Lately, my mom's feet have been hurting her so badly that she can not wear any shoes or walk without severe pain. She's also getting intermittent sharp shooting pains. Anyhow, judging from the shape of her big toe and the inflamed joint/bone it looks like she has classic bunions. From everything I've read, she'll probably need some kind of surgery at this point. I'm not sure whether I should take her to a podiatrist or an orthopedic doctor. A podiatrist is not a medical doctor but can still perform minor surgeries. I am getting mixed opinions even from medical doctors, so I was wondering if anyone has or knows anyone who has any experienced similar problems with their feet and which specialist they went to see. Also, I've read that many doctors will give cortisone shots but have also read they are not good for you. Any experience with that anyone?

By Kellyj on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 11:18 am:

My grandmother went to a podiatrist for bunion surgery and they botched it. Now her toes don't align correctly and it still bothers her to walk. However, I can't say that she wouldn't have had the same problem with an orthopedic surgeon.

No Podiatrists are not MDs but they still attend 4 years of graduate work, do clinical rotations and residencies, then they receive a DPM (doctor of podiatric medicine degree). My roommate from college is in podiatry school right now

I would carefully research both avenues, meet both doctors if possible and make a choice from there.

I'm not sure if a cortisone shot would do much for the bunion as I believe it's an anti-inflammatory which will not stop the pain. It will reduce inflammation but if memory serves me right a bunion is more than just inflamed tissue.

By Colette on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 11:37 am:

I would find a good orthopedic surgeon.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 12:04 pm:

ditto - I have a bunion and have actually seen a podiatrist, but *when* it comes time to have surgery, I'm going to my ortho. This is something I plan to put off until I can't any longer.

By Tklinreston on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 12:50 pm:

Karen... what did the podiatrist say or do? How serious is your bunion now? That is, do you have pain when wearing shoes?

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 07:19 pm:

Good orthopedic doctor, PLEASE, preferably a foot and ankle specialist. Of course, I work in a law office, but I can't tell you how many horror stories I've heard about podiatrists and bunion surgery. My own opinion, having a potential for bunions, is that getting shoes that are comfortable is the best thing to do. Scott has serious bunions, and just buys shoes which are wide enough across the ball of the foot to accomodate - he wouldn't think of having surgery. And, anti-inflammatories might work - but the doctor will know what is best to do.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 07:24 pm:

The thing with cortisone shots, Karen, is that you should not have more than 3 or at most 4 a year, and they need to be very carefully administered. We had a client whose podiatrist gave him something like 10 shots over a 3 month period for a problem with his heel, and his achilles tendon just sort of dissolved. There is also a risk of liver damage with cortisone, so most doctors are very prudent about how they use it and how often.

By the way, could it be gout? When you speak of an inflamed big toe as well as the joint, it makes me wonder.

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 08:56 pm:

Joyce, mine's getting to be pretty bad - yes it hurts when I wear shoes, and there are many styles of shoes I cannot wear. And it's U-G-L-Y!!!! LOL The podiatrist was quick to inform me I needed to have surgery to correct it, but that was 6 years ago! I'm still living with it, although it's getting worse, and I've developed a bunionette on the baby toe, which happens to be the toe I've broken 5 or 6 times.

Supposedly if you have a bunion on one foot, you are more likely to develop one on the other foot too.

When I can't deal with it anymore I'll have the surgery. One reason I put it off is that it's my right foot, so no driving! Another major reason is I'm terrified that it will be too painful and not heal correctly. And yet another reason is my overall health and the fact that I've had so many surgeries in the last 12 years. I'm just not real anxious to have another.

My X SIL had bunion surgery and her foot has never been the same. However, my neighbor across the street had bunion surgery from the same podiatrist I went to and hers is fine. But I've heard more horror stories about bunion surgery than I care to remember.

I will definitely use an ortho when/if I have the surgery.

By Feona on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 06:56 am:

Did you take her to a really good shoe store and see if they can help her?

I don't know how old she is... I took my mom to a really good old fashioned shoe store. I have seen shoes with huge fronts for this problem. Some people can only where sandals even in the winter.

Sas is a good brand for sandals.

By Beth on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 09:53 am:

I actually just had this surgery done. I am pretty young to have it but I have really wide feet. I think it was just years of not being able to find shoes to fit properly. Anyway I only had it done on my left foot. I went to a podiatrist. I would have waited longer but because of the bunion I was starting to have pain in my heel. The doctor said without realizing it I was probably babying that foot. So I went ahead and had it done. He was supposed to break the bone but It ended up not being necessary. I have heard a lot of people say that this surgery is really painful. I took tylenol twice. I think my doctor does a really good job. The most annoying part (and I still have two more weeks of this) you have to wear this shoe. Its got velcro straps and no arch support. They want to keep your foot flat. That shoe has caused me the most trouble. My foot aches by the end of the day because of the way the shoe is constructed. I actually am cheating and not wearing it in the house. If she is in that much pain I would try both and get two opinions and then decide what you want to do from there.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 08:33 pm:

I thought I had a bunion, but it turned out to be a bone spur right below the big toe on my right foot. I had so much pain when I walked. I had it removed in 1997 and it made such a difference! Once the initial pain of having surgery went away, I could walk so much better.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, September 8, 2004 - 08:43 pm:

Beth, if breaking the bone wasn't necessary, what exactly did your doctor do??

By Beth on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 08:52 am:

He cut the bunion off and was going to break the bone pin it ect.. so it would be straight. But when he cut the bunion off he felt that my toe alinged so nicely already it would be unwarranted to go ahead and break the bone. He did do some soft tissue work between the big toe and the second toe. I have had to wear a wrap and the shoe for 6 weeks to keep it straight. He wants it flat ect... while it is healing inside and out. It was not that bad. I have two more weeks in the shoe and that is the worst part. The first 2 weeks it was wrapped so thick I limped. So that makes your leg and back sore when you are on them to much. I took 3 weeks off of work. He wanted me to take 6 but I did not have it. However, I think once he did not break the bone he felt it was okay to go back anyway. I was fine to go back. Hope that helps.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, September 10, 2004 - 09:15 am:

Mine protrudes so much I think the bone will have to be broken, another reason I put it off.