Rest for Bunion

Daily life is unaffected. Walking becomes very painful on the bunionettes by mile 3 and bunions by mile 5.

I have had bunion surgery recently where the long bone in the foot was broken and pinned in to the correct place, the lump at the joint shaved off, the muscle between the big and second toe cut to release the big toe and then a wedge taken out of the big toe to straighten it and secured with staples and screws. All the metalwork remains inside, my recovery was textbook , home the same day then 2 weeks off my foot as much possible and another 4 weeks off work (although I am lucky to have been able to work from home during that time) and in 3 months back to normal footwear. No pins sticking out of my toe or anything. With good pain management it was only mildly uncomfortable and slightly inconvenient for a few weeks but I would highly recommend it. I had it done at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham and everyone there is brilliant. I will get the other foot done too when it gets as bad as the first one. My bunions are hereditary and I had it done for pain relief only.

I have Taylors bunions, a podiatrist can make you an insole the alternative is quite harsh treatment, I find rest and familiar trainers helps.

As a fellow bunion sufferer, my tips are:

1. Don't run, it's high impact, which can make bunions worse - but if you must...
2. Run on softer surfaces like grass or trails rather than tarmac and concrete
3. Get the right shoes - I'd second the Saucony recommendation - Run and Become in London gave me great advice on finding the right pair
4. See a podiatrist - ideally one that knows about sports injuries, not just diabetics. They'll assess if your feet are flat enough (a common cause of bunions) to need custom-made orthotics, which are easy to slip into trainers. They'll also check out whether your feet are causing any other problems in your knees, hips or back.
5. Stretch your calves well after a run to prevent shin splints, which are also common in people with flat feet.

I am a 70 year old male and have been jogging since 1976. I have run marathons and many 10Ks. Two years ago I developed very painful bunions, one on the left big toe and one on the right little toe. For 6 months I tried 3 different shoe makers and widths. I got no relief, so last December (2012) I stopped running and have moved to a recumbent stationary bike for exercise plus my normal weight lifting and yoga. Two days ago I went for a 3 mile run and the pain came back, even with toe guards and holes cut in my shoes at the point of pressure. I don't much care for the bike as a form of exercise and am looking for a remedy.