The Long and Bumpy Road
My Grandmother had them, Mom had them and along with millions and millions of other wretched souls, I also have them. They are the scourge of both young and old alike. They are bunions and they are life altering….sort of. I could write at length about the causes and possible treatments for this condition, but if you aren’t already nodding off, that would without a doubt put you to sleep. So, if you don’t have bunions, or don’t know someone who has bunions, you might want to check out right now. (If you decide to read on, I promise there will be no grim, gory or disturbing illustrations.)
Okay, I have lots to say so let’s get started. I think it best to begin with a definition, just to be sure we are all on the same page:
BUNION: A bony bump that forms at the base of the big toe, causing the big toe to curve inward towards the other toes. This can lead to misalignment of the other toes, ultimately causing pain and difficulty finding comfortable shoes.
I know I promised no disturbing pictures, but I feel it necessary to post this one, because it clearly illustrates the extent to which bunions can cause deformities. (I don’t like to use that word, but my orthopedic surgeon used it to describe my feet, so I guess it is a legitimate term.) I’m sure you can understand my reluctance to expose my deformities to the world by wearing flip flops but as you can imagine, my options for comfortable shoes were very limited. Flip flops were my summer shoes of choice and I wore extra wide running shoes in the winter. Boots, skates or any other restrictive footwear were out of the question.
I’m pretty sure the obvious question here is why would I let my feet get to this point? Revisiting this picture makes me ask the same question. The truth is, as odd as it might sound, I wasn’t in any pain and I admit never having had a general anesthetic, I was afraid to undergo surgery. Ultimately, I just got tired of being able to only wear flip flops or running shoes. When squeezing my toes into a fancy shoe for my nephews wedding resulted in absolute agony, the decision was made.
When Life Hands You Bumps, Have Surgery
And so my surgical journey began. Obviously my left foot was the most compromised, so it was going to be operated on first. (It was clear that at some point my right foot would also need treatment but I preferred to ignore that fact for now.) I won’t disturb you with the details of my surgery. Suffice to say it was painful and messy. Constant ice packs, pain killers and elevating my foot lasted for about 10 days and I fought off depression every one of those days….. not really😀, but it was boring and it just flat out hurt!
Moving on. Perhaps the most upsetting moment of my experience, however, occurred during a discussion with hubby regarding the expected recovery time. My impression was that recovery would take approximately 3 to 6 months. Hubby, who accompanied me to all of my appointments, just looked at me in astonishment and corrected my wildly inaccurate figure. The surgeon had apparently said it would take 6 months to a year! I am now in month 5 and although the swelling has receded, I can see very clearly that it could in fact take up to a year.
Post Bunion Euphoria
If you are still reading this, congratulations! I admire your diligence and tenacity. At this point you might be asking if I am glad I had the surgery. My response would be a qualified “yes.” I still walk with an occasional slight limp and my balance is not yet back to where I want it. I have recovered some sensation in my big toe and the scars are receding somewhat. However, at the risk of sounding like I have a shoe obsession, perhaps my most joyful moment occurred when I was recently able to try on a “normal” pair of shoes for the first time in years. I’m not sure I can convey the depths of my delight, other than to say it felt like a whole new world had opened up for me. (I urge you to take another look at the picture of my feet before surgery and all will be abundantly clear.)😉The possibilities are endless my friends. The future is indeed bright!
