My mum is doing her dance teachers exams and she dances all the time, a bunion has started to appear now and she is devastated. She's only 41 but is devastated to have got an 'old lady' bunion. or as we say in our house the 'b' word as we're not allowed to say the word 'bunion' anymore!

Does anyone know, apart from comfier fitting shoes, what you can do to stop bunions getting worse, or apart from filing them down, any treatment you can have?

Apparently it's just bone growth, if that's the case can you not have one of those hormone/steroid injections? I was going to have to have one to stop one leg growing while the other caught up. Surely this would work if it can stop a leg growing...

Just wondered if anyone knew.

Thanks, Lottie

There is lots of info on the net - have a look here for causes and treatments, including change of footwear, injections etc

http://www.footphysicians.com/info2.php?id=13

NHS Direct site lists the following remedies

Treatment

Other than surgery, there are no devices to correct a bunion once it has started to form. However, the following treatment can help to control existing bunions:

Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes. Avoid high-heeled, pointed and tight shoes, and instead wear flat shoes that have enough room for you to move your toes in. Padding over the bunion may help to prevent further rubbing. Your GP or podiatrist (specialist foot doctor) can advise you of the best way to do this.
For very severe bunions, specialist wide footwear may be necessary. This is sometimes called orthopaedic footwear, and can be made to measure. If your bunion is very painful, you should talk to your GP or podiatrist about this.
Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease the pain caused by a bunion. If the bunion develops as part of a more widespread arthritis, then other medication may be advised. Antibiotics may be needed if the bunion becomes infected.
Day or night splints may be worn on the foot to slow the development of bunions. They are sometimes recommended for post-operative recovery as you start to use the foot again.
For bunions that are linked to foot shape or the way that you walk, many podiatrists recommend wearing special insoles (orthoses) in the shoes to correct this and prevent the bunion from getting worse.
Surgery is the only way to completely remove the deformity. The bony growth (bunion) is usually removed, and the bones of the big toe are realigned. Post-operative care is very important following this type of surgery to make sure the bunion does not reoccur. Recovery can take up to six weeks, and supportive devices are usually necessary to encourage the foot to heal correctly. Normal walking and other activities can be resumed after this time.

Hi Lotti

Here is one topic I can help out with unfortuantely. Am just recovering from Bunion surgery - not pretty - definitely to be avoided! I think rtapper has covered most things though...

You can get splints or braces for early bunions - I tried them but mine were too far gone by then and I couldn't bear to have them on for more than 20 mins - was a bit like medieval torture!

Sometimes bunions are caused by flat foot and collapse of the arches which can be helped by arch supports.

If you've got severe bunions (like I HAD - yahoo past tense - hereditary unfortunately) surgery is really all that can help. It's really painful - they break your big toe and realign it, shoving a few screws in for good measure - the first couple of days are killers (Mum said ten times worse than child birth)- after that it's not too bad - just can't walk- real pain and the boot they give you is not attractive!

Hope your Mum gets sorted - I only wish I'd got something done about mine sooner - might have been able to make the Duke of Edinburgh Godl Expedition if I had - shame!

Thanks for your help, I'll mention the splints to her. She's devastated because she's been told to wear flat wide shoes and she is pretty trendy, doesn't like the idea of granny footwear and wants to carry on dancing (if you've ever seen ballroom/latin shoes you'll know they're not exactly what they tell you to wear with bunions!)

Her's is apparently only just coming up so we may be in time!

Thanks rtapper for all the info and Emma 2.

Take care and I hope you soon fully recover from your surgery.

Lottie xx

My ex mum-in law had surgery to correct her bunions, and to straighten out her clawed hammer-toes, about six years ago.

Whe had it done under an epidural (spinal block), and she recovered quickly, and well from it.

PT

Thanks PT. All this is really helpful! Keep it coming!

Do you think with her being a healthy and fit 40 year old, that would increase her healing time where she to have surgery?
Would she be able to go back to dancing?

And please, any further responses please state the 'b word' rather than 'bunion' mum doesn't allow us to say it!

Lottie

Hi again

Having said it was quite painful (for the 1st couple of days) - I was back at work after 2 weeks with boot - it depends what kind of job you do really - mine's in an office but there's a fair bit of moving round, climbing stairs etc...and I managed fine. It's 6 weeks since now and I can run up the stairs and stuff no probs. Different surgeons use different techniques which can take shorter/longer to heal. Being younger is definitely a benefit - bones heal quicker etc.. although you've got to be careful you don't do too much too soon as it could prevent it healing properly.

Good luck!