I couldn't use it before surgery either so no big deal. Atleast it is straight now and I don't have pain in it. Would I do it again? Yes! The pain prior to surgery was crazy bad. As I mentioned, I am having my right foot done in December. Best to you in making your decision.

This hurts a lot.

they are fine🌷 dont do it🙏🏼