I have had bunions ever since I can remember, and as a teenager I would often trip over for no reason at all, which is pretty embarrassing at that age. I didn't realise at the time that it was due to my bunions, I thought that I was just being careless, but I've now learned what a horrible impact bunions can have on your balance and posture.
In addition to my bunions, the big toe on my right foot has always been bent due to the tendon being too short. This caused me so much pain when wearing any shoe as the knuckle bit of my toe would rub constantly - shoes aren't designed for toes that stick upwards it seems!!! Over the years this got so bad that it damaged the nail plate on that toe and has destroyed my toenail, another fun factor of having this problem!!
When I was 13, my mum took me to see an Orthopaedic surgeon, who told me I would need surgery, but to wait until I was 18 as I hadn't fully developed. No problem I thought, I can wait until I'm 18. So there I am, toddling along to the doctor aged 18 ready to be referred for surgery only to be told there's nothing they can do for me and perhaps I should see a chiropodist. I didn't argue the case, confrontation has never really been my thing, and I just let it lie for a few years.
I went back when I was about 23/24 - but again got turned down, saying they don't really do bunion surgery these days anymore. I should've been more persuasive but again, just walked away disappointed.
I went back time and time again to the GP, each time getting fobbed off by the same story, "they won't even consider it unless you have children that you can no longer care for" or "your job isn't impacted by this so there's nothing we can do" - never mind the daily agony I was in, the bleeding from shoes having to stretch to accommodate my malformed feet, the constant tripping over and balance issues I was having.
Eventually I was so upset with the rejection, I just sat there and cried to the doctor, she still wouldn't refer me to a surgeon - but she offered me treatment via the musculoskeletal clinic. This was the biggest waste of time and money. I was given orthotics which made my feet hurt even more, and told to do exercises to strengthen my hips. All worthwhile advice, but it didn't stop the fact that my feet are the WRONG SHAPE!!!
I continued my quest to get a referral and finally luck struck when the appointment I made was with a locum, who probably hadn't yet been briefed on the "don't refer anybody policy" - he referred me without question and I practically skipped out of the doctor surgery and all the way home!
The appointment came and I was prepared to go in with a bit of a fight, having been told time and time again by the GPs that they would only operate if my job was affected or if I couldn't care for people etc. However when I arrived at the hospital there was none of that - they took an x-ray and the consultant took one look at it and instantly offered me a double bunion surgery. I had to hold back shouting "yippee" at the top of my voice, but I really couldn't believe it. Now, aged 27, I had FINALLY been given the news that I had been waiting for since I was 13 - I was going to have my feet fixed!!!
In the run up to my surgery, I read a few blogs that people had put together who have gone through the same thing. I found these to be so helpful, so have decided to follow suit, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might be helped by reading about my experience. I doubt it will all be plain sailing, but I will try to give as much detail and advice as possible. 😀👍🏼
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| My feet before surgery - you can see the bunion on the left foot and on the right you can see the tendon pulling at the top of my foot to my big toe and the toenail has discoloured as the toe is s swollen and red |
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